BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a room finding device, system, method and mobile application.

Traditionally, when guests check into a hotel, the receptionist will book them in and either direct them to their room, or a valet will take them there. With no valet, people often struggle to find their room, especially when the hotel is relatively large. When carrying a lot of luggage, it is also sometimes difficult to use the physical room key to unlock the door, while handling the luggage

The Inventor wishes to address these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a room finding device for navigating a person/guest (hereinafter referred to as “guest”) to a particular room, wherein the device is a portable, handheld device and includes: a navigation module which is configured to determine a current location of the device, or receive location information on a current location of the device via a wireless network, and provide/communicate navigation instructions to the guest in order to direct the guest from the current location of the device to the particular room; and a key module which is configured to instruct a door lock arrangement of a door of the particular room, via wireless communication, to unlock the door, by utilising a specific key/key code which is associated with the particular door lock arrangement.

A “module”, in the context of the specification, includes an identifiable portion of code, computational or executable instructions, or a computational object to achieve a particular function, operation, processing, or procedure. A module may be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

The device may be a mobile communication device, more specifically a smart device, even more specifically a smart phone. The navigation module and key module may be incorporated in a mobile application (mobile app) which is stored/installed on the device.

The key module may be configured to communicate the key code wirelessly to the door lock arrangement, in order to unlock the door (e.g. by means of Bluetooth communication, such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).

The key module may be configured to receive the key code via wireless communication from a key allocation system/module.

The device may include a display screen. The navigation module may be configured to provide visual navigation instructions for the guest, in real time, on the display screen, in order to navigate the guest to the room. The navigation module may also be configured to provide audio navigation instructions to the guest, by using a speaker of the device.

The navigation module may be configured to receive a room code/number which is associated with the particular room, via wireless communication, from a booking system. The navigation module may be configured to utilise a map (i.e. a software map) of a premises (e.g. a building or set of buildings, such as a hotel) at which the particular room is located, in order to provide visual navigation instructions on the display screen, in order to navigate the guest along a navigation route, through the premises, to the room.

The key module may be configured to instruct the door lock arrangement, via wireless communication, to unlock the door, when the device is near/within a certain distance from the door lock arrangement (e.g. less than 1 m away, preferably less than 30cm, ideally 5cm or less away). More specifically, the key module may be configured to instruct the door lock arrangement, via Bluetooth communication (e.g. BLE), to unlock the door, when the device is near/within a certain distance from the door lock arrangement (e.g. less than 1 m away, preferably less than 30cm, ideally 5cm or less away)..

The navigation module may be configured to communicate, via wireless communication, with a plurality of location beacons which are installed/mounted at various locations at the premises, in order to determine the current location of the device and provide/communicate navigation instructions to the guest, based on the current location. More specifically, the navigation module may be configured to communicate with the plurality of location beacons by using Bluetooth communication.

The navigation module may be configured to receive information from one or more of the location beacons and, based on the received information, identify where the location beacon is located within the map.

The device may be a booked room, finding device for navigating a guest to a room which has been booked for/by the guest.

The navigation module may be configured to send an instruction wirelessly to a lighting arrangement which is associated with the room, instructing the lighting arrangement to activate an external light which is located outside the door. More specifically, the navigation module may be configured to send the instruction to the lighting arrangement, when it determines that the device (i.e. the user holding the device) is approaching the particular room. Even more specifically, the navigation module may be configured to send the instruction to the lighting arrangement, when the device is within a certain distance from the door/door lock arrangement.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a room finding mobile application for navigating a guest/user (hereinafter referred to as“guest”) to a particular room, wherein the mobile application includes: a navigation module which is configured to determine a current location of a mobile communication device on which the mobile application is stored, or receive location information on a current location of the device via a wireless network,

provide/communicate navigation instructions to the guest in order to direct the guest from the current location of the device to the particular room; and a key module which is configured to instruct a door lock arrangement of a door of the particular room, via wireless communication, to unlock the door, by utilising a specific key/key code which is associated with the particular door lock arrangement.

The key module may be configured to communicate the key code wirelessly (e.g. by means of Bluetooth) to the door lock arrangement, in order to unlock the door. More specifically, the key module may configured to utilise a communication arrangement of the device in order to communicate the key code wirelessly to the door lock.

The mobile key module may be configured to receive the key code via wireless communication from a key allocation system/module.

The navigation module may be configured to provide visual navigation instructions for the guest, in real-time, on a display screen of the device, in order to navigate the guest to the room. The navigation module may also be configured to provide audio instructions for the guest, in real-time, by using a speaker of the device, in order to navigate the guest to the room.

The navigation module may be configured to receive a room code/number which is associated with the room, via wireless communication, from a booking system/module.

The navigation module may include a map (i.e. a software map) of a particular premises (e.g. a building or set of buildings) at which the particular room is located. The navigation module may be configured to utilise the map in order to provide real-time visual navigation instructions on the display screen, in order to navigate the guest along a navigation route, through the premises, to the room.

The key module may be configured to instruct the door lock arrangement, via wireless communication (e.g. Bluetooth), to unlock the door, when the device is near/within a certain distance from the door lock arrangement (e.g. less than 1 m away, preferably less than 30cm, ideally 5cm or less away). The distance may be a predetermined distance.

The navigation module may be configured to communicate, via wireless communication, with a plurality of location beacons which are installed/mounted at various locations at the particular premises, in order to determine the current location of the device and provide/communicate navigation instructions to the guest, based on the current location. More specifically, the navigation module may be configured to communicate with the plurality of location beacons via Bluetooth communication (e.g. BLE), by utilising a Bluetooth communication arrangement of the device.

The navigation module may be configured to receive information from one or more of the location beacons and, based on the received information, identify where the location beacon is located within the map.

The map may include information on the location of each of the plurality of location beacons at the particular premises. The navigation module may be configured, when receiving information from a particular beacon, to identify the location of the location beacon within the map and determine the current location of the device based on the identified location.

The mobile application may be a booked room navigation mobile application for navigating a guest to a room which has been booked for/by the guest.

The navigation module may be configured to send an instruction wirelessly to a lighting arrangement which is associated with the room, instructing the lighting arrangement to activate an external light which is located outside the door. More specifically, the navigation module may be configured to send the instruction to the lighting arrangement, when it determines that the device (i.e. the user holding the device) is approaching the particular room. Even more specifically, the navigation module may be configured to send the instruction to the lighting arrangement, when the device is within a certain distance from the door/door lock arrangement.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a room finding system for navigating a guest/person (hereinafter only referred to as “guest”) to a particular room, wherein the system includes: a mobile application in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, which can be installed/downloaded onto one or more mobile communication devices; and

a door lock arrangement which is configured to lock and unlock a door of the particular room,

wherein the key module is configured to instruct the door lock arrangement, via wireless communication, to unlock the door, by utilising a specific key/key code which is associated with the particular door lock arrangement.

The system may include a plurality of door lock arrangements which are each configured to lock or unlock the door of a different room. Each door lock arrangement may have an associated key code which is required in order to unlock the door. The system may include a booking module which is configured to book a room for a particular guest and send the key code, which is associated with the door lock arrangement of the particular booked room, to the mobile communication device of the guest on which the mobile application is installed. Alternatively, the booking module may be separate from the system. In this case, the system, more specifically the mobile application, may be configured to receive a room number of the booked room, from the separate booking module (e.g. via a communication network, for example wirelessly). The separate booking module may, in this case, be configured to handle all booking aspects and then allocate a room to a particular guest.

The key module may be configured to send the key code received from the booking module, via wireless communication (e.g. Bluetooth), to the door lock arrangement which is associated with the booked room. The particular door lock arrangement may be configured to unlock the door of the booked room, if the key code received from the key module matches the key code of the particular door lock arrangement.

The system may include a plurality of location beacons which are installed/mounted at various locations at the particular premises. The navigation module may be configured to communicate, via wireless communication (e.g. Bluetooth), with the location beacons, in order to determine the current location of the mobile communication device of the guest and provide/communicate navigation instructions to the guest, based on the current location.

The navigation module may be configured to provide visual navigation instructions for the guest, in real-time, on a display screen of the mobile communication device of the guest, in order to navigate the guest to the booked room.

The navigation module may be configured to receive a room code/number, which is associated with the booked room, from the booking module via wireless communication. The navigation module may include a map of the premises (i.e. a software map). The navigation module is configured to utilise the map in order to provide real-time visual navigation instructions on the display screen, in order to navigate the guest along a navigation route, through the premises, to the booked room.

The navigation module may be configured to communicate with the plurality of location beacons via Bluetooth communication, by utilising a Bluetooth communication arrangement of the device. The location beacons may be BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacons.

The navigation module may be configured to receive information from one or more of the location beacons and, based on the received information, identify where the location beacon is located within the map.

The map may include information on the location of each of the plurality of location beacons at the particular premises. The navigation module may be configured, when receiving information of a particular beacon, to identify the location of the location beacon within the map and determine the current location of the device based on the identified location of the location beacon.

The system may include a lighting arrangement for each room which, when activated, provides illumination outside the particular room so that the room can be identified when a guest approaches the room. The navigation module may be configured to send an instruction wirelessly to the lighting arrangement which is associated with the booked room, instructing the lighting arrangement to activate the lighting arrangement, so that the booked room can be identified when the guest approaches the booked room.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for navigating a guest/person (hereinafter only referred to as “guest”) to a particular room, wherein the room is locked by means of a door lock arrangement which is configured to lock and unlock a door of the room, wherein the method includes: making the mobile application, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, available for download, so that the guest can download the mobile application onto his/her mobile communication device (e.g. from an App store or a website); sending a key code for the particular room to the mobile communication device of the guest; and at the door lock arrangement, receiving a key code wirelessly from the mobile communication device and unlocking the door if the received key code matches a key code with is associated with the particular room.

The step of sending the key code may include sending the key code to the mobile application which is installed on the mobile communication device via a mobile telecommunication network.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a booked room, finding device for navigating a guest to a room which has been booked for/by the guest, wherein the device is a handheld device and includes: a location module which is configured to determine a current location of the device or receive location information on a current location of the device via a wireless network;

a navigation module which is configured to provide navigation instructions to a guest in order to direct the guest to a location of the particular room, by utilising at least a navigation route between a current position of the device and the room location.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a booked room finding system for navigating a guest to a room which has been booked for/by the guest, wherein the system includes:

a portable device to be carried by the guest;

a location module, which is

incorporated into the device, or provided separately there from and which is configured to communicate with the portable device via wireless communication, wherein the location module is configured to determine a current location of the device;

a navigation module, which is

incorporated into the device, or

provided separately there from and which is configured to communicate with the portable device via wireless communication, wherein the navigation module is configured to provide navigation instructions to a guest in order to direct the guest to a location of the particular room, by utilising at least a navigation route between a current position of the device and the room location.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a booked room finding mobile application for navigating a guest to a room which has been booked for/by the guest, wherein the mobile application includes:

a location module which is configured to determine a current location of a device on which the mobile application is stored or receive location information on a current location of the device via a wireless network;

a navigation module which is configured to provide navigation instructions to a guest in order to direct the guest to a location of the particular room, by utilising at least a navigation route between a current position of the device and the room location.

In accordance with an eight aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile communication device on which the mobile application, in accordance with the second or seventh aspect of the invention, is provided/installed.

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a method for navigating a guest to a room which has been booked for/by the guest, wherein the method includes:

providing the guest with navigational instructions, via a handheld computing/electronic device in order to direct the guest to the room; unlocking a door of the room when the handheld computing/electronic device is near/within a certain distance from the room/door (e.g. less than 1 m away, preferably less than 30cm, ideally 5cm or less).

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a navigation device for navigating a guest to a particular room/area at a particular premises, wherein the device is a handheld device and includes: a location module which is configured to determine a current location of the device or receive location information on a current location of the device via a wireless network;

a navigation module which is configured to provide navigation instructions to a guest in order to direct the guest to a location of the particular room/area, by utilising at least a navigation route between a current position of the device and the room/area location.

In accordance with a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided a navigation system for navigating a guest to a particular room/area at a particular premises, wherein the system includes:

a portable device to be carried by the guest;

a location module, which is

incorporated into the device, or

provided separately there from and which is configured to communicate with the portable device via wireless communication, wherein the location module is configured to determine a current location of the device;

a navigation module, which is

incorporated into the device, or

provided separately there from and which is configured to communicate with the portable device via wireless communication, wherein the navigation module is configured to provide navigation instructions to a guest in order to direct the guest to a location of the particular room/area, by utilising at least a navigation route between a current position of the device and the room/area location. In accordance with a eleventh aspect of the invention there is provided a navigation mobile application for navigating a guest to a particular room/area at a particular premises, wherein the mobile application includes: a location module which is configured to determine a current location of a device on which the mobile application is stored or receive location information on a current location of the device via a wireless network;

a navigation module which is configured to provide navigation instructions to a guest in order to direct the guest to a location of the particular room/area, by utilising at least a navigation route between a current position of the device and the room/area location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a functional layout of a room finding mobile app in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a room finding system, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 shows another schematic illustration of the room finding system of Figure 2, where a guest has used the mobile app of Figure 1 , in order to locate his room; and

Figure 4 shows a schematic layout of the communication between the mobile app, a central server, a booking system and a key allocation system.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates generally to a type of room finding system which can be installed/utilised in a hotel or other type of accommodation service. The room finding system can typically include a mobile application which guests or other people can download onto their mobile communication devices (e.g. their smart phones). Although the description here below specifically refers to“guests”, it will be appreciated that the use of the mobile application can be extended to any other person (e.g. an electrician who needs to perform work in a particular room). Once a guest downloads the mobile application onto his smart phone, the receptionist at the hotel (or another person associated with the hotel) can utilise a booking system/module to send a room number of the room, which has been allocated to the guest, via wireless communication, to the mobile application installed on the guest’s phone. The booking module/system may be independent/separate from the room finding system. In this case, the hotel could utilise the independent/separate booking module/system (e.g. Protel®) to handle all the booking aspects and to allocate a room for a particular guest. The mobile application of the guest would then communicate/interface with the independent/separate booking module/system in order to obtain their room number. In another embodiment, the booking module/system may form part of the room finding system, e.g. the booking and navigational functionalities may be combined into one system.

The receptionist at the hotel (or another person associated with the hotel) can also utilise a key allocation/management system/module to allocate a key code for the particular booked room and send it to the mobile application installed on the guest’s phone, via wireless communication. The key allocation system/module may be independent/separate from the room finding system. In this case, the hotel could utilise the independent/separate key allocation system/module to handle all the key alocations. The mobile application of the guest would then communicate/interface with the independent/separate key allocation system/module in order to obtain the associated room’s key code. In another embodiment, the key allocation module/system may form part of the room finding system, e.g. the key allocation and navigational functionalities may be combined into one system. The room finding system typically includes a plurality of location beacons which are installed at various locations throughout the hotel (e.g. along the corridors and on each of the different floors). The door of each hotel room is locked by means of a door lock arrangement which forms part of the room finding system. Each door lock arrangement has a unique key code which needs to be presented to the door lock arrangement before access to the room is granted. These key codes are typically allocated by the key allocation system, which communicates the key codes to the door lock arrangements. Each door lock arrangement is configured to receive a key code via wireless communication from the smart phone on which the mobile application is stored, in order to check if the received key code matches its allocated key code.

If the guest then approaches the door, a key module of the mobile application sends the key code it received from the key allocation system wirelessly to the door lock arrangement of the particular booked room. If the key code received from the mobile application matches the particular key code which is associated with/allocated to the door lock arrangement, then the door lock arrangement unlocks the door in order to allow the guest to enter the room.

In the drawings, reference numeral 100 refers generally to a room finding system in accordance with the invention. The system 100 typically includes a mobile application 1 1 , in accordance with the invention, which can be downloaded onto the people’s smart phones 10. More specifically, the mobile application 1 1 would typically be made available for download on an App store(s).

The system 100 also includes a central server 800 which is configured to utilise/interface with an online booking system 802 (e.g. provided by a third party, such as Protel®) in order to book specific rooms 400, 500 for guests 300 at a hotel 1 10 (or other type of accommodation). The mobile application 1 1 of the guest 300 is configured to receive the room number of his/her booked room (e.g. Room 308) from the online booking system 802, e.g. via a wireless communication network. Details of the bookings can also be stored on a database 900. The central server 800 is also configured to utilise/interface with a key allocation system 804 (e.g. provided by a third party, such as Dormakaba® or Zaplox®) which is configured to allocate unique key codes to certain rooms 400, 500. The key allocation system 804 is also configured to send the key code, which is associated with a particular room allocated to the guest 300, wirelessly to the smart phone 10 of the guest 300 (more specifically the mobile application installed on the guest’s smart phone 10). Each key code is typically sent via wireless communication (e.g. using Wi-Fi, a mobile telecommunication network, or a combination thereof) to the mobile application 1 1 which is installed on the associated guest’s smart phone 10.

The system 100 also includes a plurality of location beacons 700.1 -700.6 (collectively hereinafter referred to as 700) which are located throughout the hotel 1 10. More specifically, at least some of the location beacons 700 are located along the corridors of the hotel 1 10 as illustrated in Figure 2. The location beacons 700 may be in the form of Bluetooth beacons. Ideally, however, the beacons 700 should be BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacons 700 which are configured to communicate wirelessly by means of BLE. Each BLE beacon 700 includes a unique identifier/identification code.

Each hotel room 400, 500 includes a door 22.1 , 22.2 (collectively hereinafter referred to as 22) through which guests 300 can gain access to the room 400, 500. Each door 22 is locked by means of a door lock arrangement 20.1 , 20.2 (collectively hereinafter referred to as 20), in order to prevent unauthorised access. Each door lock arrangement 20 has an associated key code (i.e. a unique key code specifically allocated to the particular door lock arrangement 20) which is required before unlocking its associated door 22. These key codes are typically allocated by the key allocation system 804 and subsequently sent to the respective door lock arrangements 20 (e.g. via the central server 800 by means of wireless/wired communication). Each door lock arrangement 20 typically includes a wireless communication module, more specifically a Bluetooth module, in order to allow for wireless communication. In a preferred example, the Bluetooth module is a BLE module.

The mobile application 1 1 includes a navigation module 14 which is configured to determine a current location of the smart phone 10 on which the mobile application 1 1 is stored by communicating with the BLE beacons 700. More specifically, the mobile application 1 1 includes a software map of the hotel 1 10 which is stored on a database of the smart phone 10 (when the mobile application 1 1 is downloaded). The map includes a geographic layout of the hotel including all the different corridors 600.1 -600.3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as“600”), floors, stairs and hotel rooms 400, 500. The map also includes the locations of each of the rooms 400, 500 and each of the BLE beacons 700.

The navigation module 14 is typically configured to utilise a Bluetooth module/arrangement 19 of the smart phone 10 in order to communicate with one or more nearby BLE beacons 700. More specifically, the mobile application 1 1 can identify the specific BLE beacon 700 with which it is communicating, by obtaining the unique identifier of the BLE beacon 700 and then subsequently determine the current location of the smart phone 10 based on the location of the BLE beacon 700 within the map of the hotel 1 10.

The navigation module 14 is further configured to provide visual and/or audio navigation instructions to the guest 300 in real-time, based on the current location of the guest’s smart phone 10. More specifically, the navigation module 14 is configured to calculate, by using the map, a navigation route 800 from the current location of the guest’s smart phone 10 to the specific room 400 which has been allocated to the guest (e.g. which direction to walk, when to turn, etc.). The visual navigation instructions are displayed on a display screen 15 of the smart phone 10 in order to help guide a guest 300 to his/her room 400. For the audio navigation instructions, the navigation module 14 utilises a speaker 17 of the smart phone 10.

The mobile application 1 1 includes a key module 16 which is configured to send the key code it received from the key allocation system 804 wirelessly to the door lock arrangement 20 of his/her booked room 400, in order to unlock the door 22. More specifically, the key module 16 is configured to send the key code, via BLE communication, to the door lock arrangement 20, when the smart phone 10 is in close proximity of the door 22 (e.g. within 5cm). The key module 16 typically utilises the Bluetooth module 19 in order to communicate with the door lock arrangement 20. If the key code received from the smart device 10 matches the associated key code for the door lock arrangement 20, then the door lock arrangement 20 unlocks the door 22 in order to allow the guest 300 to enter the room 400, 500.

The system 100 also includes a lighting arrangement 24.1 , 24.2 (collectively hereinafter referred to as“24”) for each room which, when activated, provides illumination outside the particular room so that the room can be identified when a guest approaches the room. The lighting arrangement 24 includes a light 26.1 , 26.2 (collectively hereinafter referred to as“26”) which is located outside the door 22 and a BLE module.

The navigation module 14 is configured to send an instruction, via BLE communication, to the lighting arrangement 24.1 of the particular room 400, when the smart phone 10 is approaching the room 400 (e.g. when it is within a certain distance from the door lock arrangement 20), to activate the light 26.1 outside the door 22. When lighting arrangement 24.1 receives the instruction, it activates the light 26.1 in order to indicate the allocated room 400 to the guest 300 as he approaches.

As mentioned above, the modules 14, 16 can also be implemented on other mobile communication devices as well. These devices may, for example, be handed to the guests upon arrival at the hotel. The devices would then typically include a processor, a database and appropriate software (similar to the mobile app) which, when executed, is configured to implement the modules 14, 16. These devices would also include a wireless communication arrangement in order to allow it to communicate, via BLE communication, with the location beacons 700 and the door locking arrangements 20.

When a guest 300 checks in at reception 200, the receptionist will typically utilise a computer, which is linked to the central server 800 of the hotel, in order to check in the guest 300. The server 800 is configured to then communicate with the booking system 802 and key allocation system 804, so that these systems 802, 804 can send the room number and associated key code wirelessly to the mobile application 1 1 (as described above) which is stored on the smart phone 10 of the guest 300. This information is then stored on the smart phone 10.

The guest 300 can then select a navigation option on the mobile app via a user interface displayed on the display screen 15 of his/her smart phone 10. The navigation module 14 then utilises the display screen 15 and speaker 17 of the phone 10 in order to provide visual and audible navigational instructions to the guest 300, in order to guide him to his booked room 400. As mentioned above, new navigation instructions are typically provided continually to the guest 300 has he walks long the corridors 600 towards his/her room 400. The visual navigation commands/instructions are typically overlaid on the map of the premises where the room is located.

As the guest 300 approaches the room 400, the navigation module 14 determines that the smart phone 10 is approaching/nearing the room 400 (e.g. it is within a BLE communication range 750), it instructs the lighting arrangement 24.1 of the room 400 to illuminate the outside of the room 400, as described, in order to identify the particular room 400 for the guest as he approaches.

When the guest 300 is at the door 22, he/she places their phone 10 close to the door lock arrangement 20.1 (e.g. within about 5 cm), which then allows the key module 16 to communicate the received key code to the door lock arrangement 20.1 via BLE communication which, in turn, performs a matching function to check if the received key code matches the key code associated with the particular room 400. If the matching is successful, then the door lock arrangement 20.1 unlocks the door 22.1 so that the guest 300 may enter the room 400. In a slightly adaptation, the door lock arrangement 20.1 may be configured to instruct the lighting arrangement 24 to illuminate the outside of the room 400, when the matching is successful.

It should be noted that the system 100 and device 10 could be easily adapted to also add additional locations, such as a gym or bar area of the hotel 1 10, so that guests 300 could be navigated to those locations as well.

It will be appreciated that the booking system 802 and key allocation system 800 may also form part of the system 100.

The Inventor believes that the present invention will help guests 300 to locate and access their rooms in a much easier and time effective fashion. The fact that the doors unlock automatically upon approach, also negates the issue of taking out a physical key in order to unlock the door.