Abstract:
A method and system is disclosed for providing a particular greeting ( 35 ), preferred customized advertisement ( 39 ) and preferred customized message ( 37 ) that is personalized to a particular hotel/resort guest. The greeting ( 35 ), advertisement ( 37 ) and message ( 39 ) are delivered via a service terminal unit ( 50 ) located inside a guest room. An introduction message including a personalized greeting ( 35 ) for the particular guest at a particular period and addressing the guest by their name plays first via the service terminal unit ( 50 ) located in the guest room. After the introduction, messages ( 39 ), and personalized information containing advertisements ( 37 ) including activities, sites, special events, and services that are customized and preferred by the particular hotel/resort guest play via the service terminal unit ( 50 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to computerized advertisements and message systems, specifically to an improved personalized, preferred and customized greeting and message system for a hotel and resort guest. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, advertising to hotel and resort guests is complicated by availability of several radio stations, a plethora of magazines catering to each special interest, a world wide web of infinitely expanding websites. Additionally, hotel and resort guests are flooded with advertisements making it harder to reach such guests and convince them to buy one product over another. 
     Studies done by various people have useful insights of why customers buy one product over another. Studies have shown that shopping means different things to different people. People buy products for many different reasons such as a form of therapy, to pass time, as a reward, bribery, entertainment or even as a way to troll for loved ones. Knowing the particular needs of a customer in a particular period is beneficial to ensure that the customer advertisement and message is noted and received by the customer. 
     In the present invention, information that is customized for a particular guest is provided by merely opening a guest room door. As a result, in this present invention, the customer can readily and conveniently access the provider of the customized services without needless waste of time. 
     In the present invention, the advertisements are customized to take into account the particular customer&#39;s name, special personal needs and personal interests for the particular period. Additionally, the advertisements/message are specifically targeted for a particular customer at a particular period. 
     In the present invention the service terminal records data on a hard disc inside the service apparatus unit. In this invention, a customer without any prior transactional history is able to receive customized preferred services. 
     Further, since some hotel/resort guests rarely spend time in the same hotel frequently it is difficult to establish buying habits for such guests. In the present invention, the personal greeting information device will not require prior sale transactions in order to provide the customer with the preferred choices of services. 
     The present invention provides Personalized message and greeting system with information including local consumer businesses that of interest to the customer, and activities that are of interest to the customer. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention a method and system is disclosed for providing a particular greeting and message that is personalized to a particular hotel or resort guest. The greeting and message is delivered to the hotel or resort via a service terminal unit located inside the guest room. Following an introduction, a personalized message containing advertisements, activities, sites, special events, and services of guest preferences that are customized and preferred by the particular hotel or resort guest play via the service terminal unit. The message includes a personalized greeting for the particular guest at a particular period and addresses the guest by their name at a particular period. The message informs the particular guest of other personalized and preferred services that are provided by various businesses. 
     DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAMS 
     To facilitate a complete understanding of the invention, a glossary of terms and acronyms is included. 
     A guest room/suite is an enclosed space for the use of a particular type of a customer such a hotel or resort guest. 
     The service-terminal unit is a device located inside the guest room/suite. The service-terminal unit delivers a particular greeting, a particular advertisement and a particular message that are customized and personalized for the particular guest occupying a specific guest room/suite. 
     The service-apparatus unit is a device located in the hotel or resort facility office. The service-apparatus unit sends by electronic means a particular greeting, a particular advertisement and a particular message to the service-terminal unit. 
     The door sensor is a device connected to the guest room or suite and is activated when the guest room/suite door is opened. Once the door sensor is activated, the service-terminal unit provides audio, video-graphic or written information particularly specific for the guest. 
     Guest preference data is information that includes the guest&#39;s own preferred and selected advertisements, messages and greetings. 
     The customized and preferred greeting is a message of good will carefully and particularly crafted for a particular guest at a particular hotel or resort at a particular time period. The greeting includes audio format, video-graphic format, or written format. 
     Customized and preferred message is a message that a guest particularly desires which includes special interests, and hobbies. 
     Customized and preferred advertising information includes advertisements from various sources that a particular hotel or resort guest particularly desires at a particular place and time. The advertisement information is researched, collected, and stored in a database before a customer enters into their hotel or resort room. The advertisement includes information previously collected from various sources such as from the customer, and various sources. 
     Other personalized information messages include special information that a particular guest requests including personal appointment reminders, other reminders, wake up calls, maps, directions, weather, billings, date or time. 
     Software e-packages are electronic modules each composed of software files that work together to accomplish one or more tasks in a computer system. 
     Facility floor level is a certain floor within a multi-floor building such as a tower. 
     Facility office is a Hotel/resort business office that contains the Service Apparatus Unit computer system. 
     Network hub is a unit within the local area network system that receives electronic signals from a transmitting unit and distributes the signal to the designated receiver. 
    
    
     
         FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrating how information in the present invention is transmitted to a guest in a hotel room or resort facility. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the location of software and various equipments for the present invention at the hotel or resort. 
         FIG. 3  is a preferred embodiment flow diagram illustrating steps involved in providing a greeting, information and advertisements specific for the particular guest via a service-terminal unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a preferred embodiment diagram illustrating selection from a menu of services and information displayed on the screen that are available for a hotel or resort guest. 
         FIG. 5  is a description of an alternate embodiment of the present invention whereby a general greeting, a general message and a general advertisement is provided where no preference data for a particular guest is available. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of alternate embodiment of the present invention utilizing Wired/Wireless Network means. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG.  1  Preferred Embodiment 
     With reference to  FIG. 1   a , a preferred embodiment for a system  20  for providing a customized and preferred greeting  35 , a customized and preferred message  39 , and a customized and preferred advertising information  37  for a particular hotel/resort guest is illustrated. The system  20  includes an administrator interface unit  93  providing the graphic user interface tool  95  to input and edit customer information  30 . The service-apparatus unit  41  includes the software  21  and database tools  91  that prepare and store the guest  10  personalized greeting  35 , personalized advertisement  37 , and other personalized information message  39  based on a guest  10  preference data information  31 . 
     When a guest  10  opens their particular assigned guest room door/suite  73  the door sensor  75  sends a signal to the service-apparatus unit  41 . The service-apparatus unit  41  initiates a personalized audio greeting  35 , advertisement  37  and information message  39 . The service-apparatus unit  41  sends the personalized audio greeting  35 , advertisement  37  and information message  39  to the service-terminal unit  50  in the guest room suite  73 . The service-apparatus unit  41  is capable of providing other information  36  requested by the guest  10 . The service-terminal unit  50  has an audio and graphic user interface  95  to deliver the greeting  35 , other information requested by the guest  36 , advertisement  37 , information message  39  and other information  36  requested by the guest  10 . The terminal-unit  50 , also provides user access through input buttons  97  and an audio transmitter  99  for information service request as well as interface ports  94  for downloads to the guest  10  personal apparatus  11  such as PDA&#39;S, laptops, and faxes. 
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates information  101  transmitted  103 , 105 , 107  and finally delivered  109  to the correct guest. 
     FIG.  2 —Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention  20  illustrating the location of the present invention in relation to other apparatus at the hotel/resort  13 . To understand how the system  20  works in relation to other apparatus in the hotel/resort  13 , a guest room/suite  73  with a door sensor  75 , facility floor level  14 , and facility office  15  are shown and described. 
     The service-apparatus unit  41  includes a graphic user interface  103 , a central processing unit  92 , hotel system interface  98 , database software e-packages  101  and the program software for the present invention  21 . The facility floor level  14  includes a network hub  17 . The guest room/suite  73  includes a door sensor  75 , and a service terminal-unit  50 . The service-terminal unit  50  further includes a graphic user interface tool  95 , an audio speaker  90 , audio transmitter  99 , input buttons  97 , and interface ports  94 . 
     When the guest room suite door  70  is opened, a door sensor  75  is activated. Greetings  35 , Messages  39 , advertisements  37  and other guest information  36  specific for the particular guest  10  play via the service-terminal unit  50 . The guest  10  may request advertisements  37 , messages  39  and other guest information  36  to be played more than once. 
     FIG.  3 —Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the steps involved in providing Messages  39 , greetings  35 , other guest information  36  and advertisements  37  specific for the particular guest via the service-terminal unit  50 . 
     FIG.  4 —Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 4  is detailed description of a user menu data for the preferred embodiment of the system  20  for the present invention. The menu A includes listings of preferred hotel services  105  and events  107 , listing of preferred restaurants  109 , listings of preferred consumer product stores  111 , listings of preferred shopping activities  113 , listing of preferred sporting activities and events  115 , and listings of preferred transportation services  117 . The menu B includes a listing of preferred hotel/resort Services and Events  119 , which are a listing of restaurants  121 , a listing of gift shops  123 , a listing of workout facilities  124 , and a listing of other events of interest specific to a guest  125 . 
     If the guest  10  selects a listing on menu C, the guest  10  is provided with a listing of preferred choices. The listing of Restaurants  109  is further divided based on preferences  110 . The preferences  110  includes American food restaurants  110   a , Asian food restaurants  110   b , bakeries  110   c , Caribbean food restaurants  110   d , coffee shops  110   e , delivery food restaurants  110   f , fast food restaurants  110   g , Indian food restaurants  110   h , Italian food restaurants  110   i , juice bars  110   j , Mediterranean food restaurants  110   k , Mexican food restaurants  110   m , natural/whole foods  110   n , Sea Food restaurants  110   p , vegetarian food restaurants  110   q , and other miscellaneous specialties  110   r.    
     If the guest  10  selects a listing on menu D of preferred Consumer Product Stores  111 , the guest  10  is provided with a listing of preferred choices  112 . The preferences  112  include auto parts stores  112   a , boating supply stores  112   b , book stores  112   c , grocery stores  112   d , departmental stores  112   e , drug stores  112   f , flower stores  112   g , furniture stores  112   h , hardware stores  112   i , home improvement stores  112   j , music stores  112   k , office supply stores  112   m , pet stores  112   n , specialty items stores  112   p , video rental stores  112   q , other miscellaneous stores  112   r.    
     If a guest  10  selects a listing on menu E of preferred shopping activities  113 , the guest  10  is provided with a listing of preferred choices for shopping  114 . The listing includes a shopping listing for guest interested in antiques  114   a , auctions  114   b , automobiles  114   c , average priced stores  114   d , boat stores  114   e , computers  114   f , discount stores  114   g , movie theaters  114   h , show theaters  114   i , shopping malls  114   j , up scale stores  114   k , and a miscellaneous listing for guest interested in other specialty shopping activities. 
     A guest selecting a listing on menu F of preferred listing of preferred sporting activities and events  115  is provided with a listing of preferred choices  116 . The preferences include a listing for Golf Facilities  211 , a listing for basketball events  213 , a listing for tennis events  214 , a listing for running events  215 , a listing for hiking events  216 , a listing for swimming events  217 , a listing for bowling events  218 , a listing for in door games  219 , a listing for hockey events  220 , a listing for skating events  221 , a listing for a listing for other special events  222 , a listing for soccer events  223 , a listing for archery Events  224 , a listing for baseball events  225 , a listing for boxing events  226 , a listing for cheerleading events  227 , a listing for cricket events  228 , a listing for croquet events  229 , a listing for cycling events a listing for darts events  230 , a listing for fencing events  231 , a listing for fishing events  232 , a listing for greyhound racing events  233 , a listing for gymnastics events  234 , a listing for horse racing events  235 , a listing for hunting events, a listing for lacrosse events  236 , a listing for martial arts events  237 , a listing for motor sports events  238 , a listing for paintball events  239 , a listing for racquetball events  240 , a listing for rodeo events  241 , a listing for shooting events  242 , a listing for skating events  243 , a listing for softball events  244 , a listing for track events  245 , a listing for volleyball events  246 , a listing for wrestling events  247 , a listing for football events  247 . 
     A guest selecting a listing on menu level B of listings preferred transportation services  117  is provided with a listing of preferred choices  118 . The preferences include Taxis  118   a , Limousine Service  118   b , Car Rental  118   c , Buses  118   d , Subways  118   e , Trains  118   f , Shuttles  118   g , car pools  118   f , Cruises  118   h , other transportation options  118   g.    
     FIG.  5 —Alternative Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  is a description of an alternate embodiment of the present invention whereby a general greeting, a general message and a general advertisement is provided where no preference data for a particular guest is available. 
     FIG.  6 —Preferred Embodiment 
     In  FIG. 6 , the service apparatus  41  and terminal unit  50  can transmit and receive signals between the units through a telecommunications network system comprised of wire  311  and wireless  313  data and voice communication channels. The door sensor  75  and ports for an apparatus external to the main system, such as a personal computer or hand computer, are connected to the service terminal  50  using the wire communication channel  311 . The software database  41   a , advertisement database  41   b , and customer database  41   c  communicate within the service apparatus unit  41 . Other apparatus external to the main system, such as a hotel/resort computer  102 , is connected to the service apparatus unit  41  using the wire communication channel  311 . The communication network includes an intelligent hub unit  101 , which is located in the network system between the service apparatus  41  and terminal units  50 . A hub unit directs and increases multiple signals concurrently. The network connection between the service apparatus  41  and network hub unit(s)  101  are connected using a wire  311  or wireless  313  communication channel depending on a facility&#39;s setup for information technology network communication medium.