Abstract:
A method to manage a plurality of guest rental units, wherein the method provides a plurality of guest rental units, wherein each guest rental unit comprises one or more bed rooms and a bath room. The method further disposes a different rental kiosk adjacent to, and associated with, each guest rental unit, displays on each rental kiosk a vacancy status for a designated guest rental unit, and accepts a rental payment at each rental kiosk for a designated guest rental unit. In certain embodiments, the method displays upon request the availability of a rental unit in accordance with a previous reservation made by the traveler. The kiosk displays this availability, and upon approval of the travelers credit card, assigns a room or rental unit to the traveler and enables said travelers credit card to also enable a locking device on the room or rental unit to permit entry to the traveler.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority from a U.S. Provisional Application having Ser. No. 60/971,195, filed Sep. 10, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is directed to an automated method to manage rental units, hotel rooms, or guest suites. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditionally, a traveler looking for overnight accommodations first locates a motel or hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast, and or any other similar traveler hosting facility, arrives via commercial transportation, rental car, or public transportation and or, parks at a motel office, determines if the motel has available rooms at an acceptable price, signs a rental agreement of some sort, returns to his/her vehicle, and finally attempts to find the correct motel room. 
         [0004]    If the traveler arrives late at night, motel and or hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast, and or any other similar traveler hosting facility, personnel might not be readily available to complete the rental transaction, thereby forcing the weary traveler to wait for an extended period time. If the traveler arrives during inclement weather, it is inconvenient to park the vehicle, exit the vehicle, lock the door(s), return to the vehicle, unlock the doors, multiple times during that inclement weather. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    What is needed is a method wherein a traveler can locate a convenient guest rental unit, determine is that guest rental unit is available without leaving his/her vehicle, pay for lodging at that guest rental unit without leaving his/her vehicle, and park the vehicle inside a garage without the need to first open a garage door. In addition this invention would facilitate a traveler arriving at a hostel, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, and ro other commercial hosting facility by enabling the traveler to check in, guarantee payment, and secure entry to his or her room or suite without having to interact with hotel or motel personnel to perform this task, eliminating overhead costs for the establishment owner entity, while greatly enhancing the travelers convenience in obtaining and checking into his room or suite. 
         [0006]    Applicant&#39;s invention comprises an apparatus and method to manage a plurality of guest rental units. The method provides a plurality of guest rental units, wherein each guest rental unit comprises one or more bed rooms and a bath room. The method further disposes a different rental kiosk adjacent to, and associated with, each guest rental unit, displays on each rental kiosk a vacancy status for a designated guest rental unit, and accepts a rental payment at each rental kiosk for a designated guest rental unit. This information could also be displayed on a lobby kiosk apparatus that would enable the checkin process, room selection, and room or suite entry using the traveler&#39;s credit card as the entry device, rather than an additional unnecessary step of securing a key. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0007]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of Applicant&#39;s guest rental complex; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one of Applicant&#39;s guest rental units; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  illustrates one embodiment of a surface of Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a block diagram illustrating additional elements disposed in Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the guest rental unit of  FIG. 2  with a garage door open; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart summarizing the steps of Applicant&#39;s method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0015]    The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0016]    In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s invention comprises an apparatus and method, wherein a traveler can locate a convenient guest rental unit, determine if that guest rental unit is available for the night without leaving his/her vehicle, pay for lodging at that guest rental unit without leaving his/her vehicle, and park the vehicle inside a garage without the need to first open a garage door. 
         [0017]    Applicant&#39;s invention is described herein in a “motel-type” implementation, wherein a rental complex comprises a plurality of individual and separate rental units each comprising a driveway. This description of Applicant&#39;s invention should not be taken to limit the invention to such motel-type embodiments. Applicant&#39;s method summarized in  FIG. 5  may be implemented in hotel embodiments as well. 
         [0018]    Applicant&#39;s invention comprises a plurality of rental units, and an automated method whereunder each rental unit comprises a visual display device which displays the rental status of the unit, and a rental kiosk at which a patron may contract for the rental of a unit, if available, for one or a plurality of designated time periods. In certain embodiments, each rental unit comprises a living space in combination with a garage. 
         [0019]    In certain embodiments, the living space comprises a single bed room and a bath room. In certain embodiments, the living space comprises a plurality of bed room and one or more bath rooms. In certain embodiments, the living space comprises a plurality of bed rooms, a plurality of bath rooms, and a living room. 
         [0020]    In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s apparatus and method provides a plurality of guest services in combination with the afore-described living space. In certain embodiments, the guest services include one or more of the group comprising cable/satellite television reception, Internet connectivity, on-demand movies, food catering, and the like. 
         [0021]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , Applicant&#39;s rental unit complex  100  comprises rental unit  110 , rental unit  120 , rental unit  130 , rental unit  140 , and rental unit  150 . Further in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , rental unit complex  100  comprises entry way  105  which interconnects rental complex  100  with roadway  102 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , each guest rental unit is associated with a different rental kiosk  210 , i.e. rental kiosk  210   a /guest rental unit  150 , rental kiosk  210   b /guest rental unit  140 , rental kiosk  210   c /guest rental unit  130 , rental kiosk  210   d /guest rental unit  120 , and rental kiosk  210   e /guest rental unit  110 . 
         [0022]    Further in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , guest rental unit complex  100  comprises gated common area  160 , wherein entry to common area  160  is controlled by gate  165 . In certain embodiments, gate  165  is activated by use of a credit card used to rent one or more of the guest rental units  110  through  150 , inclusive. In certain embodiments, common area  160  may include one or more recreational facilities, such as and without limitation a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, volley ball court, and the like. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of Applicant&#39;s guest rental unit  200 . In certain embodiments, each of guest rental units  110  through  150 , inclusive, comprises a separate guest rental unit  200 . Guest rental unit  200  comprises living space  202 , garage  204 , and driveway  206 . 
         [0024]    Rental kiosk  210  is disposed adjacent driveway  206 . Rental kiosk comprises surface  230  which faces driveway  206 . In the event a vehicle enters drive way  206 , surface  230  of rental kiosk  210  faces the vehicle driver. 
         [0025]    In hotel embodiments, a rental kiosk is mounted adjacent to each available room/suite available in the hotel. In certain of these hotel embodiments, Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk is mounted within a wall with only surface  230  visible to hotel guests. 
         [0026]    Certain of the functional units disposed in Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk have been labeled as modules (e.g., modules  355  and  395 ) in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module (e.g., modules  355  and  395 ) may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module (e.g., modules  355  and  395 ) may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like. 
         [0027]    Modules (e.g., modules  355  and  395 ) may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module (e.g.,  355  and/or  395 ) need not be physically collocated, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module. 
         [0028]    Indeed, a module of executable code (e.g., modules  355  and/or  395 ) may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and maybe embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network. 
         [0029]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3A , surface  230  of rental kiosk  210  comprises a visual display device  310 . In certain embodiments, visual display device  310  comprises a liquid crystal display (“LCD”). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , visual display device  310  reads VACANCY. In other embodiments, visual display device reads OCCUPIED or RESERVED. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a vehicle operator can ascertain the rental status of each of guest rental units  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140 , and  150 , by reading the status message shown on a rental kiosk associated with each of those guest rental units. 
         [0030]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3A , surface  230  of rental kiosk  210  further comprises information  320  comprising, inter alia, rental rates data. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , surface  230  of rental kiosk  210  further comprises information  330  comprising, inter alia, motel policies, telephone contact information, check out times, and the like. 
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , surface  230  of rental kiosk  210  further comprises a credit card magnetic strip reading device  340 , visual display device  350 , and input devices  360 ,  370 , and  380 . In certain embodiments, visual display device  350  comprises a touch screen, and input devices  360 ,  370 , and  380 , comprise separate touch screen elements. 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk comprises a single visual display device. In these embodiments, the guest rental unit status information of step  505  ( FIG. 5 ) is displayed on visual display device  350 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 3B , in certain embodiments Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk  210  comprises housing  305 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3B , processor  315 , power source  385 , memory  325 , cellular telephone module  355 , and wireless computer network interface  395 , are disposed within housing  305 . Credit card magnetic strip reading device  340 , visual display device  350 , and input devices  360 ,  370 , and  380 , are interconnected with processor  315  and power source  385 . 
         [0034]    In certain embodiments, power source  385  comprises a power supply apparatus that receives input power of about 115 VAC and converts that input power to output power of ±5VDC and ±12VDC. In certain embodiments, power source  385  comprises a plurality of batteries. 
         [0035]    In certain embodiments, rental rate information  326 , reservation database  327 , operating system/microcode  328 , and instructions  329 , are encoded in memory  325 . Processor  315  utilizes microcode/operating system  328  to operate rental kiosk  310 . 
         [0036]    In certain embodiments, Applicants rental kiosk further comprises antenna  357  which is interconnected with cellular telephone module  355 . In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s rental kiosk  310  further comprises antenna  397  which is interconnected with wireless computer network interface module  395 . Rental kiosk  310  receives updated rental rate information  326  via cellular telephone module  355  and/or wireless computer network  395 , wherein processor  315  writes that updated rental information to memory  325 . Rental kiosk  310  receives updated guest rental unit reservation information via cellular telephone module  355  and/or wireless computer network  395 , wherein processor  315  writes that updated guest rental unit reservation information to reservation database  327 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  summarizes the steps of Applicant&#39;s method. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in step  505  the method visually displays the rental status of a rental unit/hotel room/suite, such as for example and without limitation rental unit  200  ( FIG. 2 ), or a room/suite in a hotel. In certain embodiments, the rental status information is displayed on a visual display device, such as device  310 , disposed on a rental kiosk, such as rental kiosk  210 . In certain embodiments, the rental status information is displayed on a visual display device, such as device  350 , disposed on a rental kiosk, such as rental kiosk  210 . 
         [0038]    In step  510 , the method detects a credit card swipe at a credit card magnetic strip reader, such as credit card magnetic strip reader  340 . In step  520 , the method determines if the rental unit/hotel room/suite associated with the credit card magnetic strip reader of step  510  is occupied. 
         [0039]    If the method determines in step  520  that the rental unit/hotel room/suite associated with the credit card magnetic strip reader of step  510  is occupied, then the method transitions from step  520  to step  530  wherein the method causes the visual display device of step  505  to display a message that the rental unit/hotel room/suite is unavailable. If the method determines in step  520  that the rental unit/hotel room/suite associated with the credit card magnetic strip reader of step  510  is not occupied, then the method transitions from step  520  to step  540  wherein the method determines if that rental unit/hotel room/suite is reserved. 
         [0040]    If the method determines in step  540  that the requested rental unit/hotel room/suite is reserved, then the method transitions from step  540  to step  550  wherein the method determines if the credit card information determined in step  510  matches credit card information recited in a reservation for the requested rental unit/hotel room/suite. If the method determines in step  550  that the credit card information determined in step  510  does not match the credit card information recited in a reservation for the requested rental unit/hotel room/suite, then the method transitions from step  550  to step  530  wherein the method causes the visual display device of step  505  to display a message that the rental unit/hotel room/suite is unavailable. 
         [0041]    Alternatively, if the method determines in step  550  that the credit card information determined in step  510  does match the credit card information recited in a reservation for the requested rental unit/hotel room/suite, then the method transitions from step  550  to step  560  wherein the method determines, using a visual display device such as visual display device  350  and input buttons  360 ,  370 , and  380 , the number of persons in the rental party, the length of the requested rental term, the zero or more optional services requested, and the like. In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s method displays a menu-driven series of displays, wherein the user scrolls through that menu, and indicates certain selections, using input buttons  360 ,  370 , and  380 . 
         [0042]    Further in step  560 , the method determines if the credit card of step  510  is authorized for the rental charges calculated using the services selected by the user in step  560 . If the method determines in step  560  that the proffered credit card was refused, then the method transitions from step  560  to step  570  wherein the method displays a message that the proffered credit card was refused. Applicant&#39;s method transitions from step  570  to step  510  and continues as described herein. 
         [0043]    Alternatively and referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , if the method determines in step  560  that the proffered credit card was accepted, then the method transitions from step  560  to step  580  wherein the method, in certain motel embodiments causes the garage door element of the requested rental unit/hotel room/suite to open. In hotel implementations, if the method determines in step  560  that the proffered credit card was accepted, then the method transitions from step  560  to step  580  wherein the method causes the door of the requested room/suite to open. 
         [0044]    In step  580 , the method determines if the payment period selected and paid for in step  560  has expired. If the method determines in step  580  that the payment period has not expired, then the method continues to monitor the expiration of the payment period. 
         [0045]    Alternatively, if the method determines in step  590  that the payment period selected and paid for in step  560  has expired, then the method discontinues all services to the rental unit/hotel room/suite. The method transitions from step  590  to step  510  and continues as described herein. 
         [0046]    In certain embodiments, step  590  comprises discontinuing electrical service to the rental unit/hotel room/suite. In certain embodiments, step  590  comprises discontinuing heating service to the rental unit/hotel room/suite. In certain embodiments, step  590  comprises discontinuing air conditioning service to the rental unit/hotel room/suite. In certain embodiments, step  590  comprises discontinuing Internet service to the rental unit/hotel room/suite. In certain embodiments, step  590  comprises discontinuing television service to the rental unit/hotel room/suite. 
         [0047]    In certain embodiments, individual steps recited in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and/or  4  may be combined, eliminated, or reordered. 
         [0048]    In certain embodiments, Applicant&#39;s invention includes instructions, such as instructions  113  ( FIG. 1 ) written to computer readable medium  111  ( FIG. 1 ), where those instructions are executed by a processor, such as processor  116  ( FIG. 1 ), to perform one or more of steps  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 ,  260 ,  270 ,  280 ,  290 , and/or  295 , recited in  FIG. 2 , and/or one or more of steps  310 ,  315 ,  320 ,  325 ,  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345 ,  350 ,  360 ,  365 ,  370 , and/or  380 , recited in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0049]    In other embodiments, Applicant&#39;s invention includes instructions, such as instructions  329 , encoded in a computer readable medium such as memory  325 , where those instructions are executed by a processor, such as processor  315 , to perform one or more of steps  505 ,  510 ,  520 ,  530 ,  540 ,  550 ,  560 ,  570 ,  580 ,  590 , and/or  595  recited in  FIG. 5 . The instructions may be encoded in a computer readable medium comprising, for example, a magnetic information storage medium, an optical information storage medium, an electronic information storage medium, and the like. By “electronic storage media,” Applicant means, for example, a device such as a PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash PROM, compactflash, smartmedia, and the like. 
         [0050]    While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.