Method, apparatus and program for providing laundry management service

Abstract

A method for providing a laundry management service according to various embodiments of the present invention is disclosed. The method may include: a step of generating a pickup request for laundry corresponding to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmitting it to a worker terminal; a step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed; and a step of providing the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and program for providing a laundry management service, and specifically to a method, apparatus, and program for providing a laundry management service capable of efficiently managing the reception, pickup, sorting, washing progress, cost calculation, and delivery of a user's laundry. Background Technology

[0003] As the importance of customized services grows across various industries, the need for digital transformation and automation in laundry management services is also being emphasized to keep pace with this trend. In particular, there is a surging demand in places such as accommodations, hospitals, and luxury apartment complexes for services that efficiently handle the entire process from laundry reception and management to washing and delivery, while maximizing customer convenience.

[0004] Traditional laundry management methods relied primarily on manual labor or were limited to utilizing simple systems that digitized only a few steps. For instance, when a customer requested laundry drop-off, a manager had to record the request and forward it to a worker; subsequently, there was the cumbersome process of manually updating the progress or notifying the customer individually. This approach not only showed limitations in processing speed and accuracy but also had a high likelihood of causing customer dissatisfaction or undermining service reliability due to the lack of real-time information.

[0005] In particular, during peak hours when customer requests are concentrated, workers and managers face difficulties in efficiently processing laundry pickup and delivery requests, and confusion is often exacerbated by missing information or incorrect data. Such situations can lead to various problems, including lost laundry, delivery delays, and errors in cost information. Furthermore, the lack of features to provide customized services reflecting individual customer needs or to create additional value based on promotional information also acts as a factor weakening the service's competitiveness.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand in the industry for new technology capable of systematically integrating and managing the entire process from laundry reception to pickup, washing, and delivery, while providing real-time feedback and optimized services to both users and operators. In this regard, Korean Published Patent No. 10-2019-0134038 discloses a laundry service provision system and a management system thereof. The problem to be solved

[0008] The present invention is conceived in response to the aforementioned background technology and aims to provide a method, apparatus, and program for providing a laundry management service.

[0009] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the problem described above, a method for providing a laundry management service is disclosed. The method may include: a step of generating a pickup request for laundry corresponding to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmitting it to a worker terminal; a step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed; and a step of providing the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include the steps of: transmitting a washing progress signal for the laundry to the worker terminal when a washing confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal; and transmitting a delivery location obtained from the user terminal to the worker terminal and obtaining delivery information from the worker terminal when the washing of the laundry is completed.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the step of receiving a laundry acceptance request from the user terminal may include: obtaining a room number from the user terminal; obtaining voice data or text data requesting acceptance of the laundry from the user terminal, and if voice data is obtained, converting the voice data into text data; and recognizing the details of the laundry acceptance request based on the text data.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed may include: obtaining the room number from which the laundry was picked up in accordance with the reception request from the worker terminal; obtaining voice data or text data regarding the items and quantity of the laundry, and if voice data is obtained, converting the voice data into text data; and obtaining the laundry information including the items and quantity of the laundry based on the text data.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal upon completion of pickup and sorting of the laundry may include: obtaining the room number from which the laundry was picked up in accordance with the reception request from the worker terminal; obtaining image data in which the laundry is photographed; and inputting the image data into a pre-trained laundry sorting model to obtain laundry information including the items and quantities of the laundry included in the image data.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the step of providing the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal may include: recognizing the items and quantities of the laundry included in the laundry information; determining a laundry cost corresponding to the items and quantities of the laundry; determining a first discount rate based on the items and quantities of the laundry; determining a second discount rate based on the service usage history of the user terminal; and generating the cost information by applying the first discount rate and the second discount rate to the laundry cost and providing the cost information to the user terminal.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include: a step of generating guidance information including a washing method and an estimated time of completion of washing of the laundry based on the washing information when a washing confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal; and a step of providing the guidance information to the user terminal.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include the step of generating a dashboard screen that displays the progress status of the laundry; and the step of providing the progress status of the laundry and other laundry items reflected on the dashboard screen in real time to the worker terminal.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include: collecting laundry management data related to the reception request, pickup, sorting, and delivery of the laundry; calculating a service utilization rate by period, a share of laundry items by category, and user characteristics based on the laundry management data; generating promotion information by user characteristics corresponding to the current time based on the service utilization rate by period, the share of laundry items by category, and the user characteristics; and providing the promotion information to the user terminal and the worker terminal.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a memory for storing one or more instructions; and a processor for executing the one or more instructions stored in the memory, and the processor can perform the above-described methods by executing the one or more instructions.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a computer program stored on a recording medium readable by a computer is disclosed, which is combined with a computer, which is hardware, to perform the above-described methods.

[0022] Other specific details of the present invention are included in the detailed description and drawings. Effects of the invention

[0024] The present invention can provide efficient and systematic services throughout the entire laundry management process. Specifically, by integrally managing all processes from a customer's request for laundry acceptance to pickup, washing in progress, and delivery completion, the present invention can improve the speed and accuracy of work processing.

[0025] Furthermore, the present invention provides customers with rapid and accurate progress updates through real-time data communication between user terminals and worker terminals, thereby enhancing service reliability and maximizing customer satisfaction. In particular, automatic text conversion of voice data and laundry item recognition utilizing a pre-trained classification model provide the effect of reducing the workload of workers and minimizing the possibility of errors.

[0026] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0028] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 to 5 are drawings for explaining a method of providing a laundry management service according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0029] Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, various descriptions are provided to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it is evident that these embodiments can be practiced without such specific descriptions.

[0030] As used herein, terms such as “component,” “module,” “system,” etc. refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, software, combinations of software and hardware, or executions of software. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a procedure executed on a processor, a processor, an object, an execution thread, a program, and / or a computer. For example, both an application executed on a computing device and the computing device itself may be a component. One or more components may reside within a processor and / or an execution thread. A component may be localized within a single computer. A component may be distributed among two or more computers. Additionally, these components may be executed from various computer-readable media having various data structures stored therein. Components may communicate through local and / or remote processes, for example, according to signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from a component interacting with another component in a local system or distributed system, and / or data transmitted through signals to other systems and networks such as the Internet).

[0031] Furthermore, the term "or" is intended to mean an implicit "or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless otherwise specified or evident from the context, "X uses A or B" is intended to mean one of the natural implicit substitutions. In other words, if X uses A; if X uses B; or if X uses both A and B, "X uses A or B" may apply to any of these cases. Additionally, the term "and / or" as used herein should be understood to refer to and include all possible combinations of one or more of the enumerated related items.

[0032] Additionally, the terms “comprising” and / or “comprising” should be understood to mean that such features and / or components are present. However, the terms “comprising” and / or “comprising” should be understood not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components and / or groups thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified or clearly evident from the context to indicate a singular form, the singular in this specification and claims should generally be interpreted to mean “one or more.”

[0033] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the various exemplary logical blocks, configurations, modules, circuits, means, logics, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly exemplify the interchangeability of hardware and software, various exemplary components, blocks, configurations, means, logics, modules, circuits, and steps have been generally described above in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled technicians may implement the described functionality in various ways for each specific application. However, such decisions regarding implementation should not be interpreted as moving out of the scope of the invention.

[0034] The description of the presented embodiments is provided to enable those skilled in the art to use or practice the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. The present invention should be interpreted in the broadest possible scope consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein.

[0035] In this specification, the term "computer" refers to any type of hardware device comprising at least one processor, and may be understood to include software configurations operating on said hardware device according to the embodiments. For example, the term "computer" may be understood to include smartphones, tablet PCs, desktops, laptops, and user clients and applications running on each of these devices, but is not limited thereto.

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0037] Each step described in this specification is described as being performed by a computer, but the subject of each step is not limited thereto, and depending on the embodiment, at least some of each step may be performed on different devices.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, a system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a computing device (100), a user terminal (200), and an external server (300). The system illustrated in FIG. 1 is according to one embodiment, and its components are not limited to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and may be added, changed, or deleted as needed.

[0041] In one embodiment, the computing device (100) can provide a laundry management service. For example, the computing device (100) manages the entire process from a laundry reception request to pickup, laundry progress, and delivery completion, and can support efficient data communication between a user terminal (200) and a worker terminal.

[0042] Specifically, the computing device (100) can receive a request for laundry acceptance from a user terminal (200). Additionally, the computing device (100) can generate a pickup request for the laundry corresponding to the laundry acceptance request and transmit it to a worker terminal. Additionally, the computing device (100) can obtain laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed. Additionally, the computing device (100) can provide laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal (200). Additionally, when the computing device (100) obtains a laundry confirmation input signal from the user terminal (200), it can transmit a laundry progress signal for the laundry to the worker terminal. Furthermore, when the laundry for the laundry is completed, the computing device (100) transmits the delivery location obtained from the user terminal (200) to the worker terminal and obtains delivery information from the worker terminal.

[0043] Accordingly, the computing device (100) of the present invention can improve service efficiency and reliability by supporting smooth data exchange between the user and the operator and systematically managing the entire process of the laundry management service.

[0044] Hereinafter, an example of a method in which a computing device (100) provides a laundry management service will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0045] In various embodiments, the computing device (100) may provide Web or Application-based services. However, it is not limited thereto.

[0046] The computing device (100) may include any type of computer system or computer device, such as, for example, a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital processor, a portable device, and a device controller. However, it is not limited thereto.

[0047] Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the computing device (100) will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0048] Meanwhile, the user terminal (200) can be connected to the computing device (100) through the network (400) and may be a terminal of a user using the laundry management service provided by the computing device (100).

[0049] Here, the user terminal (200) may include, for example, various types of computer devices. Specifically, for example, the user terminal (200) may refer to various terminal devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, desktops, and laptops.

[0050] The user terminal (200) includes a display on at least a part of the terminal and may include an operating system for running applications or extension-based services provided by the computing device (100). For example, the user terminal (200) may be a smartphone, but is not limited thereto, and the user terminal (200) may include all kinds of handheld-based wireless communication devices such as navigation, PCS (Personal Communication System), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), PDC (Personal Digital Cellular), PHS (Personal Handyphone System), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), IMT (International Mobile Telecommunication)-2000, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)-2000, W-CDMA (W-Code Division Multiple Access), Wibro (Wireless Broadband Internet) terminal, smartpad, tablet PC, etc., as wireless communication devices that ensure portability and mobility.

[0051] An external server (300) can be connected to a computing device (100) through a network (400), and can transmit and receive various information / data necessary for the computing device (100) to provide laundry management services, and can store and manage various information / data generated as the computing device (100) provides laundry management services.

[0052] For example, the external server (300) may be a database server that stores information used in the laundry management service provision method. As another example, the external server (300) may be a server that provides information used in the laundry management service provision method.

[0053] The network (400) may refer to a connection structure capable of exchanging information between each node, such as computing devices, multiple terminals, and servers. For example, the network (400) includes a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the World Wide Web (WWW), a wired and wireless data network, a telephone network, a wired and wireless television network, etc.

[0054] Wireless data communication networks include, but are not limited to, 3G, 4G, 5G, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), 5GPP (5th Generation Partnership Project), LTE (Long Term Evolution), WIMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), Wi-Fi, Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), Wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), PAN (Personal Area Network), RF (Radio Frequency), Bluetooth network, NFC (Near-Field Communication) network, satellite broadcasting network, analog broadcasting network, DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) network, etc.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 2, a computing device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include one or more processors (110), a memory (120) for loading a computer program (151) executed by the processor (110), a bus (130), a communication interface (140), and a storage (150) for storing the computer program (151). Here, FIG. 2 illustrates only the components related to the embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that other general-purpose components may be included in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0058] The processor (110) controls the overall operation of each component of the computing device (100). The processor (110) may be composed of one or more cores and may include processors for data analysis and deep learning, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a general purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), or a tensor processing unit (TPU) of the computing device. Alternatively, it may be configured to include any type of processor well known in the art of the present invention.

[0059] Additionally, the processor (110) can perform operations for at least one application or program for executing the method according to embodiments of the present invention, and the computing device (100) may have one or more processors.

[0060] In various embodiments, the processor (110) may further include RAM (Random Access Memory, not shown) and ROM (Read-Only Memory, not shown) for temporarily and / or permanently storing signals (or data) processed within the processor (110). Additionally, the processor (110) may be implemented in the form of a system-on-chip (SoC) comprising at least one of a graphics processing unit, RAM, and ROM.

[0061] Memory (120) stores various data, instructions and / or information. Memory (120) may load a computer program (151) from storage (150) to execute a method / operation according to various embodiments of the present invention. When the computer program (151) is loaded into memory (120), the processor (110) may perform the method / operation by executing one or more instructions constituting the computer program (151). Memory (120) may be implemented as volatile memory such as RAM, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0062] The bus (130) provides communication functions between components of the computing device (100). The bus (130) can be implemented as various types of buses, such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

[0063] The communication interface (140) may support wired and wireless internet communication of the computing device (100). Additionally, the communication interface (140) may support various communication methods other than internet communication. To this end, the communication interface (140) may be configured to include a communication module well known in the art of the present invention. In some embodiments, the communication interface (140) may be omitted.

[0064] Storage (150) can store a computer program (151) non-temporarily. When performing a process according to an embodiment of the present invention through a computing device (100), storage (150) can store various information necessary to perform a method according to the disclosed embodiment or to provide a service.

[0065] The storage (150) may be configured to include non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), flash memory, a hard disk, a removable disk, or any form of computer-readable recording medium well known in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0066] A computer program (151) may include one or more instructions that cause a processor (110) to perform a method / operation according to various embodiments of the present invention when loaded into memory (120). That is, the processor (110) may perform the method / operation according to various embodiments of the present invention by executing the one or more instructions.

[0067] In one embodiment, the computer program (151) may include one or more instructions to perform various methods related to various tasks related to learning a neural network model.

[0068] The steps of the method or algorithm described in connection with embodiments of the present invention may be implemented directly in hardware, implemented as a software module executed by hardware, or implemented by a combination thereof. The software module may reside in RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), Flash Memory, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any form of computer-readable recording medium well known in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0069] The components of the present invention may be implemented as a program (or application) and stored on a medium to be executed in combination with a computer, which is hardware. The components of the present invention may be implemented as software programming or software elements, and similarly, embodiments may be implemented in programming or scripting languages ​​such as C, C++, Java, assembler, etc., including various algorithms implemented as combinations of data structures, processes, routines, or other programming configurations. Functional aspects may be implemented as algorithms executed on one or more processors.

[0071] FIGS. 3 to 5 are drawings for explaining a method of providing a laundry management service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 3, the computing device (100) can receive a laundry acceptance request from a user terminal (200). Then, the computing device (100) can generate a pickup request for the laundry corresponding to the laundry acceptance request and transmit it to a worker terminal (S110). Here, the computing device (100) can collectively process the process of generating a pickup request and transmitting it to a worker terminal in conjunction with receiving a laundry acceptance request from the user terminal (200).

[0073] That is, when a request for receipt is received from a user terminal (200), the computing device (100) can process the request content and the pickup request data sequentially without separating them. For example, the computing device (100) can convert information such as items, quantities, and request times transmitted from the user terminal (200) into an internal data structure, and at the same time, automatically generate essential items required for the pickup request (e.g., room number, desired pickup time, special notes, etc.) and transmit them to the worker terminal. This allows the pickup request to be issued immediately after the user completes the request, thereby minimizing the delay between the receipt and pickup processes.

[0074] Additionally, the computing device (100) may use voice input or an automatic translation module in the process of recognizing the content of the reception request from the user terminal (200). By utilizing this, voice data can be converted into text and pickup request information can be constructed at the same time, and a signal can be sent to a worker terminal responsible for the pickup task the moment the request is completed. For example, if a user makes a voice request such as “Please pick up 3 shirts by 2:00 PM,” the computing device (100) converts this into text and immediately generates a pickup request based on the content and transmits it to the worker terminal, thereby effectively processing the reception and pickup request stages as a single flow.

[0075] This batch processing method minimizes the communication steps between the user and the worker and can prevent errors or omissions that may occur due to delays in pickup after receipt. Meanwhile, the worker terminal can start a scheduling task immediately upon receiving a pickup request transmitted from the computing device (100), and can provide fast and accurate service by adjusting priorities in real time even when receiving multiple pickup requests simultaneously.

[0076] Specifically, the computing device (100) can obtain a room number from the user terminal (200).

[0077] For example, the computing device (100) can distinguish reception requests by parsing the room number included in a text message or voice message transmitted from the user terminal (200) and recording the information in an internal database. Additionally, if the reception request is transmitted in voice form, the computing device (100) can be implemented to convert it into text using a voice recognition module and then find the room number within the converted text. In this process, the computing device (100) can check the signal strength of the user terminal (200) to verify whether the actual communication was performed normally, and if necessary, send a retransmission request to prevent errors, thereby ensuring data integrity.

[0078] Additionally, the computing device (100) obtains voice data or text data requesting the acceptance of laundry from a user terminal (200), and if voice data is obtained, it can convert the voice data into text data. Then, the computing device (100) can recognize the request for acceptance of laundry based on the text data.

[0079] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4 (A), the computing device (100) can obtain information about the laundry by voice when room number 100, reception time 10:16 AM, and laundry type W are recognized. The user can request information about the laundry to be received by voice by selecting a start button included on the screen displayed on the user terminal (200). Meanwhile, the computing device (100) can display the recognized laundry items based on the voice input from the user terminal (200) as illustrated in FIG. 4 (B) to receive confirmation from the user.

[0080] Additionally, the computing device (100) can classify the received request by extracting item names such as “T-shirt” or “pants” from the converted text and identifying information such as the number of washes requested by the user or the desired completion time. In this classification process, the computing device (100) can utilize a natural language processing module to find key keywords included in the voice command and automatically assign a reservation schedule by taking into account the laundry pickup time.

[0081] Additionally, if the context described in the text data is unclear, the computing device (100) can prevent omission or confusion in receiving laundry by sending an additional guidance message to the user terminal (200) to request supplementary information.

[0082] Meanwhile, the computing device (100) can generate a pickup request for laundry corresponding to a laundry acceptance request and transmit it to a worker terminal.

[0083] Specifically, the computing device (100) creates pickup instruction information in a format that is easy for the worker terminal to understand, based on the room number, laundry item, quantity, request time, etc. received from the user terminal (200).

[0084] For example, the computing device (100) can generate detailed instructions in text form, such as “Room 100, 1 T-shirt, 2 pairs of pants, please pick up before 2:00 PM,” and transmit them to the worker terminal. If the worker terminal can accept multiple pickup requests simultaneously, the computing device (100) can reduce wasted movement by configuring and providing the pickup route in the most appropriate order through an internal algorithm. In the stage of generating these pickup requests, the computing device (100) can check whether the user requesting laundry is a VIP or whether additional personnel are needed to handle special laundry, thereby enabling the worker to receive necessary information before performing the actual work.

[0085] In one embodiment, the computing device (100) can obtain laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed (S120).

[0086] For example, the computing device (100) can obtain the room number where the laundry was picked up in accordance with a reception request from a worker terminal. Additionally, the computing device (100) can obtain voice data or text data regarding the items and quantities of the laundry, and if voice data is obtained, the voice data can be converted into text data. Furthermore, the computing device (100) can obtain laundry information including the items and quantities of the laundry based on the text data.

[0087] For example, the computing device (100) can analyze the text “Room 100, 1 T-shirt, 2 bottoms, confirmed” transmitted from the worker terminal and update the final laundry item list in the internal record.

[0088] Meanwhile, the worker terminal sends modified information reflecting the difference between the actual result of checking the laundry and the user request (e.g., additional discovery of laundry, change in the number of items, etc.), and the computing device (100) can readjust the laundry request list through this.

[0089] As another example, the computing device (100) can obtain the room number where the laundry was picked up in accordance with a reception request from a worker terminal. Additionally, the computing device (100) can obtain image data of the laundry. Then, the computing device (100) can input the image data into a pre-trained laundry classification model to obtain laundry information including the items and quantities of the laundry included in the image data.

[0090] For example, the computing device (100) can utilize a clothing recognition model that has learned color, shape, texture, etc. from a large number of clothing images to automatically distinguish between shirts, pants, towels, blankets, etc., and infer the corresponding quantity. Additionally, when a worker takes and transmits multiple images, the computing device (100) can combine the results of each image to minimize duplicate recognition of clothing or partial omission. Furthermore, the clothing recognition model can classify clothing with high accuracy by extracting the shape or pattern of the clothing based on pre-learned features, even if the image quality is low or the laundry items overlap. The computing device (100) can reflect these classification results in laundry information and, if necessary, request confirmation from the worker to finalize the information.

[0091] In various embodiments, the laundry management service of the present invention may provide a service that does not pick up the laundry immediately but visits again after a certain period of time has elapsed when the user indicates a do not disturb intention.

[0092] Specifically, the computing device (100) can determine that the user's room is currently in a no-disturb state based on information received from the worker terminal (e.g., the user's no-disturb state).

[0093] For example, if a worker attempts to pick up laundry but access is impossible because a 'Do Not Disturb' sign is displayed, the computing device (100) can record that time and readjust the pickup schedule. At this time, the computing device (100) can check if there is a pre-set 'Do Not Disturb' time or an alternative time slot specified by the user, and accordingly schedule a revisit at a specific time (e.g., after one hour or at a time requested by the user).

[0094] More specifically, the computing device (100) can recognize the worker's entire work route when it receives a message from the worker terminal stating, “Room 503, pickup unavailable due to do not disturb sign.” Then, the computing device (100) can check the time available for a revisit and postpone the pickup schedule for the room to a specific time so as not to conflict with other laundry pickup or delivery tasks currently in progress.

[0095] Through this, the computing device (100) can manage the worker's movement path so that there are no excessive gaps or duplicate visits, and can also ensure that the user does not visit at an unwanted time. For example, if the computing device (100) has a rule set in advance such as “revisit within at least 1 hour after release of the do not disturb state,” it calculates the subsequent time, places a pickup command in the next possible schedule, and sends a notification to the worker terminal.

[0096] That is, the computing device (100) can coordinate the entire process to collect laundry at an appropriate time while respecting user privacy requirements. In addition, even if a pickup delay occurs, the scheduled revisit time is clearly registered in the system, so the operator can check the revisit schedule through their terminal screen without the need for a separate manual note.

[0097] In one embodiment, the computing device (100) can provide laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to a user terminal (200) (S130).

[0098] Specifically, the computing device (100) can recognize the items and quantities of laundry included in the laundry information. And, the computing device (100) can determine the laundry cost corresponding to the items and quantities of laundry.

[0099] For example, the computing device (100) can calculate the cost by reviewing the preset unit price and work difficulty for "3 shirts" and calculate the basic cost by multiplying the unit price by the quantity of laundry. Then, if additional costs are required depending on the material of the laundry (e.g., silk, waterproof material, etc.), these can be added to calculate the final amount.

[0100] Additionally, the computing device (100) can determine a first discount rate based on the items and quantity of laundry. Additionally, the computing device (100) can determine a second discount rate based on the service usage history of the user terminal (200).

[0101] For example, the computing device (100) can determine whether there are additional discount items by checking the number of laundry requests previously made in the same room, accumulated points, subscription membership status, etc.

[0102] And, the computing device (100) can generate cost information by applying a first discount rate and a second discount rate to the laundry cost and provide the cost information to the user terminal (200).

[0103] For example, the computing device (100) can configure a guidance message to display specific discount details in the cost information so that the user clearly understands the reason for the discount and the final payment amount.

[0104] In various embodiments, when the computing device (100) obtains a laundry confirmation input signal from the user terminal (200), it can transmit a laundry progress signal for the laundry to the worker terminal.

[0105] Specifically, the computing device (100) can recognize input such as a “washing in progress” button selection or a voice command displayed on the user terminal (200), and accordingly transmit a “washing start” instruction to the worker terminal.

[0106] For example, the computing device (100) can analyze the desired time for laundry completion specified by the user terminal (200) and calculate an appropriate time to start the laundry by considering the status of the laundry equipment and the deployment of workers. Additionally, the computing device (100) can transmit information regarding the laundry progress to the worker terminal. The worker can refer to the information received from the computing device (100) to operate the equipment at the corresponding time or assign tasks to process the laundry.

[0107] Additionally, when the washing of the laundry is completed, the computing device (100) transmits the delivery location obtained from the user terminal (200) to the worker terminal and can obtain delivery information from the worker terminal.

[0108] Specifically, the computing device (100) recognizes the delivery location (front desk, unmanned locker, specific room, etc.) entered from the user terminal (200) and can provide the worker terminal with the location, delivery priority, estimated delivery time, etc.

[0109] For example, when there are multiple requests simultaneously, the computing device (100) can measure the delivery location and distance for each and provide route information to the worker terminal for the most efficient movement. The worker can proceed with the delivery process based on the route information provided through the worker terminal and report to the computing device (100) that the laundry has finally been delivered to the location. The computing device (100) can record the time and status of delivery completion in an internal database based on the report and complete the laundry management service by sending a “delivery completed” notification message to the user terminal (200).

[0110] Accordingly, the computing device (100) can automatically track and manage the overall laundry process and provide various information so that the user can understand the location and status of the laundry without making a separate inquiry.

[0112] According to various embodiments of the present invention, when a computing device (100) obtains a laundry confirmation input signal from a user terminal (200), it may generate guidance information including a laundry washing method and an estimated time for laundry completion based on laundry information. Additionally, the computing device (100) may provide the guidance information to the user terminal (200).

[0113] Specifically, the computing device (100) can recommend a suitable washing course (e.g., general water washing, dry cleaning, special coating removal, etc.) by taking into account the material characteristics, degree of contamination, weight, etc. of the laundry requested by the user terminal (200), and can calculate the work time based on the washing course.

[0114] For example, the computing device (100) can compare the average processing time for each course with the current occupancy status of the laundry equipment to calculate an estimated schedule, such as “expected to be completed in about 4 hours,” and provide it to the user terminal (200). Additionally, the computing device (100) may recalculate the estimated completion time whenever the progress on the worker terminal side is updated and provide it to the user terminal (200) in real time.

[0115] Accordingly, the computing device (100) can provide transparent information about the entire process to the user by starting the washing process step based on the washing confirmation input of the user terminal (200) and dynamically adjusting the estimated time for washing completion if necessary.

[0116] In an additional embodiment, the computing device (100) can dynamically adjust the work environment based on the laundry history, equipment operation logs, user inquiry history, etc. accumulated during the laundry process.

[0117] For example, the computing device (100) can automatically recommend the timing for distributing laundry equipment or deploying additional personnel by comprehensively considering the completion time of washing similar material clothing previously processed, delay factors that occurred in a specific washing course, and the current operating rate of the worker terminal. To this end, the computing device (100) can analyze the laundry processing flow using a machine learning model or a prediction algorithm, identify bottlenecks or causes of frequent errors at each stage, and then guide necessary measures to the worker terminal or manager screen.

[0118] Additionally, when the computing device (100) calculates the estimated laundry completion time based on the laundry confirmation input signal, it can calculate a more accurate prediction by combining the current machine status as well as the average processing time of similar past cases. For example, if dry cleaning jobs for high-quality materials are received consecutively, the computing device (100) may determine the estimated completion time to be longer than usual by taking this into account, and notify the user terminal (200) of the reason. Through this prediction method, the computing device (100) enables efficient work placement from the worker's perspective, and when exceptions occur, such as unexpected emergencies or delays due to equipment inspection, it can automatically recalculate and provide updated guidance information to the user terminal (200).

[0119] Additionally, the computing device (100) can identify the correlation between the washing course applied to the laundry and the delivery option requested by the user to optimize the logistics route to the delivery point (e.g., room, unmanned locker, on-site pickup location). For example, if a large number of items increase in volume during the packaging stage after washing, the computing device (100) can send a notification to the worker terminal to prepare personnel or equipment (cart, mobile robot, etc.) in advance. This reduces the risk of delay or loss during the delivery process after washing is completed and allows the laundry to be delivered accurately to the user within the scheduled delivery time.

[0120] Accordingly, the computing device (100) can be flexibly updated according to environmental changes throughout the entire laundry management process, enabling both the user and the worker to recognize the situation in real time and respond actively. As a result, the computing device (100) can intelligently utilize the collected laundry processing data to simultaneously increase work efficiency and service quality.

[0122] According to various embodiments of the present invention, a computing device (100) can generate a dashboard screen that displays the progress status of laundry. Additionally, the computing device (100) can provide the progress status of laundry and other laundry items reflected on the dashboard screen in real time to a worker terminal.

[0123] Specifically, the computing device (100) can display stages such as received, waiting for pickup, washing in progress, drying, preparing for delivery, and delivery, respectively, using icons or colors to help the operator intuitively understand the situation.

[0124] For example, the computing device (100) can automatically recognize when a worker terminal starts the drying process for a specific piece of laundry, update the icon of the corresponding laundry on the dashboard, and send a notification to the person in charge in advance if another piece of laundry needs to use the laundry equipment immediately afterward. The dashboard configured in this way can systematically manage the sequential steps that occur during the laundry processing process and support the identification of potential delay factors or manpower allocation issues in advance.

[0125] Therefore, the computing device (100) can implement an efficient and stable laundry management service through real-time monitoring and data linkage even in a complex environment where multiple laundry requests are received simultaneously.

[0126] In an additional embodiment, the computing device (100) can dynamically readjust the work schedule by re-evaluating the expected processing time and manpower availability in real time based on the laundry progress status displayed on the dashboard screen.

[0127] For example, the computing device (100) can track the usage status of laundry equipment that is updated in minutes, predict the remaining drying time when a specific load of laundry enters the drying stage, and pre-calculate the timing for inputting the next load of laundry waiting. Through this process, laundry equipment can be operated in an optimized order, and even if unexpected delay factors occur, notifications can be sent immediately to the operator to minimize damage. This rescheduling function can be particularly useful during peak hours when there is a surge in laundry, and can reduce downtime for personnel and equipment even when multiple requests are received simultaneously.

[0128] Additionally, the computing device (100) can collect and analyze data on the dashboard screen to identify the average processing time for a specific laundry course, the days or times when laundry is mainly concentrated, and the causes of frequent delays, and based on this, improve the equipment inspection schedule or worker work assignment.

[0129] For example, if the computing device (100) is old and there are frequent bottlenecks caused by orders being concentrated in specific time periods, it can provide a notification to the manager to review equipment replacement or the deployment of additional personnel.

[0130] In addition, the computing device (100) can immediately display the past history of the laundry or customer specifics (e.g., requests to remove allergens, precautions for handling high-quality materials, etc.) when a worker terminal selects a specific laundry item on the dashboard. That is, the computing device (100) can provide a function to quickly look up detailed information for each laundry item, and this function can induce a quick response when quality issues or additional requirements are raised during the laundry process, thereby enabling the maintenance of stable service quality even in large-scale work environments. In particular, in facilities requiring a high level of hygiene management, such as hotels or hospitals, it is possible to track and record all steps of laundry processing and transparently check the history of problems that occurred at each step, thereby reducing errors in laundry processing.

[0131] Accordingly, the computing device (100) can support a quick and flexible response even in complex environments where multiple laundry requests are received simultaneously, by combining various operational functions such as rescheduling work, analyzing equipment status, and checking laundry history, rather than simply visualizing laundry progress information displayed on a dashboard screen.

[0133] According to various embodiments of the present invention, the computing device (100) can provide appropriate promotional information to the user based on laundry management data.

[0134] Referring to FIG. 5, the computing device (100) can collect laundry management data related to laundry reception requests, pickup, sorting, and delivery (S210).

[0135] Specifically, the computing device (100) can accumulate information including text, voice, images, delivery history, etc. transmitted from a user terminal (200) or a worker terminal by linking with an internal database or an external server.

[0136] For example, the computing device (100) can accumulate laundry processing history by collecting information such as the time of receipt, laundry items and quantity, time of request, and payment method transmitted from the user terminal (200). The worker terminal can report the pickup execution time, sorting results, laundry completion time, delivery delay history, etc., to the computing device (100) in real time, and the computing device (100) can manage the history for each laundry item based on this information.

[0137] In one embodiment, the computing device (100) can calculate the service utilization rate by period, the share of laundry items by item, and user characteristics based on laundry management data (S220).

[0138] Specifically, the computing device (100) can set various ranges such as weekly, monthly, and quarterly based on period division criteria, and can calculate the service utilization rate by comparing the number of received cases and the number of completed cases for each period. In addition, the computing device (100) can extract the frequency of appearance by item by analyzing laundry classification records. For example, the computing device (100) can determine whether shirts are frequently received, or which period bedding is mainly concentrated.

[0139] For example, the computing device (100) can recognize when specific items such as clothing, towels, curtains, and carpets are concentrated by comparing laundry request details received from the user terminal (200) with laundry information actually processed by the worker terminal, and can recognize what characteristics the main user group exhibits by combining past usage history and payment amounts for each user. In addition, the computing device (100) can recognize user characteristics including laundry type preference, usage patterns, reservation frequency, and time zones for reception and laundry completion requests.

[0140] The computing device (100) can generate promotion information by user characteristics corresponding to the current time based on the service usage rate by period, the share of laundry items by period, and user characteristics (S230).

[0141] Specifically, if the computing device (100) detects a pattern in which a specific user entrusts the same item on the same day of the week, it can prepare a discount benefit or additional service notice in advance of that day. In addition, the computing device (100) can generate promotion information by also considering seasonal factors, such as recommending a promotion for washing thick bedding in winter and a promotion for washing thin clothes or towels in summer.

[0142] For example, when the computing device (100) tracks a period of surge in bedding laundry in monthly data, it can be configured to automatically generate a "bedding laundry discount event" at that time and deliver promotional messages intensively to groups with similar user characteristics. In the process of generating this promotion, the computing device (100) can configure personalized benefits by considering the user's laundry history, membership level, past discount rate application status, etc., and record the details in an internal database to effectively manage them without loss or duplication.

[0143] The computing device (100) can provide promotion information to the user terminal (200) and the worker terminal (S240).

[0144] Specifically, the computing device (100) can display promotions in various forms, such as event notifications, push messages, and messenger apps, to the user terminal (200), so that the user can quickly check the benefits.

[0145] For example, the computing device (100) can display a notification window on the user terminal (200) with content such as “20% discount on bedding laundry this month, additional points for weekend use,” and if the user taps or clicks it, it can be immediately connected to the reception screen. The same promotion information can be shared with the worker terminal so that the worker can identify in advance when laundry eligible for the discount is received, so that processing is not delayed. Through this, the worker can recognize in advance which items are intensively discounted or benefited, and can reallocate laundry personnel or adjust logistics plans as needed.

[0146] Accordingly, the computing device (100) can comprehensively identify user and item characteristics by accumulating laundry management data in real time and analyzing it from various angles, and can provide necessary information to both the user terminal (200) and the worker terminal at an appropriate time by reflecting the results of this analysis in a promotion strategy. Through this, the computing device (100) can increase both the influx of new users and the satisfaction of existing users. In addition, the computing device (100) can support workers and managers in making prediction-based plans regarding laundry volume.

[0148] According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, a computing device (100) can automate location tracking and status analysis of laundry by integrally utilizing an image and voice recognition system linked with an electronic tag (e.g., RFID, NFC, etc.) attached to laundry.

[0149] Specifically, the computing device (100) can perform the step of scanning electronic tag information during the laundry reception process to classify each laundry item by a unique identifier, and subsequently checking the situation through a recognition device whenever the laundry item moves or the washing process starts, proceeds, or is completed. In addition, the computing device (100) can also perform the step of measuring the moisture content inside the laundry item or the degree of contamination on the laundry item in real time by analyzing a thermal image taken of the surface of the laundry item.

[0150] More specifically, the computing device (100) inputs the captured thermal image into a pre-trained deep learning model to calculate the optimal washing temperature conditions or expected drying time for a specific laundry item, and can send a notification to the worker terminal to increase the washing time or adjust the drying process compared to the existing washing course if necessary.

[0151] For example, the computing device (100) can provide a guidance message to the operator, such as “an additional 5 minutes of drying is recommended because the current humidity is higher than the standard value,” by combining the material of the laundry (e.g., cotton, polyester, wool, silk, etc.) obtained through the electronic tag with a thermal image and comparing and evaluating the actual drying state and the estimated drying time.

[0152] For example, the computing device (100) can perform a step of automatically suggesting a sterilization course or a sterilizing agent injection process if it determines that a specific laundry item has a risk of more severe stains or microbial growth than expected by combining the real-time contamination assessment results and drying status tracking information. In this case, the computing device (100) can provide specific guidelines on which sterilizing agent is suitable and how much temperature should be maintained.

[0153] Accordingly, the computing device (100) can simultaneously improve washing quality and process efficiency by providing a combination of various functions such as electronic tag-based location tracking, thermal image analysis, and additional sterilization course recommendations.

[0155] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without altering its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for providing a laundry management service, comprising: a step of generating a pickup request for laundry corresponding to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmitting it to a worker terminal; a step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed; and a step of providing the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal. Claim 2 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of transmitting a laundry progress signal for the laundry to the worker terminal when a laundry confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal; and a step of transmitting a delivery location obtained from the user terminal to the worker terminal and obtaining delivery information from the worker terminal when the laundry for the laundry is completed. Claim 3 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pickup request for laundry corresponding to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmitting it to a worker terminal comprises: a step of obtaining a room number from the user terminal; a step of obtaining voice data or text data requesting acceptance of the laundry from the user terminal, and, if voice data is obtained, a step of converting the voice data into text data; and a step of recognizing the acceptance request details for the laundry based on the text data. Claim 4 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal as the pickup and sorting of the laundry is completed comprises: obtaining the room number from which the laundry was picked up according to the reception request from the worker terminal; obtaining voice data or text data regarding the items and quantity of the laundry, and if the voice data is obtained, converting the voice data into text data; and obtaining the laundry information including the items and quantity of the laundry based on the text data. Claim 5 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal upon completion of pickup and sorting of the laundry comprises: obtaining a room number from the worker terminal that picked up the laundry according to the reception request; obtaining image data in which the laundry is photographed; and inputting the image data into a pre-trained laundry sorting model to obtain laundry information including the items and quantities of the laundry included in the image data. Claim 6 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the step of providing the laundry information and the cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal comprises: a step of recognizing the items and quantities of the laundry included in the laundry information; a step of determining a laundry cost corresponding to the items and quantities of the laundry; a step of determining a first discount rate based on the items and quantities of the laundry; a step of determining a second discount rate based on the service usage history of the user terminal; and a step of generating the cost information by applying the first discount rate and the second discount rate to the laundry cost and providing the cost information to the user terminal. Claim 7 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of generating guidance information including a washing method and an estimated time of completion of washing of the laundry based on the washing information when a washing confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal; and a step of providing the guidance information to the user terminal. Claim 8 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of generating a dashboard screen that displays the progress status of the laundry; and a step of providing the progress status of the laundry and other laundry to the worker terminal by reflecting it in real time on the dashboard screen. Claim 9 A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of collecting laundry management data related to the reception request, pickup, sorting, and delivery of the laundry; a step of calculating a service utilization rate by period, a share of laundry items by item, and user characteristics based on the laundry management data; a step of generating promotion information by user characteristics corresponding to the current time based on the service utilization rate by period, the share of laundry items by item, and the user characteristics; and a step of providing the promotion information to the user terminal and the worker terminal. Claim 10 A device comprising: a memory for storing one or more instructions; and a processor for executing the one or more instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor performs the method of claim 1 by executing the one or more instructions. Claim 11 A computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium that is combined with a computer, which is hardware, to perform the method of claim 1.

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