Abstract:
A valet system including a valet computer communicatively linked to one or more hand-held interface devices. The interface devices allow a valet attendant to input a vehicle owner&#39;s/driver&#39;s text number, email address and/or vehicle make, model and color. The interface devices transmit acquired vehicle owner/driver and vehicle data to the valet computer which then transmits an electronic virtual valet ticket to the vehicle owner&#39;s/driver&#39;s smart phone. When the vehicle driver/owner desires to depart from the establishment, the driver/owner electronically replies to the text message and/or email. The driver&#39;s/owner&#39;s electronic reply is transmitted to the valet computer notifying a valet attendant to retrieve the vehicle identified by the electronic virtual number code (or other code). Before returning possession of the vehicle to the driver/owner, the valet attendant confirms that both the interface device and the driver&#39;s/owner&#39;s smart phone display the same electronic virtual number code.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The embodiments of the present invention relate to a valet parking system, which eliminates the need for paper valet tickets, and a method of using the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Valet parking is a service provided by establishments such as casinos, hotels, restaurants, stadiums, and other gathering places to drivers/owners of vehicles. Valet parking is typically comprised of the valet attendant giving the driver/owner a paper valet ticket stub in exchange for possession of the vehicle. A number code is listed on the ticket stub. This number code matches the number code on the paper valet ticket retained by the valet attendant. The valet attendant then parks the vehicle. Upon return, the driver/owner gives the ticket stub to the valet attendant. The valet attendant retrieves the vehicle based on the number code. The valet attendant then confirms both the ticket stub and paper valet ticket have the same number code before returning possession of the vehicle to the driver/owner. 
         [0003]    It would be beneficial to create a valet system and method which eliminates the need for paper valet tickets. In addition, a paperless valet system would increase the efficiency and method of managing a valet operational system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Accordingly, in broad terms, one embodiment of the present invention comprises the use of a valet computer, server or similar computer device (generally termed a “computer”) to manage a valet operational system. The valet computer is communicatively linked to one or more hand-held devices which are configured to serve as an interface between a valet attendant and vehicle driver/owner. More specifically, the hand-held device allows the valet attendant to input a vehicle driver/owner&#39;s information. Such information includes the driver/owner&#39;s name, text number and/or e-mail address as well as the vehicle make, model and color. The hand-held device transmits the acquired information to the valet computer which then responds by transmitting an electronic virtual valet ticket to the vehicle driver&#39;s/owner&#39;s smart phone and/or similar mobile device. The driver/owner receives the electronic virtual valet ticket by text message and/or email. The electronic virtual valet ticket contains a number code. When the vehicle driver/owner is ready to depart from the establishment, he or she electronically replies to the text message and/or email. The driver&#39;s/owner&#39;s electronic reply is sent to the valet computer system and a valet attendant is notified to retrieve the vehicle based on the electronic virtual number code. Before returning possession of the vehicle to the driver/owner, the valet attendant confirms that both the valet hand-held device, and the driver&#39;s/owner&#39;s smart phone and/or similar mobile device have the same electronic virtual number code. This confirmation is accomplished by the driver/owner showing the electronic virtual number code displayed on his or her smart phone and/or similar mobile device to the valet attendant. 
         [0005]    Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a system according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a valet computer configuration according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a valet computer database library according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a hand-held interface device according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a screen shot depicting an electronic virtual valet ticket according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart of a methodology according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate exemplary vehicle request messages of the type a vehicle owner/driver may trigger by activating a communication link associated with an electronic virtual valet ticket according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
         [0014]    The embodiments of the present invention relate to a valet system and method of use involving a valet computer having processing power and memory and communicatively linked to one or more hand-held interface devices utilized by valets. The valet computer is configured to communicate with smart phone and/or similar mobile devices possessed by vehicle owner/drivers to transmit at least an electronic virtual valet ticket for display thereon while the one or more hand-held interface devices are configured to receive vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information and transmit the same to the valet computer, and in some instances capture a unique code associated with said electronic virtual valet ticket. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system  100  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The system  100  comprises at least one valet computer  105  (or similar type computer system capable of maintaining databases, running one or more software applications and communicating with remote devices), a valet station  110 , including a valet terminal  115 , and one or more hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N communicatively linked to said valet computer  105 . The valet computer  105  may be located at the business offering the valet computer or may be located remotely therefrom. For a business (e.g., casino operator) with multiple locations, the valet computer  105  may be located at one of the casino properties or remotely from the multiple casino properties. The system  100  may also incorporate multiple valet computers rather than a single valet computer  105 . The valet terminal  115  includes at least a display  116  and user interface  117  and communicates with the valet computer  105  and/or one or more hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N. For example, the valet terminal  115  may comprise a smart or dumb laptop or desk top computer. Communications between the hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N, valet terminal  115  and/or valet computer  105  may be wireless or wired. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the present invention may operate without the valet terminal  115 . In such a system, the one or more hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N are used to accomplish the objectives of the valet terminal  115  as described herein. 
         [0016]    The valet computer  105 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , runs a valet application software program  106  which facilitates the system  100  operations detailed below and maintains a database library  107 ,  107 ′ comprising at least one or more property location databases  108 ,  108 ′ and vehicle owner/driver/vehicle databases  109 ,  109 ′ as described relative to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Each vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information entry in the vehicle owner/driver/vehicle database  109 ,  109 ′ also includes a unique number code  110 , unique barcode  111  and/or other unique code, such as a QR code, which creates a correspondence between the vehicle owner/driver and vehicle, and electronic virtual ticket as described below. Also stored on the valet computer  105  is a series of electronic virtual valet tickets or at least unique codes such as number codes or barcodes useable with generated or issued electronic virtual valet tickets. 
         [0017]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , the one or more hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N include a display  130  which may utilize touch screen technology. Other interfaces, such as a button panel  135 , allows valet operators to manually input vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information, send text messages and/or emails to vehicle owner/driver smart phones  102 - 1  through  102 -N (or similar hand-held communication devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA)) or email servers and verify vehicle owner/drivership. Depending on the embodiment, the one or more hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N may also include a camera  140  and magnetic card readers  145 . Any suitable hand-held interface device  125  may be used to facilitate the system and method disclosed herein. The hand-held interface device  125  runs one or more valet software applications which facilitate communications between the hand-held device  125  and valet computer  105 , valet terminal  115  and vehicle owner/driver smart phones  102 - 1  through  102 -N, input of vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information and verification of electronic virtual valet tickets on vehicle owner/driver smart phones  102 - 1  through  102 -N. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show an electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ of the type which the system  100  generates or issues displayed on a vehicle owner/driver smart phone  102 ,  102 ′. The electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ contains a unique number code  121  or barcode  122  or other code, such as a QR code, and liability information  155 ,  155 ′ and communication link  160 ,  160 ′. Communication link  160 ,  160 ′ may be the phone number of the valet station  110  and may be configured to either (i) call the valet station  110  such that the vehicle owner/driver may verbally request that his or her vehicle be made available; or (ii) transmit a text message, instant message and/or email to the valet terminal  115  requesting that his or her vehicle be made available for pick up. With the text message, the system  100  may also be configured such that once the communication link  160 ,  160 ′ is activated a confirmation window appears on the display of the vehicle owner/driver smart phone  102 - 1  through  102 -N allowing the vehicle owner/driver to confirm the request that his or her vehicle be made available. From the valet station  110 , a valet manager may instruct one of the valets verbally or via the one or more hand held devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N to retrieve the vehicle. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the transmission of the text message, instant message and/or email message responsive to the depression of the active link  160 ,  160 ′ may be transmitted directly to the one or more hand-held devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N thereby alerting a valet staff that the vehicle requires retrieval. That is, the valet station  110  and terminal  115  need not be present in the system or is bypassed if present. 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a flow chart  200  detailing a methodology according to the embodiments of the present invention. At  205 , a vehicle owner/driver pulls up to a valet location outside of a business offering valet services. Such businesses include restaurants, casinos, stadiums, airports and the like. At  210 , a valet requests and inputs the text number and/or email address of the vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information (e.g., make, model, color, license plate number, etc.) into one of the hand-held interface devices  125 . Optionally and additionally, the valet may swipe the vehicle owner&#39;s/driver&#39;s state-issued driver&#39;s license through the magnetic card reader  145  of one of the hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N. The application software running on the hand-held interface device  125  captures the desired information such as vehicle owner/driver name and driver&#39;s license number. Alternatively or additionally, the valet may swipe a driver&#39;s/owner&#39;s club membership card or VIP card associated with the casino or other establishment. In such an embodiment, the valet system  100  communicates with the casino management system (or other business) such that casino personnel may be prepared for the guest. Such preparation provides the casino with an opportunity to meet the guest or otherwise cater to the guest as desired. 
         [0021]    At  215 , responsive to the input of the text number and/or email address and vehicle information, and optionally the swiped driver&#39;s license, the text number and/or email address and vehicle information, is transmitted to the valet computer  105 . At  220 , the application software running on the valet computer  105  generates a database entry for the subject vehicle. At  225 , the valet computer  105  issues an electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ using a next available unique number code  121  or barcode  122  and transmits the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ to the vehicle owner&#39;s/driver&#39;s smart phone  102  via the text number and/or transmits the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ to the vehicle owner/driver email address provided by the vehicle owner/driver. The email may then be accessed by the vehicle owner/driver via an Internet browser available via the smart phone  102 . Optionally, the valet computer  105  may also transmit the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ to the hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N. At  230 , the valet parks the vehicle in the valet parking area. 
         [0022]    At  235 , the vehicle owner/driver activates (i.e., touching or clicking on) the communication link  160 ,  160 ′ forming part of the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ transmitted to the vehicle owner/driver smart phone  102 . Activating the communication link  160 ,  160 ′ causes the transmission of a vehicle request to the valet station  110  and/or valet computer  105  and/or one or more hand-held interface devices  125 - 1  through  125 -N. Such a vehicle request may be transmitted by a vehicle owner/driver 10 or 15 minutes prior to the vehicle owner/driver returning to pick up his or her vehicle.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  show exemplary vehicle requests  300 ,  305  of the type automatically transmitted (as set forth above, a vehicle owner/driver may need to confirm the transmission of the vehicle request subsequent to activation of the communication link  160 ,  160 ′) responsive to activation of the communication link  160 ,  160 ′. As shown, the vehicle request  300  is transmitted to, and depicted on, hand-held interface devices  125  but it may also appear on the valet terminal  115 . The vehicle request  300  includes the unique number code  301  and the vehicle request  305  includes the barcode  306 . Alternatively, activation of the communication link  160 ,  160 ′ may open a text window in which a vehicle owner/driver may type a text using the hand-held device  102  providing specific details such as the time vehicle owner/driver intends to return to the valet station  110  for retrieving the vehicle, need for an item within the vehicle, etc. 
         [0023]    At  240 , responsive to the transmitted vehicle request, the valet makes the vehicle available. At  245 , the vehicle owner/driver returns to pick up his or her vehicle and presents the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ depicted on the display of the vehicle owner/driver smart phone  102 . At  250 , the valet verifies the presented electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′. Verification may comprise comparing the unique number code  121  with information stored in database  109 ,  109 ′ maintained by the valet computer  105 . For example, the valet may enter into the hand-held interface device  125  the unique number code  121  from the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ depicted on the vehicle owner/driver smart phone  102 . Responsive thereto, the valet computer  105  locates in the database  109 ,  109 ′ the corresponding vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information and transmits said vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information to the hand-held interface device  125  allowing verification of the vehicle owner/driver and vehicle make, model, color, etc. Verification may also comprise the valet utilizing the hand-held interface device  125  to capture the barcode  122  on the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ,  150 ′ presented by the vehicle owner/driver. In such an embodiment, the camera  140  of the hand-held device  125  is used to capture the barcode  122  from the electronic virtual valet ticket  150 ′. The captured barcode  122  is transmitted to the valet computer  105  and compared to those stored in the database  109 ,  109 ′. Upon locating a barcode match, the valet computer  105  transmits corresponding vehicle owner/driver and vehicle information from database  109 ,  109 ′ to the hand-held interface device  125  allowing verification of the vehicle owner/driver and vehicle make, model, color, etc. 
         [0024]    The embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need for paper valet tickets thus creating a more “green” valet system. Electronic virtual valet tickets reduce the production and distribution costs related to traditional paper-based, valet ticketing methods. Electronic valet tickets increase customer convenience by providing a new and simple way to offer valet services. The disclosed method is compatible with the increased functionality of today&#39;s new messaging tools such as mobile devices and/or smart phones. 
         [0025]    In other embodiments, the business offering the valet service may also incorporate advertisements, coupons, promotions or the like with the electronic virtual valet ticket. For example, at a casino location, the electronic virtual valet ticket may include a dinner coupon or free slot play. Moreover, the system  100  may be adapted to maintain a history of visits such that frequent guests and customers may be targeted via text and/or email messages at a later date. For example, if a casino operator is aware that an individual has visited one or more of its properties frequently during a given time period, the casino operator may utilize the known text number and/or email address to communicate offers to the individual. Such offers may include but are not limited to invitations to join the casino&#39;s slot club. 
         [0026]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.