Basic architecture
The NETx BMS Server provides an interface which can be used to integrate information from the hotel management system MICROS Fidelio/Opera. Using this interface, information about the check-in/check-out procedure, the hotel guests and the hotel room states can be retrieved. In addition, it is also possible to send dedicated information from the NETx BMS Server to the MICROS Fidelio/Opera system. This interface for the NETx BMS Server is certified by MICROS. The offical certificate can be found here.
The following figure shows how the integration has to be done.
In order to connect to MICROS Fidelio/Opera system, the so called IFC interface from MICROS Fidelio/Opera has to be activated at the MICROS Fidelio/Opera side. This has to be done by the MICROS Fidelio/Opera integrator. The following figure shows a screenshot of the IFC logging window:
The communication between the IFC interface and the NETx BMS Server is based on TCP/IP. In detail, the IFC interface acts as a TCP server and the NETx BMS Server acts a TCP client. The protocol itself is based on a communication standard called FIAS.
FIAS is a common protocol for interfacing with hotel management system. Many other vendors for hotel management system are also using FIAS. If you have to integrate a hotel management system other the than supported ones, please contact the team of NETxAutomation.
Integration steps
The MICROS Fidelio/Opera interface is already included in the setup of the NETx BMS Server. In order to use it, an extra license is needed – for testing purposes, the "Demo" license includes the MICROS Fidelio/Opera interface. Please contact the team of NETxAutomation for more information.
To start, open the BMS Studio. First, configure the IP address and port number that you have enter within the web service URL.This can be done by selecting "Driver Configuration" within the menu "Modules" -> "Fidelio/Opera". If this information is not known, please ask the Fidelio/Opera integrator.
In addition the IP address and the port number, there are several configuration options which depend on the IFC settings at the Fidelio/Opera side. Normally, you can leave the default options. If the communication is not working correctly, please ask the Fidelio/Opera integrator whether "LRC" or "Use Ack" option have to be used.
Then, the used hotel rooms have to be defined. This is done within the "Room definitions" within the menu "Modules" -> "Fidelio/Opera". Each definition line corresponds to one room. The first column defines the room name. The room name must be unique and must identically be the name that is used within the Fidelio/Opera system. If you do not know them, please ask the Fidelio/Opera integrator for the room list.
The next two columns "Building Name" and "Floor Name" are used to define an optional structure within the item tree. "Description" is used to provide additional information which is stored within the item property "Description".
After having defined all rooms, the NETx BMS Server has to be restarted. Afterwards, the configured devices are shown within the item tree under the sub tree "NETx\API\NXA_FIDELIO".
The retrieved information from Fidelio/Opera is stored as Server Items. Here all available Server Items that are available for each room are listed (including their access rights):
- BuildingNumber
- String, Read only
- Specified within Room Definitions within NETx BMS Server
- LevelNumber
- String, Read only
- Specified within Room Definitions within NETx BMS Server
- RoomNumber
- String, Read only
- Specified within Room Definitions within NETx BMS Server. Must be identifcally with the room number used within Fidelio/Opera
- Description (read only)
- GuestsCount (read only)
- GuestName (read only)
- GuestLanguage (read only)
- GuestVIP (read only)
- RoomChecked (read only)
- ClassOfService (read only)
- DoNotDisturb (read only)
- RoomStatus (read and write)
- ClearText (read only)
- GuestArrivalDate (read only)
- GuestDepartureDate (read only)
- PrinterPort (read only)
- MessageCount (read only)
- NextMessage (write only)
- MessageText (read only)
- GetMessage (write only)
- SendMessage (read and write)
- MessageLightStatus (read only)
Note that this list of data points is fixed by MICROS Fidelio/Opera – not by the NETx BMS Server.
The room status is a very important information which can also be changed from the NETx BMS Server side. Fidelio/Opera specifies the following predefined values:
| Code | Room status |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dirty/Vacant |
| 2 | Dirty/Occupied |
| 3 | Clean/Vacant |
| 4 | Clean/Occupied |
| 5 | Inspected/Vacant |
| 6 | Inspected/Occupied |
These are the predefined room states that are available within Fidelio/Opera. However, it is possible to specify additional room states for additional functionality. For example, further states for "Do not disturb" or "Make up room" can be defined. Using this additional room states, it is possible to send additional information from the BMS to the Fidelio/Opera system. A typical use case is to add a KNX switch for DND that sends a user-defined room status (e.g. 7 "DND) to the Fidelio/Opera system. These additional room states have to configured within Fieldio/Opera by the Fidelio/Opera integrator.
Adding control functionality
After having configured the Fidelio/Opera interface, the provided data points can be linked to other data points within the NETx BMS Server. You can use V-Links, Server Tasks, LUA script or XLogic commands for providing this functionality.
A typical use case would be the mapping of the RoomCheck item from Fidelio/Opera to a data point like the setpoint or the mode of the room's climate control. For implementing this use case, a predefined XLogic command called "HotelCheckInCheckOut" is already included within the NETx BMS Server. Open the XCommand Event Definitions (BMS Studio --> Extensions) and add a new definition line. Give the logic a name (e.g. Room101), select "ON_INPUT" as type and select the XLogic "HotelCheckInCheckOut". Within the configuration dialog, select the input item (e.g. NETx\API\NXA_FIDELIO\PartA\Floor1\101\RoomChecked) and as output the data point that shall be controlled by the checkin/checkout signal (e.g. KNX group address of the setpoint of the room). The following screenshot shows an example:
Repeat these steps for a hotel rooms. After having finished all definitions, restart the NETx BMS Server.
To add additional definitions in a more easier and faster way, you can use the export/import to MS Excel function of the definition table.