GB2554409A

GB2554409A - System for sun bed or sun lounger usage management for holiday locations

Info

Publication number: GB2554409A
Application number: GB1616297.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwame Codrington Clifford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-09-26
Filing date: 2016-09-26
Publication date: 2018-04-04
Also published as: GB201616297D0

Abstract

A sun bed or sun lounger usage management system comprises a smart card/fob 12 associated with reservation information for a bed or lounger, and a LCD display terminal 1 attachable to each bed or lounger for reading the smart card/fob 12 and displaying a reserved or available status 7, preferably using a worded display 6 or green and red indicator lights (2A,3, fig 2). The system further comprises a master terminal (13, fig 5) in data communication with the display terminal 1 for remotely monitoring bed or lounger usage and reservation information, for example by hotel staff. Each smart card/fob 12 is associated with a unique serial number or barcode and may be integrated with a users hotel card/fob and linked to the users room number. The display terminal 1 may read the card/fob 12 to initiate a timer (5, fig 2) for a user reservation period. The system aims to prevent belongings, such as towels, being used to reserve furniture and alerts staff to the status of each piece of furniture.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: System for sun bed or sun lounger usage management for holiday locations Abstract Title: Sun lounger reservation system (57) A sun bed or sun lounger usage management system comprises a smart card/fob 12 associated with reservation information for a bed or lounger, and a LCD display terminal 1 attachable to each bed or lounger for reading the smart card/fob 12 and displaying a reserved or available status 7, preferably using a worded display 6 or green and red indicator lights (2A,3, fig 2). The system further comprises a master terminal (13, fig 5) in data communication with the display terminal 1 for remotely monitoring bed or lounger usage and reservation information, for example by hotel staff. Each smart card/fob 12 is associated with a unique serial number or barcode and may be integrated with a user’s hotel card/fob and linked to the user’s room number. The display terminal 1 may read the card/fob 12 to initiate a timer (5, fig 2) for a user reservation period. The system aims to prevent belongings, such as towels, being used to reserve furniture and alerts staff to the status of each piece of furniture.

FIGURE 1

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FIGURE 1

1

C-TING r J

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FIGURE 2

2A 1A 3

3/5

FIGURE 3

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FIGURE 4

5/5

FIGURE 5

SYSTEM FOR SUN BED OR SUN LOUNGER USAGE MANAGEMENT FOR

HOLIDAY LOCATIONS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the use of sun beds or sun loungers in hotels or holiday resorts where sun beds or sun loungers are made available to holidaymakers in large numbers for sunbathing or relaxation periods.

Background

Sun beds or sun loungers are a type of bed that holidaymakers use to lay on to relax and gain a sun tan and are widely made available at hotels and other holiday locations in small to large numbers.

The person would normally approach the use of a sun bed or sun lounger by hoping that one or more are available to them when they arrive at the area, thus it is also common for people to lay a towel onto a sun bed or sun lounger to ‘reserve’ it. This action is a matter of leaving a personal item to show that you have and intend to continue to occupy the sun bed or sun lounger at a later time.

However, this method is not a particular rule and therefore does not provide an organised way of reservation and can also even create some levels of anxiety or holiday disruption to the user, leaving them with a negative holiday experience.

The present invention aims to provide a system wherein the reservation of a sun bed or sun lounger is organised and managed from a central point and booked through the user at the sun bed or sun lounger and visually made aware that a bed is already taken or is available, during time periods which can be pre-determined therein.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device which enables the reservation of sun beds or sun loungers. C-Ting (Seating) suggested title only, is a system for sun bed or sun lounger use management at holiday resorts or similar locations. The aim of this system is to reduce the early and often unnecessary booking of sun beds or sun loungers, minimising the amount of vacant sun beds or sun loungers ‘reserved’ with belongings on, such as a towel, in holiday resorts. The system’s objective is to allow everyone to have a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday and better use of sun beds or sun loungers at hotels and resorts. One of the main complaints from holidaymakers in large hotels is the fact that sun beds or sun loungers are reserved by towels and personal belongings in the early hours of the morning and not used until later in the day, if at all. This is unfair to other holidaymakers and it is common place for this technique to be copied by others, resulting in a large number of unused sun beds or sun loungers over the duration of a holiday.

In the preferred embodiment a C-Ting unit, which is a small electronic device is attached to each individual sun bed or sun lounger at a convenient location, such as the arm of each sun bed or sun lounger. This is secured using a suitable method being non corrosive, waterproof and able to withstand high temperatures which may include a bracket type arrangement of a strap ensemble such as a high grade plastic, rubber or metal variant. Incorporated onto each C-Ting unit is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen and two coloured areas visible similar to traffic lights for information delivery. This screen is visible in sunlight from various angles and provides means for the user or a staff member to see the reservation status of the sun bed or sun lounger at any given time. To enable the powering of this screen and the related receiving abilities of the system, a solar powered panel or long life battery are provided. Each C-Ting unit must be waterproof or splash proof due to location near to pools and possible contact with other liquids.

Each C-Ting unit has a unique serial number and/or barcode number to enable individual identification and management of them, this information may be fed back to a master unit via wireless means including Wi-Fi or other known wireless information transmission; this would enable all data on usage and other monitoring to be held in one place. A C-Ting smart card/fob similar to a hotel card/fob is provided to the holidaymaker or integrated with the holidaymakers current hotel card/fob, which allows holidaymakers to reserve sun beds or sun loungers by scanning the CTing card/fob onto the C-Ting unit, which they will be given upon check in. Therefore, resident staff can carry around manager C-Ting card/fobs to check information on any sun bed or sun lounger. This process could be extended to mobile phones RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) eventually allowing easy integration to the system.

All C-Ting units and C-Ting card/fobs are registered to a master point or station; this device can read C-Ting units and C-Ting cards via a barcode scanning device, or by scanning in the same way as the C-Ting cards/fobs can be scanned.

Features of a C-Ting unit include a built in clock for recording and viewing expiry times of users and the logging of the user’s room number and displaying the reservation status. Other areas include managing the whole system remotely including reservation and expiry times.

In the preferred embodiment the C-Ting unit will be already attached to the arm of each sun bed or sun lounger or appropriate area and locked in place. A one hour or other desired time period of reservation determined by the hotel, can be made via a C-Ting card/fob provided, by holding the card/fob near to the C-Ting unit thereon. On inspection of any C-Ting unit the user is then shown the status using a colour system, for example: Green - Sun bed or sun lounger available, if no person occupies it. Red - Sun bed or sun lounger reserved for one hour. Please do not use the sun bed or sun lounger. This may also be shown using a simple image of a sun bed or sun lounger with or without an ‘X’ over the image. The ‘X’ indicating that the sun bed or sun lounger is not available. When a holidaymaker checks into a hotel they are either asked if they will be using the sun beds or sun loungers for the duration of their holiday or they will automatically be given a single C-Ting card/fob per customer. Room number information is then logged to the C-Ting master unit and the C-Ting card/fob will be activated with the ability to reserve any sun bed or sun lounger for the amount of time set by the hotel or resort.

Other time periods would be optional along a wide range of periods from, for example: one hour onwards. Hotels would also have the ability to charge a fee for any period of reservation which exceeds the hotels default reservation period. No sun bed or sun lounger should be unoccupied by a person with belongings on it unless it has been reserved and has a Red light or reserved symbol showing on the display, which shows other customers that it is not available.

The system can be administered in various ways and situations relating to examples; wherein, there is an empty, unused sun bed or sun lounger a Green area or LED (Light Emitting Diode) is displayed on the C-Ting unit. When a holidaymaker approaches an empty, vacant sun bed or sun lounger, the LED colour is green to show that it is available and text on the LCD will display 'vacant' or 'available' in alternating languages. The holidaymaker can use the sun bed or sun lounger for as long as they like without scanning their C-Ting card/fob, as long as they are on the sun bed or sun lounger. No staff interaction with the C-Ting unit is needed at this stage.

Also wherein, a holidaymaker wants to reserve a sun bed or sun lounger they are using for a maximum of one hour (or time set by the hotel) as they will be vacating it temporarily. Green LED displayed. Should a holidaymaker leave a sun bed or sun lounger with the intention of returning; even if just going to the swimming pool, they must activate the C-Ting unit by holding their C-Ting card/fob onto the C-Ting unit. This will start the C-Ting unit timer for the hotel set reservation time and let other customers know that the sun bed or sun lounger is still in use. The LED colour will change to Red to show that the C-Ting timer has been activated. The text 'reserved' will display in alternating languages and the remaining time on the LCD will be displayed and count down. No staff interaction with the C-Ting unit is needed at this stage.

Also Wherein, there is an empty, unused sun bed or sun lounger. Red LED displayed along with time remaining. The sun bed or sun lounger has been reserved. A timer will display showing how long is left on the reservation. No staff interaction with the C-Ting unit is needed at this stage.

Also wherein, reservation has expired. Green LED displayed. Belongings are present on the sun bed or sun lounger. No holidaymaker present. After the set reservation the LED colour on the C-Ting unit changes from Red (reserved) back to Green (available). A small star or symbol is displayed on the LCD so that staff can recognise that it has recently expired. By scanning their staff C-Ting card/fob they can ascertain which room number made the last reservation and label personal items when removing them. The staff member interacts here by removing the holidaymaker’s belongings, scanning the staff C-Ting card/fob and noting down the room number.

Also wherein, there is an unused sun bed or sun lounger with only belongings on. Green LED is displayed. Items will be removed from any sun bed or sun loungers with belongings on and a Green LED displayed (If the sun bed or sun lounger was recently reserved, the staff member can scan his staff C-Ting card/fob to ascertain what room number made the reservation to identify items later). The staff member interacts here by removing the holidaymaker’s belongings as the C-Ting unit was not started or the reservation had expired.

Also wherein, the reservation has expired. Green LED is displayed. Belongings are not present on the sun bed or sun lounger. A small icon is displayed on the LCD so that staff can recognise that it has recently expired. However, another holidaymaker can use the sun bed or sun lounger for as long as they like without scanning their card/fob, as long as they are on the sun bed or sun lounger. They must scan their card/fob as normal if they would like to reserve it and the expired symbol will disappear. No staff interaction with the C-Ting unit is needed currently.

To summarise, staff members only need to take action in instances; wherein the set reservation time of the sun bed or sun lounger has expired. Green LED displayed. Belongings are present on the sun bed or sun lounger with no user present. In response the staff member interacts here by removing the holidaymaker’s belongings, scanning the C-Ting staff card/fob and noting down the room number.

Also wherein, there is an unused sun bed or sun lounger with only belongings on. Green LED is displayed. The staff member interacts here by removing the holidaymaker’s belongings as the C-Ting unit timer was not started.

At any time of a reservation if a holidaymaker swipes their C-Ting card/fob on the sun bed or sun lounger which they reserved, their room number will be displayed for a period of a few seconds. This can be used to show or verify that the sun bed or sun lounger they are using is one that they reserved under the system, avoiding disagreements between holiday makers.

This system will hopefully change holidaymakers views on sun bed or sun lounger reservations as holidaymakers would ultimately rather leave their sun bed or sun loungers on the Green LED whilst using them rather than having their belongings removed when their reservation has expired. As a result, people will only use sun bed or sun loungers when they are actually going to be on them or reserve them for a maximum period of the default time set by the hotel, allowing people to enjoy their holidays without having to wake up to reserve a sun bed or sun lounger which will only be minimally used.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows an example of the C-Ting information screen terminal showing vacant information and sample card/fob.

Figure 2 shows an example of the information screen terminal showing reserved information.

Figure 3 shows an example of the information screen showing terminal that a one hour session has recently expired.

Figure 4 shows a typical example of the method for holding the screen terminal to the furniture.

Figure 5 shows an example of the screen terminals communicating with one central master point.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1. This shows the CTing unit screen terminal 1 which provides the reservation status of a sun bed or sun lounger. The display shows the GREEN light 2 which is illuminated when the sun bed or sun lounger is available for use. The screen 6 displays the vacant message 7. A C-Ting card/fob 12 is swiped over the device to take reservation of the furniture for a period.

Once the card/fob 12 has been swiped or touch contacted with the screen terminal 1A, at its connection point 8, it shows the period of reservation 4 and the RED light 3 is illuminated to indicate this to others and the GREEN light 2A goes out. As shown in Figure 2.

The screen terminal 1A, displays information on its screen 6A, to include the reservation status in words 7A, a time status 4, which may be the expiration time of the current reservation or the actual time of day in general. There may also be provided a counting period showing how long the reservation has left before it must be reserved again or before it expires 5.

The screen terminal 1B, in Figure 3 shows a status where the sun bed or sun lounger has recently become available, as shown in the time 4B and message 7B thereon. Therefore, the GREEN light illuminates 2B and a start symbol 9 indicates recent availability to staff members who are able to act upon the information, such as removing belongings and reporting the status.

Means to attach the screen terminal 1C is provided by a strap or securing band 10, as shown in Figure 4. This enables attachment to various suitable locations around the body and structure of the sun bed or sun lounger.

The multiple screen terminals may send their status via a wireless method 11 back to a main master terminal point 13 where it can be interrogated, as shown in Figure

5.

Claims

1. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management to enable users to reserve a sun bed or sun lounger in advance and also alert staff to the status of each piece of furniture enabling them to act upon it advantageously and to minimise the ability for persons to reserve sun bed or sun loungers by leaving personal items on them and comprise; a small device to attach to each sun bed or sun lounger being a device terminal with an LCD screen with two coloured areas and a worded display; a solar powered or long life battery; a unique serial number or barcode number for each user via a smart card/fob; relation and status feedback to a master point terminal.

2. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a card/fob holds information relating to a reservation for a sun bed or sun lounger which is allocated to the card/fob by hotel or residential staff members from a central terminal.

3. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 2 wherein the card/fob may also hold information that a sun bed or sun lounger has been reserved.

4. A system for sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 3 wherein, a device terminal with an LCD screen is attached to each sun bed or sun lounger for receiving of information and displaying said information to users or staff members.

5. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the card is passed or swiped over the surface of a device terminal which is attached to the sun bed or sun lounger to pass information to it for reservation and display purposes.

6. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 5 wherein, coloured indicator lights located on an LCD screen advantageously display the reservation status of the sun bed or sun lounger, using Green illumination for available status variation and Red for unavailable status variations therein.

7. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the displaying of Green and Red lights indicates the status of availability transferred from a card/fob, the status being displayed in conjunction with displayed wording messages and numerals to indicate time periods and times, with visual emblems or update warnings.

8. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 7 wherein, a unique serial number or barcode number for each user is provided via the card/fob and the status is displayed and may be fed back to a master point terminal in a third party location.

9. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 8 wherein, information fed back to a master point terminal in a third party location may be interrogated by a user.

10. A system for sun bed or sun lounger usage management as claimed in claim 9 wherein, power to run the sun bed or sun lounger mounted device terminal and LCD screen is provided by a solar panel or long life battery.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1616297.6 Examiner: Mr David Kirwin