JP4174754B2 - Usage fee inquiry device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a usage fee inquiry device that can further enhance the convenience of a user when the usage fee is in a time system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, there are many time-based fee systems in which the usage fee is calculated based on the usage time, such as a room fee for a hotel or a karaoke box or a viewing fee for a pay TV broadcast program.
[0003]
In facilities that have such a time-based fee structure, it is preferable that users who are using the facility should inquire about the current usage fee at any time and continue or terminate the usage according to the budget amount on hand. . Therefore, for example, a fee settlement machine installed in each guest room of a hotel for a break normally incorporates a function for inquiring about a usage charge up to now and an accommodation charge.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When using such a conventional technology, the user can inquire about the usage fee up to the present, but can know the maximum available time depending on the budget amount on hand and information on the usage fee up to the scheduled time in the future. There is a problem that sufficient satisfaction cannot always be obtained.
[0005]
Accordingly, in view of the problems of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to input a scheduled end time of use and a budget amount of the usage fee, and in response to the input, a scheduled termination corresponding to the usage fee and budget amount up to the scheduled time. An object of the present invention is to provide a usage fee inquiry device capable of accurately calculating and answering time.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the configuration of the present invention comprises a computer for fee settlement that can be entered in a fee settlement machine for check-in and check-out installed in each guest room, and a bidirectional connection with each of the computers. And a host computer for management including a database for storing the check-in time and check-out time of each guest room as well as setting and storing the unit price per hour for each guest room. When the check is made, the check-in data including the guest room number of the guest room is transmitted to the host computer, and the host computer stores the check-in time of the guest room in the database and reports the check-in completion to the computer of the guest room. Check each computer from the host computer When the usage fee budget is entered on the inquiry screen, the entered budget amount is sent to the host computer as inquiry data together with the room number. Budget that reflects the usage time from check-in to the present by subtracting the amount of usage equivalent to the usage time from the check-in time to the current time of the room based on the check-in time and the unit price per hour The gist is to calculate the estimated end time corresponding to the amount and reply to the computer.
[0007]
Each computer waits for a report of completion of check-in from the host computer, and when the scheduled use end time is entered from the inquiry screen, the entered scheduled time is sent to the host computer as inquiry data together with the room number. The host computer may calculate the usage fee from the check-in to the scheduled time including the usage fee from the check-in to the current time based on the check-in time and the unit price per hour of the room in the database and reply to the computer it can.
[0008]
[Action]
When the budget amount of the usage fee is input by the user, the scheduled end time corresponding to the budget amount is calculated and answered, so that the user has an extra amount of usage fee and usage time. There is no need to worry.
[0009]
Further, when the scheduled end time of use is input by the user, the usage fee up to the scheduled time is calculated and answered, so the user does not need to pay extra attention to the usage fee or usage time.
[0010]
However, the computer can answer the user by displaying the usage fee up to the obtained scheduled time and the scheduled end time corresponding to the budget amount on the display.
[0011]
In addition, by connecting the computer bidirectionally to the management host computer, for example, the unit charge per hour can be centrally managed by the host computer. However, the computer at this time is incorporated in the fee settlement machine installed in each guest room of the hotel, for example, and the host computer performs various management functions such as totaling the usage results of the entire hotel based on the data from each computer. Shall be shared.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
The usage fee inquiry device includes a computer 11 and a management host computer 21 that is bidirectionally connected to the computer 11 via a communication line L (FIG. 1). However, the computer 11 is incorporated in, for example, the fee settlement machine 10 installed in each guest room of the hotel, and the fee settlement machines 10, 10... Of each guest room are connected to the host computer 21 in both directions.
[0014]
In each fee settlement machine 10, a bill discriminator 13 and a coin discriminator 14 are connected to the computer 11 in addition to the display 12. The display 12 is a liquid crystal display with a data input function capable of inputting arbitrary data to the computer 11 via a transparent touch switch board covering the screen, for example. The bill discriminator 13 and the coin discriminator 14 have a bill and a coin receiving function, a true / false discrimination function, and a payout function, respectively. Therefore, each fee settlement machine 10 can execute a fee settlement operation, a currency exchange operation, or the like in accordance with a user instruction input via the display 12.
[0015]
On the other hand, the host computer 21 includes a database 21a. The database 21a stores and stores the usage charge unit price per unit time, the accommodation charge unit price, etc. for each guest room, as well as the check-in data and check-out data transmitted from the charge settlement machine 10 of each guest room. The check-in time, check-out time, etc. are stored. Therefore, the host computer 21 can use these data to create management data for the entire hotel including the usage time and usage fee for each guest room, daily reports, monthly reports, and the like as needed.
[0016]
The operation contents of the computer 11 and the host computer 21 directly related to the inquiry of the usage fee are as shown in the program flowcharts of FIGS.
[0017]
When the user checks in to a specific guest room, the computer 11 of the fare adjustment machine 10 of the guest room transmits check-in data including the guest room number to the host computer 21 (program step (1) in FIG. 2). After the check-in completion report from the host computer 21 (2), for example, the check-in screen of FIG. 6 is displayed on the display 12 and the process is terminated (3). On the other hand, when receiving the check-in data from the computer 11 of a specific guest room, the host computer 21 stores the check-in time of the guest room in the database 21a (program step (1) in FIG. ), A message indicating that the guest room is being checked in is displayed on a management display (not shown), the completion of check-in is reported to the computer 11 and the process is terminated (2). That is, the host computer 21 can store the check-in time of the guest room based on the check-in data from the computer 11 of each guest room.
[0018]
When the “stay” button is pressed on the check-in screen in FIG. 6, the computer 11 automatically displays the accommodation fee on the display 12 and can charge the user for advance payment of the accommodation fee. Further, when the “return” button is pressed, a checkout operation at the time of check-out is executed, and when the “exchange” button is pressed, a high-value banknote exchange operation can be executed. However, the contents and execution methods of these tasks are well known in the art and will not be described in detail.
[0019]
When the “charge inquiry” button is pressed on the check-in screen, the computer 11 displays the inquiry screen of FIG. 7 on the display 12 and stands by. Therefore, when the “current fee” button and the “accommodation fee” button on the inquiry screen are pressed, the computer 11 inquires the host computer 21 about the current usage fee and the accommodation fee, and displays the results. 12 to answer. The host computer 21 calculates the current usage fee based on the unit price per hour of the room stored in the database 21a and the usage time from the check-in time to the present, and the unit price of the accommodation fee. The accommodation fee can be calculated based on the above and the inquiry from the computer 11 can be answered. On the other hand, when the “return” button on the inquiry screen is pressed, the computer 11 displays the check-in screen in FIG. 6 and stands by.
[0020]
When the “time input” button is pressed on the inquiry screen in FIG. 7, the computer 11 executes the program in FIG. 4. That is, the program first displays the time input screen shown in FIG. 8 on the display 12 (program step (1) in FIG. 4, hereinafter simply expressed as (1)), and the scheduled use end time is entered numerically. Then (2), the contents are displayed on the time input screen (3). Subsequently, when the “OK” button is pressed (4), the program sends the inputted scheduled time together with the guest room number as inquiry data to the host computer 21 (5), and the response from the host computer 21 is sent. Wait (6). On the other hand, the host computer 21 calculates the total time of the usage time from the check-in time of the guest room to the present time and the scheduled use time from the present time to the scheduled time, and applies the usage charge unit price per hour of the guest room. Thus, the usage fee up to the scheduled time can be calculated and answered to the computer 11.
[0021]
Therefore, when receiving an answer from the host computer 21 (6), the program displays the result screen of FIG. 9 on the display 12 to answer the user (7), and the “return” button in the result screen is pressed. Waiting for the operation (8), the display returns to the time input screen display state of FIG. 8 (1). On the time input screen, by pressing the “Cancel” button (9), the number indicating the scheduled time can be re-input ((1) to (4)), and the “Return” button is pressed. By operating (10), it is possible to return to the display state of the inquiry screen of FIG. 7 (11).
[0022]
That is, the computer 11 inputs the usage fee up to the scheduled time calculated on the basis of the usage fee unit price per hour on the display 12 when the scheduled usage end time is entered numerically via the time input screen on the display 12. Can be displayed and answered on the result screen. The usage fee that is answered includes the usage fee from check-in to the present.
[0023]
On the other hand, when the “budget input” button on the inquiry screen of FIG. 7 is pressed, the computer 11 executes the program of FIG. The program in FIG. 5 is basically the same as the program in FIG. However, the budget input screen displayed in the program step (1) in FIG. 5 and the result screen displayed in the (7) are respectively as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example. The number input and displayed on the budget input screen on the display 12 in (3) is the budget amount of the usage fee, and the inquiry data transmitted to the host computer 21 in (5) is the input budget amount. And the room number. Therefore, the host computer 21 subtracts the usage amount equivalent to the usage time from the check-in time of the guest room to the present time from the budget amount, and ends the time after the available time equivalent to the remaining budget amount from the current time. Since it is calculated as the scheduled time and responds to the computer 11 (same (6)), the program may display it on the result screen on the display 12 (same (7), FIG. 11).
[0024]
That is, when the budget amount of the usage fee is input via the budget input screen, the computer 11 displays an answer on the result screen by displaying the scheduled end time corresponding to the budget amount calculated based on the usage fee unit price per hour. can do. Note that the scheduled end time that is answered reflects the usage time from check-in to the present.
[0025]
9 and 11, the scheduled time and the scheduled end time are displayed with dates. Such date information is built in the computer 11 or the host computer 21. It can be easily added using the calendar function. For example, in FIG. 8, when a scheduled time before the current time is input, the scheduled time may be treated as the time of the next day. In FIG. What is necessary is just to calculate the date of time.
[0026]
In the above description, each computer 11 in FIG. 1 may be operated as a stand-alone type without being connected to the host computer 21. Further, data input to the computer 11 may be performed by voice input using a microphone instead of using the data input function of the display 12, and an answer from the computer 11 may be received from a speaker instead of displaying a result screen by the display 12. May be output by voice output.
[0027]
Note that the present invention is not limited to a hotel, and can be applied to a wide range of applications that employ a time-based fee system, such as a karaoke box or a billing processing system for receiving pay TV broadcasts.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the budget amount of the usage fee is input, the scheduled end time corresponding to the budget amount can be answered, so that further convenience can be achieved for the user. There is an excellent effect of being able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[Fig. 1] Overall block system diagram [Fig. 2] Program flow chart (1)
FIG. 3 is a program flowchart (2).
FIG. 4 is a program flowchart (3).
FIG. 5 is a program flowchart (4).
6 is an operation screen explanatory diagram (1).
[Fig. 7] Operation screen explanatory diagram (2)
[Fig. 8] Operation screen explanatory diagram (3)
[Fig. 9] Operation screen explanatory diagram (4)
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation screen (5).
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an operation screen (6).
[Explanation of symbols]
11 ... Computer 12 ... Display 21 ... Host computer

Claims (2)

Charge check computers installed in check-in and check-out machines installed in each guest room that can be used for data entry and two-way connection to each computer to set the unit price per hour for each guest room each room of the check-in time and stores, it and a host computer for managing comprising a database for storing check-out time, each computer, the check-in is made in the room, the room number of the room Check-in data transmitted to said host computer, said host computer including, while reporting a check-in completion to the computer of the room to store the check-in time of the room in the database, each computer, the Report check-in completion from the host computer I, the budget of the usage fee is input from the inquiry screen, it transmits a budget that has been input to the host computer as a query data with room numbers, the host computer, checking in the room in the database Equivalent to the budget amount that reflects the usage time from check-in to the present by subtracting the amount of usage equivalent to the usage time from the check-in time of the room to the present based on the unit price per hour and time The usage fee inquiry device is characterized in that a scheduled end time is calculated and answered to the computer. Each computer waits for a check-in completion report from the host computer, and when the scheduled use end time is input from the inquiry screen , the input scheduled time is transmitted to the host computer as inquiry data together with the guest room number. Then, the host computer calculates the usage fee from the check-in to the scheduled time including the usage fee from the check-in time to the computer based on the check-in time of the room in the database and the unit price of usage per hour. The usage fee inquiry device according to claim 1, which answers.

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