Abstract:
A wireless advertisement and communication system uses a wireless transmitting unit for sending communication and promotional notices to registered guests of a hotel. The wireless transmitting unit sends the communication and promotional notices to a predefined area. A plurality of receiving units is programmed to receive the communication and promotional notices. Each registered guest of the hotel receives at least one receiving unit at check-in. Each receiving unit receives the communications and promotional notices when the receiving unit is located in the predefined area.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to advertising system, and more specifically, to a wireless advertisement system for hotels, resorts, casinos, and the like wherein (hereinafter hotel) each person who registers at the aforementioned will receive a wireless receiver similar to a small PDA, the wireless receiver being used to receive different promotional advertisements.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry. Different hotel and resort companies (hereinafter hotels) are continuously battling one another to lure customers to stay at their hotel. Even when a client decides to stay at one hotel, the client may want to go to a competing hotel chain to gamble, eat, shop, etc. This is especially problematic in areas like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other gambling and resort areas. In these cities, many tourists may stay at one hotel but gamble, eat and spend other monies at a competing hotel.  
         [0003]     In order to solve the above problem, many hotel companies have begun to offer incentives for people who are staying at their hotel. These incentives can range from discounts to shows, meals, spa treatments, and the like. A problem arises though on how to notify hotel guests of the different incentives a hotel may offer. Some hotels will have signs placed around the hotel premises that notify the guest of different incentive offers. Some hotels may offer different incentives over a particular channel on the television located in the hotel room of the guest. Other hotels may just inform the guest of different incentives when the guest registers at the front desk.  
         [0004]     While the above methods may work, they all suffer serious drawbacks. None of the above methods will allow a guest to immediately know of an incentive offered by the hotel. Furthermore, many of the above methods are not very affective in letting the guest know of current incentives. Many times, if a hotel guest does not see any of the incentives, they will leave the hotel and go to another competing hotel to look for certain services.  
         [0005]     Therefore, a need exists to provide a device and method to overcome the above problem. The device and method must immediate notify guest of any current incentives offered by the hotel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless advertisement and communication system is disclosed. The wireless advertisement and communication system uses a wireless transmitting unit for sending communication and promotional notices to registered guests of a hotel. The wireless transmitting unit only sends the communication and promotional notices to a predefined area. A plurality of receiving units is programmed to receive the communication and promotional notices. Each registered guest of the hotel receives at least one receiving unit at check-in. Each receiving unit receives the communications and promotional notices when the receiving unit is located in the predefined area.  
         [0007]     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a simplified functional diagram of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a notification unit used in the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the notification unit in a charging base;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a simplified function block diagram of the transmitting unit of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a simplified functional block diagram of the circuitry of the notification unit. 
     
    
       [0013]     Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring to the Figures, a wireless notification system  10  is shown. The wireless notification system  10  is used to immediately notify hotel guest of any incentives the hotel may be offering to guest who are registered/staying at their hotel. Incentives may include dinning specials, gambling events, free slot machine pulls, room specials, entertainment specials, spa specials, souvenir specials, and the like. The listing of the above is given as an example and should not be seen as to limit the scope of the present invention. The wireless notification system  10  will only transmit the notification of the incentives in a pre-defined area  11  (i.e., within the vicinity of the hotel property). Thus, people must remain in or around the pre-defined area in order to receive the notification.  
         [0015]     The system  10  is generally comprised of a main transmitting unit  12 . The main transmitting unit  12  is comprised of a computer  14 . The computer  14  will have a processor unit  16  and a display  18 . Input devices are coupled to the processor unit  16 . The input devices may be a keyboard  20 , a mouse  22 , and the like. Through the execution of program instructions forming a computer program product within the computer  14 , notification of incentives are sent to the different notification units  40 .  
         [0016]     The program instructions may be located within a memory  24  of the processor unit  16  and executed by a central processing unit  26  (CPU). Any data stored from the running of the program instructions may be stored entirely within a storage media  28  and/or the memory  24 . Alternatively, the computer  14  may be coupled via a connection  30  to a network such as a local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN) or the Internet. The connection  30  may be a wired connection, a wireless connection, or the like. In a network implementation, the program instructions may be located within a database server  32 . Any data stored such as test results and the like may be stored in a storage media  34  coupled to the database server  32 .  
         [0017]     The input devices may be used in conjunction with program instructions located within the memory  24  and executed by the central processing unit  26  (CPU) to form textual and/or graphical notification of incentives. Alternatively, the textual and/or graphical notification of incentives may be loaded onto or stored in a memory of the processor unit  16 . When desired, one or more textual and/or graphical notification of incentives is sent to a transmitting circuit  36 . The transmitting circuit  36  will then send the notification of incentive to a plurality of wireless transmitters  38  located around the hotel property  11 . The transmitting circuit  36  may be hardwired to each wireless transmitter  38 . Alternatively, the transmitting circuit  36  may be wirelessly coupled to each wireless transmitter  38 . If the transmitting circuit  36  is wirelessly coupled to each wireless transmitter  38 , the transmitting circuit  36  may send a coded notification of incentive to each wireless transmitter  38  to prevent tampering of the wireless notification system  10 .  
         [0018]     The wireless transmitters  38  will be located on all floors of the hotel where guest have access. The wireless transmitters  38  will also be located outside of the hotel around the property  11  of the hotel. The wireless transmitters  38  will wirelessly transmit the notification of incentive. As shown in the drawings, each wireless transmitter  38  will transmit the notification of incentive in a predefined area. Outside of the predefined area, the notification of incentive will not be received. This will encourage guest of the hotel to stay within the predefined area in order to receive the notification of incentive.  
         [0019]     Each guest that is registered at the hotel will receive a notification unit  40 . The notification unit  40  is used to receive the notification of incentive that is sent out via the wireless transmitters  38 . Text messages or other messages may also be sent to the notification unit  40 . These messages may include but are not limited to: when a guest has a telephone call/message; an emergency situation regarding a guest; a package/message is at the front desk; and the like. As stated above, if the notification unit  40  is within the predefined area  11  (i.e., hotel and hotel grounds), the notification of incentive and other messages (hereinafter notification of incentive) will be received on the notification unit  40 . If the guest leaves the hotel grounds  11  with the notification unit  40 , the notification unit  40  will not receive the notification of incentive.  
         [0020]     Each notification unit  40  is similar to a small Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The notification unit  40  will have a housing unit  42 . An opening is formed in the housing unit  42 . The opening is used to mount a display  44  in the housing. The display  44  is used to show the notification of incentive that has been transmitted as well as other operating features of the notification unit  40 . A plurality of buttons  46  are formed in the housing unit  40 . The buttons  46  are used to control operation of the notification unit  40 .  
         [0021]     The housing unit  42  is used to store and protect a receiving circuit  48 . The receiving circuit  48  is used to receive and display the notification of incentive as well as to perform a plurality of different features which will be disclosed below. The receiving circuit has an antenna  50 . The antenna  50  is used to receive signal transmissions from the wireless transmitters  38 . The signal transmissions received by the antenna  50  are generally sent to an amplifier  52  which increases the strength of the signal transmission received by the antenna  50 . The output of the amplifier  52  is sent to the receiver  54 . The receiver  54  decodes and compares the signal to a predefined signal to determine if the signal received is from the wireless notification system  10 . If so, the decode signal is sent to the display  44 . A digital signal processor (DSP)  56  may be coupled to the receiver  54 . The DSP  56  is a highly customized processor designed to perform signal-manipulation calculations at high speed.  
         [0022]     A microprocessor  58  is also coupled to the receiver  54 . The microprocessor  58  handles all of the housekeeping chores for the buttons  46  and the display  44 , deals with command and control signaling, and also coordinates the rest of the functions of the notification unit  40 . A memory section of the microprocessor  58  will generally store an operating system for the notification unit  40 . In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the microprocessor  58  is programmed to translate the notification of incentive, directions, and other functions of the notification unit  40  into different languages. A button  46  may be used to switch between different languages.  
         [0023]     The receiving circuit  48  will have a power supply  59 . The power supply  59  is used to power the different components of the receiving circuit  48 . The power supply  59  is generally a DC power supply such as a battery or the like. A rechargeable battery may be used. In such case, a charging unit  59 A may be placed in a guest room to recharge the power supply  59 . Charging units  59 A may be placed in other locations of the hotel as well.  
         [0024]     A signaling unit  60  may be coupled to the receiver  54 . The signaling unit  60  will inform the user that a notification of incentive signal has been received by the notification unit  40 . The signaling unit  60  may sound an audible alarm such as a beeping noise to indicate that an incentive offer has been received. Alternatively, the signaling unit  60  may vibrate the notification unit  40 . Another alternative is for the signaling unit to provide a visual signal such as a flashing LED to indicate a receipt of an incentive offer. The signaling unit  60  may provide one or more of the above features. If more than one signaling means is provided, a user may select a desired signaling means by pressing one of the predefined buttons  46 .  
         [0025]     As stated above, the notification unit  40  may perform other features. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the notification unit  40  may be used to unlock a guest room of the user. The notification unit  40  may have a key unit  62  coupled to the microprocessor  58 . The key unit  62  will allow one to unlock a guest room of the user. By pressing one of the buttons  46  a coded signal is sent through a wireless transmitter  63 . The coded signal is used to unlock the door lock. Alternatively, the notification unit  40  may be pressed against a door lock so that the key unit  62  engages the door lock thereby unlocking the door lock. An I/O interface  64  is generally coupled to the microprocessor  58 . The I/O interface  64  is used to program the key unit  62  to open a specific hotel door lock.  
         [0026]     The microprocessor  58  may also function as a radio frequency module. This would allow the microprocessor  58  to remotely control different features in the hotel room via the wireless transmitter  63 . For example, the microprocessor  58  programmed as a radio frequency module may allow a person to turn on the lights in the hotel room, adjust the thermostat, control a television and/or radio, and the like. Alternatively, a base unit (not shown) may be located on a wall of the hotel room. When the notification unit  40  is placed in the base unit, the base unit will activate the lights in the room, adjust the thermostat to a predefined level, charge the notification unit, and the like. Furthermore, by placing the notification unit  40  in the base unit, the base unit may notify the hotel that the guest is in the hotel room.  
         [0027]     The notification unit  40  may also be used to display a map of the hotel. The map may show all interior features as well as amenities located on the hotel grounds. The notification unit  40  may store a map of the hotel grounds in a memory device  66  coupled to the microprocessor  58 . A user can bring up a map by pressing a designated button  46 . Different buttons  46  may be used to zoom in and out on the map. Alternatively, the hotel can upload the map when a guest checks into the hotel. The upload may be used to show the room location of the guest. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a city map may be stored in memory. The city map may show other hotels in the city owned by the same company.  
         [0028]     The notification unit  40  may further have a tracking unit  68  coupled to the microprocessor  58 . The tracking unit  68  would be used to allow the hotel to track the location of the notification unit  40 . This will allow one to locate a notification unit  40  if a guest should lose the notification unit  40 . In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the tracking unit  68  is an RFID tag unit.  
         [0029]     The notification unit  40  may further have an audible alarm unit  70  coupled to the microprocessor  58 . The audible alarm unit  70  will sound an audible alarm when a user presses a predefined button  46  or sequence of buttons  46 . Alternatively, a pull pin may be used to sound the audible alarm unit  70 . To deactivate or turn off the audible alarm unit  70 , one can press the predefined button  46  or sequence of buttons  46  or reinsert the pull pin. The audible alarm unit  70  may work in conjunction with the tracking unit  68 . If the audible alarm unit  70  is activated, the tracking unit  68  would allow the hotel to find the location of the guest in order to render aid.  
         [0030]     The notification unit  40  may further be used as a credit/debit card. In this manner, the notification unit  40  would be used in a similar manner as a frequent gaming card. A user may couple the notification unit  40  to a gaming device via the I/O interface  64  of the receiving circuit  48 . The notification unit  40  can then debit/credit the guest account based on the winnings/losses of the guest. In a like manner, if a guest decides to purchase food, drink, services, and the like from a hotel store, restaurant, spa, etc., the hotel may charge the notification unit  40  via the I/O interface  64 . All charges may then be downloaded and charged to the guest when the guest checks out of the hotel.  
         [0031]     This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.