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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to an invention belonging to the field of automatic systems for the control and management of room accesses.

PRIOR ART

In recent years, also and especially by virtue of the digital revolution due to the extensiveness reached by the Internet network, non-hotel accommodation facilities have increased greatly in number and popularity. Web-based services like Airbnb, for booking and renting rooms, apartments and accommodation facilities of all types are now widespread and used by an ever growing number of users, due to their practicality and their cost-effectiveness. Using services like Airbnb, but not only, a user can select and book his stay away from home in a room or a private apartment made available by the owner. Reservation and payment are carried out online, after which the user only needs to get the keys of the accommodation facility booked to access it. The delivery of the keys of the accommodation facility booked usually takes place by hand by the owner or his representative who must then be available to meet the guest user. Therefore, there may be instances where the meeting between the owner and the guest is made difficult by circumstances, times difficult to manage or difficult logistics such as, for example, when the guest user arrives during the night or when the leased facility is far from the home of its owner.

The present invention allows those who manage or use non-hotel accommodation facilities to handle check-in and check-out in a completely automated manner. The manager of a non-hotel facility or an apartment or a room for rent, in fact, by virtue of the present invention, will not need to be present in person on arrival or departure of his guest to deliver or collect the keys of the accommodation booked. The present invention also allows fully managing the business of renting non-hotel facilities, dealing with very important tasks such as sending documents to the Police in accordance with article 109 of TULPS, the payment of any tourist taxes, the payment of any extra charges accrued during the stay and, in general, monitoring and controlling the procedures to be followed by sending e-mail communications, text messages or other, to the guest user, to the housekeeping staff and, in general, to the collaborators of the non-hotel facility manager, concerning the operations carried out, to be carried out and almost due.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of a non- limiting example and shown in the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the architecture of the system according to the present invention;

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen and a keyboard and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen and a keyboard and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing and also larger objects, such as for example luggage;

fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a third preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen, a keyboard and audio/video communication means with the user and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing;

fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen, a keyboard and audio/video communication means with the user and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing and also larger objects, such as for example luggage;

fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen, a keyboard, electronic payment means and electronic document scanning means and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing; fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen, a keyboard, electronic payment means and electronic document scanning means and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing and also larger objects, such as for example luggage; fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen, a keyboard, audio/video communication means with the user, electronic payment means and electronic document scanning means and the controlled-opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing;

fig. 9 shows a schematic view of an eighth preferred embodiment of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention wherein the user interface comprises a screen, a keyboard, audio/video communication means with the user, electronic payment means and electronic document scanning means and the controlled- opening containers are adapted to contain the keys of the rental housing and also larger objects, such as for example luggage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for providing guest users of non-hotel accommodation facilities with a check-in and check-out assistance service.

The system of the present invention, therefore, allows the delivery and return of the access keys (or other opening tools) of the rented units, through the rental of a recess openable automatically by means of a dedicated interactive apparatus. The above openable recess is preferably located within a well-recognizable room situated in particularly favorable positions for tourists who travel by train or plane, such as railway stations, airports, meeting places etc. The system of the present invention can further and advantageously comprise further means for managing the execution, by the guest user, of the check-in and check-out steps comprising, for example, the scanning and sending of documents to the relevant police headquarters in compliance with art.109 of TULPS, the payment of any extras incurred during the stay, the tourist tax, etc. Alerts for the cleaning staff and the persons involved in the maintenance of the facilities leased may also be managed through a system of alerts sent by e-mail or telephone text messages. The host user can, in fact, use the system of the invention also to have the keys collected by or delivered to the persons in charge of cleaning or any maintainers who will have to go to the leased facility.

With reference to the accompanying figure 1 , the system according to the present invention comprises

at least one interactive apparatus 25 adapted to connect to the Internet network and adapted to manage a plurality of containers 13 with controlled access and a certain number of peripheral devices;

a remote server 23 comprising or having access to

storage means 24,

said remote server 23 being adapted to host a website comprising a user interface adapted to identify a user and to provide access codes that are further exchanged by said server 23 with said interactive apparatus 25, so as to associate said access codes to the opening of said containers 13 with controlled access.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interactive apparatus 25 comprises in turn:

a control module 10 comprising

at least one processor and

at least one memory associated to said at least one processor;

a communication module 1 1 , associated to said control module and comprising a connection interface to the Internet network, of wired type, preferably provided with at least one Ethernet type connection, or

a connection interface to the Internet network, of wireless type, preferably provided with at least one connection to the mobile data network according to one of the modes selected from the group comprising 3G and 4G/LTE, or both;

an actuator module 12, associated to said control module and comprising a plurality of actuators;

a plurality of containers 13 with controlled access, each associated to an actuator of said actuator module 12; at least one user interface 14 associated to said control module and comprising a display 15, preferably of touch type,

a keyboard 16, possibly integrated into or implemented through said touchscreen.

If the interactive apparatus according to the present invention is also to be provided with the ability to sign documents electronically and/or scan them and/or send said documents to a remote destination, advantageously, said user interface 14 may further comprise:

electronic payment management means 17 such as, for example, by means of electronic cards or NFC devices,

document scanning means 18 possibly associated to said display 15, electronic scanning means of the user's signature 19, possibly associated to said display 15.

If the interactive apparatus according to the present invention is also to be provided with the ability to provide assistance to the user remotely during the use of the interactive apparatus according to the present invention, said user interface 14 may advantageously be provided with further communication means preferably comprising

a video camera 20 associated to a microphone 21 ,

at least one loudspeaker 22

adapted to allow the user to communicate with an operator or a remote help-desk. In an operation example, the system according to the present invention operates so as to allow a guest user to carry out all the operations that are required to take possession of the reserved accommodation automatically, without needing to meet the host user to hand over the keys and the documents required.

In more general terms, the system according to the present invention allows users who manage or use non-hotel accommodation facilities to handle check-in and check-out operations in a completely automated manner.

The manager of a non-hotel facility or the owner of an apartment for rent, in fact, by virtue of the present invention may also not be present on arrival or departure of his guest to deliver or collect the keys of the accommodation, thus making the check-in and check-out operations much easier and convenient to carry out. In addition to this, in a preferred embodiment, the system according to the present invention can carry out a number of additional functions that may be required to the guest user at the beginning of his stay in the booked facility, such as - considering the rules currently in force in Italy - sending the identity card to the police headquarters of competence, in accordance with art. 109 of TULPS and within 24 hours of his arrival, or the payment of the tourist tax, if required by the municipality where the leased facility is located.

Moreover, the system according to the present invention allows promptly informing of the various actions taken by the host and guest users with a configurable alert system which can be sent by both said interactive apparatus 25 through the communication module 1 1 and by said remote server 23. Using these alerts sent in electronic form by e-mail or text message or the like, for example, the collaborators of the host user - such as for example cleaning staff and maintainers - can be kept informed and updated so that they can promptly carry out their work. In more detail, the system according to the present invention may be adapted to interact with a plurality of host users - who have one or more rooms to rent - and with a plurality of guest users who have booked a stay in said rooms through the usual booking means available, such as travel agencies, websites, direct telephone contacts, etc.

The host user will have to register on a dedicated website or through an application for mobile devices (for example compatible with the most popular operating systems like iOS, Android or Windows Mobile), associated with the system according to the present invention, and confirm his identity to use the system according to their needs, reserving a number of said containers 13, for example equal to the number of lodgings that he intends to offer for rental, and will then receive his login credentials to said interactive apparatus. The host user will then be able, after logging in to said interactive apparatus via a host access code received following his registration, to carry out the following actions: enter the data relating to the accommodations offered for rental, reserve a corresponding number of containers associated with the apparatus and insert the access keys to said accommodation; enter the data of the guests booked and their dates of arrival (check-in) and departure (check-out). Once the host user has entered his reservation for one or more of the available containers and the details of the guest user reservation in the interactive apparatus, the system according to the present invention generates and sends a guest access code to the guest user. Said guest access code is such as to enable access to said interactive apparatus and enable the opening of the container which stores the keys of the accommodation booked. The guest access code may be sent by the system according to the present invention to the guest user electronically through, for example, an e-mail or text message or the like.

On his part, also the guest user can access the interactive apparatus through his guest access code; by interacting with said interactive apparatus, he can then select the type of operation to be carried out: the simple collection (upon check-in) or the simple delivery (check-out) of the key of the accommodation but also the signing and submission in electronic form of documents, payment of the tourist tax or the balance of the rental fee still to be paid to the host and will then be able to use the containers made available for the paid service of luggage storage.

In more detail, the guest user can control the interactive apparatus according to the present invention, through the guest access code that he will have received from the host user via text message or e-mail, to open one of said containers 13 where the key of the accommodation booked is and will thus be able to begin his stay in said accommodation. Or, at the end of his period of stay, the guest user will be able to carry out the same operations mentioned above in order to put in said containers 13 the key of the accommodation booked, which thus returns available to the host user who will be able to rent again the accommodation now available. Moreover, the interactive apparatus according to the present invention will be able to track and schedule the operations described for check-in and check-out at the booked facility and provide timely alerts to the host user and the guest user and also to the cleaning staff, to any collaborators of the host user, etc., electronically via e-mail, text message, etc.

Advantageously, moreover, in other preferred embodiments of the present invention, shown in the accompanying figures 3, 5, 7 and 9, said containers may be of such size to hold objects larger than a key or set of keys, such as for example purses, bags and luggage in general. In this way, the system according to the present invention is adapted to provide the guest user with the possibility to also use a temporary storage for luggage or bulky items in general.

The system according to the present invention allows, in further detail, to carry out the following operations:

The host user, as said, must first register to the service, per example on a dedicated website or through a compatible application, for example by means of the most popular systems like iOS, Android or Windows Mobile and connected to the system according to the present invention, entering his personal and fiscal data and his e-mail and phone contact details. After registration, the host user will receive a customer identification code intended to identify the host user within the system of the present invention and for essentially administrative purposes (such as for billing the amount of the service) and a host access code with which he can carry out the following operations: entering data about the guest users incoming in the rental units available and their check-in and check-out dates; selecting the number of containers required possibly by paying a subscription of long duration; paying for the service selected by the available electronic payment means (credit cards, PayPal, stripe, etc.).

With the same host access code, the host user can go to the selected interactive apparatus, access it with his host access code and, after having entered it, select the type of operation to be carried out such as for example collect or deliver the access keys to the premises made available. At this point, the interactive apparatus according to the present invention will indicate the selected container and the host user may proceed with the deposit or collection of the keys.

On his end, the guest user will receive from the system according to the present invention a communication, preferably in the form of an electronic message, e- mail, text message, etc., containing his guest access code and instructions on how to obtain the keys of the room booked and thus check in.

The guest user shall then go to corresponding interactive apparatus, enter his guest access code and follow the instructions displayed on the display of the interactive system to collect or return the keys of the premises rented. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, shown in the accompanying figures 3, 5, 7 and 9, the guest user may also use larger containers 13 to store his luggage.

In further preferred embodiments of the present invention, shown in figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, both the host user and the guest user can sign electronic documents and send them remotely, scan paper documents and send them remotely, proceed to the electronic payment of the service received. In this way, the host user, by going to the interactive apparatus according to the present invention, can for example electronically sign a lease, scan and send a lease on paper, scan the identity document and send it remotely (to the host user or to the competent authorities, for example), pay the tourist tax, any extra charges accrued during the stay, pay the fee for the rental of the luggage storage container, etc.

The system of the present invention may, in a further preferred embodiment, advantageously be used, managed and controlled through a mobile device application. This application, created in various versions that are compatible with the most popular operating systems for mobile devices, such as iOS, Android and Windows Mobile, allows the host user to manage in real time all the activities related to his apartment, such as for example: creating photos and videos to describe his structure offered in leasing, purchasing the services of the system according to the present invention, controlling and managing current bookings, communicating with the guest user via electronic messages, contacting the manager of the system according to the present invention for support requests. The same application is available in the version dedicated to the guest user who will, from a mobile device, find all the information about the structure and the city or area selected. For example, it will be possible to know what is needed to live in the selected facility (for example, information will be provided about the operation of appliances and miscellaneous utilities); view all the information regarding check- in/check-out (hours, location, etc.); get advice and tips on places of interest and leisure in the city or in the area of arrival; communicate with his host user via electronic messages.