Interfaces are used to link the Amadeus - PM PRO system to other systems such as Telephone, Key card, Pay TV, Point Of Sale or electronic payment systems. A check-in performed on the Amadeus - PMPRO system can for example, lead to the creation of a key card, displaying a welcome message on the pay TV, and opening the in-room telephone line allowing the guest to make phone calls. Charges can be posted automatically on the guest's folio in Amadeus - PMPRO if the guest uses the pay TV, the telephone, a vending machine, mini bar or when he has been in the bar or restaurant.
Interfaces
are installed and tested by your vendor, preferably together with the
vendor of the system that has to be interfaced. Do not change any of the
interface settings. Changing a setting may cause an interface to stop
working properly, which may result in loss of revenue!
Most interfaces are installed on the file server or a separate interface server. The communication method that is used by the interface depends on the system to which is interfaced. Common communication methods are:
RS232 serial null-modem connection. This method requires the third party system vendor to supply a shielded cable (STP) of maximum 10 meters length, terminating with a 9 pin female connector at the interface (PMS) side. To guarantee a correct and stable communication between systems, cables longer than 10 meters should be avoided. If longer cables are used, you may have to use line drivers and the baud rate may have to be decreased as well. For each serial connection you need one available and working serial (COM) port on the computer that will be used to run the interface.
IP connection. This method requires the third party system to be integrated in the same computer network on which the Amadeus - PMPRO software is running. The third party system vendor needs to supply the static IP address and port number that will be used for interfacing.
The interface installation process does not automatically create a shortcut to the interface, it needs to be created manually. For a shortcut to the interface, create a shortcut to the interface application file in the \PMS\Ifc\ folder, which is located in the Amadeus - PMPRO installation folder on the file server. Example: D:\Brilliant\PMS\Ifc\genericcost.exe. It is recommended to create a shortcut on the desktop and in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.