JPH0522280B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a front desk system that automates front desk operations at hotels, inns, and other accommodation facilities.

Customers often make advance reservations for accommodation at hotels and the like. You may or may not pay a deposit at the time of reservation. Also, the reservation deposit is often lower than the equivalent amount of the accommodation fee. When front desk operations such as check-in and check-out processing are fully automated, the problem becomes how to handle and process such reservation customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic reception system that can also appropriately process reservation customers.

The automatic reception system according to the present invention includes a guest identification medium confirmation means for checking whether the medium for identifying the guest entered at the reception entrance is genuine, and a paid reservation fee corresponding to the reservation identification code. A reservation table that stores reservation information, a room information table that stores information including the accommodation schedule for each room for each room number, a room information input means for inputting information regarding a desired accommodation room, and the above-mentioned guest identification medium confirmation means. After the confirmation, the room information table is searched according to either the room information input by the room information input means or the reservation information in the reservation table, and if there is an available room, the room number is entered. A means for setting an accommodation room by correspondingly writing information including the accommodation schedule in the room information table, and an advance receipt as security for the accommodation fee corresponding to the room set by the accommodation room setting means. a means for calculating, a reservation identification code input means for inputting a reservation identification code, and a paid reservation deposit for the reservation corresponding to the reservation identification code input by the reservation identification code input means by referring to the reservation table. guidance means for guiding the difference between the advance receipt and the paid reservation deposit or the input of the advance receipt when the amount is less than the advance receipt calculated by the calculation means and when the reservation identification code is not input; , a cash receiving means for receiving input cash and counting the amount;
and means for creating and issuing a card key for operating the lock of the room set by the accommodation room setting means after confirming that the cash acceptance means has accepted the difference or advance payment. We are prepared.

Media for identifying guests include lodging registration forms and membership cards filled out by customers. The guest can be identified by checking whether any of these media are legitimate.

Accommodation rooms can be reserved in advance. A deposit can be paid at the time of reservation.
Reservation information including the paid reservation deposit is stored in the reservation table in correspondence with the reservation identification code. It is also possible to input the desired accommodation room, particularly its type, using a room information input means such as a key.

The room information table stores information for each room number, including the accommodation schedule for that room.

After confirming the guest specifying medium, the room information table is searched according to the information regarding the desired accommodation room input by the room information input means or the reservation information in the reservation table. If there is a room that can be provided, information including the accommodation schedule is written in the room information table corresponding to the room number, and the accommodation room is set.

Security for the accommodation fee can, of course, be provided by a membership card, but it is paid in cash as an advance payment.

The advance payment as security for the accommodation fee corresponding to the room set by the accommodation room setting means is calculated.

For guests who have made a reservation and have already paid a deposit, the reservation table is checked to see if the paid deposit for the corresponding reservation is less than the calculated advance payment. will be instructed to deposit the difference. Guests who have not made a reservation or have not paid a deposit will be guided to deposit the calculated advance payment.

When it is confirmed that the difference or advance payment has been deposited in accordance with this guidance, a card key will be created and issued to operate the lock of the room set by the accommodation room setting means. .

In this way, after the guest is identified, the room to be provided is set, and the accommodation fee is secured in cash, a card key for using the set room is issued. Therefore, according to the present invention, reliable and automatic check-in processing is possible.

Further, according to the present invention, automatic check-in processing is possible even if accommodation reservations have been made in advance or if there are no reservations. In addition, it is possible to treat reserved customers in the same way as other customers, regardless of the presence or absence of a reservation deposit or the size of the deposit, making it possible to unify and simplify the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Customers using the automated reception system can be categorized into those with membership cards and those without. Customers who do not have a membership card will be referred to as general customers. General guests must fill out designated information such as address and name on the lodging registration form when checking in. Customers who have a membership card do not need to fill out the accommodation registration form since the necessary information has already been registered when creating the membership card.
Membership cards include a first card and a second card. A feature of the first card is that accommodation fees can be paid by credit card. These membership cards have card type, membership number, and other necessary data recorded magnetically.

With this automated front desk system, upon check-in, a card key is issued to the customer after confirming the details of the stay. A card key is a card used in place of a key to open and close the lock of a room where a customer stays. The door of each room is equipped with a card reader and card data verification device.
The customer inserts the card key into the card reader, and if the card key is valid for the room, the door will be unlocked. Since various types of locking and unlocking systems using such cards are already known, their explanations will be omitted. For example, a card key can be used that has a magnetic stripe attached, and this magnetic stripe includes
The room number and other verification data for unlocking only a predetermined room if necessary, check-in date, number of nights stayed, amount received in advance, etc. are magnetically recorded.

FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of the automatic reception system. This system can perform both check-in and check-out operations. The front of the system includes a diagonally raised customer control panel and a horizontal customer control panel. The diagonally rising panel has a handling display 1, a card insertion slot 2, a change bill release port 3, a card key and change coin release port 4, a coin slot 5, an input amount display 6,
There are a bill insertion slot 8, a bill return slot 7, and an attendant call button 9. The handling display 1 displays the operating mode of the system, ie check-in and/or check-out. A membership card is inserted into the card insertion slot 2 at the time of check-in, and a card key and the membership card are inserted at the time of check-out (payment). Amount display 6 is input slot 5
Displays the total amount of coins inserted.

A receipt exit 11, an accommodation registration form insertion slot 12, a guide display 13, a facsimile key 14, and a numeric key 15 are provided on the horizontal panel. A number of lodging registration forms are placed in a location (not shown) or other location in the system. The guidance display 13 is a device that guides the customer through the operations to be performed using text and graphics, and is constituted by a CRT. The function keys 14 are arranged on both sides of the screen of the display 13, and their functions are displayed on the display 13. Numeric keys 15 are used to input numerical information.

FIG. 2 shows the electrical configuration of the automatic front system. The control unit 20 includes a CPU 31 and a memory 32. A customer service display unit 21 that controls the displays 1, 13, etc., a customer service operation unit 22 that receives key input signals from each key 14, 15, etc., and determines the type and authenticity of inserted coins and inserted banknotes. Coin validation department 23, card key issuing department 2
4. A processing unit 25 that detects insertion of accommodation registration form and prints it, a card reader unit 26 that reads magnetic information of the card inserted into the card insertion slot 2, and a change that discharges a predetermined amount of change bills and coins. A discharge section 27 , a receipt issuing section 28 , and an attendant operation section 29 including an attendant operation panel for operation by an attendant are provided, and each of these sections is connected to the control section 20 . Work station 30 for inputting mode changes and other commands, if necessary.
is provided, and the automatic front
connected to the system. At station 30
It will be equipped with a CRT and keyboard.

FIG. 3 shows part of the contents of memory 32. Within memory 32 are a room information table, a first card table, and a reservation table.
The room information table is displayed for each room.
No., room type (single, twin, etc.),
Customer plans (including reservations) for staying in that room,
It records prepaid amounts, phone charges, data on food and drinks in the refrigerator, and many other data. In the first card table, for each registered member of the first card, the member number, accommodation reservation information, credit amount, data indicating whether the card is invalid, and other data regarding the member are registered. The reservation table stores data regarding accommodation reservations made by persons other than the 1st card member, and for each reservation number, data on whether or not the 2nd card member is a 2nd card member, the paid reservation amount, reservation details, etc. are recorded at the time of application for each reservation. written. Data regarding the reservation of the first card table and the reservation table comes from a reservation terminal connected online to the automated reception system.

FIG. 4 shows an overview of the automatic reception system check-in process. This process is performed by the CPU
31. First, the guide display 13
, a message is displayed instructing customers with membership cards to insert their cards into the card slot 2, and general guests to fill in the specified information on the lodging registration form and inserting the paper into the lodging registration form slot 12. (step (101)), the customer performs one of the operations. The insertion slot 2 and the insertion slot 12 are equipped with sensors to detect inserted cards and paper, so the detection signals from these sensors determine whether a membership card has been inserted (step (102)) or whether the membership card has been registered or not. It is determined whether paper has been input (step (103)). When a membership card is inserted, it is checked whether it is a specified card based on its front and back, shape, magnetic recording data format, etc. (step (104)), and then it is determined whether the card is the first card or the second card depending on the read data. It is determined whether the card is a card or not (step (105)).
In the case of the first card, the first card table in the memory 32 is searched (step (106)), and the invalidity information is checked to see if the card is a stolen card or a card with other problems (step (106)). (107)), and it is further determined whether there is a reservation for a stay (step (108)). If there is a reservation, the details of the reservation, such as the room type (room number), date and number of stay, price, etc., have already been set in the room information table or will be set automatically at this point. .

If there is no reservation, in this embodiment, whether you are a member card customer or a general customer, you can only stay for one night. Even if you stay for two or more consecutive nights, you must check in and check out for each night. Guidance display 13
A message asking you to select the type of room you would like is displayed, as well as information on available room types and their accommodation fees. Further, corresponding to the function key 14, its function, that is, each room type is displayed (step (109)). When the customer inputs the desired room type using one of the function keys 14, an empty room of the input type is searched in the room information table, and the room number in which the customer should stay is determined. The accommodation schedule (one night only) is written in the area of that room number (step (110)). After the step (109) guidance is displayed, a certain period of time (for example, 20
If a room type is not selected within 2 seconds), the check-in will be considered canceled and
The already inserted membership card or accommodation registration form is returned (not shown).

The accommodation registration form has a predetermined size, and a positioning hole is punched in one corner of the form. When this paper is inserted into the input slot 12 (step (103)), it is confirmed that it is a specified paper based on its front and back sides, size, hole position, etc. (step (111)). If the accommodation registration form is the standard one or if it is the second card (NO in step (105)), use the function key 14 to confirm whether or not there is a reservation.
Number key 1 (including whether it is unknown)
5 is displayed on the display 13 (step (112)). If there is no reservation, the process moves to the room selection process described above (step (113)). When the reservation number is input (NO in step (114)), the input number and a message to press the confirmation key (function key 14) are displayed on the display 13 (step (115)). . If there is a confirmation input (step (116)),
The reservation table is searched using the input reservation number and it is checked whether there is a corresponding reservation (step (117)). If there is a corresponding reservation (step (118)), the room number and accommodation schedule have already been decided. If there is no corresponding reservation, the input reservation number is incorrect, and the input process regarding the reservation is repeated again. If the corresponding reservation is still not found even after entering the reservation number three times, the reservation number is treated as unknown (not shown). If the customer forgets the reservation number or loses the reservation confirmation, press function key 1.
4 is used to input that the reservation is unknown (YES in step (114)), a message to go to the front desk is displayed on the display 13 (step (121)), and the membership card or accommodation registration form is returned. (Step (122)).

If the inserted membership card or lodging registration form is not the specified one, or if the membership card is checked and determined to be invalid, these cards and forms will be returned (step (123)).
(124)).

The room to be accommodated through the above operations and processing
Once the necessary information such as number and number of days of stay are determined, the accommodation fee is calculated. Then, it is checked whether the total amount of accommodation charges is 30,000 yen or more (step (131)). If the total amount is 30,000 yen or more, stamp tax must be paid, so this automated reception system cannot process the transaction and a message will be displayed telling you to go to the front desk and your membership card or accommodation registration form will be returned. (Steps (121) (122)).

If the total amount of accommodation charges is less than 30,000 yen, the reservation details or the accommodation details determined by the above process are displayed on the display 13, and you are prompted to enter a key to confirm or change (step (132)) ). When the confirmation key is pressed (step (133)), it is checked whether the person is a member of the first card (step (134)). In the case of the first card member, there is no need to pay the advance payment, and the process immediately proceeds to the card key issuance process. First, the display 13 displays a message that a card key is being created and a request to receive the released card key (step (135)), and the card key issuing unit 24 displays the room number as described above. Predetermined data such as . The membership card is then returned (step (137)).

Customers other than members of the first card must pay an advance payment equivalent to the accommodation fee. If you have a reservation, you will likely have already paid the deposit. There, the paid reservation deposit and the advance payment to be paid are compared (step (141)). If the paid deposit is greater than or equal to the advance deposit, then
Immediately move on to card creation processing.

If the paid reservation deposit is smaller or if the customer does not have a reservation, the amount to be paid and a guide to insert or insert cash for this amount are displayed on the display 13 (step (142)). . Needless to say, for customers who have already paid the reservation deposit, the difference between the advance payment and the paid reservation deposit will be displayed. Thereupon, the customer inserts banknotes into the insertion slot 8 and coins into the insertion slot 5, and processes such as checking and counting of the coins are performed (step (143)). If the total amount exceeds the previously displayed specified amount (step (145)), it is determined whether change is required (step (146)), and the necessary change is released (step (147)). If the paid reservation deposit is greater than the advance payment, the difference may be released as change, or it may be settled at the time of checkout.

Then, the card key creation and release processing as described above is performed. In addition, the processing unit 25 will write the room number, check-in date, number of nights stayed, advance payment amount, and reservations, if any, on the accommodation registration form that has already been inserted.
The number etc. will be printed (step (137)). If necessary, a provisional receipt for the advance payment will be issued.

Finally, system abnormality check processing is performed (step (138)). That is, it checks whether the card and change used to create a card key are running low, and whether there are any room types that are full. If the card runs out or the change runs out, the transaction will be discontinued, and this fact will be displayed on the display 1, for example. If there is a room type that is fully occupied, it is stored and the type is not displayed in the next customer's room selection guidance (step (109)). Of course, if all rooms are full, the service will be discontinued.
If necessary, a message indicating that the room is full will be displayed.

In the cash acceptance process, if the customer does not insert or insert each coin within a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) (step (144)), it is assumed that the customer has no intention of checking in. The cancellation process will be performed. If there is cash already deposited or inserted, it will be returned (steps (151), (152)), and if necessary, a message to go to the front desk will be displayed on the display 13 (step (153)), and the member The card or accommodation registration form is returned (step (154)).

If the change key is pressed after the above-mentioned reservation and accommodation details are displayed in step (132) (NO in step (133)), it is first determined whether the guest is a reserved guest (step (155)). Customers with reservations cannot change their reservation details using this system. Then, a message to input cancellation is displayed on the display 13 (step (157)), and when the cancellation key (function key 14) is pressed, the process proceeds to cancellation processing (step (158)). Customers will be required to make changes to their reservations at the front desk. If you are not a reserved guest, you are allowed to change only the room type (Step (156)). In this case step (109)
You can return to the room selection operation from . Any changes other than room type, such as length of stay, must be made at the front desk.

FIG. 5 shows an overview of the checkout process. Both membership card customers and general customers start by inserting their card key into the insertion slot 2.
For this purpose, a message to insert the card key is displayed on the display 13 (step (161)), and when the card key is inserted (step (162)), it is checked whether it is the specified one ( Step (163)). If it does not meet the specifications, it will be returned immediately (Step (167)). If it is the specified one, then it is checked whether it is valid (step (164)). For example, if the accommodation period has expired, a message to go to the front desk will be displayed on the display 13 (step (165)), and the card will be returned (step (166)).

When the card key check is completed, all expenses for that customer are read out from the room information table using the room number of the card key, and the total amount of expenses is calculated. If the amount is 30,000 yen or more, it will be processed at the front desk for the reasons mentioned above.
If the total cost is less than 30,000 yen (step (171)), the payment details, i.e. advance payment, accommodation expenses,
Phone bill and other charges, and if correct, the confirmation key,
If there is an objection, a message to press the cancellation key is displayed on the display 13 (step (172)).
If the cancel key is pressed, processing is performed at the front desk (step (174)).

When the confirmation key is pressed (step (173)), if you are a member of the first card and wish to pay by credit card, a message is displayed asking you to insert the card into slot 2 (step (175)). ). 1st
When the card is inserted (step (176)), a message to input the password is then displayed on the display 13 (step (179)). If the customer enters a password using the numeric keys 15 and this matches the password recorded on the first card, credit card payment is permitted (step (180)). That is, the entire cost is added to the credit amount on the first card table. Of course, the first
There will also be imprinting of cards.

A message is displayed indicating that the receipt is being printed and that you should receive it when it is released (step (181)).
The receipt printed by the issuing unit 28 is placed in the output port 1.
1 and the membership card is returned (step (182)). Also, the card key is returned after being invalidated (step (183)). If the card key is not removed after a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds), the card key is taken inside (steps (184) (185)). Finally, the data regarding the customer in the room information table is deleted (step (186)), and a check process similar to step (138) is performed (step (187)).

If the customer does not insert the first card (NO in step (176)), payment will be made in cash. It is then determined whether the customer needs to invest or insert cash (step (191). If the total cost calculated above exceeds the advance amount received, the customer must pay the difference. No. A prompt to insert or insert cash for this difference is displayed (step (192)), and the cash acceptance process is performed (step (193)). The necessary change will be released later (Steps (195), (196), and (197)).If the paid reservation deposit or advance receipt is more than the total cost, of course this difference will be paid as change.After this, Receipt issuance processing, card key invalidation processing, etc. are carried out.If each piece of cash is not inserted or inserted for a certain period of time, procedures at the front desk are required (Step (194) (201) ) ~ (206)).In this case, it will be necessary to issue an alarm with a message telling you to go to the front desk (step (205)).
The same is true if there is no match even after repeating the process several times (step (188)).

In the above embodiment, the room information table, the first card table, and the reservation table are controlled by the control unit 20.
is provided in the memory 32 of. however,
Since such data is a huge amount, the main memory 4 of the host CPU 40 is
It is preferable to file these data in 1. A system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is connected to the host CPU 40 as a terminal 42. As shown in FIG. Each terminal 42 is a host
By communicating with the CPU 40, check-in processing and check-out processing as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are performed. It is also possible to determine the operating mode of the terminals 42 by the host CPU 40, so that some terminals are used only for check-in and other terminals are used only for check-out. It is also possible to keep the first card table on file at the credit card company's center and proceed with processing while communicating with the credit company's center.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the automatic front system, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the system, Figure 3 is a diagram showing part of the memory, and Figure 4 shows the check-in process. flowchart,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing checkout processing, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a modification of the system. 2...Card insertion slot, 4...Card key ejection port, 5...Coin slot, 8...Banknote insertion slot, 12
... Accommodation registration form insertion slot, 13 ... Information display,
14...Function key, 15...Numeric key, 20...Control unit, 21...Customer service display unit, 22
...Customer service operation department, 23...Cash verification department, 24...Card key issuing department, 25...Accommodation registration form processing department, 2
6...Card reader section, 31...CPU, 32...
…memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Guest identification medium confirmation means for confirming whether the medium for identifying the guest entered at the reception entrance is a legitimate one; Reservation information including the paid reservation deposit corresponding to the reservation identification code. a room information table that stores information including the accommodation schedule for each room for each room number, a room information input means for inputting information regarding the desired accommodation room, and confirmation using the above-mentioned guest identification medium confirmation means. After that, the room information table is searched according to one of the room information input by the room information input means and the reservation information of the reservation table, and if there is a room that can be provided, the room number corresponding to the room number is searched. A means for setting an accommodation room by writing information including the accommodation schedule into the room information table, and calculating an advance receipt as security for the accommodation fee corresponding to the room set by the accommodation room setting means. means, a reservation identification code input means for inputting a reservation identification code, and with reference to the reservation table, the paid reservation fee of the reservation corresponding to the reservation identification code inputted by the reservation identification code input means is a guide means for guiding the difference between the advance receipt and the paid reservation deposit or the input of the advance receipt when the amount is less than the advance receipt calculated by the calculation means and when there is no reservation identification code input; a cash receiving means that receives the received cash and counts the amount, and after confirming that the cash receiving means has accepted the difference or advance payment, locks the room set by the accommodation room setting means. an automated reception system comprising means for creating and issuing card keys for the operation of; 2. The automatic reception system according to claim 1, wherein the guest identification medium is an accommodation registration form. 3. The automatic reception system according to claim 1, in which the guest identification medium is a membership card. 4. The card key issuing means confirms that the inserted membership card is qualified as security for the accommodation fee. 2. The automatic reception system according to claim 1, wherein a card key is issued even when a customer dies.