Laundry management service provision method, apparatus, and program

Abstract

This invention provides a method, apparatus, and program for providing a laundry management service that efficiently manages the user's laundry receiving, picking, sorting, washing progress, cost calculation, and delivery. [Solution] In a method for providing a laundry management service, a computing device generates a pickup request for laundry in response to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmits it to a worker terminal. Upon completion of pickup and sorting of the laundry, the device obtains laundry information from the worker terminal and provides the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] {METHOD, APPARATUS AND PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING LAUNDRY MANAGEMENT SERVICE} 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 that can efficiently manage a user's laundry reception, pick-up, classification, laundry progress, cost calculation and delivery. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Recently, as the importance of customer customized services has increased in various industrial fields, the necessity of digital transformation and automation for laundry management services has been emphasized in line with this trend. In particular, in places such as accommodation facilities, hospitals, and luxury apartment complexes, demand for services that efficiently process the entire process from laundry reception, management, laundry progress, to delivery and maximize customer convenience is rapidly increasing. Conventional laundry management methods mainly rely on manual work, or only stop at using simple systems that digitize some steps. For example, when a customer requests laundry reception, an administrator records the request and transmits it to a worker, after which there is the inconvenience of having to manually update the progress status or provide individual notification to the customer. Such a method not only has limitations in work processing speed and accuracy, but also is highly likely to cause customer dissatisfaction or reduce service reliability due to the absence of real-time information provision. In particular, during time periods when customer requests are concentrated, a problem arises in that it is difficult for workers and administrators to efficiently process laundry pick-up and delivery requests, and confusion is exacerbated by missing information or incorrect data. Such situations may lead to various problems such as lost laundry, delayed delivery, and errors in cost information. In addition, as factors that reduce the competitiveness of services, it can also be mentioned that there is a lack of functions to provide services tailored to the individual needs of customers or create added value based on promotion information. Therefore, there is a demand in this industry for new technologies that can systematically integrate and manage the entire process from receiving and picking up laundry to the washing process and delivery, and that can provide real-time feedback and optimized services to both users and workers. In this regard, Korean Published Patent No. 10-2019-0134038 discloses a laundry service provision system and its management system. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0003] This invention was devised in response to the aforementioned background technology and aims to provide a method, apparatus, and program for providing laundry management services. The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problems is disclosed, which is a method for providing a laundry management service. The method may include the steps of: generating a pickup request for laundry in response to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmitting it to a worker terminal; obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal upon completion of pickup and sorting of the laundry; and providing the user terminal with the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information. In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include the steps of: transmitting a washing progress signal for the laundry to the operator terminal when a washing confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal; and transmitting the delivery location obtained from the user terminal to the operator terminal and obtaining delivery information from the operator terminal when washing of the laundry is completed. In an alternative embodiment, the step of receiving a laundry drop-off request from the user terminal may include the steps of obtaining a room number from the user terminal, obtaining voice data or text data requesting the drop-off 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 drop-off request based on the text data. In an alternative embodiment, the step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal upon completion of picking and sorting the laundry may include the steps of obtaining the room number from the worker terminal where the laundry was picked up in response to the reception request; obtaining voice data or text data for the items and quantities 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 quantities of the laundry, based on the text data. In an alternative embodiment, the step of obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal upon completion of picking and sorting the laundry may include the steps of obtaining the room number from the worker terminal where the laundry was picked up in response to the reception request; obtaining image data of the laundry; and inputting the image data into a pre-trained laundry classification model to obtain laundry information including the items and quantities of the laundry contained in the image data. 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 the steps of: recognizing the items and quantities of laundry included in the laundry information; determining the laundry cost corresponding to the items and quantities of laundry; determining a first discount rate based on the items and quantities of 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 and second discount rates to the laundry cost and providing the cost information to the user terminal. In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include, when a washing confirmation input signal is received from the user terminal, generating guidance information including the washing method and estimated completion time of the laundry based on the washing information, and providing the guidance information to the user terminal.

[0005] In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include the steps of generating a dashboard screen that displays the progress of the laundry, and providing the worker terminal with the dashboard screen reflecting the progress of the laundry and other laundry in real time. In an alternative embodiment, the method may further include the steps of: collecting laundry management data related to the request for acceptance, pickup, sorting, and delivery of the laundry; calculating period-specific service utilization rates, laundry item-specific occupancy rates, and user characteristics based on the laundry management data; generating user-specific promotional information corresponding to the current time based on the period-specific service utilization rates, laundry item-specific occupancy rates, and user characteristics; and providing the promotional information to the user terminal and the worker terminal. An apparatus is disclosed by an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems. The apparatus includes 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 can perform the above-mentioned method by executing the one or more instructions. In one embodiment of the present invention to solve the above-described problems, a computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium is disclosed, which is coupled with a computer as hardware so as to perform the above-described method. Other specific aspects of the present invention are included in the detailed description and drawings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] This invention can provide an efficient and systematic service throughout the entire laundry management process. Specifically, this invention can improve the speed and accuracy of work by integrally managing all processes from the customer's laundry request to pickup, washing, and delivery completion. Furthermore, the present invention provides customers with rapid and accurate progress updates through real-time data communication between user terminals and worker terminals, thereby increasing service reliability and maximizing customer satisfaction. In particular, the automatic text conversion of voice data and the laundry item recognition utilizing a pre-trained classification model reduce the workload for workers and minimize the possibility of errors. The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and any other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by an ordinary person of the art from the following description. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a laundry management service according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a laundry management service according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a diagram illustrating a method for providing a laundry management service according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Various embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. Various descriptions are presented herein to provide an understanding of the invention. However, it is evident that such embodiments can be carried out without such specific descriptions. As used herein, terms such as “component,” “module,” and “system” refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, software, combinations of software and hardware, or software execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process executed on a processor, a processor, an object, an execution thread, a program, and / or a computer. For example, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device itself can be components. One or more components may reside within a processor and / or an execution thread. A single component may be localized within a single computer. A single component may be distributed between two or more computers. Furthermore, such components may be executed from a variety of computer-readable media having a variety of data structures stored within them. Components may communicate locally and / or remotely by signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with other components in a local system, a distributed system, and / or data transmitted to other systems via a network such as the Internet through signals). Furthermore, the term "or" is intended to mean an implicational "or," not an exclusive "or." That is, unless otherwise specified or contextually clear, "X uses A or B" is intended to mean one of the natural implicational substitutions. That is, if X uses A; X uses B; or X uses both A and B, "X uses A or B" can apply to any of these cases. Also, the terms "and / or" as used herein should be understood to include all possible combinations of one or more of the listed related items. Furthermore, the terms “contains” and / or “contains” should be understood to mean that the features and / or components in question are present. However, the terms “contains” and / or “contains” should be understood not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components and / or groups thereof. Also, where not otherwise specified or clearly in the context that it refers to a singular form, “singular” should generally be interpreted as “one or more” in this specification and claims.

[0009] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the various exemplary logical blocks, configurations, modules, circuits, means, logic, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the embodiments further disclosed herein may be embodied in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interoperability of hardware and software, the various exemplary components, blocks, configurations, means, logic, modules, circuits, and steps have been generally described above in terms of their functional aspects. Whether such functionality is embodied in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design limitations imposed on the overall system. A skilled technician may implement the functionality described in various ways for each specific application. However, the decision to implement such functionality should not be construed as excluding it from the scope of the invention. The descriptions of the presented embodiments are provided so that a person with ordinary skill in the art of the invention may utilize or implement the invention. Various modifications to such embodiments will be obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art of the invention. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without exceeding the scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. The invention should be interpreted in its broadest sense, consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein. In this specification, "computer" means any type of hardware device including at least one processor, and may be understood, depending on the embodiment, to also include software configurations that operate on such hardware devices. For example, "computer" may be understood to include, but is not limited to, smartphones, tablet PCs, desktops, notebooks, and all user clients and applications that run on each device. Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Each step described herein is described as being performed by a computer, but the main body of each step is not limited thereto, and in some embodiments, at least part of each step may be performed by different devices.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 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 shown in Figure 1 is one embodiment, and its components are not limited to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and may be added, modified, or deleted as needed. In one embodiment, the computing device 100 can provide a laundry management service. For example, the computing device 100 can manage the entire process from receiving laundry requests to pickup, washing progress, and delivery completion, and can support efficient data communication between the user terminal 200 and the worker terminal. Specifically, the computing device 100 can receive a request to accept laundry from the user terminal 200. The computing device 100 can also generate a pickup request for the laundry corresponding to the laundry acceptance request and send it to the worker terminal. The computing device 100 can obtain laundry information from the worker terminal once the pickup and sorting of the laundry is complete. The computing device 100 can also provide the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal 200. Furthermore, if the computing device 100 receives a laundry confirmation input signal from the user terminal 200, it can send a laundry progress signal to the worker terminal. Finally, when the laundry is completed, the computing device 100 sends the delivery location obtained from the user terminal 200 to the worker terminal and obtains delivery information from the worker terminal. Therefore, the computing device 100 of the present invention can improve service efficiency and reliability by supporting smooth data exchange between users and workers and systematically managing the entire process of the laundry management service. An example of how the computing device 100 provides laundry management services will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 5. In various embodiments, the computing device 100 can provide web or application-based services, but is not limited thereto. The computing device 100 may include, but is not limited to, any type of computer system or computer device, such as a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital processor, a portable device, and a device controller. The hardware configuration of the computing device 100 will be described below with reference to Figure 2. On the other hand, the user terminal 200 can be connected to the computing device 100 via the network 400, and can be a terminal of a user who uses the laundry management service provided by the computing device 100.

[0011] Here, the user terminal 200 may include, for example, various forms of computer devices. To give a specific example, the user terminal 200 refers to various terminal devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, desktops, and notebooks. The user terminal 200 includes a display in at least a part of the terminal, and can include an operating system for driving an application or an extension program-based service provided from the computing device 100. For example, the user terminal 200 may be a smart-phone, but is not limited thereto. The user terminal 200 is a wireless communication device that ensures portability and mobility, and includes navigation, Personal Communication System (PCS), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Personal Handyphone System (PHS), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), International Mobile Telemunication (IMT)-2000, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-2000, W-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Wireless Broadband Internet (Wibro) terminals, Smartpads, Tablet PCs, and all other types of handheld-based wireless communication devices. The external server 300 is connected to the computing device 100 via the network 400, transmits and receives various types of information / data required for the computing device 100 to provide a laundry management service, and can store and manage various types of information / data generated by the computing device 100 when providing the laundry management service. For example, the external server 300 may be a database server that stores information used in a laundry management service provision method. As another example, the external server 300 may be a server that provides information used in a laundry management service provision method. The network 400 refers to a connection structure that enables information exchange between respective nodes such as computing devices, a plurality of terminals, and servers. For example, the network 400 includes a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the World Wide Web (WWW), wired and wireless data communication networks, telephone networks, and wired and wireless television communication networks. Wireless data communication networks include, but are not limited to, 3G, 4G, 5G, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), 5th Generation Partnership Project (5GPP), Long Term Evolution (LTE), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX), Wi-Fi, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), Wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), PAN (Personal Area Network), RF (Radio Frequency), Bluetooth networks, Near-Field Communication (NFC) networks, satellite broadcasting networks, analog broadcasting networks, and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) networks.

[0012] Figure 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 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 processors 110, a bus 130, a communication interface 140, and storage 150 for storing the computer program 151. Here, only components related to embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figure 2. Therefore, a person of the ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs will see that other general-purpose components may be included in addition to those shown in Figure 2. The processor 110 controls the overall operation of each component of the computing device 100. The processor 110 consists of one or more cores and may include processors for data analysis and deep learning, such as the central processing unit (CPU), general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), and tensor processing unit (TPU) of the computing device. Alternatively, it may be configured to include any form of processor well known in the art of the present invention. Furthermore, the processor 110 can perform calculations for at least one application or program to carry out the method according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the computing device 100 may include one or more processors. 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. The processor 110 may also be implemented as a system-on-a-chip (SoC) including at least one of the graphics processing unit, RAM, and ROM. Memory 120 stores various data, instructions, and / or information. Memory 120 can load a computer program 151 from storage 150 to perform a method / operation according to various embodiments of the present invention. Once the computer program 151 is loaded into memory 120, the processor 110 can perform the method / operation by executing one or more instructions that constitute the computer program 151. Memory 120 is embodied in volatile memory such as RAM, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0013] Bus 130 provides communication functions between components of the computing device 100. Bus 130 can be implemented in various forms, such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The communication interface 140 can support wireless internet communication of the computing device 100. Furthermore, the communication interface 140 can also support a variety of communication methods other than internet communication. For this purpose, the communication interface 140 may be configured to include communication modules well known in the art of the present invention. In some embodiments, the communication interface 140 may be omitted. The storage 150 may store the computer program 151 on a non-temporary basis. When performing a process according to an embodiment of the present invention via the computing device 100, the storage 150 can store various information necessary to perform the method according to the disclosed embodiment or to provide the service. The storage 150 may consist of 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 that is well known in the art to which the present invention belongs. The computer program 151, when loaded into memory 120, may include one or more instructions that cause the processor 110 to perform methods / operations according to various embodiments of the present invention. That is, the processor 110 can perform methods / operations according to various embodiments of the present invention by executing one or more instructions. In one embodiment, the computer program 151 may include one or more instructions that cause it to perform various methods related to various tasks related to learning a neural network model. Steps of methods or algorithms described in connection with embodiments of the present invention may be embodied directly in hardware, in software modules executed by hardware, or in combination thereof. The software modules may reside on RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), flash memory, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any form of computer-readable recording medium well known in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0014] The components of the present invention may be implemented in a program (or application) and stored in a medium for execution in conjunction with a computer, which is hardware. The components of the present invention may be executed in software programming or software elements; similarly, embodiments include a variety of algorithms embodied in combinations of data structures, processes, routines, or other programming configurations, and may be embodied in programming or scripting languages ​​such as C, C++, Java, and assembler. Functional aspects may be embodied in algorithms executed on one or more processors. Figures 3 to 5 are diagrams illustrating a method for providing a laundry management service according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 3, the computing device 100 can receive a laundry acceptance request from the user terminal 200. The computing device 100 can then generate a pickup request for the laundry corresponding to the laundry acceptance request and send it to the worker terminal (S110). Here, the computing device 100 can process the process of receiving the laundry acceptance request from the user terminal 200, generating the pickup request in conjunction with it, and sending it to the worker terminal all at once.

[0015] In other words, when a request for acceptance comes in from the user terminal 200, the computing device 100 can process the request sequentially without separating the steps of analyzing the request content and composing the pickup request data. 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 necessary for the pickup request (e.g., room number, desired pickup time, special circumstances, etc.) and transmit them to the worker terminal. Through this, a pickup request can be issued immediately as soon as the user completes the request, minimizing the delay between the acceptance and pickup processes. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can also use voice input and an automatic translation module in the process of recognizing the content of the user terminal 200's request. By utilizing this, voice data can be converted to text, pickup request information can be constructed simultaneously, and a signal can be sent to the 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 three shirts by 2pm," the computing device 100 will convert this to text, immediately generate a pickup request based on the content, and send it to the worker terminal, thereby effectively processing the reception and pickup request steps in a single flow. This batch processing method minimizes communication steps between users and workers, preventing errors and omissions that may occur due to delays in pickup after reception. On the other hand, when a worker terminal receives a pickup request transmitted from the computing device 100, it can immediately begin scheduling work, and even when receiving multiple pickup requests simultaneously, it can adjust priorities in real time to provide service quickly and accurately. Specifically, the computing device 100 can obtain the room number from the user terminal 200. For example, the computing device 100 can classify reception requests by parsing the room number contained in text messages or voice messages sent from the user terminal 200 and recording the information in an internal database. Furthermore, if the reception request is transmitted in voice form, the computing device 100 can convert it to text using a voice recognition module and then search for the room number in the converted text. During this process, the computing device 100 can check the signal strength of the user terminal 200 to verify that the actual communication was successful, and can send a retransmission request when necessary to prevent errors and ensure data integrity. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can acquire voice data or text data requesting acceptance of laundry from the user terminal 200, and if voice data is acquired, it can convert the voice data into text data. The computing device 100 can then recognize the laundry acceptance request based on the text data.

[0016] For example, as shown in Figure 4(A), the computing device 100 can acquire information about the laundry by voice, with room number 100, reception time 10:16 AM, and laundry type W recognized. The user can request information about the laundry to be accepted by voice by selecting the start button included on the screen displayed on the user terminal 200. Meanwhile, the computing device 100 can display the laundry items recognized based on the voice input from the user terminal 200, as shown in Figure 4(B), and obtain confirmation from the user. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can extract item names such as "T-shirt" and "trousers" from the converted text, and classify the requests by identifying information such as the number of washes requested by the user and the desired completion time. In this classification process, the computing device 100 can also utilize a natural language processing module to find core keywords contained in the voice command and automatically assign a reservation schedule considering the laundry pickup time. Furthermore, if the context described in the text data is unclear, the computing device 100 can prevent missed laundry shipments and mix-ups by sending an additional guidance message to the user terminal 200 requesting supplementary information. On the other hand, the computing device 100 can generate a pickup request for the laundry in response to the laundry acceptance request and send it to the worker's terminal. Specifically, the computing device 100 creates pickup instruction information in a format easily understood by the worker's terminal, based on the room number, laundry items, quantity, and request time received from the user terminal 200. For example, the computing device 100 can generate detailed instructions in text format, such as "Room 100, one T-shirt, two pairs of trousers, pickup requested before 2 PM," and transmit them to the worker's terminal. If the worker's terminal can accept multiple pickup requests simultaneously, the computing device 100 can reduce wasted movement time for the worker by configuring and providing the most appropriate pickup route through its internal algorithm. In this pickup request generation step, the computing device 100 can check whether the user requesting the laundry is a VIP or if additional manpower is needed to handle special laundry items, allowing the worker to receive necessary information before actually performing the task. In one embodiment, the computing device 100 can acquire laundry information from the worker terminal once the picking and sorting of the laundry is completed (S120). For example, the computing device 100 can obtain the room number from which the laundry was picked up in response to a request from the worker's terminal. The computing device 100 can also obtain voice data or text data regarding the items and quantities of laundry, and if voice data is obtained, it can convert the voice data into text data. Based on the text data, the computing device 100 can then obtain laundry information, including the items and quantities of laundry.

[0017] For example, the computing device 100 can analyze the text "Room 100, 1 T-shirt, 2 pairs of trousers, confirmed" sent from the worker's terminal and update the final laundry item list in its internal records. On the other hand, the worker terminal sends corrected information reflecting the results of actually checking the laundry and the user's request (for example, the discovery of additional laundry items or a change in the number of items), and the computing device 100 can readjust the laundry request list through this information. As another example, the computing device 100 can obtain the room number from which the laundry was picked up in response to a request from the worker's terminal. The computing device 100 can also obtain image data of the laundry. The computing device 100 can then input the image data into a pre-trained laundry classification model to obtain laundry information, including the type and quantity of laundry contained in the image data. For example, the computing device 100 can utilize a clothing recognition model that has learned hue, form, and texture from a large number of clothing images to automatically categorize shirts, trousers, towels, blankets, etc., and then infer the corresponding quantities. Furthermore, when an operator takes and transmits multiple images, the computing device 100 can combine the results of each image to minimize duplicate clothing recognition and partial omissions. In addition, even if the image quality is low or the laundry is overlapping, the clothing recognition model can extract the form and pattern of the clothing based on pre-learned features and classify them with high accuracy. The computing device 100 can reflect these classification results in the laundry information and, if necessary, request confirmation from the operator to finalize the information. In various embodiments, the laundry management service of the present invention can provide a service in which, if the user indicates an intention to not disturb, the service does not immediately pick up the laundry but returns after a certain period of time has elapsed. Specifically, the computing device 100 can confirm that a user's room is currently in a no-interference state based on information received from the worker's terminal (for example, the user's no-interference status).

[0018] For example, if a worker provides information that they attempted to pick up laundry but were unable to approach due to a "No Interference" sign, the computing device 100 can record that point and readjust the pickup schedule. At this time, the computing device 100 checks if there is a "No Interference" time set in advance by the user or an alternative time specified by the user, and thereby can schedule a return visit at a specific time (e.g., one hour later or at a time requested by the user). More specifically, when the computing device 100 receives a message from the worker's terminal stating "Room 503, pickup unavailable due to no interference sign," it can recognize the worker's overall workflow. The computing device 100 can then check the available time for a return visit to avoid conflicts with other ongoing laundry pickup or delivery operations, and delay the pickup schedule for the relevant room to a specific point in time. Through this, the computing device 100 can manage the worker's movement to prevent excessive gaps or duplicate visits, and can also take care not to visit at times undesired by the user. For example, if a rule such as "revisit within a minimum of one hour after the disruption prohibition state is lifted" is set in advance, the computing device 100 will calculate the time elapsed, place a pickup order in the next possible schedule, and send a notification to the worker's terminal. In other words, the computing device 100 can coordinate the entire process to collect the laundry at the appropriate time while respecting user privacy requirements. Furthermore, even if a pickup delay occurs, the scheduled return visit time is clearly registered in the system, so workers can check the return visit schedule on their terminal screen without needing separate manual notes. In one embodiment, the computing device 100 can provide laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal 200 (S130). Specifically, the computing device 100 can recognize the items and quantities of laundry included in the laundry information. The computing device 100 can then determine the laundry cost corresponding to the items and quantities of laundry. For example, the computing device 100 can calculate the cost by considering a predetermined unit price and the difficulty of the work for "3 shirts," and then calculate the basic cost by multiplying the unit price by the number of laundry items. Next, if additional costs are required due to the material of the laundry (e.g., silk, waterproof material, etc.), these can be added to calculate the final amount.

[0019] Furthermore, the computing device 100 can determine a first discount rate based on the type and quantity of laundry. The computing device 100 can also determine a second discount rate based on the service usage history of the user terminal 200. For example, the computing device 100 can determine whether there are any additional discount items by checking the number of laundry requests previously made in the same room, the accumulated points, and whether or not there is a subscription-type membership. The computing device 100 can then generate cost information by applying a first discount rate and a second discount rate to the laundry costs and provide the cost information to the user terminal 200. For example, the computing device 100 can display a detailed breakdown of discounts in the cost information and configure a guidance message so that the user clearly understands the reason for the discount and the final settlement amount. In various embodiments, when the computing device 100 receives a washing confirmation input signal from the user terminal 200, it can transmit a washing progress signal for the laundry to the operator terminal. Specifically, the computing device 100 recognizes input such as the selection of the "Proceed with Washing" button displayed on the user terminal 200 or voice commands, and thereby transmits the "Start Washing" instruction to the worker terminal. For example, the computing device 100 can analyze the desired laundry completion time specified by the user terminal 200 and calculate an appropriate start time for laundry, taking into account the status of the laundry equipment and the allocation of workers. The computing device 100 can then transmit information regarding the progress of the laundry process to the worker terminal. The worker can then refer to the information transmitted from the computing device 100 to operate the equipment or assign tasks to process the laundry during the appropriate time slot. Furthermore, when the washing of the laundry is completed, the computing device 100 can transmit the delivery location obtained from the user terminal 200 to the worker terminal, and obtain delivery information from the worker terminal.

[0020] Specifically, the computing device 100 can recognize the delivery location (such as the front desk, unmanned locker, or specific room) entered from the user terminal 200, and can provide the worker terminal with information about the location, delivery priority, estimated delivery time, etc. For example, when there are many requests simultaneously, the computing device 100 can measure the delivery location and distance for each request and provide the worker terminal with route information for the most efficient movement. The worker can proceed with the delivery process based on the route information provided via the worker terminal and report to the computing device 100 that the laundry has been delivered to the designated location. The computing device 100 can reflect the report, record the delivery completion time and completion status in its internal database, and complete the laundry management service by sending a "delivery complete" notification message to the user terminal 200. Therefore, the computing device 100 can automatically track and manage the overall laundry process and provide a variety of information so that the user can understand the location and status of the laundry without having to make a separate inquiry. According to various embodiments of the present invention, when the computing device 100 receives a washing confirmation input signal from the user terminal 200, it can generate guidance information including the washing method and estimated completion time for the laundry based on the washing information. The computing device 100 can then provide the guidance information to the user terminal 200. 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 soiling, weight, etc. of the laundry requested by the user terminal 200, and can calculate the working time based on the corresponding washing course. For example, the computing device 100 can compare the average processing time for each course with the current laundry equipment occupancy status to calculate an estimated completion date, such as "approximately 4 hours from now," and provide it to the user terminal 200. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can recalculate the estimated completion time each time the progress status on the worker terminal is updated and provide it to the user terminal 200 in real time.

[0021] Therefore, the computing device 100 can provide the user with transparent information about the entire process by starting the washing process steps based on the washing confirmation input from the user terminal 200 and dynamically adjusting the estimated washing completion time as needed. In an additional embodiment, the computing device 100 can dynamically adjust the work environment based on the laundry history accumulated during the laundry process, equipment operation logs, and user inquiry details. For example, the computing device 100 can automatically recommend laundry equipment allocation and the timing of additional personnel deployment by comprehensively considering factors such as the completion time of washing similar garments previously processed, delay factors that occurred in specific washing courses, and the current utilization rate of worker terminals. To this end, the computing device 100 analyzes the laundry processing flow using machine learning models and predictive algorithms, identifies bottleneck sections and frequent error causes at each step, and then guides the necessary actions to the worker terminal or administrator screen. Furthermore, 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 not only the current equipment status but also the average processing time of similar past cases. For example, if dry cleaning of high-quality materials is accepted consecutively, the computing device 100 can take this into consideration and set a longer estimated completion time than usual, and inform the user terminal 200 of the reason. Through this prediction method, the computing device 100 enables efficient work allocation from the worker's perspective, and in the event of unexpected sudden situations or delays due to equipment inspections, it can automatically recalculate and present updated information to the user terminal 200. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can also understand the correlation between the washing course applied to the laundry and the delivery option requested by the user, and optimize the logistics flow to the delivery point (e.g., guest rooms, unmanned lockers, on-site pick-up locations). For example, if a large number of items become bulky during the packaging step after washing, the computing device 100 can send a notification to the worker's terminal in advance to prepare manpower or equipment (carts, mobile robots, etc.). Through this, delays and the risk of loss during the delivery process after washing are completed can be reduced, and the laundry can be delivered to the user precisely within the scheduled delivery time. Therefore, the computing device 100 is designed to flexibly update in response to environmental changes in the process before laundry management, enabling both users and workers to perceive the situation in real time and respond proactively. As a result, the computing device 100 can intelligently utilize the collected laundry processing data to simultaneously improve work efficiency and service quality.

[0022] According to various embodiments of the present invention, the computing device 100 can generate a dashboard screen that displays the progress of the laundry. The computing device 100 can then reflect the progress of the laundry and other laundry on the dashboard screen in real time and provide it to the worker's terminal. Specifically, the computing device 100 can display each step, such as reception complete, waiting for pickup, washing in progress, drying, preparing for delivery, and delivery, using icons and colors, helping the worker intuitively understand the status. For example, when a worker's terminal starts the drying process for a specific item of laundry, the computing device 100 automatically recognizes this and updates the corresponding laundry icon on the dashboard. If other items of laundry immediately require the use of the washing equipment, it can send a notification to the person in charge in advance. A dashboard configured in this way can systematically manage the sequential steps that occur in the laundry processing process and help to identify potential delays and personnel allocation problems in advance. Therefore, the computing device 100 can provide an efficient and stable laundry management service through real-time monitoring and data linkage, even in complex environments where multiple laundry requests are received simultaneously. In an additional embodiment, the computing device 100 can dynamically readjust the work schedule by re-evaluating the estimated processing time and human availability in real time based on the progress of the laundry displayed on the dashboard screen. For example, the computing device 100 can track the usage status of the laundry equipment, which is updated minute by minute, and predict the remaining drying time when a particular load of laundry enters the drying step, thereby pre-calculating the timing for adding the next batch of waiting laundry. Through this process, the laundry equipment can be operated in an optimized sequence, and even if unforeseen delays occur, workers can be immediately notified to minimize the damage. Such readjustment functions are particularly useful during peak hours when laundry is being collected, reducing downtime in terms of manpower and equipment even when many requests are received simultaneously.

[0023] Furthermore, the computing device 100 can collect and analyze data from the dashboard screen to identify the average processing time for a specific laundry course, the days and times when laundry is most abundant, and the causes of frequent delays, and based on this, it can improve equipment inspection schedules and worker assignments. For example, if the computing device 100 finds that the dryer for a frequently used laundry cycle is outdated, or if orders are concentrated during specific time periods, causing frequent bottlenecks, it can notify the administrator to consider replacing the equipment or adding additional staff. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can immediately display the past history of a particular item of laundry and customer-specific information (e.g., requests for removal of allergens, handling precautions for high-quality materials, etc.) when a worker selects a specific item of laundry on the dashboard. In other words, the computing device 100 can provide a function that allows for quick retrieval of detailed information for each item of laundry. Such a function can guide workers to respond quickly when quality issues or additional requests arise during the laundry process, thereby maintaining stable service quality even in large-scale work environments. In particular, in facilities where a high level of hygiene management is required, such as hotels and hospitals, tracking and recording every step in the laundry processing and transparently reviewing the history of problems that occurred at each step can reduce errors in the laundry process. Therefore, the computing device 100 not only provides a simple visualization of the laundry progress information displayed on the dashboard screen, but also integrates with various operational functions such as work schedule readjustment, equipment status analysis, and laundry history inquiry, enabling a quick and flexible response even in complex environments where multiple laundry requests are received simultaneously.

[0024] According to various embodiments of the present invention, the computing device 100 can provide users with appropriate promotional information based on laundry management data. Referring to Figure 5, the computing device 100 can collect laundry management data related to laundry acceptance requests, pickup, sorting, and delivery (S210). Specifically, the computing device 100 can store information, including text, voice, images, and delivery history transmitted from user terminals 200 and worker terminals, in conjunction with an internal database or an external server. For example, the computing device 100 can collect information such as the time of receipt, laundry items and quantities, request time, and payment method transmitted from the user terminal 200, and store a laundry processing history. The worker terminal can report the pickup execution time, classification results, laundry completion time, and delivery delay history to the computing device 100 in real time, and the computing device 100 can manage the history of each laundry item based on this information. In one embodiment, the computing device 100 can calculate the service utilization rate by period, the occupancy rate by laundry item, and user characteristics based on the laundry management data (S220). Specifically, the computing device 100 can set various time ranges such as weekly, monthly, and quarterly based on time period classification criteria, and can calculate the service utilization rate by comparing the number of received and completed requests for each time period. In addition, the computing device 100 can analyze laundry classification records and extract the frequency of occurrence of each item. For example, the computing device 100 can determine whether shirts are received in large quantities, or which periods are mainly concentrated with bedding. For example, the computing device 100 can compare the breakdown of laundry requests received by the user terminal 200 with the laundry information actually processed by the worker terminal to recognize when specific items such as clothing, towels, curtains, and carpets are concentrated. By combining the breakdown of past usage and payment amounts for each user, it can recognize the characteristics of major user groups. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can recognize user characteristics including preferences for types of laundry, usage patterns, reservation frequency, and the time periods for receiving and completing laundry requests. The computing device 100 can generate user-specific promotional information corresponding to the current time based on the service utilization rate by period, the occupancy rate by laundry item, and user characteristics (S230). Specifically, if the computing device 100 detects a pattern in which a particular user deposits the same items on the same day of the week, it can prepare discount offers and additional service announcements in advance of that day. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can also take seasonal factors into consideration and generate promotional information in a way that recommends heavy bedding washing promotions in winter and light clothing and towel washing promotions in summer.

[0025] For example, if the computing device 100 tracks periods of increased bedding laundry activity using monthly data, it can automatically generate a "bedding laundry discount event" to coincide with those times and configure it to deliver promotional messages intensively to groups with similar user characteristics. In this promotion generation process, the computing device 100 can create personalized benefits by considering the user's laundry breakdown, membership level, and past discount rate application history, and record the details in an internal database to effectively manage them without loss or duplication. The computing device 100 can provide promotional information to the user terminal 200 and the worker terminal (S240). Specifically, the computing device 100 can expose promotions to the user terminal 200 in various forms, such as event notifications, push messages, and messenger apps, enabling the user to quickly check the relevant benefits. 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, and additional points for weekend use," and when the user taps or clicks on it, they can be immediately connected to the reception screen. The same promotional information can be shared with the worker terminals so that they can know in advance when laundry eligible for the discount is received, so as not to delay processing. Through this, workers can be aware in advance which items will be concentrated with discounts and benefits, and can reallocate laundry personnel or adjust logistics plans as needed. Therefore, the computing device 100 can comprehensively understand user and item characteristics by accumulating laundry management data in real time and analyzing it from multiple perspectives. This analysis can then be reflected in promotional strategies, providing necessary information to both user terminals 200 and worker terminals at the appropriate time. This allows the computing device 100 to increase both the influx of new users and the satisfaction of existing users. Furthermore, the computing device 100 can support workers and managers in developing predictive planning strategies for laundry volume.

[0026] According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the computing device 100 can automate the location tracking and condition analysis of laundry by integrally utilizing an image and voice recognition system linked to an electronic tag (e.g., RFID, NFC, etc.) attached to the laundry. Specifically, the computing device 100 can scan electronic tag information during the laundry receiving process to classify each item of laundry into a unique identifier, and then check the relevant status via a recognition device each time the laundry moves or the washing process starts, progresses, or is completed. In addition, the computing device 100 can also measure the moisture content inside the laundry and the degree of contamination on the laundry in real time by analyzing thermal image images taken of the surface of the laundry. 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 and expected drying time for a particular item of laundry. If necessary, it can send a notification to the operator's terminal to increase the washing time or adjust the drying process compared to existing washing courses. For example, the computing device 100 can combine the material of the laundry (e.g., cotton, polyester, wool, silk, etc.) obtained through electronic tags with a thermal image, and by comparing and evaluating the actual drying state with the estimated drying time, it can provide the worker with a guidance message such as, "The current humidity is higher than the standard value, so an additional 5 minutes of drying is recommended." To give a more detailed example, the computing device 100 can combine the real-time contamination assessment results and drying status tracking information to determine if a particular piece of laundry has a more serious risk of staining or microbial growth than expected, and can automatically suggest a sterilization course or a process for adding sterilizing agents. In this case, the computing device 100 can provide specific guidelines on what sterilizing agent is suitable and how long the temperature should be maintained. Therefore, the computing device 100 can simultaneously improve laundry quality and process efficiency by comprehensively providing a variety of functions such as electronic tag substrate position tracking, thermal image analysis, and additional sterilization course recommendations. Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be carried out in other specific forms without changing its technical idea or essential features. Accordingly, the embodiments described above should be understood to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects.

Claims

1. A method for providing a laundry management service, performed by a computing device including at least one processor, comprising the steps of: generating a pickup request for laundry in response to a laundry acceptance request received from a user terminal and transmitting it to a worker terminal; obtaining laundry information from the worker terminal upon completion of pickup and sorting of the laundry; and providing the user terminal with the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information.

2. The method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: when a washing confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal, transmitting a washing progress signal for the laundry to the worker terminal; and when washing of the laundry is completed, transmitting the delivery location obtained from the user terminal to the worker terminal and obtaining delivery information from the worker terminal.

3. A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pickup request for laundry in response to a laundry acceptance request received from the user terminal and transmitting it to the worker terminal includes the steps of 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 items of the laundry acceptance request based on the text data.

4. The 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 picking and sorting the laundry includes the steps of obtaining the room number from which the laundry was picked up in response to the reception request from the worker terminal; obtaining voice data or text data for the items and quantities 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 quantities of the laundry, based on the text data.

5. The 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 picking and sorting the laundry includes the steps of obtaining the room number from the worker terminal where the laundry was picked up in response to the reception request, obtaining image data of the laundry, and inputting 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.

6. A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the step of providing the laundry information and cost information corresponding to the laundry information to the user terminal includes the steps of: recognizing the items and quantities of laundry included in the laundry information; determining the laundry costs corresponding to the items and quantities of laundry; determining a first discount rate based on the items and quantities of 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 costs and providing the cost information to the user terminal.

7. The method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: when a washing confirmation input signal is obtained from the user terminal, generating guidance information including the washing method and the estimated time for washing completion of the laundry based on the washing information; and providing the guidance information to the user terminal.

8. The method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: generating a dashboard screen that displays the progress of the laundry; and providing the dashboard screen with the progress of the laundry and other laundry in real time to the operator terminal.

9. A method for providing a laundry management service according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: collecting laundry management data related to the request for acceptance, pickup, sorting, and delivery of the laundry; calculating a service utilization rate by period, a occupancy rate by laundry item, and user characteristics based on the laundry management data; generating user characteristic-specific promotional information corresponding to the current time based on the service utilization rate by period, the occupancy rate by laundry item, and the user characteristics; and providing the promotional information to the user terminal and the worker terminal.

10. An apparatus 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 according to claim 1 by executing the one or more instructions.

11. A computer program stored on a computer-readable recording medium, which is coupled with a computer, a piece of hardware, so that the method described in claim 1 can be performed.

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