Connected facility systems

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a management system that coordinates an interoperable mesh of technologies and devices to manage a hospitality facility. This disclosure further relates to the identification of key issues associated with hospitality and facility management to address with management systems of this disclosure so as to provide a management system that is cost-effective and maximizes facility profitability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A management system for managing a hospitality facility, the management system operable to communicate and exchange data over a network with a plurality of devices comprising at least a guest device, a staff device, and a device connected to the facility, the management system comprising a hardware processor coupled to non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing instructions executable by the processor to cause the management system to:
 receive data from at least one of the plurality of devices, wherein at least a portion of the data comprises unique identification information;   query a database that comprises authentication information;   generate an output based, at least in part, on data received from the at least one of the plurality of devices and results of the query; and   provide the output to at least one of the plurality of devices and a property management system.   
     
     
         2 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the facility comprises at least one of one of a locking device, a sensor, an air conditioner, an entertainment device, or an illumination device. 
     
     
         3 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the guest device comprises a smartphone running an application configured to communicate and exchange data with the management system. 
     
     
         4 . The management system of  claim 3 , wherein the application comprises an interface configured to receive input from a guest associated with the device. 
     
     
         5 . The management system of  claim 4 , wherein the interface is configured to receive input in connection with at least one of accessing a room of the facility, adjusting room temperature, adjusting an entertainment device, changing room ambiance, and making a room service request. 
     
     
         6 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication information of the database comprises unique identification data associating a guest and a registered room of the facility. 
     
     
         7 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to authenticate data received from the plurality of devices by correlating unique identification information of one of the plurality of devices and authentication information from the database. 
     
     
         8 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the output comprises computer-readable instructions for adjusting operation of the device connected to the facility. 
     
     
         9 . The management system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are processed by the device connected to the facility to thereby result in at least one of a change to a lock status, an adjustment in air temperature, an adjustment in room lighting, or an adjustment to an entertainment device. 
     
     
         10 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the output comprises data that relates to a custodial or maintenance task and is viewable on an interface of the staff device. 
     
     
         11 . The management system of  claim 10 , wherein the interface is configured to receive input from a staff member associated with the staff device in connection with the custodial or maintenance task. 
     
     
         12 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the management system is configured to update information stored in the database based on authenticated data received from one of the plurality of devices or the property management system. 
     
     
         13 . The management system of  claim 12 , wherein the update is in connection with information that associates a room of the facility with a guest and results in a change to authentication information. 
     
     
         14 . The management system of  claim 12 , wherein the update is in connection with a room service request. 
     
     
         15 . The management system of  claim 12 , wherein the update is in connection with a custodial or maintenance task. 
     
     
         16 . The management system of  claim 12 , wherein the update is in connection with an operational status of the device connected to the facility. 
     
     
         17 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the property management system comprises an interface that is configured to receive input from a property manager. 
     
     
         18 . The management system of  claim 17 , wherein the interface allows the property manager to control one or more parameters of the system. 
     
     
         19 . The management system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise operational parameters of the device connected to the facility. 
     
     
         20 . The management system of  claim 17 , wherein input from the property manager is used to change information stored in the database. 
     
     
         21 . The management system of  claim 20 , wherein the information includes guest room assignments. 
     
     
         22 . The management system of  claim 1 , where the network is a cloud-based network. 
     
     
         23 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the at least one device is encrypted. 
     
     
         24 . The management system of  claim 23 , wherein the encrypted data comprises hash-based message authentication code. 
     
     
         25 . The management system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor provides data relating to at least one of air quality, occupancy, energy consumption or water consumption. 
     
     
         26 . The management system of  claim 25 , wherein the management system further comprises an analytical software system for analyzing data provided by the sensor.