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ClO GrBGOl]'hC^^Si
Universiti Teknologi MARA
The Development of Hotel Reservation System Via SMS
Nurul Hidayah Binti Hassan
Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for Bachelor
of Science (Hons) Information Technology
Faculty of Information Technology And Quantitative Science
October 2004
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DECLARATION
I certify that this thesis and the research to which it refers
are the product of my own work and that any ideas or quotation from
the work of other people, published or otherwise are fully
acknowledged in accordance with the standard referring practices of
the discipline.
OKTOBER, 2004 NURUL HID AY AH HASSAN 2002325288
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the name of Allah, God the Almighty, Most Gracious and Most
Merciful for allowing me to accomplish this project
successfully.
This report is the outcome of months of works by me in doing the
project on Hotel Reservation via SMS. It is therefore difficult for
me to name all the people who have directly or indirectly helped me
in completing this project. For those people that I about to omit,
I apologize now.
Firstly, I owe my gratitude to Pn Zarina Bt Zainol, my
supervisor for his patience, understanding and supportive in
guiding me on doing this project. I would like to take this
opportunity also to express my deepest gratitude to my most caring
and understanding mother, Pn Maskanah Bt Anuar. Thanks for all of
your never-ending love, support and encouragement in my life.
Without her support I won't be where I am now. My sincere gratitude
also goes to all my friends, especially to En Abu Bakar Mohamed,
who always been there for me in the time of need.
Once again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You are
all special people. God bless.
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ABSTRACT
The wireless technology grows very rapidly and it has become
very important in our life. This technology is giving many new
opportunities to us and makes our life easier. One of the wireless
technologies devices that are well known is mobile phone. With the
mobile phone, there is an SMS application that allows users to send
short message. Because of the crucial advantages of SMS, many
organizations use this technology in order to provide services to
their customers. Therefore, we were called to create a new service,
which is hotel reservation by using SMS for Hotel UiTM. This
prototype allows customers to send an SMS message if they want to
make a reservation. By developing this service, it can simplify the
work and not wasting much time and costs. It can be conclude that
this service can give convenient to customer and this system can be
enhanced in the future by using other form of technologies to make
it more efficient.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i ABSTRACT ii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES
viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
Background of the Problem Problem Statement Objectives of Study
Research Question Significance of Study Conclusion
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL CONSIDERATION
2.1 2.2
2.3
Introduction Project Framework 2.2.1 Input Process 2.2.2
Processing the Data 2.2.3 Output Process Conclusion
CHAPTER THREE: LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 Introduction 3.2 Definition of Pertinent Terminology
3.2.1 Wireless Technology
2
3
5 5 6 6 7 7
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3.2.2 GSM 9 3.2.3 SMS 10 3.2.4 SMS Application 10 3.2.5 How SMS
Work 12 3.2.6 Advantage of Using SMS 13 3.2.7 Three tier
Architecture 14 3.2.8 Microsoft Visual Basic 14 3.2.9 Apache 15
3.2.10 PHP-Hypertext Preprocessor 15 3.2.11 MySQL 16 3.2.12
Dreamweaver MX 17
3.3 Similar Approach to Solve Different Problem 3.3.1 SMS and
Remote Helpdesk System 18 3.3.2 Automatic Prayer Time Via SMS 18
3.3.3 Computer Event Communication via Mobile SMS 19
CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHOD
4.1 Introduction 20 4.2 Data Collection 21 4.3 Data Analysis
21
4.3.1 Approach 21 4.3.2 Hardware Requirement 22 4.3.3 Software
Requirement 23
4.4 Designing a Model 24 4.5 Create Interface and Coding 24
4.5.1 Create Database 25 4.5.2 Create Interface 25 4.5.3 Write a
Coding 26
4.6 Implementation and Testing 26 4.7 Conclusion 27
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CHAPTER FIVE: SYSTEM DESIGN
5.1 Introduction 28
5.2 Create Database 28
5.2.1 Table Login 29
5.2.2 Table Room 29
5.2.3 Table Queue 30 5.2.4 Table Store 30
5.3 Hotel UiTM Website 31
5.4 Hotel Reservation System 33
5.4.1 Main Page 33
5.4.2 Reservation Page 34
5.4.3 Check-In Page 34
5.4.4 Check-Out Page 34
5.4.5 Help and Logout Page 34
5.5 Use Case Diagram 35
5.6 Conclusion 36
CHAPTER SIX: IMPLEMENTATION
6.1 Introduction 37
6.2 SMS Send Method from the Client 37
6.3 Action Taken After Receive the Message 39
6.4 SMS ALERT Software 41 6.5 Conclusion 44
CHAPTER SEVEN: DISCUSSION AND FINDING
7.1 Introduction 45 7.2 Findings of the Project 45
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7.2.1 Software Used to Implement the SMS Service 45 7.2.2 How
Does the SMS Service Work 46 7.2.3 Significance of the SMS Service
47
7.3 Conclusion 50
CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
8.1 Introduction 51 8.2 Conclusion 51 8.3 Limitation and
Constraint 52 8.4 Recommendation 52
REFERENCES 54
APPENDICES
Appendix A 57
Appendix B 62
Appendix C 69
Appendix D 73
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LIST OF TABLES
CHAPTER 4
4.1
4.2
4.3
CHAPTER 5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
Hardware Used for This Project Software Used for This Project
List of Tables in the Database
Table used in the System
Table Login
Table Room
Table Queue Table Store
22
23
25
28
29
29
30
30
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LIST OF FIGURES
CHAPTER 2
2.1
CHAPTER 4
4.1
CHAPTER 5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
CHAPTER 6
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
CHAPTER 7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
Framework of The Proj ect 5
Methodology for Hotel Reservation System Project 20
Homepage of Hotel UiTM Website 31
Sub Screen for Hotel UiTM Website 32
Login Form 33
Use Case Diagram for Hotel Reservation System 35
The Message Compose from the Customer 37
Example of Send SMS Message for Reservation 38
Advertisement of SMS Service on Hotel UiTM Website 38
First Step Taken After Receive Message 39
Second Step Taken After Receive Message 40
Process of Sending Message to Mobile Phone 41
SMS Alert Interface 42
Function to Capture Data from Database 43
Function to Detect Phone Connection 44
SMS Alert Software 46
SMS Alert Capture Data From Database 47
Process of booking rooms using conventional method 48
Process of booking rooms using online reservation 49 Process of
booking rooms using SMS technology 50
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of The Problem
Wireless technologies become very popular and acceptable among
people
nowadays. With the existing of this technology, there are lots
of applications
that can make our life easier. The wireless technologies are
giving many new
opportunities to people. Wireless data technologies such as
Short Message
Service (SMS) allow consumers to communicate anytime, and from
any location. One of the wireless technologies devices that are
well known is
mobile phone. With the mobile phone, there is an SMS application
that allows
users to send short message to other people.
"SMS is a wireless communication mechanism that has the ability
to
send and receive text messages to and from mobile phones." It
can be used in
various ways to save time and money. The SMS also can be used to
deliver a
wide range of information to mobile phone users from share
prices, weather,
flight information, news headlines, jokes, horoscopes, info
solat and many more. Essentially, any information that fits into a
short message can be
delivered by SMS.
Because of the crucial advantages of SMS, many organizations use
this
technology in order to provide services to their customers. As
the wireless
technologies become more advance from time to time, the SMS
services can
now be send from website to the mobile phone and it become a
very powerful
business communication services.
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1.2 Problem Statement
Presently, there are lots of hotel's web sites that provide a
service for rooms reservation online. Besides traditional means of
using the telephone and responding to walk-ins to make a
reservation for hotel, most people prefer to use a new technology
such as using email or do it online in any hotel's web site.
Conventional method of hotel reservation like using the
telephone may have problems when the phone line is busy or the
particular staff did not attend the call. The distance is also a
contributing problem to this case especially if the place is quite
far. People have to travel to that place just to make a
reservation. It can be said that by using the conventional ways,
time and money will be wasted.
Using a new technology like email or online reservation also may
have constraints. The reservation cannot be made if there are no
computers or Internet services. It is also difficult if they are on
the road and they don't have a wireless device to make a
reservation.
This research is about to develop a Short Messaging Systems
(SMS) for hotel reservation at Hotel UiTM in order to minimize the
problems that are stated above. People can simply make a
reservation by write a message on their mobile phone. People
required to write their name, check in date and number of rooms and
then send their message to a number specified.
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1.3 Objectives of Study
The objectives of this study are:
1. To develop a hotel reservation system by using SMS
technology. 2. To ease people to make a reservation without calling
the hotel or even
go to the hotel themselves. 3. To give an immediate response to
the customer after makes a
reservation.
1.4 Research Question
The research questions for this project are:
1. What is the software used to implement the SMS service in the
system? 2. How does the SMS service work with the system?
1.5 Significant of Study
By developing a service for hotel reservation system using SMS,
it can help people to find the availability of the room and make a
reservation without going to the hotel. By using SMS, it can
simplify the work and not wasting much time. Moreover, it is a
cheap solution rather than to make a phone call or filling a form.
This service is ideal for last minute holiday or weekend vacations.
People can make the reservation while on the way.
Customers who use this service have to write their name, check
in date, and number of rooms required on their mobile phone and
sends the message to a specific number. Customers will then be
informed whether the reservation have been approved or
rejected.
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The ability to deliver information to, from, and between wired
systems and wireless devices, offers enterprises a new way to build
customer loyalty, improve productivity and provide very convenient
business environment.
Most people have mobile phone, since mobile phone is a need
nowadays. So, the system can be used by anyone whenever they want
to make a hotel reservation. Hence, there are no boundaries for
people to use this SMS service.
1.6 Conclusion
After reading the objectives, project scope and the problem
significance that has been elaborated previously, it is hoped that
the point stated for this introduction will be a guideline to
complete the project successfully.
Besides that, it is hoped that the readers who will evaluate the
thesis will have a basic idea about this study entitled Hotel
Reservation System Development via SMS technology.
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CHAPTER 2
THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS
2.1 Introduction
This chapter discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the
study and their relationship with the conceptual framework of this
project.
2.2 Project Framework
Figure below shows the framework of this project.
Client (Input - Apply for
room via SMS)
T ^ ^ ^
Output- Reply approval
Web browser
Web Server (Process - Store the data and
respond for approval)
Datsihnsp
Figure 2.1 - The framework of the project
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This project is a three-tier architecture that consists of
client, web server and a database. Basically there are three phases
involved in this project. First phase is user input by request for
reservation using SMS technology to the web server. Second phase
involved the process of receiving the message, how the data stored
in the database and how it responds with the incoming message. The
third phase is web server will reply the incoming message to the
users to give the response.
2.2.1 Input Process
From the figure above, the process begins when users as a client
can browse the web browser of Hotel UiTM. The website contain an
advertisement of the new service that allow them to make a
reservation via SMS. Users can send the SMS messages from their
mobile phone to the system in order to make a reservation. The
message from the user is considered as the input for this project.
The message should contain the data in the specific format such as
.
2.2.2 Processing the Data
Once the user sends the message, the data will be received by
the mobile phone that is connected to the server. The system
administrator then will read the message and check the availability
rooms in the hotel to give response to the particular person who
want to make a reservation. If there are rooms available, system
administrator will reply the information needed to the customer.
The data that want to be sent will automatically stored in two
tables in the database, which is table room and table queue as a
temporary storage before the data send to customer.
For reply the message to customer, it need SMS Alert software
that enable the data to be sent directly from the system to user's
mobile phone. SMS Alert will capture data from the temporary
storage in the database and it will automatically send it to
customer.
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2.2.3 Output Process
After the data are reads out from the database, it will then be
send to the user as a respond for the application. The message will
pass through the telephone line that has been connected with the
server using Nokia data cable. User will get the message
immediately for confirmation and information about the room that
they have successfully reserve.
2.3 Conclusion
Through this chapter, it has explained briefly about the
framework of how this project works. In can be conclude that, this
project is a three tier architecture, which are involve client or
web browser, web server and the database. The detail explanation
about each step involved in this project will be discussed in
Chapter 6.
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CHAPTER 3
LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 Introduction
Wireless technologies are playing an increasingly prominent role
in the global Internet infrastructure. Wireless data technologies,
such as instant messaging and Short Message Service ("SMS")
systems, allow consumers to communicate anytime, and from many
locations. Regarding to this scenario, the SMS technology has seen
unprecedented growth in the last few years. SMS can be used in
various ways to save time and money. It can be used in marketing,
advertising, getting information like info solat, flight
information, summons, news headlines, reservation and many
more.
Since the increasingly growth of the SMS technology and seems
like anybody can afford to have a mobile phone, we were called to
propose a new prototype of SMS technology for hotel reservation in
order to provide better services in booking rooms. People can
simply make a reservation by write a message on their mobile phone
and send to a specific number and they can get the reply
immediately.
The traditional method of hotel reservation like using the
telephone may have problems when the phone line is busy or the
particular staff did not answer the call. The distance is also a
contributing problem to this case especially if the place is quite
far. Using a new technology like email or online reservation also
can have constraints. The reservation cannot be made if there are
no computers or Internet services. It is also difficult if they are
on the road and they don't have a wireless device to make a
reservation.
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3.2 Definition of Pertinent Terminology
3.2.1 Wireless Technology
Wireless data technologies include instant messaging, paging
technology, and SMS messages (text messages transmitted over the
wireless network and displayed on wireless phones). SMS systems
enable subscribers to receive voicemail notification, digital
pages, personal messages, and informational services like stock
quotes, sports scores, weather, and traffic. (Jason Pavona,
February 2002)
For such a simple service, SMS has become a major driver in
postpaid and prepaid wireless markets. Regarding to Mark. S
Thompson, once a neglected offering, SMS is now a key part of
marketing strategies for wireless service providers in North
America and around the world. (Mark S. Thompson, April 2002)
3.2.2 GSM
GSM (Global System for Mobile) is the pan-European standard for
digital cellular telephone service. GSM networks will be built as
an alternative to current AMPS systems and in the future and will
support enhanced data applications. GSM was designed for European
markets to provide the advantage of automatic, international
roaming in muhiple countries. The SIM (Subscriber Identification
Module) card is a vital component in GSM operation. The user can
store all relevant data for the phone on a removable plastic card.
The card can be plugged into any GSM compatible phone and the phone
is instantly personalized to the user. (Nigel Cawthorne, 1999)
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3.2.3 SMS
Short message service is a mechanism of delivery of short
messages over the
mobile networks. It is a store and forward way of transmitting
messages to and
from mobiles. (Laurie Ballet, 2001). SMS was an accidental
success that took nearly everyone in the mobile industry by
surprise. SMS is one of the few
services in consumer history that has grown very fast without
corresponding
decreases in pricing. Usually, even in the case of voice mobile
phones, price
reductions in the cost of the phones and phone service have led
to increases in
usage. (Dr. Subrahmanyam Karuturi, 2002)
3.2.4 SMS Application
It is possible to develop SMS applications that allow 2-way
interactions
between a business and its customers. Since each SMS message is
tagged with
the sender's "phone number," the recipient can hit the Reply
button and send a
response which is received by a server and which can be parsed
for specific
keywords. In applications that require a higher degree of
security, one can also
require that a PIN be included in the message to verify the
sender's
identity. (Dan Ehrmann, Oct,2002)
In two-way SMS-based service, users can communicate with the
SMS
gateway interactively. Specific information can be retrieved by
users via SMS
or through web interface, (www. 1 .com.my) Please refer appendix
C(i)
Mobile phones are a commodity today, and SMS (Short Message
Service) messages offer an intriguing solution. Messages are
delivered in a matter of seconds, and customers are far more likely
to receive and read them,
no matter their Internet habits or current locations. This is by
no means the
only way SMS messages could work for you. You could provide your
users
with two-way communication by enabling customers to send you an
SMS
request in a specified format and get a response from the
system. This user
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interface would be far from being user-friendly, but for simple
request-response situations, it would work well enough, (Dejan
Bosanac, June 2004)
SMS technology has moved beyond being a personal messaging tool
and is now being embraced as an effective mission-critical mobile
business communication tool. As the most cost-effective method of
communicating with customers, employees, suppliers and business
partners today, companies of all sizes, in all parts of the market
are finding it impossible to ignore the benefits of using SMS
technology to streamline their communications and business
processes. Mobile phones are an integral part of our lives. We can
count on the fact that a mobile phone is nearly always with the
user, therefore information communicated via SMS easily reaches the
recipient wherever they are, with the advantage of remaining in the
phone's memory for future referral. (Barry Prinsloo, May 2004)
Anthony Rodriguez from Hotel Information Systems told CNN,
"Today's technology is so cheap and we need to cut down the queues
and phone calls to the hotel asking which room people were in. We
can also target future guest. We can fiher through the hotel's
history so if she/he stayed 10 times and spent $3,000, we can send
them a special SMS inviting them back" (Anthony Rodriguez, February
2003)
Hotel reservations or enquiries can now be done via short
message service (SMS) with the launch of mobileHOTEL, the
first-ever SMS hotel booking service in the Asean region said the
Malaysian Association of Hotels president Mohd Ilyas Zainol Abidin.
He said the service was to increase efficiency. Guests can check
hotel rates and make reservations via SMS anytime without having to
look for a directory. (www.bettingmagazine.com/ManageArticle)
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3.2.5 How SMS Work
A typical organization of network elements in a GSM network
supporting SMS. Pelase refer to appendix C (ii)for the architecture
The SMC (Short Message Center) is the entity, which does the job of
store and forward of messages to and from the mobile station. The
SME (Short Message Entity), which can be located in the fixed
network or a mobile station, receives and sends short messages.
The SMS GWMS (SMS gateway MSC) is a gateway MSC that can also
receive short messages. The gateway MSC is a mobile network's point
of contact with other networks. On receiving the short message from
the short message center, GMSC uses the SS7 network to interrogate
the current position of the mobile station form the HLR, the home
location register.
HLR is the main database in a mobile network. It holds
information of the subscription profile of the mobile and also
about the routing information for the subscriber, i.e. the area
(covered by a MSC) where the mobile is currently situated. The GMSC
is thus able to pass on the message to the correct MSC.
MSC (Mobile Switching Center) is the entity in a GSM network
which does the job of switching connections between mobile stations
or between mobile stations and the fixed network.
A VLR (Visitor Location Register) corresponds to each MSC and
contains temporary information about the mobile, information like
mobile identification and the cell (or a group of cells) where the
mobile is currently situated. Using information form the VLR the
MSC is able to switch the information (short message) to the
corresponding BSS (Base Station System, BSC + BTSs), which
transmits the short message to the mobile. The BSS consists of
transceivers, which send and receive information over the air
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interface, to and from the mobile station. This information is
passed over the signaling channels so the mobile can receive
messages even if a voice or data call is going on. (Puneet Gupta,
2000)
3.2.6 Advantage Of Using SMS
There are a lot of the advantages of SMS. Some of the advantages
of SMS are SMS messaging is a discreet way of contacting your
colleagues when they do not want to be disturbed by phone calls and
SMS is ideal for sending vital information quickly and accurately.
(Alderson, M, 2000)
SMS, because of its very nature has unique advantages that other
non-voice services do not have. It provides a very convenient
method of exchanging small bits of information between mobile users
(Puneet Gupta). Meanwhile, based on Ayse Binay, the reasons for the
enormous popularity of SMS have been the fact that this mechanism
of sending and receiving messages not only saves time but costs
less as well. In many situations one is relatively much more
comfortable sending a message via SMS than talking over phone. With
new information services and unique value added services being used
by the operators the popularity of SMS is increasing further. SMS
is also uniquely positioned as a very attractive advertisement
medium.
"Short Messaging Service" or "Short Message Sending" is widely
supported in wireless telephones in most European and Asia-Pacific
countries, although rarely in the USA. Wildly popular in Japan and
elsewhere, SMS allows telephone users to compose short textual
messages using the telephone handset, and transmit them
asynchronously. Think of it as instant messaging for cell
phones.
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3.2.7 Three Tier Architecture
Basically three tier architecture includes a database, a web
server and web browsers using the site. Take a look at this diagram
and see what exactly we are talking about. Please refer to appendix
C(iii)for the diagram. To put three tier architecture into a real
world example imagine you are building a web site for people to
enter poems. Your users (client tier) type their poem into a web
form and submit it to a PHP script on your site (application tier)
which then inserts it into your database (data tier). You keep the
poems in the database. To display the poem on a web page you have
another PHP script that connects to the database and selects the
poem and then includes it in the HTML page that is sent to the
user. This all happens almost instantly and appears just like a
static web page does. You may be thinking, this is a lot of work
for displaying a poem in a web page but imagine you have a thousand
poems submitted to your site. Although you have to write a couple
PHP scripts to do this, once it is done your system can handle
thousands of poems wihtout any more work.
(http://vyvyw.tqnyc.org/tutorial/three_tier/)
3.2.8 Microsoft Visual Basic
"Visual Basic 6.0 is designed to allow the programmer to develop
applications that run under windows programming. It is easy to
learn, which makes it an excellent tool to understand elementary
programming concepts. In addition, it has evolved into such a
powerful and popular product that skilled Visual Basic programmers
are in demand in the job market". (Julia Case Bradley and Anita C.
Millspaugh, Programming in Visual Basic Version 6.0, 2002)
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