Abstract: A mini-bar and a system and a method of monitoring activity of a mini-bar where the mini-bar includes radio frequency identification tags which communicate the status of inventory to a central system for billing and restocking purposes.

Abstract: An in-room safe monitoring, billing and tamper warning system that uses short range radio signals to pass the information to the internet, telephone system or any other Building Wide Communication Network (BCN). Attached to this BCN are the hotel's main computers used for security and billing. Thus the hotel staff can be informed of both usage and receive theft warning alarm messages through their regular computer network. The unique feature of this system is that data can be sent from any location in the room wirelessly throughout the room. A different code is associated with each and every safe, so that if the signal penetrates to the next room there will be no confusion. Once the signal reaches the wall, it is picked up by a data receiver and converted into the BCN format of choice for that building. Thus local short range radio communication can be used for building wide coverage in a huge hotel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for controlling hotel in-room safes. The invention comprises a control computer that controls the operation of each in-room safe by transmitting enable or disable commands over a wireless transmission link to a receiver-controller installed in each safe. The use of the safe is enabled or disabled when a guest calls a predetermined telephone number that is interpreted as a command to enable or disable the in-room safe. Each receiver-controller is battery-powered and a technique is employed by the system to conserve battery power by transmitting commands to safes at a predetermined time. Each safe turns on its wireless receiver only at the predetermined time and turns off its receiver after receiving the command thereby conserving the life of the battery.