GB2059225A - Room service and/or entertainment system - Google Patents

Abstract

A room service and/or entertainment system comprises room units 2 which are connected to corresponding control units 1, typically grouped together in a single desk console. Each of the room units 2 provides a variety of functions, which are mostly generated by the associated control unit 1. To minimise wiring requirements between each room unit 2 and control unit 1, at least one information line serves to convey at least two different kinds of information. Thus, for example, in a four wire system, two wires 31 and 32 are used for conveying information, and the other two wires 33 and 30 are used respectively for energy supply and a common return line. Conveniently, the two wires 31, 32 for conveying information can be the central conductors, and the supply and common return wires 33 and 30 can be the screens, of twin screened coaxial lines. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Room service and/or entertainment system for a hotel or the like The present invention relates to a room service and/or entertainment for a hotel orthe like.

In a typical room entertainment system, a multiway selector switch is provided on a wall panel in a guest room, to enable any desired one of a plurality of separate programs (e.g. from central radio tuners) to be selected by placing the switch in the appropriate position. The desired program signal which, in addition to the different signals derived from the remaining programs, is always present on a respective contact in the switch is then transmitted through the switch to the room loudspeaker. This system requires that separate wires, carrying the respective program signals, should be connected to the selector switch contacts in each room, and at least one further wire is required to serve as a return. Furthermore, any room service facilities provided in addition to (or in place of) the entertainment facilities requires further connecting wires.For example, if telephone duplex communication is additionally made available to each room, fourfurtherwires will usually be required. Thus, typically each room might have ten wires connected to various electrical devices (e.g. loudspeaker, microphone, call button, program selector switch) installed on the wall panel in the room. Considering the number of rooms concerned (especially in a large hotel), the not insignificant cost of connecting wire per standard length in the context of the several miles, overall, of wire required, and the manpower involved in installing the wiring, it will be readily appreciated that a significant cost saving could be achieved if the overall wiring requirements could be reduced.

According to the invention from one aspect there is provided a room service and/or entertainment system for a hotel or the like, comprising a control unit for installation at a reception desk or the like, a room unitforinstallation in a guest room, operating means in said control and room units operable or operative for the selective transmission and detection of various different kinds of available information between the control and room units, a single wire or two wires only which interconnect(s) said operating means in said control and room units so as to serve for selectively conveying all of said various kinds of information between the units, the arrangement of said control means and said wire(s) being such that the wire or at least one of the wires serves to convey at least two of said various kinds of information.

A room service and/or entertainment system will generally comprise a plurality of room units to be installed in different guest rooms and a corresponding number of desk units which are grouped together in a single desk console. In one arrangement a single bus, to which at least one operating element common to all the desk units is connected, is connected to the various operating means in the several desk units so that the or each operating element can serve in its appropriate operating capacity for the several desk units.

Afurtherwire can be connected between the operating means in each pair of units, for supplying energising current to the operating means in the room unit. In all cases, a return wire will also be needed. In a preferred arrangement, a four wire system is used, which comprises "UP" and "DOWN" lines for conveying duplex speech signals and further information as well, a return wire, and a power supply line, each of the return and supply lines screening a respective one of the other two lines.

According to the invention from a second aspect there is provided a control unit for installation at a hotel reception desk or the like for use in a room service and/or entertainment system, the control unit comprising a plurality of circuit elements operable or operative for the selective transmission and detection of various different kinds of available information between, on the one hand, said circuit elements and, on the other hand, further circuit elements in a room unit, for installation in a guest room, which are such as to provide a complemen taryfunction to the first-mentioned circuit elements, the control unit further comprising connection terminals of which a single terminal or two terminals only is or are so interconnected with the firstmentioned circuit elements that, in use in the room service and/or entertainment system, said single terminal or two terminals serve(s) for selectively conveying of all said various kinds of information between the first and second-mentioned circuit elements and that the wire or at least one of the wires serves for conveying at least two of said various kinds of information.

According to the invention from a third aspect there is provided a room unit for installation in a guest room for use in a room service and/or entertainment system for a hotel orthe like, the room unit comprising a plurality of circuit elements operable or operative for the selective transmission and detection of various different kinds of available information between, on the one hand, said circuit elements and, on the other hand, further circuit elements in a control unit, for installation at a reception deskorthe like, which are such as to provide a complementary function to the firstmentioned circuit elements, the room unit further comprising connection terminals of which a single terminal or two terminals only is or are so interconnected with the first-mentioned circuit elements that, in use in the room service and/or entertainment system, said single terminal or two terminals serve(s) for selectively conveying all of said various kinds of information between the first and secondmentioned circuit elements and that the wire or at least one of the wires serves for conveying at least two of said various kinds of information.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa block diagram of a room unit connected to a desk unit, and Figure 2 illustrates the construction of the cables interconnecting the two units.

In Figure 1 there is shown a control or desk unit 1 which is installed at the main reception desk (or similar) in a hotel and which is assigned to a particular room. The desk unit includes a number of circuit elements (10 to 16), to be described in more detail hereinbelow, which are connected via three connecting lines 30, 31, 32, to further circuit elements (21 to 29), also to be described below, which are incorporated in a room unit 2 installed in a guest room in the hotel. For simplicity, only the supply interconnections are shown, and for this reason the various interconnections with the wire 30, which is a return wire, are not shown.Of course, a complete room service and entertainment system will comprise a separate room unit in each guest room and a separate desk unit at the main reception desk associated with each room, the several desk units generally being grouped together in a matrix form in a desk console with the units arranged in room number sequence.

Certain additional components in the desk console (namely 4 to 9) each need to be electrically connected to one or more associated elements in each desk unit, and a bus 3 is provided for this purpose.

These additional components comprise a single telephone handset4to be used by the receptionist, a "TONE" switch 5 operable to generate a "TONE" signal, an audible alarm unit 6 actuated by a "CALL" signal from any room unit, a clock 7, and a programme source which in the illustrated embodiment is a tuner 8 providing a choice of four different preselected radio stations.

The four lines are constituted by a single twinindividually screened cable as shown in Figure 2.

The wires 31 and 32 serve respectively as "UP" and "DOWN" lines for providing duplex communication between each room unit and the desk unit, "UP" and "DOWN" denoting the directions of travel of the speech signals between the two units. The line 30 is a signal return path for the speech signals in the lines 31, 32 as well as for a fourth line 33 which supplies the circuit elements in the room unit. The lines 30,33 provide screening for the wires 31, 32, respectively. The bus 3 also includes lines (not shown) which interconnect the lines 30, 33 with a common power source 9, including a step-down transformer.As shown in Figure 1, two sets of four connection terminals T, - T4 and T5 - T5 are respectively provided on the desk unit 1 and room unit 2 to enable the appropriate interconnections between the circuit elements of these two units to be made by way of the connecting wires 30 to 33.

The nature and connection of the various circuit elements in the room and desk units, as well as the overall operation of the room service/entertainment system, will now be described in the context of the various facilities available. Reference should be made to the "KEY" in the accompanying drawing for an understanding of some of the symbols adopted.

Intercom Two-way speech can be initiated either by the receptionist or by the room guest. In the former case, a two-way switch 10 in the desk unit 1 is changedover (from the "INTERCOM" position shown in Figure 1) and the switch 5 depressed to cause a "TONE" signal to be transmitted along the "UP" line 21, through an amplifier 25 to a loudspeaker 26. In the latter case, the guest closes a switch 27 to connect the "DOWN" line 32 to produce a visual indication at I on a vox unit 15 and an audible alarm from the unit 6. The receptionist then moves the switch 10 from the "INTERCOM" position to the changed-over position. In both cases, two-way speech can now take place between the telephone handset 4 on the one hand and the loudspeaker 26 and a microphone 28 on the other hand, the microphone being provided with an associated amplifier 29.

Entertainment To select a program, the guest operates a program selector unit 21 which signals an appropriate command, via the "UP" line 31, to radio select circuitry 12so as to choose a desired one of the four programs made available by the tuner 8. The selected program is then transmitted, via the "UP" line 31, to the loudspeaker 26. Hence only one radio signal is routed to any one room at a time. Of course, other program sources can be used such as central video recorder playback signals, in which event an cutlet socket would be provided in the room unit 2, into which a connecting lead would be inserted for connecting the socket to the aerial socket of the room television set.

Early morning alarm call An alarm generator 13 can be operated, by manual depression of a button, to route an audible alarm signal via the "UP" line 31 to the loudspeaker 26. A cancel control unit 23 can be operated by the guest to produce a "cancel" signal routed via the "UP" line 31 which terminates the audible alarm and is arranged to reset a visual indication I on the alarm generator 13.

For automatic operation, a memory 16, including a microprocessor, holds in memory the required call times for the guest in the room concerned, and, upon detecting coincidence between the time indicated by the clock 7 and any call time held in memory for the guest, will operate the alarm generator 13 to produce an audible alarm in the room.

Message waiting In orderto provide an indication in the room, for when the guest returns to that room that a message has been left at reception, the receptionist operates the push-button Ion a "message waiting" signal generator 14 to transmit a signal along the "DOWN" line 32 to a warning circuit 24 which operates a visual indicator 1.

Baby listening If a guest requires a "baby listening" service, it is merely necessary to close switch 27 and notify reception who will leave switch 10 in the "INTER COM" position shown in Figure 1. The "DOWN" line 32 is thereby connected to a circuit element 15 which includes a "voice operated switch" (i.e. threshold circuit) which will respond, in the event of the microphone 28 transmitting a signal along the line 32 above the threshold level, for example when a baby is crying, to light up the visual warning I on the element 15 and actuate the audible alarm unit. Upon being warned, the receptionist can take appropriate action.

Room status This feature is provided by means of a control unit 11 in the desk unit and a circuit element 21 in the room unit. When the room is let, the receptionist depresses a push button on the unit 11. The control unit 11 is connected to the output of the clock 7 which is arranged to switch on a visual indicator I on the control unit at a preselected time, say 3.00 a.m.

Thus, the receptionist can tell from a glance at the desk console which rooms will need to be cleaned or stripped (i.e. the rooms for which the visual indicators are operating), the other rooms then needing no attention at all because they would already have been cleaned and changed ready for the next guest.

If a let room is to be stripped, the receptionist releases the depressed button on the desk unit which causes a signal to be sent via the "UP" line to the circuit element 21. If a let room is merely to be cleaned, the button is left depressed. Each time a chambermaid visits a room, she places a magnetic device, with which she is equipped, on the circuit element 21, which incorporates a magneticallyoperated switch, so as to cause the switch to be operated. Depending on whetherthe room is to be stripped or merely cleaned an indicator I of the circuit element 21 will light up or remain extinguished. Hence, no cleaning/stripping instructions need to be given verbally by the receptionist to the chambermaids.Operation of the magnetic switch simultaneously causes a signal to be transmitted along the "UP" line 31 to the control unit 11 which responds by causing the visual indicator on the control unit 11 to flash on and off, thereby indicating that the chambermaid is now in attendance in the room concerned. Of course, the reason for arranging for the switch in the circuit element 21 being magnetically operated is to prevent guests tampering or signalling wrong information to the reception desk. When the chambermaid leaves the room she removes her magnetic device from the circuit element 21 and this causes the visual indicator on the control unit 11, as well as the indicator on the circuit element 21 to be extinguished, thus indicating to the receptionist that the room has been changed.

It will be appreciated that the principal advantages of the described room entertainment and service system is that the wiring requirements per room are only four wires, despite the several different facilities which the system makes available for the guest in each room. Having regard to the very high cost of electric cables particularly in view of the total cable distances involved in a hotel, the overall cost saving as compared with a conventional system using separate wiring for each facility is considerable because the cable cost saving is far greater than the extra cost of the additional electronic circuitry used.

Moreover, in certain circumstances the wire 33 can be dispensed with, for example if the power supply for the circuitry of each room unit is provided by way of the mains supply to that room, with an appropriate step-down transformer. However, it is preferred to use a fourth wire 33 as then, only a single transformer is needed to serve all the room units.

Also the line 32 could be dispensed with if simple communication between the room microphone and loudspeaker on the one hand and the handset 4 on the other hand is adopted. Thus, the minimum wire requirement per room is two wires, but ideally the maximum number of four wires is adopted, as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In all cases, the number of information conveying lines used is one only, or, more usually, two (i.e. the "UP" and "DOWN" lines in the system described above.

Claims (34)

1. A room service and/or entertainment system for a hotel or the like, comprising a control unit for installation at a reception desk or the like, a room unit for installation in a guest room, operating means in said control and room units operable or operative for the selective transmission and detection of various different kinds of available information between the control and room units, at least one information line which interconnect(s) said operating means in said control and room units so as to serve for selectively conveying all of said various kinds of information between the units, the arrangement of said control means and said line(s) being such that the line or least one of the lines serves to convey at least two of said various kinds of information.

2. A system according to claim 1, having only one said information line.

3. A system according to claim 1, having only two said information lines.

4. A system according to claim 1,2 or 3, comprising a plurality of room units for installation in different guest rooms, and a respective said control unit for each room unit, connected thereto by a respective said line or lines.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said control units are grouped together in a single desk console.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one common operating element is connected to all of said control units by a bus.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein an energy supply line interconnects said room and control units.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said control unit(s) is or are provided with an energy supply means.

9. A system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the or each pair of associated room and control units is connected by a four-wire system, two of the wires affording said information lines, another of the wires affording said supply line, and the other of the wires affording a common return for all of said line.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said two wires are respective central conductors, and the other wires are respective screens, of twin screened coaxial lines.

11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein a speech communication link is provided between the control unit(s) and the or each room unit.

12. A system according to claims 4 and 11, wherein said link comprises respective speech transmitting and receiving means in each room unit, and a common speech transmitting and receiving means which is connectable to any desired one of the control units.

13. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each control unit has means for generating a "message waiting" signal, and the associated room unit has a respective indicator for indicating receipt of said "message waiting" signal.

14. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each room unit has a speech transmitting means and the associated control unit has trigger means operable to trigger an audible and/or visible alarm in response to a signal from the speech transmitting means.

15. Asystem according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each control unit comprises means for transmitting an alarm signal to the associated room unit, which in turn comprises means for emitting an audible alarm in response to the alarm signal and meansfortransmitting an "alarm cancel" signal to the control unit, which in turn comprises means for responding to the "alarm cancel" signal.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein memory means is associated with the control unit(s) for storing desired alarm call times, to which the or each alarm signal transmitting means is responsive.

17. A system according to any preceding claim, comprising a clock for transmitting a timing signal to the or each control unit.

18. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each control unit comprises program selection circuitry for selecting any desired one of a plurality of program signals and transmitting it to the associated room unit, which in turn is provided with means for emitting the program signal and a program selection means to which said program selection circuitry is responsive.

19. A system according to claim 18, including means for providing said plurality of program signals.

20. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each control unit is provided with a "room let" signal generator, and the associated room unit is provided with "room let" indicator means responsive to a "room let" signal.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the or each said "room let" indicator means can indicate a "clean room" or "strip room" indication in response to the respective "room let" signal.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the or each "room let" signal generator is settable to emit a "room let" signal when it receives a daily clocking pulse, and subsequently to modify said signal selectively to indicate "clean room" or "strip room" on the respective "room let" indicator means if subsequently reset.

23. A system according to claim 20,21 or 22, wherein the or each "room let" indicator means has resetting means which is operable to reset both the indicator means and associated signal generator.

24. A sytem according to claim 23, wherein the or each said resetting means is responsive to a detachable hand-held device.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the or each "room let" signal generator is responsive to the associated said resetting means such that, with said device attached to the resetting means, the signal generator emits a first indication, and when said device is subsequently detached from the resetting means, the signal generator emits a second indication and/or is reset.

26. A system according to claim 24 or 25, wherein said device is a field generating or field effect device.

27. A claim according to claim 24,25 or 26, including at least one said device.

28. The room unit or one of the room units of any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. The control unit or one of the control units of any one of claims 1 to 27.

30. A room unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

31. A control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

32. A room service and/or entertainment system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 ofthe accompanying drawing.

33. A building provided with a room unit, control unit, or system according to any one of claims 1 to 32.

34. A hotel building provided with a room unit, control unit, or system according to any one of claims 1 to 32.