Abstract:
A method of processing room service transactions in an institution such as a hotel, having a plurality of guest rooms includes displaying selected visual representations of food items at predetermined intervals with a user device including an interactive graphical user interface in a guest room, receiving inputs from a guest with the graphical user interface and transmitting the inputs to a food service server for fulfillment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 61/099,757, filed Sep. 24, 2008, and entitled METHOD FOR PROVIDING ROOM SERVICE (Atty. Dkt. # INCN-29,157), the specification of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to providing room service to guests of hotels and similar institutions whereby food items are prepared and provided to the guests in their rooms and in particular to an automated system for receiving and processing orders from guests. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    “Room Service” is an accommodation to guests of hotels and similar institutions whereby guests of the hotel may order food, beverages and other items from a food service facility maintained by the hotel for consumption in the guest&#39;s room. Typically, a guest selects items from a printed menu placed in the room, calls a telephone number and places an order for the selected items. The order is transmitted to food service personnel who then prepare the order. After the order has been prepared, the food service personnel notify members of the hotel staff that deliver the order to the guest&#39;s room. 
         [0004]    Many hotel guests would rather stay in their rooms and work or engage in other activities rather than spending their time in a hotel restaurant or finding another dining establishment at another location. Consequently, a large number of hotel guests consider prompt and efficient room service to be an important amenity. Thus, it not surprising that failure to provide room service that meets guest expectations is a major cause of guest complaints for hotels and similar institutions. 
         [0005]    However, the current methods for providing room service tend to be inefficient for a number of reasons. Telephone orders may be misinterpreted and the wrong items provided. Language barriers may result in orders being misunderstood or misinterpreted. If the hotel staff responsible for taking a guest&#39;s order is busy with another task, the guest may be put on hold until the staff member is available to take the guest&#39;s order. Further, since the orders are placed verbally, there is no clear audit trail to determine what a guest actually ordered. Thus, there exists a need for a system and method which provides prompt, efficient room service with minimized errors and which provides a means of recording guest orders with certainty. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one aspect, a method of processing room service transactions in an institution, such as a hotel, having a plurality of guest rooms includes displaying selected visual representations of food items at predetermined intervals with a user device including an interactive graphical user interface in a guest room. In one embodiment, the displayed visual representations of food items are selected based on the time of day, i.e., breakfast items are displayed in the morning, lunch items during the mid-day and dinner items during the evening. The displayed images are alternated at predetermined intervals, for example every three, five or ten seconds. 
         [0007]    The displayed food selection visuals may be photographs or images of selected food items available from the institution&#39;s food service facilities at that time. A prompt is displayed on the interactive graphical user interface, inviting guests to user the service. A begin input is received from the guest with the interactive graphical user interface to initiate a room service transaction and a food selection menu is displayed. In one embodiment, the food selection menu may give the guest the option of choosing from time appropriate food items or selections, or from an “anytime” menu. 
         [0008]    A selection input corresponding to a food item is received with the interactive graphical user interface and stored with a data storage device associated with the graphical user interface. A summary of food items selected by the guest is displayed after each selection and the selection process is repeated until a place order input is received from the guest with the graphical user interface. After the place order input is received, a summary of the selected food items is displayed with the graphical user interface. The display gives the guest the options of continuing to order, changing the order or confirming the selection of food items using the graphical interface. 
         [0009]    After the guest has confirmed the food order, the user device transmits a confirmed food order including the selections chosen by the guest to a dedicated food service server. The dedicated food service server includes an associated data storage device, a processor and a data interface with one or more server stations. The server stations may be located in a food preparation area, in a restaurant maintained by the institution, a cocktail lounge or other area where orders may be displayed and/or accessed to staff members. After the order has been received by the food service server, a message is displayed in the guest room with the interactive graphical user interface indicating to the guest that the food order is being prepared. 
         [0010]    After the food order is prepared and is ready for delivery to the guest room, a staff member responsible for delivering the order may confirm receipt of the order from food preparation staff using a server station. In this regard, the staff member may enter one or more of an employee identifier, the guest room number and a transaction identifier with the server station before the food order is delivered. A message may then be transmitted from the food service server to the user device in the guest room and a message displayed with the interactive graphical user interface indicating the food order is en route to the guest room. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, after the order is delivered to the guest room, the staff member that delivered the order may enter a delivery confirmation message input from the guest room with the interactive graphical user interface. The delivery confirmation message is received by the food service server that stores a record of the room service transaction on the data storage device associated with the server. The food service server may be configured to receive a report request from a server station and generate a report of room service transactions for a predetermined period of time. In other embodiments, the food service server may be programmed to automatically generate reports of food service transactions at predetermined times. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, a wireless interface or access point is used to interconnect a plurality of interactive graphical user interfaces in guest rooms with the dedicated food service server. A wireless interface or access point may also be used to interface the dedicated food service server with the server stations. In one embodiment, the food service server may be configured and programmed to translate food orders into a format suitable for use by a point of sale device maintained by the institution. The translated order is then transmitted to the point of sale device for user by the institution&#39;s billing system. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, a system for processing room service transactions in an institution having a plurality of guest rooms includes a plurality of user devices in the guest rooms. The user devices each include an interactive graphical user interface, a first data storage unit including a database of visual food representations and menus and a room processor. The room processor is operative with the database and interactive graphical user interface to display visual representations of selected food items based on the time of day, to display menus, and to receive and store guest selections entered by a guest using the graphical user interface. Each of the user devices is interfaced with a food service server. The food service server includes a processor and a second data storage unit including a database operative to store and transmit orders received from a room processor. A data transmission interface between the user devices and the food service server enables orders entered by guests using the graphical user interface in a guest room to be transmitted to the food service server. 
         [0014]    A server station interfaced with the food service server includes an interactive graphical user interface, a third data storage unit and a station processor and is operable to receive and transmit order information. In one variation, the system further comprises a point of sale device operable to receive electronically transmitted food orders from the food service server and where the food service processor is operable with instructions stored on the second data storage unit to translate orders received from the room processor into a format usable by a point-of-sale device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a system for processing room service orders according to one embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing room service according to one embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a first exemplary screen display for use with the system and method for providing room service according to the disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a second exemplary screen display for use with the system and method for providing room service according to the disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a third exemplary screen display for use with the system and method for providing room service according to the disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 6A-6E  are exemplary screen displays for use with the system and method for providing room service according to the disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is another exemplary screen display for use with the system and method for providing room service according to the disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a second schematic representation of a system for processing room service orders according to one embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing room service employing the system of  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart further illustrating a method of providing room service according to the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and embodiments of methods for providing room service are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, a system  100  for providing room service to guests of hotel includes a plurality interactive user devices  102  provided in guest rooms  104  of a hotel  106 . Although the system and method are described in connection with a hotel, it will be appreciated that the system and method may be employed in other settings, for example in dormitories, retirement and assisted living facilities, and similar institutions where guests or residents may wish to order food, beverages and similar items for consumption or use in the rooms that they are occupying. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, each of user devices  102  includes an interactive graphical user interface  108 , a processing unit  110  and a data storage device  112 . In one embodiment, graphical interfaces  108  are touch screens, i.e., displays which can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. In other embodiments, graphical interfaces  108  may comprise a video monitor with an associated data input device such as a keyboard or wireless transmitter. As described in further detail below, user devices  102  provide a means by which food selections and other information may be displayed to guests and by which guests may place room service orders. 
         [0029]    System  100  further includes one or more dedicated food service file servers  114 . Each of interactive user devices  102  is connected to dedicated food service server  114  by means of a data interface generally designated  116 . In one embodiment, data interface  116  comprises wireless routers  118  and Ethernet cable  120  that provide data transmission between servers  114  and user devices  102 . Dedicated servers  114  include a data storage device  122  and an associated processor  124 . In one embodiment, a data interface  126  is provided between server or servers  114  and a separate hotel billing system  128 , including one or more electronic point of sale devices  130 . A point of sale device (POS) or terminal typically has the ability to record and track customer orders using application specific software, and to interface with other systems such as the hotel billing system. In this embodiment, food service server  114  may be operable to translate room service orders and transactions into a format useable by a point of sale device and/or the hotel billing system using a translation program or instructions stored on data storage device  122 . Interfacing food service server  114  with point of sale device  130  allows hotel billing system  128  to automatically bill the order to the guest room without manual entry of the order. In other embodiments, data interface  126  may be omitted and orders may be entered manually into hotel billing system  128 . 
         [0030]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment system  100  further includes one or more server stations  132 . In one embodiment, each of server stations  132  includes a graphical user interface  134 , a data storage device  136  and a processor  138 . Server stations  132  communicate with food service processor(s)  114  by means of a data interface  140 , for example one or more wireless routers  142  and/or Ethernet cable  144 . Server stations  132  may be located in the hotel restaurant, food preparation area, cocktail lounge or similar locations to provide a means by which guest orders entered with user devices  102  may be communicated to hotel staff. Server stations  132  may be used to display room service orders, and to provide hotel staff a means of interfacing with food service processor  114 , for example to confirm receipt of food service orders for delivery to guest rooms. In one embodiment, food service server  114  is also interfaced with a printer  146 . Printer  146  may be used to generate various reports, print hard copies of food orders or “tickets” and similar functions. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method of providing room service employing the system of  FIG. 1 . The process begins at  200  where images of food items are displayed using graphical user interfaces  108  in guest rooms  104  of hotel  106 . In one embodiment, user device  102  is preprogrammed to display particular food images during predetermined times so that the displayed food items are appropriate for the particular time of day. For example, images of breakfast items such as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  may be displayed between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., after which lunch items may be displayed for a predetermined period followed by dinner items. In one embodiment, user device  102  is preprogrammed to display images of only the food items available from the hotel&#39;s kitchen at that particular time. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, user device  102  may be programmed such that the displayed food images or visuals will be alternated at predetermined intervals, for example every three, five or ten seconds in order to attract the guest&#39;s attention and to present different food items that may interest the guest. For example, pictures or photos including a fruit plate may be alternated with pictures or photographs of a breakfast including eggs and coffee or pictures of a breakfast including pancakes. In one embodiment, the alternating images of different food items are displayed for intervals less than ten seconds. A prompt  302  is displayed along with the images inviting the guest to use the hotel&#39;s room service. Other images designed to draw a guest&#39;s attention to features and amenities of the hotel, such as photographs or other images of the hotel&#39;s swimming pool, exercise room may also be displayed at predetermined intervals. 
         [0033]    At step  202  user device  102  receives a “begin” input from a guest wishing to utilize room service. In the case where user device  102  includes a touch screen, a guest may enter the input by touching the screen of interactive user display  108 . Upon receiving the “begin” input, user device  102  displays a menu selection screen at step  204  enabling the guest to choose between a time appropriate menu, for example a breakfast menu, and an all-day dining menu. An exemplary menu selection display is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In other embodiments, only time appropriate items may be presented. As illustrated, the display may include images or visuals  502  of available food items, menu selection buttons  504  as well as navigation buttons  506  that allow the guest to make selections and/or move back and forth between displays by pressing the indicated area on the display. 
         [0034]    At step  206 , user device  102  receives a menu selection from the guest and displays one or more menus to the guest at step  208 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-6E , the menus and options may be displayed in stages, allowing the guest to proceed from more general selections to more specific items. To start, the display may prompt the guest to enter the number of diners by pressing the indicated screen areas  600  as illustrated in  FIG. 6A . The guest may be presented with the option of selecting between a meal such as breakfast or beverages as shown in  FIG. 6B  by pressing areas  602 . As shown in  FIG. 6C  the guest may select from a complete meal, such as a breakfast or individual ala carte items, by touching areas  604  of the display. In the event that the guest selects a complete breakfast, the guest may be presented with the option of selecting between a continental breakfast, an American-style breakfast, an oriental-style breakfast or other choice as illustrated in  FIG. 6D  by touching or pressing areas  606 . If for example, the guest selects an American-style breakfast, the guest may be presented with a display similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 6E , wherein the guest may select individual items represented by “buttons”  608  presented on the graphical user interface. 
         [0035]    At step  210 , the user device receives a menu item selection entered by the guest. The selection is stored by user device  102  at step  212  and the selection is displayed, for example by high-lighting or brightening the selected item on the menu display at step  214  ( FIG. 6E ). In other embodiments the selected items may be displayed in a separate window. At step  216 , the guest may choose to add other items to his or her order, in which case the process loops back to step  208 . When the guest has completed his or her selections, user device  102  receives a “place order” input from the guest at step  218  and displays a summary of the order for the guest to review at step  220 . An exemplary summary screen is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As illustrated, the order summary display allows the guest to continue ordering, change his or her order or place the order. If the guest elects to continue ordering at step  222  or change his or her order at step  224 , the process loops back to step  208  and menu items are displayed. 
         [0036]    At step  226 , user device  102  receives an order confirmation input entered by the guest. User device  102  transmits the confirmed order to food service server  114  at step  228 . In one embodiment, server  114  translates the confirmed order into a format suitable for use by a point of sale device (POS) at step  230  and transmits the confirmed order to the POS for processing by hotel billing system at step  232 . In other embodiments, steps  230  and  232  may be omitted, in which case a printed copy of the order may generated and the order entered into the hotel billing system manually. 
         [0037]    At step  234 , the confirmed order is printed. In one embodiment, the confirmed order will be in the form of a “ticket” that includes a transaction identifier, (e.g. ticket number), the room number from which the order originated and the ordered items to facilitate entry of the order into the hotel&#39;s billing system. The order may also be displayed on a server station  132  for use by the hotel&#39;s food preparation staff at step  236 . At step  238 , an “order being prepared” message is transmitted from food service server  114  to user device  102  and displayed to inform that the guest&#39;s order is being prepared. The guest&#39;s order is prepared at step  240 . 
         [0038]    After the guest&#39;s order has been prepared, the hotel employee responsible for delivery of the food order takes possession of the order. In one embodiment, the employee confirms receipt of the food order by entering information such as an employee ID number or identifier, the room number to which the order is to be delivered and the transaction identifier (ticket number) using server station  132  at step  244 . After receiving confirmation that the employee has received the order for delivery, food service server transmits an “Order Enroute” message to user device  102 , which displays a message informing the guest that the order is on the way to his or her room at step  246 . 
         [0039]    At step  248 , the order is delivered to the guest&#39;s room. After the order has been delivered the hotel employee or staff member who delivered the order confirms delivery of the order with user device  102  at step  250 . User device  102  transmits the order confirmation to food service server  114  at step  252 . In one embodiment, if for some reason the staff member is unable to confirm delivery of the order with user device  102 , he or she may confirm delivery using server station  132 . 
         [0040]    After confirmation of delivery, food service server  254  stores a record of the completed transaction. In one embodiment, at step  256  food service server  114  may be used to generate a report or reports including food service transactions processed with system  100 . The report may be generated at predetermined intervals, for example every  24  hours or on demand by hotel staff using server station  132 . 
         [0041]    Turning to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment, an order processing generally designated  800  is configured to be used with an existing hotel food service and billing system generally designated  802 . System  800  includes a guest processor  804 , preferably located in the guest&#39;s room or other convenient location. Guest processor  804  receives an input  806 , for example an order for food, from guest  808  by means of an interface represented by arrow  810 . Interface  810  may be a graphical user interface, keyboard, voice recognition module, wireless transceiver or similar device. Input  806  is typically an order for food or other items or services that may be supplied by the hotel. 
         [0042]    When completed, input or guest order  806  is transmitted from guest processor to a central server  812 . Central server  812  has an associated data storage device  814  with one or more databases that may contain information such as room numbers and room layouts, menus, prices, records of guest transactions, screen displays of food items and other amenities and records pertaining to hotel staff and employees, such as employee identification numbers and codes. Central server  812  is also interfaced with a printer  816  which may be located at any convenient location. 
         [0043]    After central server  812  receives order input  806  from guest processor  804 , the order may be printed with printer  816  in the form a ticket  818 . Ticket  818  will typically include a ticket or transaction number, the room number or location of the guest processor and the food order. In one embodiment, a hotel staff member  820  enters the information from ticket  818  into the hotel system  822 . Hotel system  822  may include billing and/or accounting functions, employee information, and other records, programs and functions used in the hotel&#39;s operations. Entry of the information from ticket  818  into hotel system  822  allows the hotel to associate charges for food or other services with guest rooms. 
         [0044]    In the illustrated embodiment, hotel system  822  is interfaced with a printer  824  and a display device such as a monitor  826  near or in kitchen or food preparation area  828 . In one variation, printer  824  and display  826  may comprise a point of sale device. Order  806  may be displayed on display device  826  and/or printed in the form of a ticket  830  with printer  826  for use by hotel food preparation staff which the staff uses to prepare the food order items  832 . After food order items  832  are prepared and ready for delivery, a hotel staff member  834  uses a terminal  836  to enter the ticket number, the guest room number and an employee identification number or code. As illustrated terminal  836  is part of system  802  and is interfaced with central server  812  which stores a record of the transaction. Food order items  832  may then be delivered to the guest&#39;s room. In one embodiment, after delivery of the order, the hotel staff member may confirm delivery of the order with guest processor  804  upon delivery of the order to the guest&#39;s room. Central server  812  stores a record of the completed transaction on data storage device  814 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method employing system  800  of  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the process begins at step  900  wherein a menu is displayed to a guest using guest processor  804  and interface  810 . At step  902 , an order for food and/or other items or services is entered using guest processor  804  and interface  810 . The order is transmitted to central server  812  which records the order information on data storage device  814  at step  908 . 
         [0046]    At step  908 , the first ticket  818  is printed and the ticket information, i.e., the ticket number, room number and food order is entered into hotel system  822  at step  910 . A second ticket with the same information is printed at step  912  with printer  824  for use by the hotel food service staff in preparing the order and/or the ticket information displayed with display  826 . The order is prepared at step  916 . After the food order is prepared, the ticket number, room number and an employee identification number is entered at step  918  by hotel staff using terminal  836  and transmitted to central server  812 . 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, a “food enroute” message is transmitted to guest processor  804  at step  922  and displayed to inform the guest that his or her order is on its way the guest room. At step  922  the food is delivered to the guest room. At step  924 , delivery of the order may be confirmed by the staff member that delivered the order using guest processor  804  and interface  810  or terminal  836 . The confirmation is transmitted to central server  812  and a transaction record for the order is stored by the server on data storage device  814  at step  926 . 
         [0048]    As will be appreciated, system  800  may be employed with an existing hotel food service and billing and or accounting systems. In one embodiment, system  800  may be owned and operated by a third party. Since the interface between the two systems is provided by manual entry of order information, system  800  may be employed with proprietary accounting and billing systems. 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart further illustrating a method of providing room service. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 10  together, at step  1000 , a guest enters order information using a room client, e.g. interactive user device  102  of  FIG. 1 . The guest order is received by file server  114  which transmit an order status message back to the room client where an “in process,” “order being prepared” or similar message is displayed to the guest by the room client device  102 . At step  1006 , the order is printed for use by the hotel staff. The printed order may be in the form of a first ticket including a ticket number, room number and food order. The order is also displayed to a food service client, for example at a server station  132  ( FIG. 1 ) at step  1008 . 
         [0050]    At step  1010 , a room service attendant (data entry personnel) schematically represented at  1032  utilizes the ticket to manually enter the order information, i.e., the ticket number, room number and food order at step  1010  into the hotel food service or billing system  1034 . After the order is entered, a ticket is printed at step  1012  for use by hotel food service personnel  1036  to prepare the order. The order is prepared at step  1014 , after which food service personnel  1036  enter the status of the order into hotel food service or billing system  1034 . The hotel and the room server (wait staff personnel)  1038  are informed that the order is ready for delivery at step  1018  and receive the ordered food at  1020 . 
         [0051]    At step  1022 , the wait staff member who has received the food for delivery may identify the order, for example by entering the ticket number, room number and an employee identification number using a food service client, e.g., server station  132  ( FIG. 1 ) to input the information. A message is then transmitted from the food service client  132  to file server  114  at step  1024  indicating that the ordered food is ready. File server  114  then transmits a message at step  1026  to room client  102  which displays a message informing the guest that the ordered food is enroute to his or her room at step  1026 . 
         [0052]    At step  1028  the order delivery is confirmed. The order delivery may be confirmed by a wait staff member using room client  102  or a food service client  132 . The confirmation is transmitted to server  114  and a transaction record for the order is stored by the server at step  1030 . 
         [0053]    It will be appreciated that the system and method described herein may be used for purposes other than ordering food and beverages for delivery to a hotel or guest room. For example, the system may be used to communicate with a concierge to arrange various services such as transportation, to make reservations for a spa associated with a hotel, to arrange for valet services, to purchase event tickets and arrange for outings and to order items from a hotel gift shop. 
         [0054]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this method and system for providing room service provides a convenient, efficient means of processing room service orders in institutions such as hotels. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.