BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communication systems and, more particularly, an adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash.

When going through a car wash, once the customer starts entering the car wash bay or tunnel, there is no way for the operator to customize communications to the consumer based on the wash package selected, even to provide directions, information, or entertainment to enhance the customer's overall experience.

Given that communication primarily comes at the pay station and fixed signage inside the bay or tunnel, a significant opportunity is lost to provide real time configurable communications at various points in the process, wherein such communications can be most relevant, memorable and even entertaining for the customer.

As a result, communication to customers during the wash experience is either by signage, a sales person and/or a point-of-sale system, and once in the bay or tunnel, fixed directional signage is the primary form of communication. Currently, there is no communication system that integrates with the car wash functions, and so there is no adaptive and timely communications while the customer is experiencing the wash process.

Specifically, current systems do not enable voice or sound communication events during the wash process. If the customer does not understand, connect with or forgets these messages after entering the wash, their experience could be degraded. Furthermore, the opportunity is lost to enhance the customer's experience through various music/sound effects at varying points during the wash process. As a result, current systems do not do an optimal job in maximizing the customer in-wash experience.

As can be seen, there is a need for an adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash. The present invention embodies a programmable input relay board coupled to a digital sound trigger board retrievably storing a plurality of communication events. Each wash function is adapted to transmit an output signal upon being engaged, and the programmable input relay board is adapted to receive such output signals and interfacing with the digital sound trigger board so as to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of communication events to external output devices.

Each communication event may be digital data or output associated with a relay or switch on the digital sound trigger board. The digital sound trigger board may include or be coupled to a programmable logic controller making the digital data/communication event and/or the associated relay/switch user-configurable in terms of content and utilization.

In short, when a wash function is initiated during the carwash process the associated output signal is triggered, which in turn the present invention receives and utilizes to provide a desired communication event. Specifically, the output signals may be coupled to the programmable input relay board through its output terminal strip, which utilizes the programmable logic controller to close or engage pre-selected relays or switches on the digital sound trigger board, triggering one or more communication events associated with said relays/switched. The resulting communication events can be output through external speakers or transmitted digitally to the customer's smart device or car stereo. These communication events can be voice, music and/or sound effect related, thereby enhancing the experience of the customer during the operation of the car wash.

With customer communication being extended into the bay or tunnel, operators can configure effective digital communications that creates a better overall and lasting customer experience. For example, users can create directional (e.g., how to pull into bay/tunnel), informational (e.g., narration and benefits of specific wash operations when activated), entertainment (e.g., themed music or sound affects when certain wash operations are activated) or marketing communications (e.g., upsell messages on services/merchandise or higher end wash packages available while exiting the wash). Thus, extending these types of communication events into the bay or tunnel, and so creating a more engaging customer experience and a higher level of awareness of premium services (e.g., wash packages), onsite services and merchandise the customer could be interested in once exiting the car wash.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash includes the following: a programmable input relay board coupled to a digital sound trigger board; the digital sound trigger board retrievably stores a plurality of communication events; the programmable input relay board providing a plurality of inputs electrically connectable to one or more electrical outputs, wherein each electrical output is operatively associated with a wash function of a car wash so that when said wash function is operable, an output signal is generated, and wherein the programmable input relay board is configured to selectively enable one or more communication events of said plurality of communication events; and one or more external output devices configured to receive and output each communication event.

In another aspect of the present invention, the adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash includes the following: a programmable input relay board coupled to a digital sound trigger board; the digital sound trigger board retrievably stores a plurality of communication events; the programmable input relay board providing a plurality of inputs electrically connectable to one or more electrical outputs, wherein each electrical output is operatively associated with a wash function of a car wash so that when said wash function is operable, an output signal is generated, and wherein the programmable input relay board is configured to selectively enable one or more communication events of said plurality of communication events; one or more external output devices configured to receive and output each communication event, wherein the one or more external output devices includes one of the following: a speaker in a hull of the car wash, a speaker in a smart device of a customer, or a speaker in a vehicle in the hull of the car wash; and one or more conditional relays associated with at least one of said plurality of inputs, wherein the one or more conditional relays provides a time delay prior to the enablement of an associated communication event, wherein a first car wash function is the car wash pay station, and wherein a second car wash function is a hot wax application.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of integrating an adaptive communication system to the wash functions of a carwash includes the following: providing the above-mentioned adaptive communication system integrated into the wash functions of a carwash; and electrically connecting an output of a car wash pay station to a first input of the plurality of inputs of the programmable input relay board.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

