Detailed description of Property Management System Interface

Last Updated : Oct 04, 2016 |
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PMS/Communication Manager links summarizes how the hospitality features are activated when you use only Communication Manager and when you use the PMS with Communication Manager.
The PMS Interface provides the following:
  • A communications protocol for controlling message exchange between Communication Manager and a PMS
  • An application module for controlling the operation of PMS features
  • Status data on all guest/patient rooms for selected features
The protocol is full-duplex asynchronous and provides the mechanisms for setting up a data session with PMS, message-exchange control, error identification, and recovery. The interface supports standard data rates.
Two protocol modes are provided: the normal-protocol mode as described above, and transparent-protocol mode. Normal-protocol mode supports a character set that has a combination of Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) characters and ASCII characters. Transparent-protocol mode supports a complete ASCII-character set.
The application module of the PMS Interface implements requested features and provides backup if the PMS link is down. Whether or not the link is down, Communication Manager always maintains the following data for each room:
  • Whether the room is vacant or occupied
  • Whether the telephone’s message lamp is on or off
  • Whether a controlled restriction is active at the telephone and, if so, which one
  • The guest’s name and coverage path
When the PMS link is down, Communication Manager automatically activates Check-In/Check-Out for the attendant console and front-desk terminal with display capability, and continues to support PMS features activated from guest/patient-room telephones.
When the PMS link is up again, Communication Manager sends one of the following messages to PMS:
  • No room-status changes occurred during loss of communications.
  • Room-status changes did occur during loss of communications; therefore, a data exchange is needed to synchronize Communication Manager and the PMS databases.
  • The system failed momentarily, destroying its record of room status; therefore, a data exchange is needed to synchronize Communication Manager and the PMS databases.
When the PMS link is down or not used, Communication Manager maintains an audit-trail report of all events that are normally sent to the PMS. The audit-trail report (accessed via the management terminal) is a sequential listing of all PMS transactions executed by Communication Manager when the PMS link is down. Included are error events that occur when the link is up or down.
If you have a PMS printer and the PMS link is down, the following status changes print as changes occur:
  • Room number
  • FAC dialed
  • Any additional information digits that were dialed
  • Reason for the entry (error message)
  • Time that the error occurred
Additional reports print to the PMS Journal/Schedule printer. These include Automatic Wakeup activity, Emergency Access to the Attendant activity, and scheduled reports.
A supporting function called Room Data Image synchronizes Communication Manager and PMS databases after a PMS link goes down and comes back up. Information exchanged includes:
  • Room extension
  • Whether the room is occupied or vacant
  • Message Waiting lamp status
  • Controlled Restriction status
  • Guest’s name
  • Call Coverage path
Related links
Message Waiting NotificationControlled RestrictionPMS-Down LogHousekeeping StatusCheck In/Check OutRoom Change/Room SwapNames RegistrationGuest Information Input/ChangePMS/INTUITY Link Integration