System and method for providing internet access services at hotels within a hotel chain
An improved system and method for providing Internet access services to guests of a hotel chain. A web services (WS) framework is used for communications between a central authentication server (CAS) and property management system (PMS) of a hotel within a chain. Authentication of a user to a high speed Internet network is accomplished using the WS framework to facilitate communication between the CAS and PMS. A gateway device for authentication is bypassed and transactions are posted by implementing a WS interface between a CAS and PMS at each hotel. Additional transactions may be incorporated within the WS interface thereby increasing the system and method's ability to deliver significant improvements in customer service to the hotel guest. Reduced dependence upon a gateway device to facilitate communications allows a hotel to implement a high speed Internet access program with a degree of independence from one particular vendor.
1. A method for providing Internet access services to guests of a hotel chain comprising:
(a) entering guest identifying data in a first property management system of a first hotel of said hotel chain;
(b) receiving at a central authentication server from a guest computer in said first hotel an Internet access request, said request comprising guest input for confirming said guest's registration status;
(c) transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a request to confirm said guest's registration status at said first hotel using said guest identifying data;
(d) confirming said guest's registration status at said first hotel;
(e) transmitting said request for Internet access to an Internet gateway device at said first hotel;
(f) assigning at said Internet gateway device guest authentication information to said guest identifying data;
(g) transmitting said authentication information to said guest and said central authentication server;
(h) receiving at said central authentication server from said guest computer said guest authentication information;
(i) authenticating said guest according to said guest authentication information;
(j) opening for said guest computer a connection to the Internet through said Internet gateway device at said first hotel; and
(k) transmitting to said first property management system from said Internet gateway device transaction data for a session using said connection to the Internet.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
(l) entering said guest identifying data in a second property management system of a second hotel of said hotel chain;
(m) receiving at said central authentication server from said guest computer in said second hotel an Internet access request, said request comprising guest input for confirming said guest's registration status;
(n) transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a request to confirm said guest's registration status at said second hotel using said guest identifying data;
(o) confirming said guest's registration status at said second hotel;
(p) transmitting said request for Internet access to an Internet gateway device at said second hotel;
(q) assigning at said Internet gateway device guest authentication information to said guest identifying data;
(r) transmitting said authentication information to said guest and said central authentication server;
(s) receiving at said central authentication server from said guest computer said guest authentication information;
(t) authenticating said guest according to said guest authentication information;
(u) opening for said guest computer a connection to the Internet through said Internet gateway device at said second hotel; and
(v) transmitting to said second property management system from said Internet gateway device transaction data for a session using said connection to the Internet.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein confirming said guest's registration status at said first hotel comprises:
(i) transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a request to confirm said guest's registration status, said request comprising said guest input;
(ii) confirming at said property management system said guest's registration status by comparing said guest input with said guest identifying information stored in said property management system; and
(iii) transmitting from said property management system to said central authentication server confirmation of said guest's registration status.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein confirming said guest's registration status at said first hotel comprises:
(i) transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a request for said guest identifying information;
(ii) transmitting from said property management system to said central authentication server said guest identifying information; and
(iii) matching said guest input with said guest identifying information.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a posting transaction for an Internet access service charge.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said guest identifying data comprises said guest's last name, said guest's first name, and said guest's room number.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said guest input comprises said guest's last name, said guest's first name, and said guest's room number.
8. A system for providing Internet access services to guests of a hotel chain comprising:
(a) a first property management system sever executing instructions to:
(1) receive guest identifying data for a guest in a first hotel of said hotel chain;
(2) transfer to a central authentication server from a guest computer in said first hotel an Internet access request, said request comprising said guest identifying data for confirming said guest's registration status;
(b) a central authentication server executing instructions to:
(1) transmit to said first property management system server a request to confirm said guest's registration status at said first hotel using said guest identifying data;
(2) receive from said first property management system server a confirmation of said guest's registration status at said first hotel; and
(3) transmit to an Internet gateway device said request for Internet access comprising said guest identifying data;
(c) an Internet gateway device at said first hotel executing instructions to:
(1) receive from said central authentication server said Internet access request comprising said guest identifying data and guest authentication information;
(2) assign at said Internet gateway device guest authentication information to said guest identifying data;
(3) transmit said guest authentication information to said guest computer and to said central authentication server;
(4) receive from said central authentication server a confirmation of said guest authentication;
(5) open for said guest computer a connection to the Internet at said first hotel; and
(6) transmit to said first property management system server transaction data for a session using said connection to the Internet.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
(d) a second property management system server of a second hotel of said hotel chain executing instructions to receive said guest identifying data;
(e) wherein said central authentication server executes instructions to:
(1) receive from said guest computer in said second hotel an Internet access request, said request comprising guest input for confirming said guest's registration status;
(2) transmit to said second property management system server a request to confirm said guest's registration status at said second hotel using said guest identifying data;
(3) receive from said second property management system server a confirmation of said guest's registration status at said second hotel; and
(4) transmit said request for Internet access to an Internet gateway device at said second hotel, said request comprising guest authentication information; and
(c) wherein said Internet gateway device executes instructions to:
(1) assign said guest authentication information to said guest identifying data;
(2) transmit said authentication information to said guest computer and said central authentication server;
(3) receive from said central authentication server an authentication of said guest according to said guest authentication information;
(4) open for said guest computer a connection to the Internet at said second hotel; and
(5) transmit to said second property management system server transaction data for a session using said connection to the Internet.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein executing instructions to confirm said guest's registration status at said first hotel comprises:
(i) transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a request to confirm said guest's registration status, said request comprising said guest input;
(ii) confirming at said property management system server said guest's registration status by comparing said guest input with said guest identifying information stored in said property management system; and
(iii) transmitting from said property management system to said central authentication server confirmation of said guest's registration status.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein executing instructions to confirm said guest's registration status at said first hotel comprises:
(i) transmitting from said central authentication server to said property management system a request for said guest identifying information;
(ii) transmitting from said property management system to said central authentication server said guest identifying information; and
(iii) matching said guest input with said guest identifying information.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein said central authentication server further executes instructions to transmit to said property management system server a posting transaction for an Internet access service charge.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein said guest identifying data comprises said guest's last name, said guest's first name, and said guest's room number.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein said guest input comprises said guest's last name, said guest's first name, and said guest's room number.