Store service management system, method for providing store service of system, and sensor device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a store service management system, a method for providing a store service of the system, and a sensor device. The store service management system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a sensor device provided in a store such that the provision height thereof relative to a floor surface of the store is adjustable through a height adjustment unit, or a radiation angle of a signal is adjustable through a housing formed to satisfy designated conditions in consideration of signal characteristics, thereby intensively transmitting the signal only to a designated spatial area within the store to perform communication; and a store service management device, which receives, from a user terminal device, store identification information acquired when an application for using the store service is executed in the user terminal device located in the store, and thus provides, on the basis of the (pre)received identification information, a store service that can be used at a store in which the user terminal device is located.

Description

Store service management system and method of providing store services by the system, and sensor device

[0001] The present invention relates to a store service management system, a method for providing store services by the system, and a sensor device. More specifically, the invention relates to a store service management system, a method for providing store services by the system, and a sensor device that accurately recognizes a store visited by a user possessing a user terminal such as a smartphone, and provides menus available for purchasing or ordering products at the visited store, as well as advertisements, thereby enabling not only purchase or ordering but also payment and viewing of customized advertisements.

[0002] Recently, with the advancement of ICT technology, information exchange between devices is taking place rapidly in real time, bringing greater convenience to daily life. Among these, indoor positioning technology for user terminals is being utilized for purposes such as tracking which store a user has entered when carrying their mobile device, and providing advertising information related to that store.

[0003] A representative means of such indoor positioning technology is the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon device. BLE beacon devices frequently provide location information to user terminals, and user terminals can calculate their current location based on the received location information. Conventionally, technology utilizing this beacon technology to push restaurant coupons or advertising messages to smartphone-owning customers near restaurants has been disclosed. However, since indoor positioning technology for user terminals via BLE beacons relies on RSSI information, there is a problem in that measurement errors are prone to occur if fading caused by structures occurs during the propagation process.

[0004] Conventional technologies utilizing beacon devices can be broadly classified into two categories. For instance, as seen in Starbucks, one method involves installing beacon devices within a store and randomly transmitting beacon signals to the smartphones of users within the device's communication radius to provide distance information—such as signal strength—and guide users to nearby stores. While this method involves fixing the beacon device inside the store, it does not determine whether a user carrying a smartphone is precisely located within the store, leading to significant issues in accurately identifying the user's presence. In other words, this is because many stores are located within the beacon device's communication radius. For instance, when relying on signal strength, measurement errors occur due to fading, as described above.

[0005] Furthermore, conventionally, beacon devices have been used to track users' movements within indoor spaces through the movement of assets (e.g., shopping carts). For instance, it is common practice to install and operate a scanner on one side of a store to recognize signals from multiple beacon devices attached to indoor assets. Consequently, the scanner periodically receives signals from the beacon devices to calculate direction and distance, thereby tracking the movement of the assets to which the beacon devices are attached. Recently, products equipped with 3-axis accelerometer sensors have been released, and the beacon devices can also provide information such as distance.

[0006] In addition, if we look at many prior art technologies that have already been disclosed, most of them use beacon devices or scanners that receive signals from beacon devices to determine the indoor location of a user. However, due to the inherent problem of communication ranges of communication devices, it is still difficult to determine exactly which store a user carrying a user terminal, such as a smartphone, has visited. For instance, even if technology for accurately determining the location of a user carrying a user terminal indoors is disclosed, most of them require a lot of computational processing, which increases the computational processing burden on the user terminal and causes programming inconvenience when using the technology, so there are still problems.

[0007] Recently, with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), multimodal sensor technology has been unveiled to determine a user's presence in a meeting room; however, this technology only verifies a user's presence and still faces the problem of a completely different approach when it comes to accurately determining whether a specific store has been visited. In other words, it is not significantly different from existing methods of determining presence by detecting human movement using infrared sensors.

[0008] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a store service management system, a method for providing store services by said system, and a sensor device, which accurately recognizes a store visited by a user possessing a user terminal such as a smartphone, and provides menus available for purchasing or ordering products at the visited store, as well as advertisements, thereby enabling not only purchase or ordering but also payment and viewing of customized advertisements.

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

[0010] A store service management system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a sensor device installed within a store that transmits and communicates signals intensively within a designated spatial area within the store by adjusting the installation height with respect to the floor surface of the store through a height adjustment unit or by adjusting the radiation angle of a signal through a housing formed to satisfy designated conditions considering signal characteristics; and a store service management device that receives identification information of the store acquired when an application for using store services is executed on a user terminal device located within the store, and provides store services available at the store where the user terminal device is located based on the received identification information.

[0011] The sensor device described above is installed on the ceiling of a store and can be configured to adjust the installation height through a rail structure or a multi-stage bracket structure.

[0012] The sensor device described above has a housing portion that is open downward, and the inner wall of the housing portion is formed as an inclined surface having a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the floor surface of the store, so that a signal can be concentratedly radiated only to a designated spatial area within the store by means of the inclined surface.

[0013] A signal shielding coating layer for adjusting the reflectivity of radio waves is formed on the inner wall of the housing portion, and the signal shielding coating layer may be formed from at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, or a mixture of metal and resin.

[0014] The signal shielding coating layer may further include a signal absorbing material comprising at least one of carbon, ferrite, a conductive polymer, or a nickel and manganese-based composite oxide, or a signal absorbing layer may be formed by laminating a signal absorbing layer on the outer side of the signal shielding coating layer.

[0015] A replaceable mechanism ring for adjusting the opening diameter to adjust the radiation angle may be coupled to the lower opening of the housing part above.

[0016] The sensor device described above is provided with a receiving portion for accommodating a beacon sensor inside the housing portion, and the receiving portion is formed such that the upper surface of the main body of the beacon sensor is positioned at a designated depth from the lower opening end of the housing portion, taking into account the reflection pattern of the signal, so that a downward directional radiation pattern of the signal can be formed.

[0017] The above receiving portion may be formed to include an internal locking groove or an elastic support for fixing the beacon sensor so that the beacon sensor maintains an aligned state inside the housing.

[0018] The above-described store service management device can operate to display a main screen containing store information of multiple stores subscribed to the store service when the application is executed in a store where the sensor device is not installed, thereby allowing the user to access the service of the store selected by the user.

[0019] In addition, a method for providing store services of a store service management system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step in which a sensor device installed in a store transmits and communicates a signal intensively within a designated spatial area in the store by adjusting the installation height with respect to the floor surface of the store through a height adjustment unit or by adjusting the radiation angle of a signal through a housing formed to satisfy designated conditions considering signal characteristics; and a step in which, when an application for using store services is executed on a user terminal device located in the store, a store service management device receives identification information of the store transmitted from the sensor device through the user terminal device, and provides store services available in the store where the user terminal device is located based on the received identification information.

[0020] Furthermore, a sensor device for store service according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing portion having an opening opened in one direction and a receiving portion for accommodating a beacon sensor inside, wherein the receiving portion is formed such that the upper surface of the main body of the beacon sensor is positioned at a predetermined depth from the end of the opening, taking into account the reflection pattern and radiation angle of the signal output by the beacon sensor, thereby causing the signal to have a directional radiation pattern toward the opening; and a signal shielding coating layer formed on the inner wall of the housing portion to control attenuation or reflectance so that the signal radiated by the beacon sensor does not spread to the outside of the housing portion.

[0021] The above signal shielding coating layer may be composed of at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, or a composite material of metal and resin.

[0022] The signal shielding coating layer may further include a signal absorption layer comprising at least one of carbon, ferrite, a conductive polymer, or a nickel and manganese-based composite oxide, or the signal absorption layer may be formed by laminating it on the outer side of the signal shielding coating layer.

[0023] The inner wall of the above-mentioned housing part may be formed as an inclined surface having a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the floor surface of the store, and configured so that the signal radiated by the beacon sensor is concentratedly radiated to a designated spatial area within the store by the inclined surface.

[0024] A replaceable opening ring (restrictor ring) for adjusting the opening diameter to control the effective radiation angle or directivity of the signal may be detachably coupled to the lower opening of the housing portion.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the convenience of users can be enhanced by accurately recognizing a store visited by a user possessing a mobile-based terminal device, such as a smartphone, and providing a service that the user can use at the store.

[0026] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, users visiting a store can purchase store products and proceed with payment through an application (hereinafter referred to as an app), and in the case of a restaurant, can conveniently place an order and proceed with payment through an order menu provided via an app service, thereby making management by store managers that much more convenient. For example, users visiting a store can reduce the inconvenience of having to stand in line to place an order and make a payment.

[0027] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a store service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIGS. 2A and FIGS. 2B are drawings illustrating the sensor device of FIG. 1.

[0030] Figure 3 is a drawing showing another example of the sensor device of Figure 1.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a store service process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed structure of the store service management device of FIG. 1.

[0033] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the store service management device of Figure 1.

[0034] The best embodiment currently considered by the inventor is as follows.

[0035] The sensor device (100) is formed with an aluminum housing and configured so that the lower opening has an angle of inclination of about 45 degrees with respect to the floor of the store, and an aluminum-based RF shielding coating layer is formed on the inner wall so that the signal does not spread outside the store.

[0036] The beacon module uses the BeaconE7 model, and the power is supplied by a 3.3V lithium battery. According to the BLE protocol, the UUID is set to a dedicated "DoitOrder" UUID for service identification, the Major is set to a store identification code, and the Minor is set to a table area identification code.

[0037] The above sensor device can be height-adjustable through a ceiling rail structure, and the signal radiation range can be finely controlled by configuring the opening diameter at the bottom of the housing with a replaceable ring structure.

[0038] Through this configuration, automatic recognition of tables within a store is possible without interference between adjacent stores, and this is an embodiment that the applicant determines to be the best form currently feasible.

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below but can be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are merely illustrative of the content of the invention and are provided to inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention in detail. The present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components.

[0040] The embodiments described herein will be described with reference to cross-sectional and / or plan views, which are exemplary illustrations of the invention. In the drawings, the illustrated regions are depicted for the effective description of the technical content. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the drawings are schematic in nature, and the shapes of the regions illustrated in the drawings are intended to illustrate specific forms of the device regions and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., have been used to describe various components in the various embodiments of this specification, these components should not be limited by such terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another. The embodiments described and illustrated herein also include their complementary embodiments.

[0041] The terms used herein are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. As used herein, "comprises" and / or "comprising" do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, actions, and / or elements to the mentioned components, steps, actions, and / or elements.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a meaning that is commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Additionally, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly and specifically defined otherwise.

[0043] Hereinafter, the concept of the present invention and embodiments according thereto will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a store service management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a store service management system (90) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor device (100), a user terminal device (or user terminal) (110), a communication network (120), a store service management device (or store service device) (130), and some or all of a third-party device (140), such as an authentication server that processes authentication services when a member logs in, or a payment server such as a PG company or a financial company that processes payment services.

[0046] Here, "including some or all" means that some components, such as third-party devices (140) like authentication servers or payment servers, may be omitted to configure the store service management system (90), or that some or all of the components (e.g., hardware or software, etc.) constituting the store service management device (130) may be integrated into a store device, a network device (e.g., wireless switching device, etc.) constituting the communication network (120), or a user terminal device (110). To facilitate a sufficient understanding of the invention, it is explained as including all.

[0047] First, the sensor device (100) is a core component of the present invention, being one of various types of store devices installed in various types of stores, such as restaurants, coffee shops, indoor golf zones, beauty salons, and academies, and can serve the role of providing store identification information by automatically communicating with the user's terminal device (110) within the store. Of course, since the operating principle of this sensor device (100) can be configured in various devices such as a POS (Point of Sale) terminal used by a store manager (e.g., store owner) or a Wi-Fi device as a communication intermediary, the embodiment of the present invention will not be specifically limited to any one form. For example, the sensor device (100) is exemplified by a device such as a beacon sensor, but it can also be a various type of communication device. In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention, it can operate not merely as a relay device that transmits radio waves, but as a spot communication sensor that creates a specific area within the store—such as a spotlight—by intensively radiating signals limited to a specific space within the store (e.g., table zone, order zone, etc.). In other words, the sensor device (100) prevents unnecessary propagation of radio waves outside the store and enables the store's service to be automatically called as soon as a user inside the store launches the application. Accordingly, the transmission of beacon signals between adjacent stores (e.g., stores right next to each other or within a communication radius) using the same service (e.g., Doit Order) is prevented. The purpose of operating this sensor device (100) is to automatically recognize store information the moment a customer enters the store without any separate operation, unlike existing QR code recognition or manual selection methods, and to immediately switch to services such as ordering, payment, and coupon provision. Accordingly, the user experience (UX) is greatly improved, and the store owner can prevent signal interference outside the store (e.g., adjacent stores, hallways, etc.) by adjusting the transmission range of the beacon.

[0048] In addition, the sensor device (100) is not a simple beacon transmitter, but has a structure that can physically or electronically adjust the radiation angle and transmission strength of radio waves according to the installation environment of the store (e.g., ceiling height, table arrangement, area structure, etc.). This structure can be realized through the inclined surface of the housing, the signal shielding layer such as an RF (radio frequency) shielding layer, and the depth adjustment structure of the beacon insertion part (or receiving part) described later in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the sensor device (100) can be defined not as a simple transmission module, but as a "spatially bounded store identification transmitter." Of course, it is clear that the structure of the housing must be designed to satisfy specified conditions (e.g., effective beam radiation angle, internal aperture angle, etc.) considering the characteristics of the signal. In the embodiment of the present invention, by designing to satisfy these specified conditions, the sensor device (100) can operate as a spatially bounded store identification transmitter.

[0049] Meanwhile, the user terminal device (110) receives store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, etc.) transmitted from the sensor device (100) via a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) based communication interface, and automatically loads the service page of the corresponding store in the application based on this information. At this time, the store service management device (130) receives the store identification information transmitted from the user terminal and links the service information of the corresponding store (e.g., menu, inventory, payment method, product description, payment for academy fees or haircut fees, etc.), and can process payment or authentication through a third-party device (140) as needed.

[0050] The store service management system (90) according to an embodiment of the present invention is designed so that signals from multiple stores do not overlap even within a single communication network by creating a communication area partitioned by store through a sensor device (100). In particular, by combining the radiation pattern of a beacon with the shape of a structure to activate only a specific area inside the store, service interference or misrecognition problems between adjacent stores (e.g., left and right, up and down, etc.) within the same building can be effectively prevented. Thus, the embodiment of the present invention can implement a location-based store service management system capable of independent identification and service provision at the store level.

[0051] Meanwhile, the sensor device (100) illustrated in FIG. 1 may be configured to transmit unique store identification information for identifying a store in order to link with the store service management device (130). The store identification information is typically configured according to the transmission specifications of a BLE beacon and may consist of, for example, a combination of a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), a Major value, and a Minor value. It is preferable to express that it consists of at least one combination. In the embodiment of the present invention, these identification information are not simply used as code values, but are structurally defined to encompass spatial recognition of the store location, store zone, and table unit. It is even possible to distinguish the area where the store is located.

[0052] Specifically, the UUID corresponds to the Service Identifier managed by the store service management device (130), and can be set as a unique identifier representing the entire store service platform, such as DoitOrder. As the most significant unique identifier distinguishing the beacon, the UUID may take the form of "123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000". That is, even if multiple stores are subscribed to the same service platform, the UUID can be assigned identically, and through this, when the user terminal device (110) receives the beacon signal, it can immediately recognize that the service is the "DoitOrder service". Through this process, other BLE devices can be automatically ignored (or filtered, removed, etc.).

[0053] Next, the Major value serves as identification information dependent on the UUID, and further filtering may be performed to distinguish between different franchises even if they share the same UUID. In the embodiments of the present invention, this can be utilized in two ways. First, by setting the Major value to a geographical area code (e.g., Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gangwon, etc.), the store service management device (130) can quickly classify stores by region within the same service. In this case, the user's terminal device (110) can identify the store group of the corresponding area immediately upon receiving a beacon signal, and the store service management device (130) improves the accuracy of store matching by comparing the Major value with the terminal's location information (e.g., GPS, IP, etc.). Second, the Major value may be assigned as unique identification information for the store. For example, if there are multiple affiliated stores (e.g., franchise stores) within the same area, by assigning different Major values ​​to each store, the server can distinguish multiple stores sharing the same UUID and independently manage service data for each store (e.g., menu, price, payment method, etc.).

[0054] Additionally, the Minor value can be utilized as detailed location information at the level of a store, a detailed area within the store, or a table within the area specified by the Major value. For example, if multiple beacon sensor devices (100) are installed in a single store, the store service management device (130) may determine the user's table location or a detailed area within the store based on the received Minor value of the terminal by assigning different Minor values ​​to each sensor device. Through this structure, precise service provision becomes possible not only at the store level but also at the table level. That is, when a terminal is recognized at a specific table, for instance, the server constituting the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1 can automatically match the order history, call service, or payment request of that table, and unlike the existing simple BLE identification system, this realizes a location-aware segmented service. Of course, if there is no need to distinguish table locations within the same store, the Minor value may not be set, and store services may be provided based on the signal with the stronger signal strength among multiple UUIDs corresponding to the same service in a single store.

[0055] The above-described UUID-Major-Minor structure can be remotely registered and updated through the configuration interface of the store service management device (130). That is, when a new store is opened, the store manager can generate the UUID and Major values ​​to be assigned to the store on the server and apply them to the sensor device (100) through BLE protocol settings so that the signal for each store is automatically identified. Additionally, if necessary, the Minor values ​​for each beacon within the store can be rearranged, or different Minor values ​​can be transmitted depending on the time of day or event. For example, the store service management device (130) can stop transmitting Minor signals during times outside of business hours, or activate a separate Minor value during a specific event period to display an event service screen on the terminal.

[0056] Ultimately, the store identification information setting method according to the embodiment of the present invention can enable a three-stage structural mapping of service identification, store identification, and detailed location identification by realizing a hierarchical structure that goes beyond simple location identification of existing BLE-based beacon systems, into service platform units (UUID), region or store units (Major), and stores within a region or detailed zones within a store (Minor). Through this, the store service management device (130) can provide precise location-based services within the store while excluding interference between stores, and achieves a core technical differentiation of a beacon-based table order system, such as Doit Order, as a table order service provided by the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1.

[0057] More specifically, the store service management system (90) according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to recognize a store using a beacon signal transmitted from a sensor device (100) installed in the store, and to automatically determine the location of a user terminal device (110) to provide customized services for each store. At this time, the beacon signal transmitted from the sensor device (100) includes unique identification information for the store, and this identification information may be composed of one or more of a UUID, Major, Minor, and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication). Each identification information may be combined with one another to enable multi-layered recognition of the store unit, the zone unit, and the location within the space.

[0058] A UUID is a top-level unique identification information used to distinguish the entire service, and in an embodiment of the present invention, it is used as an identification key for a brand or service unit managed by a store service management device (130). For example, in the case of the Doit Order service, the same UUID is assigned to all affiliated stores. Accordingly, even if the user terminal device (110) receives multiple beacon signals during the BLE scanning process, it automatically ignores signals whose UUID does not match the UUID dedicated to the Doit Order service. Through such a UUID-based filtering structure, service interference can be fundamentally blocked even if beacon signals from other brands or adjacent stores are detected.

[0059] Furthermore, while the UUID may be fixed during the beacon manufacturing stage, in the embodiments of the present invention, it may be configured so that the platform operator can directly set and update it using a BLE manager application or a remote control console. Through this, when a new service is launched or a brand is changed, the operator can immediately synchronize the beacon settings of all merchants by changing a single UUID value. In this way, the UUID can be seen as functioning as a criterion for service differentiation and as a key for integrated platform control.

[0060] Major is a sub-identification information used to distinguish each store among multiple stores sharing the same UUID, representing a unique code at the store level. Of course, it is also possible to use it as a regional code. Each store is assigned a unique Major value when registered in the database of the store service management device (130), and the Major value is mapped and managed together with the store name, address, manager information, etc. For example, the Gangnam store can be set as Major 101, the Hongdae store as Major 102, and the Incheon store as Major 103. When the user terminal device (110) transmits the UUID and Major values ​​received from the sensor device (100) to the server, the store service management device (130) accurately determines the store where the user is located based on the combination. Accordingly, store-specific menu, order, payment, and event information are automatically called up and displayed. Since such a UUID-Major combination allows for identification at the single store level, simple and stable store recognition is possible even in environments where table separation is not required, such as small stores or takeout stores. Ultimately, Major serves as an intermediate identifier that assigns a unique identity to a store, enabling efficient management and recognition accuracy for multiple stores within the platform.

[0061] Minor is detailed identification information used to distinguish multiple sensor devices (100) within the same store, for instance, and is used to recognize areas, zones, or table units within the store. Each sensor device shares the same UUID and Major but has different Minor values; for instance, it can be set such that Minor 01 is used for Table A and Minor 02 is used for Table B. The Minor value received by the user terminal device (110) from a specific beacon is used as a basis for identifying the user's exact seating location. Accordingly, the store service management device (130) can automatically match order, call, and payment services corresponding to a specific table or area using the UUID-Major-Minor combination. That is, the table where the customer is sitting is automatically recognized and the order screen is activated simply by launching the app without any separate operation. This Minor-based recognition structure enables the automation of managing multiple service zones within the store and is particularly optimized for the implementation of a table order system.

[0062] In an embodiment of the present invention, the accuracy of determining the location inside or outside a store can be improved by utilizing the signal strength (RSSI) value in addition to the UUID, Major, and Minor. RSSI represents the strength of the received BLE signal and is used to evaluate the relative distance or signal quality between the sensor device (100) and the user terminal device (110). The system according to an embodiment of the present invention may consider the location as inside the store when the RSSI is -65dBm or higher, and may ignore it as an external signal when it is -70dBm or lower. This threshold value can be adjusted according to the store's structure, ceiling height, the inclination angle of the housing, the reflectivity of the RF shielding layer, etc., and is dynamically tuned to suit the actual environment. Through such an RSSI-based filtering function, false detections caused by signal interference from adjacent stores or reflections from buildings can be effectively prevented. Ultimately, RSSI, in addition to fixed identification information (UUID-Major-Minor), acts as a dynamic location verification layer based on real-time signal strength, thereby enabling the function of accurately recognizing only users within the actual service area.

[0063] The store service management device (130) has a structure that allows for the centralized collective management and remote updating of the UUID, Major, Minor, and RSSI threshold values ​​of each sensor device (100). When an administrator registers a new store or changes the area of ​​an existing store through the server's management console, the administrator can update the setting values ​​of each beacon, and the corresponding settings are automatically transmitted to the sensor devices (100) within the store via the BLE setting protocol. The sensor devices (100) reflect this in real time and apply it immediately without rebooting. This remote control structure is highly efficient in an environment where multiple stores are operated simultaneously, and service continuity can be maintained using only software without physical resetting, even during store expansion, remodeling, or table relocation. Additionally, the store service management device (130) stores the setting change history of each store on a server, which can be utilized for future maintenance, error detection, and service quality analysis.

[0064] The store identification information management structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, having the configuration described above, has the following technical effects. First, since a store can be uniquely identified using only the UUID-Major combination, signal interference between adjacent stores is minimized. Second, by subdividing areas within the store using Minor, precise service provision at the table level is possible. Third, since the inside and outside of the store can be precisely distinguished through threshold determination using RSSI, false detection caused by reflection or interference of beacon signals can be fundamentally prevented. Fourth, since all configuration values ​​are managed remotely, maintenance costs are reduced and service scalability is ensured. Fifth, by using a service-dedicated UUID, illegal access by external beacons or data interference is blocked, thereby significantly enhancing security. Consequently, the store identification information configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention simultaneously realizes accurate location recognition, stable signal discrimination, an efficient management system, and high security through a multi-layered structure consisting of UUID-Major-Minor-RSSI, which can provide a technical advantage that is difficult to achieve with conventional single-beacon identification methods.

[0065] Meanwhile, the sensor device (100) according to the embodiment of the present invention is designed to transmit a beacon signal only within a set radiation range within the store. That is, the housing of the sensor device (100) is equipped with an inclined surface at a certain angle and an RF shielding coating layer, so that the signal is not diffused toward the ceiling or external space, but is transmitted only toward the floor of the store in a specific beam pattern (spot pattern). Accordingly, there is no leakage of the signal to the outside of the store or to adjacent stores. In the embodiment of the present invention, the sensor device (100) has a unique Major value for each store, and since the radiation angle of the signal is physically limited by the housing structure, it is not possible for adjacent stores to receive the UUID or Major value of the same service (e.g., Doit Order). As a result, the user terminal device (110) does not recognize sensor signals from stores other than the store in which it is located, thereby fundamentally preventing service interference between stores or incorrect store recognition errors. For example, even if two stores A and B, located separated by a single wall, are each equipped with a sensor device for the same service, sensor device A radiates a signal only within the internal range of store A, and the signal from sensor device B can be received only within store B. In this case, even if the two sensor devices use the same UUID, their signals do not interfere with each other through the determination of the Major or RSSI threshold. Consequently, the sensor device (100) and the user terminal device (110) according to the embodiment of the present invention perform a combination of physical directionality control of the beacon signal and logical signal differentiation (UUID-Major-Minor-RSSI), thereby fundamentally blocking the problem of duplicate recognition between adjacent stores and providing a stable and independent table order service only within each store. Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention can effectively solve the technical problem of accurate store boundary recognition and minimization of signal interference required in a beacon-based table order system.

[0066] A user terminal device (110) according to an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing device carried by a user utilizing store services within a store, and may include portable electronic devices such as a smartphone, tablet, or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The user terminal device (110) receives a beacon signal transmitted from a sensor device (100) within the store, analyzes store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, and RSSI) included in the signal, and transmits the information to a store service management device (130) to automatically recognize the store where the user is located. The user terminal device (110) is equipped with a BLE communication unit to scan surrounding beacon signals at regular intervals and measure the RSSI value of the received signal. More precisely, scanning or receiving of the beacon signal may occur when a dedicated app according to an embodiment of the present invention is executed. The BLE communication unit filters only signals that match the service UUID managed by the store service management device (130) and determines them as valid signals, while ignoring all external signals where the UUID does not match. Accordingly, even if a beacon signal from an adjacent store or a signal from another brand is detected, the user's terminal device (100) does not recognize the signal as a service target. That is, the user terminal device (110) can prevent service interference and false detection by performing a UUID-based primary filtering structure using a BLE communication unit. Of course, in this process, the user terminal device (110) according to the embodiment of the present invention does not receive the same service information, i.e., a code, of a table order such as Doit Order from a store that is close to each other, because the sensor device (100) of the store visited by the user does not transmit a signal outside the range of the store.

[0067] The user terminal device (110) transmits a signal received from the BLE communication unit to an application module to analyze store identification information and, based on this, can perform communication with the store service management device (130). This application is a dedicated application configured for the Doit Order service and is automatically activated when the user terminal device (110) is executed within the store. The app includes functions such as receiving beacon data, store identification, ordering and payment execution, and security authentication, and is configured so that in-store services can be automatically executed without any separate operation by the user. The application first collects UUID-Major-Minor-RSSI information transmitted from the sensor device (100) through a beacon data receiving module (or beacon data receiving unit). Here, the module refers to a software (S / W) module, but may also be composed of a hardware (H / W) module or a combination thereof. A module refers to a component that performs a specific function as an independent unit constituting the entire system. It is an independent component responsible for a certain function among the overall functions. Among the collected signals, only those with an RSSI that satisfies a preset threshold (e.g., -65dBm or higher) are identified as signals within the store, while signals weaker than that (-70dBm or lower) are considered external signals and excluded. If multiple beacon signals providing the same service from the same store are detected simultaneously, the app prioritizes matching the signal with the strongest RSSI value to improve the accuracy of store recognition.

[0068] Next, the store identification module (or store identification unit) can request information about the store (e.g., store name, address, service type, menu data, etc.) by transmitting the received UUID-Major-Minor combination to the store service management device (130). The store service management device (130) provides the set of information as a response, and the user terminal device (110) receives this and can immediately update the screen (UI) within the application. Accordingly, the user can automatically view the menu screen, order screen, or payment screen of the store where they are located without additional input. In this way, the user terminal device (110) enables automatic store identification and service activation simply by running the app through the reception of a signal from the sensor device (100) and server communication.

[0069] Additionally, the user terminal device (110) is equipped with a service execution module (or service execution unit) so that when store recognition is complete, a store-specific screen can be automatically displayed. The screen may display store-specific menu information, order history, payment functions, promotion banners, seat location information, etc. In particular, when the Minor value is set to a table number within the store, the user terminal device (110) can automatically display a phrase such as "Current location: Table 3" at the top of the screen to clearly guide the user's location. The user can select a menu on this UI to proceed with ordering and payment, and the payment process is securely processed through an authentication server or a payment server (e.g., a third-party device (140)).

[0070] The user terminal device (110) also includes a security authentication module (or security authentication unit) to perform user identity verification in procedures such as member login, payment, or point accumulation. In an embodiment of the present invention, an OAuth-based authentication token structure is applied so that the token issued upon login is maintained for a certain period of time, thereby allowing the user to continue using the service with the same session without additional authentication procedures when revisiting. Additionally, data transmitted during the payment process is encrypted using an SSL or TLS-based HTTPS protocol to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks or abnormal data tampering.

[0071] With this configuration, the user terminal device (110) can automatically perform a series of procedures including receiving a beacon signal → identifying a store → communicating with a server → outputting a UI and executing a service. In particular, a function can be provided to recognize the real-time location using BLE signals inside the store and to search for nearby stores based on a network outside the store. Therefore, offline store services and online store search services are provided integrally within the same application. The user terminal device (110) also processes all data transmitted and received during the communication process with the store service management device (130) (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, store information, payment URL, etc.) into an encrypted data format, and store identification information and recent usage history are cached in the terminal's local memory for a certain period, so that service usage can continue even if the server connection is temporarily unstable. This cached data is automatically deleted with the user's consent or synchronized with the server to always maintain the latest store data. Ultimately, the user terminal device (110) according to the embodiment of the present invention can operate as a core interface device that implements a complete non-face-to-face ordering and payment environment by enabling the user to recognize the store and place an order and make a payment simply by running an app without any separate operation through linkage with the sensor device (100) and the store service management device (130). Through this, the store operator can minimize human intervention and realize service automation, and the user can be provided with a more convenient and rapid ordering experience.

[0072] The communication network (120) can be configured in various forms. The communication network (120) may include both wired and wireless communication networks. For example, a wired or wireless internet network may be used or interconnected as the communication network (120). Here, the wired network includes internet networks such as cable networks or public telephone networks (PSTN), and the wireless communication network includes CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, EPC (Evolved Packet Core), LTE (Long Term Evolution), WiBro networks, etc. Of course, the communication network (120) according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto and may be used as an access network for a next-generation mobile communication system to be implemented in the future, for example, a cloud computing network under a cloud computing environment, a 5G network, a 6G network, etc. For example, if the communication network (120) is a wired communication network, the access point within the communication network can be connected to the exchange office of a telephone company, etc., but if it is a wireless communication network, it can be connected to an SGSN or GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) operated by a telecommunications company to process data, or connected to various relay stations such as a BTS (Base Transceiver Station), NodeB, e-NodeB to process data.

[0073] The communication network (120) may include access points. Access points may include small base stations, such as femto or pico base stations, which are often installed within a building. Here, femto or pico base stations may be classified according to the maximum number of units that can be connected to the store device (100) or user terminal (110) of FIG. 1 in the classification of small base stations. Of course, the communication network (120) may include a short-range communication module for performing short-range communication such as Zigbee and Wi-Fi with the store device (100) or user terminal (110). The access points may use TCP / IP or RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) for wireless communication. Here, short-range communication may be performed using various standards other than Wi-Fi, such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, infrared (IrDA), RF (Radio Frequency) such as UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency), and ultra-wideband communication (UWB). Accordingly, the access point can extract the location of the data packet, designate the best communication path for the extracted location, and transmit the data packet along the designated communication path to the next device, such as a store service management device (130). The access point may share multiple lines in a general network environment and may include, for example, a router, a repeater, and a relay.

[0074] The store service management device (130) is a central control device that controls and manages store-specific services based on store identification information, connected via a communication network (120) to the sensor device (100) and user terminal device (110) installed within the store. The store service management device (130) can be implemented as a server or cloud-based network control system and can comprehensively manage service policies that are commonly applied to multiple stores. When the store service management device (130) receives store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) included in the beacon signal from the user terminal device (110), it can first determine whether the UUID is a unique UUID registered, for example, in the Doit Order service, which is a table order service. If the UUID does not match, the store service management device (130) can invalidate the request to prevent misrecognition of abnormal external signals or beacon signals from other stores. Of course, since the user terminal device (110) filters and transmits only the unique UUID of, for example, the Doit Order service, a separate determination process may be unnecessary. When the UUID matches or based on the received UUID, the store service management device (130) can search for a Major value to identify the data of the store to which the value is mapped and call the service data corresponding to that store.

[0075] The store service management device (130) can then analyze the Minor value to identify the area or table inside the store where the user is located. When the Minor value is set, the store service management device (130) uses it to transmit order and payment screen data corresponding to a specific table to the user terminal device (110), and when the Minor value is omitted, it provides general service data applicable to the entire store (e.g., full menu, store notice, promotion information, etc.).

[0076] The store service management device (130) can also verify the RSSI value of the received beacon signal to determine whether the user is actually inside the store. If the RSSI does not satisfy a predefined threshold (e.g., -65dBm or higher), the store service management device (130) can determine this as a signal outside the store and block the processing of the service request. This prevents the beacon signal of an adjacent store from being incorrectly recognized and allows for control so that accurate service is provided only within the store. Of course, since this operation may also be performed by selecting the beacon signal through an app of the user terminal device (110), the operation of the store service management device (130) in the embodiment of the present invention will not be specifically limited.

[0077] When the store identification procedure is completed, the store service management device (130) can provide service information corresponding to the store to the user terminal device (110) in real time. The service data transmitted at this time includes the store's menu information, price, order availability status, payment linkage URL, point accumulation or coupon information, etc., and the user terminal device (110) can receive this and immediately perform ordering and payment within the store. The store service management device (130) can manage the order status in real time by automatically transmitting the order information and payment results that occur thereafter to a store manager system or POS device for synchronization. Since the various store-specific services provided by the store service management device (130) will be explained later, they will be replaced by those details (e.g., see FIG. 6).

[0078] The store service management device (130) can centrally and integrally control sensor devices (100) installed in multiple stores. The manager can remotely update the store location, operating hours, menu configuration, UUID, and Major / Minor setting values ​​through the management console, and can also change the signal strength or identification code configuration transmitted by the sensor device (100) within the store in real time. Through this remote setting function, changes can be made immediately without interrupting the system, even when remodeling the store or changing the table layout.

[0079] The store service management device (130) can also monitor the operational status of each store and periodically collect key operational data such as order volume, payment success rate, and signal reception rate. If an abnormal signal pattern or connection error is detected in a specific sensor device (100), the store service management device (130) automatically sends a notification to the manager and, if necessary, can reset the settings of the device or adjust the beacon transmission parameters. This allows the availability and stability of the entire system to be continuously maintained.

[0080] A store service management device (130) having such a configuration receives beacon signal data transmitted from a sensor device (100) and automatically provides store-specific services through a user terminal device (110), thereby enabling an efficient table order environment without interference between stores. In addition, since service control, data management, payment integration, and security authentication are performed within a single integrated structure, the reliability and maintenance efficiency of the entire system are significantly improved.

[0081] Finally, the store service management device (130) may include a communication module (or communication unit), a data management module (or data management unit), a service control module (or service control unit), and a security / authentication module (or security / authentication unit). The communication module is responsible for transmitting and receiving data with the sensor device (100) and the user terminal device (110), and can convert store identification information collected based on BLE signals into a data structure within the server and transmit it. The data management module manages the UUID, Major, Minor, and RSSI threshold values ​​for each store and the store database, and can remotely update setting values ​​upon an administrator's request. The service control module can interpret the identification information received from the user terminal device (110) to generate a service screen corresponding to the store and control the order / payment logic. The security / authentication module performs SSL / TLS-based encrypted communication and authentication token verification to prevent tampering with external signals and can guarantee the security of the payment and login process.

[0082] As a result, the store service management device (130) can operate as a core control device for automatic recognition and order / payment services within the store by performing store identification, service provision, data management, and security control in an integrated manner based on beacon signals.

[0083] A third-party device (140) may refer to a device or server that is connected to a store service management device (130) via a network and supports external expansion of services such as external authentication, payment, point accumulation, marketing, and data linkage under the control of the store service management device (130). The third-party device (140) may be composed of, for example, a member authentication server, a Payment Gateway (PG) company payment server, a financial institution payment network, a point accumulation system, an SNS marketing platform, an external data analysis server, etc. The third-party device (140) performs various authentication or payment processing through a standardized API (Application Programming Interface) called from the store service management device (130) and can transmit the processing results back to the store service management device (130). Based on these results, the store service management device (130) can display the final service status in real time on the user terminal device (110).

[0084] A third-party device (140) can provide an authentication function to verify the user's identity and the right to use the store service. When a login request occurs when a user launches an app, the store service management device (130) transmits the request to the third-party device (140), and the third-party device (140) can verify the user's account information according to standard authentication protocols such as OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect. If authentication is successful, the third-party device (140) issues an authentication token (access token) and returns it to the store service management device (130), and the store service management device (130) can store the token to maintain the service usage session. Through this process, the store service management device (130) can block unauthenticated users or abnormal access in advance.

[0085] The third-party device (140) can be linked with a payment server of a PG company or a financial institution API to process the user's order and payment requests. When a payment request is input from the user terminal device (110), the store service management device (130) can send a payment request message to the third-party device (140) including information such as the payment amount, store code, and order number. Based on this, the third-party device (140) can respond to the store service management device (130) with a payment approval or rejection result by linking with a card company, a simple payment company, or a bank payment network. If payment is approved, the store service management device (130) can immediately reflect the transaction details in the store's order database and change the order status to "Payment Completed." Through this structure, the user can conveniently complete the payment using only a mobile terminal without a separate POS payment process within the store. Additionally, the third-party device (140) can provide a settlement function at the store unit or brand unit level. The store service management device (130) transmits payment details to a third-party device (140) at regular intervals, and the third-party device (140) can generate settlement data for each store based on this and automatically transfer the funds to a designated account or provide a settlement report to the administrator console.

[0086] The third-party device (140) is linked with an external point accumulation server or marketing platform to manage member point accumulation, coupon issuance, and usage history. When a user completes a payment, the store service management device (130) transmits transaction information to the third-party device (140), and the third-party device (140) calculates the accumulated points according to the point policy and reflects them in the member account. Additionally, if the user possesses a coupon, the store service management device (130) requests coupon verification from the third-party device (140), and the third-party device (140) determines the validity, remaining number of uses, and applicable stores of the coupon and returns the result. Through this, the user can use points and coupons together within the terminal, and the store service management device (130) can automatically adjust the payment amount or reflect the accumulation history.

[0087] The third-party device (140) can receive data such as order data, visit statistics, and service usage patterns from the store service management device (130) and utilize it for analysis and marketing. Based on the collected data, the third-party device (140) calculates sales analysis by store, usage time statistics, customer revisit rate, and popular menu rankings, and provides this to the store service management device (130) so that the store manager can check it in real time. In addition, the third-party device (140) can automatically perform target marketing functions such as push notifications, discount events, and customized recommendation advertisements by utilizing the analysis results.

[0088] The third-party device (140) maintains an SSL / TLS-based encryption channel during the data transmission and reception process with the store service management device (130) and can transmit all authentication and payment-related data in an encrypted manner. Additionally, it can prevent packet tampering and retransmission attacks by assigning a sequence number or signature value to each request. The store service management device (130) verifies the integrity of the response received from the third-party device (140) and can automatically block the connection with the server if an abnormal signal is detected. Through this structure, the security of payment and authentication information can be ensured even in a beacon signal-based store service environment.

[0089] Ultimately, the third-party device (140) according to the embodiment of the present invention can support the performance of authentication, payment, marketing, data analysis, etc., for the entire store service within a single integrated structure by extending the functions of the store service management device (130) to an external service area. Accordingly, the store service management device (130) can implement an expandable beacon-based service ecosystem that links with external systems through the third-party device (140), in addition to internal store services centered on the sensor device (100) and the user terminal device (110).

[0090] Meanwhile, a store service management system (90) according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a store boundary recognition function that automatically determines whether a user's location is inside or outside the store by using a signal strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) value periodically received from a beacon sensor installed in the store. Generally, since the signal strength in the space outside the store changes unstably due to the influence of walls, glass, metal structures, etc., in the embodiment of the present invention, not only the absolute value of the RSSI but also the rate of change per unit time (dRSSI / dt) is analyzed together to more accurately determine the situation in which a user moves from inside the store to the outside or enters from the outside. Accordingly, the store service management system (90) according to the embodiment of the present invention can provide an intelligent service switching logic that automatically determines the inside / outside boundary of the store using a signal change pattern, without relying simply on signal attenuation or shielding structures.

[0091] Generally, the external space of a store exhibits characteristics where the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is inconsistent and fluctuates significantly instantaneously due to the reflection or refraction of radio waves caused by the influence of building walls, glass partitions, metal frames, signage structures, etc. On the other hand, the interior of a store has relatively limited reflection and shielding elements, so the RSSI value tends to remain relatively stable unless the user's location moves significantly. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the inside / outside of the store is not determined based solely on the absolute value of the RSSI, but the user's movement state is determined by considering the amount of change in RSSI over a unit of time (dRSSI / dt) together. For example, if the RSSI value is maintained above a specific threshold (TH_in) and the range of change is below a certain level (ΔTH_low), the system determines that the user is stably located inside the store. Conversely, even if the RSSI value approaches the threshold, if the range of change is large in a short period of time (dRSSI / dt ≥ ΔTH_high) and shows a continuous irregular pattern, the system may determine that the user is outside the store or is in the process of entering or leaving the store. In other words, the technical essence according to the embodiment of the present invention can be seen as "precisely determining the boundary inside and outside a store by utilizing not only the signal strength but also the signal change pattern." This method provides high determination accuracy even in indoor environments where GPS and Wi-Fi location-based information is unstable, and can effectively prevent incorrect store selection or service malfunctions even when a specific store and an adjacent store are in close proximity.

[0092] In addition, another embodiment of the present invention may include a spatial partitioning-based proximity beacon selection algorithm for automatically recognizing a user's location or table area in an environment where multiple beacon sensors are installed within a single store. The user terminal device (110) preferentially selects the beacon having the highest RSSI value among multiple beacon signals radiated into the store, and, if necessary, compares the top N sets of RSSI candidate signals to automatically determine the final table-unit or seat-unit zone where the user is located. Accordingly, even if the store has a large structure or a complex seating arrangement, the user can immediately receive a menu and payment screen corresponding to their location simply by launching the app, without the need for a separate QR code scan or table number input.

[0093] In addition, the user terminal device (110) according to an embodiment of the present invention can determine the user's current location by periodically measuring the signal strength (RSSI) values ​​received from each of the plurality of beacon sensors installed in the store and prioritizing the selection of the beacon signal having the highest RSSI value among them. Generally, since the user receives the highest RSSI value from the beacon sensor closest to the table or seat where they are located, the embodiment of the present invention prioritizes the selection of the beacon with the maximum RSSI value to automatically identify the specific zone within the store where the user is located. Additionally, since the RSSI value of a specific beacon may be temporarily distorted due to changes in the store structure, movement of people, reflective environment, placement of obstacles, etc., the embodiment of the present invention may not immediately determine the location based on a single RSSI value, but may apply a method of accumulating and comparing the top N RSSI candidate sets (RSSI_top-N) over a certain time interval. For example, the system may apply a weighted moving average or a median filter to the RSSI time series data measured over a certain time interval Δt to process the data so as not to be affected by temporary distortion of the signal. Through this, the user terminal device (110) improves the stability and reliability of zone selection within the store and can perform accurate zone determination even in environments where multiple seats are adjacent or where people are densely packed. Furthermore, the store service management device (130) automatically maps the user's location zone information with the table ID, seat number, or zone-specific service information stored in the store database (DB), so that the user can immediately display menus, payment options, coupons, membership benefits, and other store-customized service screens available in the corresponding zone without the need to select a separate table number or scan a QR code.Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide a high-precision zone selection algorithm that enables the provision of micro-location unit services within a store, going beyond simple proximity detection technology based on beacon signals.

[0094] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the output power (Tx Power) of a beacon sensor in a store is automatically adjusted according to the store's indoor structure, floor height, reflective material (e.g., glass, metal, concrete), and human activity density. The store service management device (130) can perform an adaptive output control algorithm that increases or decreases the output power of the beacon by reflecting the results of a statistical analysis of RSSI data collected from a user's terminal, based on a basic output value set by the store operator. This suppresses the phenomenon of the beacon signal spreading excessively outside the store, while ensuring signal reception stability inside the store.

[0095] In an embodiment of the present invention, a user terminal device (110) can determine the user's location by preferentially selecting the beacon signal with the highest RSSI value among a plurality of beacon signals received within the store. Generally, since the user receives the highest signal strength from the beacon sensor closest to the table or seat where they are actually located, stable location determination is possible without complex calculations. In addition, in specific environments where signal changes may occur due to the large size of the store, a reflective environment, or a high density of people, precision can be selectively improved as needed by comparing the rate of change of the RSSI value (dRSSI / dt) or the top N candidate signal sets. However, such high-precision calculations can be applied restrictively only when the store environment is special or required, and in most general store operations, sufficient service quality can be provided with location determination based on a simple RSSI maximum value. Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention can provide a flexible processing structure that (1) minimizes system load by using a lightweight algorithm with low computational load, while (2) additionally applies an analysis method with improved precision when necessary.

[0096] In addition, an embodiment of the present invention may provide a 3-mode UI service structure in which the service screen of a user terminal device (110) is automatically switched according to the user's location status. (1) In the Store Mode, if a signal satisfying the condition (RSSI ≥ TH1) is received inside the store, the store menu or service screen is provided immediately. (2) In the Near-Store Mode, if, for example, a UUID is detected but the RSSI is lower than the threshold value, only a store guide or visit guidance screen is provided. (3) In the Outside Mode, if a UUID is not detected or is determined to be an irregular signal, a general home screen is provided. Since this service switching logic operates solely on RF signal characteristics without relying on location information (GPS), it has high accuracy and stability even in an indoor environment.

[0097] Therefore, unlike existing technologies that limit signal diffusion solely through directional design based on the housing structure, the embodiments of the present invention are significantly differentiated in that they complete the definition of store inside / outside boundaries and user location-based services in software by combining a signal pattern analysis algorithm, multi-beacon-based location segmentation, adaptive control of beacon output, and automatic UI state switching logic. In particular, since the configuration according to the embodiments of the present invention cannot be avoided by changing the housing structure, modifying the beacon antenna pattern, or arbitrarily setting the output strength, it can provide substantial technical exclusivity and market monopoly effects.

[0098] In addition to the above, details regarding the sensor device (100), user terminal device (110), communication network (120), store service management device (130), and third-party device (140) of FIG. 1 will continue to be covered later, so the details will be replaced by those details.

[0099] FIGS. 2a and 2b are drawings illustrating the sensor device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating another example of the sensor device of FIG. 1.

[0100] For convenience of explanation, referring to FIGS. 2a to 3 together with FIG. 1, the sensor device (100) of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a bracket part (200) fixed to a wall or ceiling of a store, etc., and a housing (part) (210) configured (or connected) to one end of the bracket (part) (200) and accommodating, for example, a main body (part) (190) of a beacon sensor. Here, the main body (190) may be a case that includes a beacon sensor inside and forms the outer surface. It is also possible to use a product of a form available on the market. A case of a commercial product may include a first (flat) surface attached to the receiving part (211) of the housing and a second (flat) surface on the opposite side of the first (flat) surface. Here, the (flat) surface may represent a flat (or horizontal) surface.

[0101] The bracket (200) serves as a support member for stably fixing the sensor device (100) to the ceiling or upper structure of a store, and performs the role of supporting the beacon sensor to maintain a designated downward radiation angle. The bracket (200) is combined with the housing part (210) and operates as a single unit, and is configured to allow the installation height or angle to be adjusted according to the store environment. The bracket (200) may be formed from materials such as, for example, a metal pipe, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or heat-resistant reinforced resin, and consists of a shaft pipe of a certain length and a fixing flange for fixing it to the ceiling. The fixing flange is fastened to the structural surface of the ceiling to fix the bracket (200), and the lower end of the bracket (200) may be connected to the upper end of the housing part (210) via screw connection, snap-fit, or a protrusion-groove structure.

[0102] The bracket (200) may have a height adjustment function so that the beacon signal can reach the floor surface with optimal strength depending on the ceiling height or table arrangement of each store. For example, the bracket (200) may be configured in the form of a multi-stage slide pipe or a screw-type extension rod, allowing it to be extended or retracted to a height desired by the manager. This allows for adjustment so that the signal's reach is not excessively wide or interferes with adjacent tables. Of course, it is also possible to configure it to operate using a fully automatic rail system.

[0103] A cable duct capable of inserting a power supply line or a data transmission line may be provided inside the bracket (200). This is to allow for stable power supply to the beacon module or to include a signal monitoring line for maintenance. In this case, a shielding coating layer may be applied to the inner wall of the cable duct to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI). Of course, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the beacon module uses a (small) battery, a separate power supply line may not be necessary.

[0104] Additionally, an anti-rotation structure for controlling the rotation direction of the housing part (210) may be formed on the outer surface of the bracket (200). This structure prevents the housing (210) from rotating arbitrarily due to external shock or vibration by forming a polygonal cross-section or a key-groove structure at the joint between the bracket (200) and the housing (210). Through this, the radiation direction (θ) of the beacon signal is maintained constant, thereby ensuring stability so that the signal is transmitted only to a specific area within the store.

[0105] In one embodiment, the bracket (200) may additionally include a tilt adjustment function at the joint with the housing (210). For example, a rotatable joint (e.g., a ball joint) may be provided at the bottom of the bracket (200) to allow for fine adjustment of the inclination angle of the housing (210) within a range of ±5° to 10°. This structure is useful for adjusting the radiating axis of the beacon to always point toward the center of the store when the height of the store ceiling or the lighting structure is not uniform.

[0106] The exterior of the bracket (200) can be painted to harmonize with the interior of the store, or various surface treatments such as metal brushing and matte coating can be applied. In addition, depending on the indoor lighting or color temperature conditions, it can be implemented in various colors such as white, black, and silver, and in particular, a black coating has the effect of minimizing reflection interference inside the housing.

[0107] In summary, the bracket (200) supports the entire structural load of the sensor device (100), adjusts the height and angle according to the installation environment, and stably operates the beacon module by embedding power and communication lines, and performs the function of precisely maintaining the spot communication range within the store by maintaining the radiation angle and preventing rotation. Through this configuration, the bracket (200) can provide a core structural foundation for a table order system such as the Doit Order service by ensuring the directionality and stability of the beacon signal while responding to the ceiling installation environment within the store.

[0108] The housing (part) (210) is a main body part that is coupled to the lower part of the bracket (200) and accommodates a beacon sensor module, and can form a directional radiation structure so that the beacon signal is radiated only to a specific spatial area within the store. The housing (210) is designed to block the beacon signal from unnecessarily spreading toward adjacent stores or passageways, and to radiate it only to effective service areas such as tables or counters inside the store. It can be seen as being designed to satisfy preset conditions considering signal characteristics. That is, the housing (210) according to the embodiment of the present invention forms a structured waveguide structure for artificially limiting and controlling the beam pattern.

[0109] For example, the housing (210) is formed in a cup-shaped (conical or frusto-conical) structure with the top (or one side, one direction) closed and the bottom (or the other side, the other direction) open, and the inner wall may be formed as a surface wall inclined to have a constant angle of inclination (θ) with respect to the store floor. The top of the housing (210) is fastened to the bottom of the bracket (200) by screw connection, snap connection, or sleeve structure, and a beacon module may be inserted and installed inside. The material of the housing (210) may be made of a metallic composite material with stable electromagnetic wave reflection properties (e.g., aluminum alloy, anodized aluminum, conductive ABS, or carbon-based conductive resin, etc.), and signal reflection and multipath may be minimized by applying an anti-glare finish to the surface.

[0110] The side wall of the housing (210) is a key structure that ensures that radio waves are radiated only downwards, and the side wall angle (a) is defined as an angle of inclination relative to the floor surface and can generally be formed in the range of 30° to 75°. This is a range that allows the effective radiation angle (beam spread angle) of the beacon signal to be limited to approximately 70° to 90° when the store ceiling height (Hceiling) is approximately 2.8 to 3.2 m experimentally. If the side wall angle is less than 30°, the reflection angle of the signal increases, so it may be reflected to the wall surface or leaked to an adjacent store before reaching the floor surface. Conversely, if it exceeds 75°, the radiation pattern becomes excessively concentrated, causing coverage imbalance between tables; therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, a combination of 45° and 60° models is used as experimentally optimal values ​​and can be selectively applied depending on the store environment. The inner wall surface of the housing (210) is formed as a curved surface rather than a simple flat surface, and is designed to control the reflection path of electromagnetic waves radiated from the beacon module. In particular, the lower part of the inner wall serves as a diffusion control zone, which can form a flat electric field distribution on the floor surface by gradually reducing the reflection angle of the radio waves. Through this structure, uniform signal strength can be maintained at both the center of the store and the surrounding tables.

[0111] The vertical height of the side wall (Hwall) of the housing (210) is determined according to the size of the beacon module (e.g., the size of a commercial product including a case) and radiation characteristics. The Hwall is defined as the vertical distance from the top of the housing (210) to the lower opening (213), and in an embodiment of the present invention, it is generally set to a range of 1.2 to 2.0 times the height of the beacon module (or the main body (190) containing the beacon module). If it deviates from this range, the following problems occur. If the Hwall is excessively low, the housing may not provide sufficient shielding effect, and signal diffusion and interference may occur. If the Hwall is excessively high, multiple reflections may occur internally, resulting in uneven signal strength and the formation of dead zones in some areas. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the optimal value for the Hwall is approximately 1.5 times the beacon diameter, i.e., a range of approximately 60 to 80 mm. This is the distance between the antenna radiation center of a beacon module (e.g., Beacon E7, etc.) and the boundary of the housing opening, which is the minimum structural height at which the first reflected wave and the direct wave of the radio wave can be combined without interference.

[0112] An RF shielding coating layer may be formed on the inner wall surface of the housing (210). Since the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to RF signals, it may be preferable to name it a signal shielding coating layer. This coating layer may be composed of a metal plating layer such as aluminum, copper, or silver, or a composite material such as a conductive polymer, carbon black, or ferrite paste, and can control internal reflectivity and prevent external leakage. In particular, in some embodiments, an (RF) absorbing layer may be further laminated on the outer edge of the (RF) shielding layer. The absorbing layer is made of a nickel-manganese composite oxide or a ferrite-based composite material and can serve to reduce phase interference of reflected waves by absorbing multiple reflected signals inside the housing. This can significantly reduce signal interference between tables in the store or the fluctuation range of RSSI values.

[0113] A receiving portion (211) for inserting and fixing a beacon module is provided inside the housing (210), and the upper surface of the beacon module (or a horizontal side surface of the main body on which the beacon module is mounted) is positioned at a depth of 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less from the end of the lower opening portion (210a) of the housing, i.e., the opening (213). This depth is a key parameter for controlling the focal pattern of reflected waves generated inside the housing. If it is less than 3 mm, the radiation surface is too close to the housing boundary, causing signal distortion, and if it exceeds 10 mm, the radiation angle becomes excessively narrow, reducing the coverage area. Therefore, by maintaining the above depth range, the radiation center of the beacon module is positioned in the focal zone of the housing opening (213), so that the direct wave and reflected wave of the radio wave are combined in optimal phase to form the maximum electric field strength in the downward center direction.

[0114] The receiving portion (211) includes an insertable structure in which the inner dimensions, step shape, and support structure are precisely formed so that the main body (190) of the beacon module is accurately seated at a predetermined depth (d) and reference position inside the housing. Since the setting of the depth (d) is a key element in determining the spatial distribution of the effective signal radiation angle (θ_eff) and radiation pattern formed by the combination of the inner wall slope (angle θ) of the housing and the diameter of the lower opening cross-section, the shape, dimensions, depth (d), and position reference of the receiving portion (211) constitute essential structural components for stably securing a directional signal radiation pattern in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0115] In particular, the receiving portion (211) according to the embodiment of the present invention is formed to include inner dimensions, a stepped shape, and a support surface so that the beacon module is accurately seated at a predetermined reference position and depth (d) inside the housing, thereby stably fixing the beacon module without any rotation or shaking. The receiving portion (2110) may further include a support structure (212), such as an internal locking groove or an elastic support, for fixing the beacon sensor, so that the beacon sensor maintains an aligned state inside the housing. A structure that simply supports the beacon module using double-sided tape, adhesive, magnetic attachment, or a hanging method does not maintain a spatial relationship between the radiation reference plane of the beacon module and the inclination structure of the inner wall of the housing, and thus the principle of stable formation of the directional signal radiation pattern (θ_eff) achieved in the embodiment of the present invention is not realized. Accordingly, the geometric shape of the receiving portion (211) is determined by interconnected design variables between the inclination angle (θ) of the inner wall of the housing, the opening diameter of the lower opening, and the position of the radiation reference plane of the beacon module. This provides structural independence that enables the implementation of a directional radiation effect solely through the housing mechanism structure, regardless of whether the type, external size, antenna pattern structure, transmission output (RSSI), etc. of the beacon module are changed. That is, the receiving portion (211) according to the embodiment of the present invention maintains the same directional radiation characteristics even if the beacon module changes, thereby having a structural advantage in that the technical effect according to the embodiment of the present invention cannot be avoided through changes to the beacon module itself (e.g., change in antenna embedding location, change in PCB pattern, change in transmission output, etc.). Meanwhile, FIG. 2a merely illustrates one embodiment of the structure of such a receiving portion (211), and the cross-sectional shape, depth (d), and support structure of the receiving portion (211) can be varied depending on the size, shape, and placement conditions of commercially available beacon modules, and the overall shape of the housing can also be varied into various shapes such as a circle, a square, or a polygon, so the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a specific shape or size.

[0116] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a replaceable aperture tuning ring (300) may be attached to the lower opening of the housing (210). This ring is composed of multiple sets with different inner diameters, allowing the manager to change the aperture diameter according to the store size or ceiling height. When the inner diameter of the aperture tuning ring (300) is reduced, the radiation pattern narrows, increasing signal concentration, and conversely, when the inner diameter is increased, the coverage is widened. Therefore, even when using the same beacon module, directional custom settings suitable for the store environment can be configured through aperture tuning of the housing. A circular groove may be formed on the inner wall of the opening, and a ring may be inserted into the groove. Of course, it is entirely possible to insert not only a circular ring but also a C-shaped ring (or a half-ring) into the groove. When two C-shaped rings are used, a circular shape can be formed, and accordingly, the coverage may differ when one C-shaped ring is used versus when two C-shaped rings are used.

[0117] In order to finely adjust the opening width and effective radiation angle at the lower opening of the housing part (210), a C-shaped partial opening adjustment ring (hereinafter referred to as "partial opening ring") with one side partially open can be detachably coupled to a guide groove on the inner wall. Unlike a complete circular ring, the partial opening ring has a C-shaped form with a part of the ring open, so it only partially reduces the opening cross-section of the lower opening, thereby allowing concentrated radiation to be maintained into a specific space inside the store without excessively concentrating the directionality of the signal. That is, the partial opening ring maintains the beam width of the signal appropriately within a specified range, thereby preventing the signal from spreading too widely or concentrating too narrowly. In addition, since the partial opening ring is formed in a C-shape, it can be easily inserted into and removed from a guide groove provided on the inner wall of the lower opening of the housing part (210). This improves upon the fact that a circular complete closing ring is difficult to remove because it is strongly engaged with the inner wall of the housing. In other words, the C-shape allows for lateral elastic deformation, enabling assembly by slightly spreading it laterally and engaging it with a guide groove, making maintenance and replacement easy. Furthermore, adjusting the opening width using a semi-open ring ensures a signal strength pattern that can be reliably recognized even with minute positional changes within the customer's indoor space, significantly reducing the possibility of app recognition failure or service interruption due to attenuation caused by excessive directivity. Additionally, the semi-open ring-based structure is easy to implement in both 3D printing and injection mold manufacturing, and managing inner wall tolerances is relatively simple, making it advantageous for ensuring quality stability and production efficiency during mass production.

[0118] The actual spread range of the beacon signal radiated within the housing (210) is determined by the basic radiation angle (θo) of the beacon module and the structural parameters of the housing (e.g., sidewall angle a, vertical height Hwall, lower opening diameter D). At this time, the first and second reflected waves reflected inside the housing cause phase interference with the direct wave, and as a result, the effective beam radiation angle (θeff) can be defined by the following approximation.

[0119]

[0120] Here, D is the lower opening diameter of the housing, Hwall is the vertical height of the housing, and k(a) is a reflection correction factor (0.6~0.9) according to the sidewall angle (a). That is, the gentler the sidewall (k is close to 0.9), the greater the leakage of reflected waves, and the steeper the sidewall (k is 0.6 or less), the more concentrated the radiation pattern becomes.

[0121] Experimental results confirmed that when the sidewall angle a = 30°, θeff is formed in the range of approximately 80 to 90°, when the sidewall angle a = 45°, θeff is formed in the range of approximately 65 to 75°, and when the sidewall angle a = 60°, θeff is formed in the range of approximately 50 to 60°.

[0122] That is, by adjusting the side wall angle (a) of the housing, the effective beam radiation angle can be controlled within a range of approximately ±20°, thereby allowing for the setting of optimal radio wave coverage according to the store size or ceiling height. In particular, the housing (210) according to an embodiment of the present invention is further equipped with a replaceable pi adjustment ring (300) in the lower opening, so that θeff can be precisely adjusted by changing D in real time. For example, even in the same housing, if the inner diameter of the ring is reduced from 60mm to 50mm, θeff is reduced by approximately 10° to 15°, thereby improving signal concentration and significantly reducing the possibility of interference between adjacent tables.

[0123] As a result, embodiments of the present invention can freely set the effective radiation range of a beacon signal between 50° and 90° by optimally combining structural variables of the housing (e.g., a, Hwall, D), which can enable a precision directional control type store spot communication structure that conventional beacons could not provide.

[0124] The structure of the housing (210) as described above prevents unnecessary external signal leakage, minimizes internal reflected wave interference, and secures downward directionality of the signal, thereby enabling the provision of services by clearly distinguishing specific areas (e.g., table units) within the store. Consequently, the housing structure according to the embodiment of the present invention solves all problems of non-directional signal diffusion, interference between adjacent stores, and RSSI instability associated with existing beacons, and enables stable spot communication only within the store.

[0125] Meanwhile, the housing part (210) presented in the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated cup-shaped or circular cross-sectional structure, but can be implemented in various shapes depending on the store environment, interior design elements, ceiling structure to be installed, or signal reflection characteristics. Specifically, the housing part (210) can be formed in a shape having not only a circular cross-section but also a square, rectangular, polygonal (e.g., pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc.), elliptical, or non-rotationally symmetrical shape, and, if necessary, the outer shape and the inner wall shape can be configured with different geometric structures. Even if the external shape is changed in this way, the technical essence of the present invention, which is that the inner wall of the housing part (210) is formed to have a preset angle of inclination toward the floor surface of the store, and that the signal radiation pattern is determined by combining the relative depth (H_depth) and the opening diameter (Φ) between the radiation center point of the beacon sensor and the lower opening end of the housing part, is not changed. In other words, the essence of the present invention is not the external shape of the housing itself, but rather the geometric relationship for controlling the radiation pattern through the reflection, absorption, and refraction of the signal occurring inside the housing part.

[0126] In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, considering factors such as the speed of service commercialization, the housing portion (210) may be configured so that a commercially available beacon sensor can be inserted directly into the receiving portion (211) for use, but it is not limited to such a configuration. That is, regardless of whether the antenna structure of the beacon sensor is implemented in any form such as a dipole antenna, chip antenna, planar patch antenna, printed antenna (e.g., PCB trace antenna), or ceramic antenna, the effective radiation pattern (θ_eff) of the signal can be limited to a specific spatial area in the same way according to the combination of the inner wall slope structure and the opening shape of the housing portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. This is because the embodiment of the present invention does not form the signal directivity by relying on the inherent radiation pattern of the antenna, but rather forms it by utilizing the geometric arrangement between the inner wall of the housing and the transmission center point and the characteristics of the inner wall material. Therefore, competitors cannot reproduce the radiation pattern control effect according to the embodiment of the present invention by merely changing the antenna pattern inside the beacon sensor, adjusting the output power (Tx Power) of the beacon upward or downward, or simply attaching a signal attenuation material; this implies that the technical concept of the present invention is implemented at a structural level. In other words, unlike filtering technology based on simple signal strength attenuation, the embodiment of the present invention implements a directional communication environment that structurally blocks signal diffusion toward the outside of the store or toward adjacent stores, while concentrating the signal toward designated tables or seating areas inside the store.

[0127] Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention are scalable not only to the external shape of the housing but also to the internal surface treatment. Specifically, the inner wall of the housing may be formed with a signal shielding coating layer containing aluminum, copper, silver, or a metal-resin composite powder, and, if necessary, a signal absorption layer based on carbon, ferrite, a conductive polymer, or a nickel-manganese composite oxide may be additionally laminated. By adjusting the reflection and absorption coefficients of the inner wall surface, detailed performance adjustments such as minimizing diffuse reflection of the signal, concentrating it in a specific direction, homogenizing the radiation pattern, and reducing interference caused by the surrounding environment are possible. This implies that it is not merely a design change that alters the external shape, but a technical design for surface wave shaping to form a radiation pattern.

[0128] Furthermore, the sensor device (100) according to the embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in an externally exposed installation method using a bracket (200) as shown in FIGS. 2a to 3, as well as in a recessed or integrated installation method that is embedded inside the ceiling finishing material or directly attached to the interior ceiling frame. That is, the core configuration of the sensor device (100) is to secure directional radiation characteristics through the inner wall slope structure of the housing part (210) and the beacon receiving part (211), and since the method of fixing the sensor device (100) within the store is merely a selection of a simple attachment method, it is not included in the essential components according to the embodiment of the invention.

[0129] Accordingly, the housing part (210) according to the embodiment of the present invention is a structural platform capable of realizing an optimal signal radiation pattern by combining various design variables such as external shape, material, surface coating, internal shape, beacon installation depth, opening diameter, and installation height, and this can be seen as a unique configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention that cannot be replaced by replacing the beacon product itself, changing the antenna design, or adjusting the output value.

[0130] In addition, the directional signal radiation structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to being implemented only by the shape of the housing part (210). For example, if the outer case of the beacon module is formed in a shape having an upper dome, a lens shape (e.g., a lens including a pattern for radio wave refraction), a tapered shape, or a curved surface, the outer case can perform a function substantially identical to the inner wall slope structure of the housing part (210), that is, to guide the radiation reference plane of the beacon module toward the store floor and suppress signal diffusion toward the upper and side to form a directional signal radiation pattern (θ_eff). In such a case, the outer case of the beacon module may be considered to constitute part or all of the housing part (210), and the housing part (210) in the embodiment of the present invention should be interpreted as a concept including such an integrated outer case structure. That is, since the directional radiation pattern is determined by geometric relationships based on (1) the position of the beacon radiation reference plane, (2) the curvature or slope of the inner side of the case / housing, (3) the effective diameter of the lower opening, and (4) the depth (d) of the receiving portion (211), the directional radiation effect according to the technical concept of the present invention can be realized in the same way even if the outer case is changed to a lens shape or a dome shape.

[0131] Meanwhile, the aperture control ring (e.g., half-open ring) exemplified in FIG. 3 corresponds to an embodiment for fine-tuning a directional radiation pattern by adjusting the diameter of the lower aperture of the housing part (210). However, such aperture diameter control can be implemented not only by adding a ring on the outside of the housing part, but also by configuring the outer case of the beacon module itself into a lens-shaped, dome-shaped, or tapered shape to induce refraction, reflection, or convergence of the signal. That is, the lens-shaped upper case is a structure functionally equivalent to the aperture control ring and can achieve the same technical purpose and effect. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention include various interchangeable structural implementation forms such as a cup-shaped housing structure, an aperture control ring (or half-open ring) structure, and a lens-shaped or dome-shaped outer case structure, all of which belong to the same technical concept of sharing the principle of forming a directional radiation pattern as described above.

[0132] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a store service process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0133] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a sensor device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed on the ceiling or upper structure within various stores such as restaurants, cafes, indoor golf courses, beauty salons, and academies, and stores unique identification information of the store and periodically transmits it to the store or a designated space area (S400, S410). At this time, the identification information may be composed of a combination of UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc., and each piece of information may include a unique service identification value of the store, a regional code, area information in the form of a table or zone. The sensor device (100) emits a beacon signal at a set transmission cycle (e.g., 100ms to 1000ms), and the signal is restricted to reach only within a designated space by the structure of the housing.

[0134] Next, the user terminal device (110) receives a beacon signal emitted from the sensor device (100) and selects and acquires unique identification information when the application for store services is executed (S420). At this time, the user terminal device (110) may preferentially select the information of the beacon corresponding to the store UUID that has the strongest signal strength (RSSI) among the multiple beacons detected in the vicinity, or a beacon that corresponds to a pre-registered store UUID. Therefore, even if beacon interference occurs between adjacent stores, the user terminal device (110) can recognize only the nearest beacon to enable accurate store identification. More precisely, the user terminal device (110) can be seen as automatically ignoring external signals by selecting the beacon signal and, among those beacon signals, selecting the UUID of the designated service. If multiple beacon sensors are installed within the store and the UUID of the same service is received, the signal of the UUID with the strongest signal strength may be utilized.

[0135] Afterward, the user terminal device (110) transmits the acquired unique identification information to the store service management device (130) (S430). The store service management device (130) identifies the store where the user is located based on the received identification information and provides services such as the menu, payment, points accumulation, and waiting status of the store to the user terminal device (110) (S440). In this process, the store service management device (130) is linked with a database inside the server to automatically load content for each store, and if an authentication or payment process is required, it can perform processing by linking with a third-party device (e.g., authentication server, PG company payment server).

[0136] Finally, the user terminal device (110) can display UI related to store services, such as the order screen, point screen, or waiting status of the store, based on data transmitted from the store service management device (130) (S450). In this way, the user can automatically use the services of the visited store simply by running the application, without a separate QR code scanning or store selection procedure.

[0137] Consequently, the store service method according to the embodiment of the present invention has technical effects in that it uses beacon-based unique identification information to restrict the emission of signals only to specific areas within the store, enables the user terminal device (110) to accurately recognize the store without interference between adjacent stores, and provides real-time customized store services based on this.

[0138] To examine this more specifically, the sensor device (100) stores identification information (UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) uniquely assigned to each store in advance (S400). For example, to store identification information, the sensor device (100) may perform an operation to designate and store identification information in the memory of the sensor device (100) through connection information such as a tablet PC, remote device, or smartphone. At this time, the UUID is identification information for a service managed by the store service management device (130) and is used as a code to commonly identify stores within the same brand or the same platform. The Major value represents the region to which the store belongs or a unique number for each store, and the Minor value can be set as identification information for distinguishing detailed location information, such as individual tables or seat units within the store. Additionally, the RSSI value is set to improve near-field recognition accuracy based on signal strength, thereby minimizing leakage to the outside of the store when the sensor device (100) emits a signal and enabling spot communication limited to the inside of the store.

[0139] The sensor device (100) stores unique identification information for providing store services in internal memory or firmware. This unique identification information may include a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) for distinguishing a service provider or service type (e.g., Doit Order, Starbucks, etc.) or a store, a Major value representing a store group or region, a Minor value for identifying a zone, table, location, etc. within the same store, and an RSSI setting value for adjusting the transmission strength of a beacon.

[0140] The sensor device (100) may be assigned an initial UUID at the time of shipment and may be configured to remotely update new UUID, Major, and Minor values ​​through a connection with a management application or a store service management device (130). For example, at the beginning of the store opening, a UUID-Major-Minor table generated by a management server may be downloaded and automatically assigned to each sensor device (100), and after installation is complete, it may be manually calibrated and registered via a mobile settings app through BLE communication.

[0141] Additionally, each sensor device (100) stores unique identification information in the form of a configuration file in internal flash, and may use EEPROM or non-volatile memory so that the information is maintained even after a power outage or reboot. When necessary, the administrator can directly change the identification value, transmission strength (RSSI), and transmission interval of the beacon device by executing a BLE-based configuration mode (e.g., Configuration Mode), and the values ​​set at this time are saved back into internal memory and immediately reflected in the service environment. Here, "mode" refers to a method or form indicating a method of operation or state, an operating method in which a machine, device, software, etc., selectively performs depending on the situation, or a state in which the same system selects one of several functions to operate, and can be seen as referring to a specific state among the various operating states that a single system may have.

[0142] In this way, the sensor device (100) possesses different identification information for each store and area, and each beacon can support a location recognition service that is subdivided not only by store unit but also by table unit by having different Major and Minor combinations within the same UUID. For example, the UUID can be set as a global identification value that identifies the entire Doit Order service, the Major can be configured to represent a store unit (e.g., Seoul Gangnam branch, Gyeonggi Bundang branch, etc.), and the Minor can be configured to represent a table or zone within the store (e.g., Table A1, Zone B2, etc.). Of course, if there is no need to distinguish tables, etc. within the same store, it is entirely possible to use only the UUID and Major information. If the Major information is set as regional information, it is entirely possible for the Minor information to be set as store information within that area.

[0143] In this way, the unique identification information stored in the sensor device (100) may be managed as a fixed value for each store, or may be set to be updated remotely under the control of the store service management device (130). For example, when a store is remodeled or seats are rearranged, the latest seat mapping information is transmitted from the server, and the sensor device (100) may automatically receive a new Minor value based on the received mapping table.

[0144] Ultimately, through this unique identification information storage mechanism, each sensor device can clearly distinguish stores based on unique UUIDs, enable granular spatial identification through a Major / Minor structure, and improve the accuracy of indoor location recognition by adjusting RSSI and transmission cycles.

[0145] The sensor device (100) transmits stored unique identification information at regular intervals or according to trigger events (e.g., power application, maintenance signal, network synchronization signal, etc.) (S410). Transmission is performed using low-power short-range wireless communication (BLE, Bluetooth Low Energy) and is reliably transmitted only within the directional radiation area formed by the housing (210) structure of the sensor device (100). Accordingly, the sensor device (100) installed on the ceiling of the store can prevent customers outside the store from misidentifying it by ensuring that the signal reaches only tables inside the store or designated areas.

[0146] The user terminal device (110) can receive identification information radiated from surrounding sensor devices (100) through a BLE receiving module when the user automatically runs the store visit or when the user manually runs the store service application (S420). At this time, the application can select and acquire only the signals among the signals detected by multiple sensor devices where the RSSI strength is greater than or equal to a reference value, that is, signals where it is determined that the user terminal is actually inside the store. Through this, interference of identification information between nearby stores is prevented, and accurate store location and service connection corresponding to the store are made possible. In the embodiment of the present invention, more precisely, information other than the designated UUID information can be filtered through UUID information. Although various types of beacon signals may be received from the outside, only identification information within the store can be selected through this UUID information. That is, the user terminal device (110) determines only whether the designated UUID information is received. Through the UUID information, various types of beacon signals flowing into the store where the user is currently located are filtered, but for example, the sensor device (100) may not receive the same UUID information through its housing structure. However, in the case where multiple sensor devices (100) are used in a single store, it is possible to process multiple UUID information as an exception.

[0147] One or more sensor devices (100) may be installed depending on the size of the store. In the case of a small store, a single beacon sensor may cover the entire space of the store, but in the case of a large store or a store divided into multiple sections, multiple sensor devices (100) are placed on the ceiling for each section. At this time, all sensor devices (100) use the same DoitOrder dedicated UUID in common, and different Major / Minor combinations are assigned to each store unit or zone unit. For example, within the same UUID, the Major is set to distinguish the store, and the Minor is set to distinguish the tables or sections within the store. Therefore, even if multiple beacon sensors share the same UUID, the location of each sensor can be clearly identified through the combination of Major / Minor values.

[0148] The user terminal device (110) scans surrounding BLE signals when running an application, but recognizes only beacon signals with a predefined DoitOrder dedicated UUID, and can automatically ignore or filter other BLE devices (e.g., speakers, smartwatches, external brand beacons, etc.).

[0149] Additionally, the user terminal device (110) can prioritize acquiring information from the sensor with the strongest signal strength (RSSI) among multiple signals having the same UUID. The Major / Minor combination selected in this way is transmitted to the store service management device (130) and matched with store-specific and table-specific data registered in the server DB. If the server cannot find store information corresponding to the Major / Minor combination, the signal is treated as invalid and menu information is not provided.

[0150] Through this, the user terminal device (110) recognizes only the beacon with the Doit Order exclusive UUID even if multiple beacon sensors exist, selects the strongest RSSI signal among them, and can finally identify only the store information verified by the store service management device (130). Consequently, in the store service management system (90) according to the embodiment of the present invention, multiple beacon sensors may be independently installed for each zone even in large stores, but since the user terminal device (110) recognizes the signal based on the Doit Order exclusive UUID system, it identifies exactly only one store within the same service area. Accordingly, even if a beacon signal transmitted from an adjacent store or another brand store within the same building is detected, the app automatically excludes external beacon signals through a UUID, Major, and Minor filtering procedure and recognizes only the store registered with the Doit Order service.

[0151] In addition, the housing structure of the sensor device (100) is equipped with a directional radio wave radiation structure, so that the beacon signal is confined only within the store area, and the reception of the same service code by terminals of adjacent stores due to signal leakage or reflection is prevented. That is, the sensor device (100) of the present invention enables communication to be concentrated only within the store area in the form of spot communication, thereby fundamentally blocking the problem of the same service information being mixed between adjacent stores or store identification information being incorrectly input. Through such structural and signal control, the system according to the embodiment of the present invention enables precise location recognition and service provision without interference between stores, and this can provide differentiated technical effects that are difficult to implement in existing beacon-based table order systems.

[0152] The user terminal device (110) transmits the acquired unique identification information to the store service management device (130) (S430). During this transmission process, the terminal device may transmit user account information, connection time, connection logs, etc., in addition to the identification information, and the store service management device (130) may analyze the store visit history, number of active stores, connection frequency, etc. based on this.

[0153] The store service management device (130) can analyze identification information (UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI) received from the user terminal device (110) to identify the unique ID of the store where the user is located, and provide menu information, order / payment information, points / discount information, or real-time event information corresponding to that store to the user terminal (110) (S440). In particular, even if there are multiple stores of the same brand, the user can automatically receive only the order screen unique to the visited store because the identification information of each store is different.

[0154] The user terminal device (110) can display a screen related to store services based on data received from the store service management device (130). This screen may include the store name, store location, available menu items, payment methods, event notifications, etc., and the user can automatically use the order and payment services of the corresponding store without separate QR recognition or manual search.

[0155] Through this series of steps (S400 to S450), the store service method according to the embodiment of the present invention can realize an automatic identification and service linkage structure that operates only within the store using beacon-based unique identification information, unlike existing QR-based table ordering or manual location search methods. As a result, it can provide a technical effect that simultaneously improves user accessibility and store operational efficiency.

[0156] In addition to the above, the sensor device (100), user terminal device (110), and store service management device (130) of FIG. 4 can perform various operations, and other details have been sufficiently explained above, so they will be replaced with those details.

[0157] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed structure of the store service management device of FIG. 1.

[0158] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a communication interface unit (500), a control unit (510), a store service management unit (520), and a storage unit (530), in part or in whole.

[0159] Here, "including some or all" means that some components, such as the storage unit (530), may be omitted to form the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1, or that some components, such as the store service management unit (520), may be integrated into other components, such as the control unit (510). To facilitate a sufficient understanding of the invention, it is explained as including all components.

[0160] The communication interface unit (500) is a module for transmitting and receiving data in a wired or wireless manner with various devices inside and outside the store, and can perform the operation of relaying and managing communication between the sensor device (100), the user terminal device (110), and the third-party device (140).

[0161] The communication interface unit (500) may include a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) module, a Wi-Fi module, an LTE / 5G module, and a wired LAN port, and each module may be selectively activated depending on the network environment or service type installed in the store. For example, BLE or Wi-Fi may be used for internal store communication, and LTE or 5G may be used for communication with an external server (e.g., headquarters cloud, payment server, etc.).

[0162] Additionally, the communication interface unit (500) performs the function of a multi-protocol gateway. That is, it can transmit store identification information of the sensor device (100) received via BLE to a TCP / IP-based cloud server, or conversely, retransmit service data received via the internet network to a user terminal device (110) in the form of a BLE broadcast. To this end, the communication interface unit (500) is connected to the control unit (510) and the store service management unit (520) via an internal bus, and can perform protocol conversion and packet routing.

[0163] In one embodiment, the communication interface unit (500) performs asynchronous communication with the server using MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) or HTTP REST API and can transmit identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) received from each sensor device (100) in the form of JSON or Protobuf. At this time, the transmitted data can be protected from external attacks through AES-256-based encryption.

[0164] The communication interface unit (500) may also include a communication error recovery function. For example, if a network delay or temporary disconnection occurs, the temporarily received data is stored in a local buffer, and then automatically retransmitted when communication is restored. This ensures that the data flow of the store service is not interrupted even when traffic within the store is unstable.

[0165] In addition, the communication interface unit (500) maintains the session of each terminal independently even when multiple user terminal devices (110) in the store connect simultaneously, and manages the session based on the MAC address or the terminal's unique token. Through this, stable service can be provided without communication conflicts or data interference even when multiple customers in a single store simultaneously place orders and make payments.

[0166] In summary, the communication interface unit (500) performs data transmission and reception between internal devices and external servers, wired / wireless protocol conversion and routing, encryption-based secure communication, communication failure recovery, and session management functions, thereby being a core component that enables the store service management device (130) according to the embodiment of the present invention to exchange data in real time with various devices inside and outside the store and provide stable store services.

[0167] The control unit (510) is a component that comprehensively controls the overall operation of the store service management device (130), and performs the role of coordinating the data flow between the communication interface unit (500), the store service management unit (520), and the storage unit (530), and controlling and managing the operations performed by each component module. The control unit (510) may include, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU, or MCU (Micro Controller Unit), as well as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and non-volatile memory (EEPROM, Flash, etc.), and these may be implemented as a single IC chip or SoC (System on Chip) to form a single chip. Accordingly, the control unit (510) can substantially perform all operations of the store service management unit (520) by copying a program or control command mounted on the store service management unit (520), loading it into memory, and executing it. However, to aid in understanding the invention, it is described below that the control unit (510) is responsible for the overall control operation.

[0168] The control unit (510) can first process identification information of the sensor device (100) and the user terminal device (110) received from the communication interface unit (500). For example, it can interpret data such as UUID, Major, Minor, and RSSI received from the sensor device (100) and transmit a control signal to the store service management unit (520) to determine the location of the store of the user terminal device (110) based on this. In addition, the control unit (510) can detect communication delays, duplicate identifications, or interference between stores that may occur during service provision, and control the store service management unit (520) to automatically correct the event according to an error processing routine defined in the store service management unit (520).

[0169] In one embodiment, the control unit (510) performs a multi-threaded control scheduling function so that it can efficiently handle session management, response distribution, and asynchronous data transmission and reception for each terminal even when multiple user terminal devices (110) are connected simultaneously. At this time, the control unit (510) is connected to the store service management unit (520) and the storage unit (530) through an internal bus structure and can manage data access rights and process priorities between each module.

[0170] The control unit (510) can also perform security and authentication functions. For example, it can verify an app unique key or digital signature included in request data transmitted by a user terminal device (110), and control the store service management unit (520) to permit or block the request based on the verification result. Through this, access to the service via unauthorized terminals or manipulated beacon signals can be blocked in advance. Additionally, the control unit (510) can monitor application logic executed by the store service management unit (520), monitor system resources (e.g., CPU usage, memory usage, etc.) in real time, and record logs in the storage unit (530) and perform automatic recovery routines when abnormal processes or communication errors occur.

[0171] In summary, the control unit (510) is a core component that enables the store service management device (130) to provide store services stably and reliably by controlling the operation among all components of the store service management device (130), performing central control of the process of determining store identification information and providing store services, and managing data flow, sessions, security, and system stability.

[0172] The store service management unit (520) is a module equipped with the core control logic of the store service management device (130), and can perform the function of analyzing store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) collected from the sensor device (100) and the user terminal device (110), mapping it to a store-specific database (DB), and providing store services suitable for the user (e.g., menu, payment, points accumulation, coupons, etc.).

[0173] The store service management unit (520) operates according to the control signal of the control unit (510) and, after receiving beacon-based store identification information input through the communication interface unit (500), can verify whether the information is a UUID dedicated to the Doit Order service. Since the user terminal device (110) actually transmits only valid UUIDs, it is entirely possible to omit such verification. If the UUID is valid or corresponds to a valid UUID, the store service management unit (520) can identify the store and determine the table area using Major and Minor values, and search for the corresponding store data from the store DB or table mapping table. By querying information such as menus, price information, option items, payment methods, and accumulation rates for the store matched by the search result and transmitting it to the user terminal device (110), the user can perform ordering and payment within the store simply by launching the app. In this process, the store service management unit (520) can create user connection sessions in real time, manage connection traffic by store, and perform session synchronization so that the service operates smoothly without data conflicts even if multiple terminals within the same store place orders simultaneously.

[0174] In one embodiment, the store service management unit (520) may include the following detailed function modules (or function units). First, the store identification unit or store identification module can determine the store where the user is currently located based on a UUID-Major-Minor combination and perform logic to select the nearest beacon through RSSI signal strength. Second, the menu mapping unit or menu mapping module can retrieve a list of orderable menus for the corresponding store from a store-specific menu database based on the unique ID of the determined store and perform real-time updates according to the time of day or inventory status. Third, the service control unit or service control module can comprehensively control interactions between the user and the store, such as in-store payment, point accumulation, coupon issuance, and order history storage. Fourth, the security verification unit or security verification module can verify whether the request data of the user terminal device (110) was generated by a valid UUID-based signal and block forged data or unauthorized access.

[0175] Additionally, the store service management unit (520) may include a menu content generation engine and can automatically format menu images, price lists, promotion information, etc. uploaded by the store manager to match the UI form of the app and transmit them to the user terminal device (110). At this time, the store service management unit (520) can refer to data stored in the local storage unit (530) or cloud DB to reflect menu changes in real time and synchronize menu configurations between franchise stores of the same brand.

[0176] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the store service management unit (520) is not limited to merely acting as a server that transmits order data, but can also perform the role of a service orchestrator that integrates and manages store-specific policies, events, accumulation rules, etc. For example, it is possible to provide customized services, such as automatically issuing a discount coupon upon a new customer's first visit or adjusting the point accumulation rate based on the number of cumulative visits for regular customers.

[0177] In summary, the store service management unit (520) identifies a store based on store identification information received from the sensor device (100), transmits store-specific menu and payment information to the user terminal device (110), stores and analyzes service usage history, and automatically applies customized policies for each store or customer, thereby enabling the store service management device (130) according to the embodiment of the present invention to fully automate the series of processes of "store recognition-menu provision-payment processing" which are the core of the Doit Order service.

[0178] The storage unit (530) is provided inside the store service management device (130) and is a component that temporarily stores data processed by each component or performs input / output and synchronization of data by linking with an external permanent database (DB 130a). The storage unit (530) may include volatile memory (RAM) and non-volatile memory (Flash, SSD, etc.), and improves the response speed and processing efficiency of the system by temporarily storing real-time data generated during the operation of the control unit (510) and the store service management unit (520) in a cache form.

[0179] In particular, the storage unit (530) buffers store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) received from the user terminal device (110) and service requests (e.g., order, payment, accumulation, etc.) performed based thereon for a certain period of time, so that data can be recovered without loss even if network instability or server load occurs. For example, data packets transmitted from the communication interface unit (500) are recorded in the temporary memory of the storage unit (530) and are sequentially reflected in the permanent database (DB 130a) after verification by the control unit (510) is completed. Through this, the store service management device (130) can simultaneously secure real-time service responsiveness and data integrity.

[0180] Additionally, the storage unit (530) periodically synchronizes data such as various service policies, menu information, member information, order history, payment logs, and security tokens referenced by the store service management unit (520) with an external permanent storage DB (130a). The DB (130a) may be located in a cloud environment or on the store headquarters server, and the storage unit (530) minimizes network traffic by transmitting only the changed data in an incremental manner. Therefore, the storage unit (530) serves as a temporary storage and cache layer, ensuring both the stability and real-time capabilities of the store service management device (130) through efficient data linkage with the permanent storage (DB 130a).

[0181] In addition to the above, the communication interface unit (500), control unit (510), store service management unit (520), and storage unit (530) of FIG. 5 can perform various operations, and other details have been sufficiently explained above, so they will be replaced by those details.

[0182] Meanwhile, the communication interface unit (500), control unit (510), store service management unit (520), and storage unit (530) of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention are composed of hardware modules that are physically separated from each other, but each module may store software for performing the above operations internally and execute it. However, since the software is a set of software modules and each module can be formed as hardware, the configuration will not be specifically limited to software or hardware. For example, the storage unit (530) may be a storage or memory which is hardware. However, since it is also possible to store information in a software repository, the above content will not be specifically limited.

[0183] In addition, as another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (510) may include a CPU and memory and may be formed as a single chip. The CPU includes a control circuit, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), an instruction interpretation unit, and a registry, and the memory may include RAM. The control circuit may perform control operations, the arithmetic logic unit may perform operations on binary bit information, and the instruction interpretation unit may include an interpreter or a compiler to perform operations that convert high-level language into machine language and machine language into high-level language, and the registry may be involved in software data storage. According to the above configuration, for example, at the beginning of operation of the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1, the data operation processing speed can be rapidly increased by copying a program stored in the store service management unit (520), loading it into memory, i.e., RAM, and then executing it. In the case of a deep learning model, it may be loaded into GPU memory instead of RAM and executed by using the GPU to accelerate the execution speed.

[0184] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the store service management device of Figure 1.

[0185] For convenience of explanation, referring to FIG. 6 together with FIG. 1, the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention can receive store identification information that is radiated directionally to a specific spatial area of ​​the store from a sensor device (100) installed on the ceiling or structure inside the store when, for example, a Doit Order dedicated application is executed on a user terminal device (110) of a user who has visited the store or the store (S600).

[0186] During the BLE scanning process, the user terminal device (110) can selectively receive only signals with a pre-registered Doit Order dedicated UUID among various surrounding beacon signals, and automatically filter out signals from other general BLE devices (e.g., smartwatches, IoT devices, beacons of other brands, etc.). Additionally, the user terminal device (110) can acquire the Major and Minor values ​​of the signal with the strongest Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI) among multiple sensor devices (100) with the same UUID and transmit them to the store service management device (130).

[0187] Subsequently, the store service management device (130) receives store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) transmitted from the user terminal device (110) through the communication interface unit (500) and can transmit it to the store service management unit (520) under the control of the control unit (510). Of course, as previously explained, if the control unit (510) has stored a program for providing a service according to an embodiment of the present invention in its internal memory, it may also be possible to process the data directly. However, when processing in conjunction with the store service management unit (520), the store service management device (130) can verify again whether the UUID included in the received data matches the Doit Order dedicated UUID stored in the internal database (DB 130a).

[0188] At this time, if the UUID is determined to be unregistered or in a forged format, the store service management device (130) may invalidate the request and generate a log by the security and authentication module to record it as a potential security threat. Additionally, the store service management device (130) may invalidate the signal if the Major and Minor values ​​do not exist in the mapping table of the store DB or if the RSSI value is below a set threshold. Through this, service integrity can be secured against BLE interference between adjacent stores or spoofing attacks (Beacon Spoofing).

[0189] On the other hand, when the UUID, Major, Minor, and RSSI are all validly verified, the store service management device (130) can refer to the store-specific DB to finally identify the store and detailed area (e.g., Table, Zone) where the user is located and initiate the store service provision process in the subsequent stage. In addition, data such as store identification information, RSSI value, verification result, and time of receipt received in this stage can be temporarily stored in the storage unit (530) and then periodically synchronized with the permanent database (DB 130a) to be used for future statistical analysis or visit history management.

[0190] As a result, the S600 step according to the embodiment of the present invention can provide a technical effect of simultaneously ensuring the accuracy and security of the store service by doubly blocking abnormal signals or interference from external devices through primary UUID filtering performed at the user terminal device (110) and secondary UUID verification and data validity check performed at the store service management device (130).

[0191] A store service management device (130) according to an embodiment of the present invention can determine the store where the user terminal device (110) is located based on the store identification information received in the preceding step (S600) and provide various types of store services linked to the store (S610). The store service management device (130) can query store-specific service data stored in a database (DB 130a) corresponding to the store identification information (e.g., UUID, Major, Minor, etc.), recognize the service type registered at the store (e.g., restaurant, beauty salon, academy, etc.), and automatically display a suitable user interface (UI) on the screen of the user terminal device (110). That is, the service screen corresponding to the store is automatically loaded simply by launching the app, without the user having to perform a separate QR code recognition or store search procedure.

[0192] The store service management device (130) can determine the store where the user terminal device (110) is currently located based on the store identification information (UUID, Major, Minor, RSSI, etc.) received in the preceding step (S600), and can automatically provide customized store services corresponding thereto. The store service management device (130) can search for store identification information in an internal database (DB 130a) under the control of the control unit (510) and load the business type, service item, payment method, promotion information, etc. registered for the corresponding store. As a result, a dedicated service screen corresponding to the store is automatically displayed on the screen of the user terminal device (110), and the user can perform store-related services such as ordering, payment, or reservation simply by launching the app without a separate search or authentication procedure.

[0193] For example, if the visited store is a restaurant, the store service management device (130) may provide a welcome message in the form of a pop-up window, such as "Welcome to Gangnam Banjeom. View Order Menu," or immediately load the entire menu data of the store to display a screen where the user can select an order menu. In this process, the store service management device (130) retrieves menu names, prices, photos, inventory information, and temporary promotion data that are previously registered in the store's DB in real time and displays them on the user terminal device (110). Additionally, the store service management device (130) analyzes the user's payment history and, if the user has already purchased a specific menu or meal ticket, can simplify the payment process by omitting general payment methods (e.g., card, simple payment, biometric payment, etc.) and automatically recognizing meal ticket information. For example, it may automatically display a "Pay with Meal Ticket" button or display a pop-up window indicating the remaining quantity of meal tickets stored previously. This processing method provides convenience to repeat customers and has the technical effect of improving order processing efficiency from the store's perspective.

[0194] For example, if the store is a restaurant, the store service management device (130) can provide an initial screen that includes a "View Order Menu" button along with a welcome message saying "Welcome to Gangnam Banjeom." At this time, the store service management device (130) retrieves menu names, prices, images, inventory status, etc. from the store's menu database and transmits them in real time to the user terminal device (110). As a result, the user can select a menu within the store using only the app screen, and the store service management device (130) can control the order information to be automatically accepted by linking it with the store's POS terminal or kitchen system. Additionally, if the user has purchased a meal ticket or coupon for the store in advance, the store service management device (130) can automatically recognize this and skip the standard card payment process at the payment stage, automatically selecting the meal ticket or reward points as the payment method. This processing method has the effect of improving the user's payment convenience while significantly improving the efficiency of the settlement process at the store level.

[0195] Meanwhile, the store service management device (130) can provide a different type of service interface depending on the store type, even if the store's business type is not a restaurant. For example, if the store is a beauty salon, various beauty service items registered in advance (e.g., men's haircut, perm, dyeing, treatment, etc.) are displayed in the form of a menu on the user terminal device (110), and when the user selects a specific service, a payment module is automatically activated to induce the user to proceed with payment for the item.

[0196] The store service management device (130) can provide different types of services depending on the store type, even if the store type is not a restaurant. For example, in the case of a beauty salon, the store service management device (130) organizes pre-registered beauty service items (e.g., men's haircut, perm, dyeing, treatment, etc.) into a menu and provides them to the user terminal device (110), and can display real-time available reservation times or assigned designer information depending on the selected item. When a user selects a specific service, the store service management device (130) can control the system to automatically activate a payment window to proceed with payment or transmit reservation data to the manager terminal within the store to automatically register a reservation schedule.

[0197] In addition, if the store is an academy, the store service management device (130) provides various course products (e.g., single courses, comprehensive classes, intensive courses, etc.) provided by the academy in the form of a menu. When the store is visited in person, it displays an "offline course payment" screen via a BLE-based beacon signal. When accessed from a remote location (e.g., outside the store), it controls the system to enable online payment or course registration after searching for the academy based on the store identification information registered on the server. This enables an "offline + online" integrated academy payment service within the same app environment.

[0198] In other words, in the case of an academy, the store service management device (130) provides various course products (single courses, comprehensive classes, intensive courses, etc.) offered by the academy in the form of a menu to the user terminal device (110), and can automatically distinguish between offline and online services depending on the visit status. That is, when a visit is recognized by a BLE signal received within the store, the service screen is displayed in "on-site payment mode," and in a remote state where no BLE signal is detected, it switches to "remote course registration mode" to proceed with online payment and course registration. Through this, "location-based offline payment" and "non-face-to-face online payment" can be performed integrally within a single app environment.

[0199] Meanwhile, the store service management device (130) can provide personalized recommendation services by matching account identification information (e.g., Device ID, user account, or token information, etc.) of the user terminal device (110) with store identification information. For example, it can automatically analyze menus or preferred services that the user previously ordered when visiting the same store and display them in the form of recent order history, recommended menus, and reserved designers. This function can be implemented through AI-based user behavior pattern analysis, and for this purpose, the store service management device (130) can accumulate user-specific order data, visit frequency, and order patterns by time of day as training data in a storage unit (530) or a cloud server.

[0200] In addition, the store service management device (130) can apply a TLS (Transport Layer Security)-based encrypted communication method to secure personal information or transaction information collected during the service provision process, and can perform an integrity verification procedure based on an electronic signature when transmitting and receiving data. This can provide a security effect that prevents access by unauthorized users and prevents BLE signal tampering or man-in-the-middle attacks.

[0201] According to the above steps, the store service management device (130) loads store-specific service data based on store identification information and provides customized interfaces and payment functions according to the user's location, industry, and visit history, thereby enabling an intelligent store service environment where services are automatically opened the moment one enters the store. Accordingly, this step (S610) can be considered a key configuration step that enables the expansion of BLE-based location recognition technology into various fields such as commercial services, reservation services, and learning services.

[0202] In this way, the store service management device (130) according to the embodiment of the present invention automatically determines the user's location and store type based on store identification information and provides a customized store service corresponding thereto in real time, thereby allowing the user to intuitively perform services such as ordering, payment, and reservation simply by entering the store without any separate operation. Consequently, this step (S610) is a core step that directly connects BLE-based location recognition information to a real-time commerce service, and has a technical effect that dramatically improves the user experience (UX).

[0203] In addition, the store service management device (130) can receive payment information corresponding to the case where a user selects a store service, such as an order or reservation, in step S610, and perform payment and settlement processing. The store service management device (130) receives payment request data (e.g., payment method, amount, order item, user authentication token, etc.) from the user terminal device (110) and calls a payment server (e.g., PG company, financial institution, etc.) included in the linked third-party device (140) to check whether payment is approved in real time. At this time, the store service management device (130) can detect errors such as data tampering, duplicate payment, or timeout that may occur during the payment process through its own security module, and only if there are no abnormalities, it can simultaneously notify the user terminal device (110) and the store POS terminal of the final payment completion status.

[0204] In addition, the store service management device (130) records the transaction data in a store-unit settlement table after payment is completed and can perform subsequent settlement procedures such as sales aggregation by store, commission settlement, point accumulation, and automatic issuance of tax invoices in a daily or periodic batch processing manner. As a result, the store owner can manage sales and check settlements in real time within the Doit Order platform without a separate management program. According to this configuration, the store service management device (130) according to the embodiment of the present invention can implement a complete non-face-to-face transaction process in which customer location, store identification, ordering, and payment are connected as a whole by directly linking BLE-based location recognition information with a commercial payment system.

[0205] Furthermore, the store service management device (130) can record the service usage history in a store-unit or user-unit database (DB 130a) after payment or order completion and utilize this as data for improving service quality and providing recommendation services. The store service management device (130) stores the user's store visit time, usage history, payment method, order menu, RSSI-based location intensity value, etc., in a storage unit (530) on a session basis, and in particular, when the user revisits, it can perform personalized service functions such as recommending preferred menus, switching to automatic payment mode, and issuing customized coupons based on the data.

[0206] In addition, the store service management device (130) can perform operational data analysis functions, such as analyzing peak times by store, predicting order patterns, and analyzing marketing efficiency, by linking with a third-party device (140) to collect external data (e.g., weather, time zone, day of the week, event information, etc.). Thus, the present invention can evolve beyond a simple order and payment system into an intelligent commerce platform capable of providing optimized services for each store through the repeated learning of location-based service data.

[0207] In summary, the store service management device (130) according to the embodiment of the present invention receives store identification information, provides store-customized services based on the store identification information, performs payment and settlement, and records service usage history in a database to reflect as learning data for personalization and operational efficiency, thereby enabling the implementation of a location-based intelligent store service system that integrates beacon-based location recognition and commercial services.

[0208] In addition to the above, the store service management device (130) of FIG. 1 can perform various operations, and other detailed information has been sufficiently explained above, so it will be replaced with that information.

[0209] Meanwhile, although it has been described that all components constituting an embodiment of the present invention are combined or operate in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the present invention, all components may be selectively combined in one or more ways to operate. Furthermore, while all components may each be implemented as a single independent piece of hardware, they may also be implemented as a computer program having a program module that performs some or all of the combined functions on one or more pieces of hardware by selectively combining some or all of the components. The codes and code segments constituting the computer program can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by storing such a computer program on a non-transitory computer-readable media, reading it, and executing it by a computer.

[0210] Here, a non-transient readable recording medium refers to a medium that stores data semi-permanently and can be read by a device, rather than a medium that stores data for a short period of time, such as a register, cache, or memory. Specifically, the programs described above may be stored and provided on non-transient readable recording media such as CDs, DVDs, hard disks, Blu-ray discs, USBs, memory cards, and ROMs.

[0211] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. It is understood that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essence of the invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or perspective of the present invention.

[0212] The present invention relates to a store service management system that automatically recognizes the location of a user within a store and automates store services such as ordering, payment, and providing advertisements, a method for providing the system, and a sensor device.

[0213] Therefore, the present invention can be directly applied in various offline store environments such as restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, academies, and indoor sports facilities, and can realize the efficiency of store operations and the improvement of service quality through functions such as store recognition using BLE beacon signals, order and payment automation, and user-customized advertising services.

[0214] In addition, the system of the present invention is compatible with existing commercial infrastructure such as POS terminals, payment servers, and authentication servers, and since it can be applied without separate large-scale facilities, it can be widely used throughout the commercial and service industries.

[0215] Therefore, the present invention has potential for use in various industrial fields, such as information and communication, franchise, food service, distribution, advertising, and payment system industries.

[0216] -

Claims

1. A sensor device installed in a store that transmits and communicates signals intensively only within a designated spatial area of ​​the store by adjusting the installation height with respect to the floor surface of the store through a height adjustment unit or adjusting the signal radiation angle through a housing formed to satisfy specified conditions considering signal characteristics; and A store service management device that receives identification information of the store acquired when an application for using store services is executed on a user terminal device located within the store, and provides store services available at the store where the user terminal device is located based on the received identification information; Store service management system including.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above sensor device is installed on the ceiling of a store and is configured to adjust the installation height through a rail structure or a multi-stage bracket structure, in a store service management system.

3. In Paragraph 1, A store service management system wherein the sensor device comprises a housing portion open downward, and the inner wall of the housing portion is formed as an inclined surface having a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the floor surface of the store, thereby concentrating and radiating a signal only to a designated spatial area within the store by means of the inclined surface.

4. In Paragraph 3, A store service management system, wherein a signal shielding coating layer for adjusting the reflectivity of radio waves is formed on the inner wall of the housing portion, and the signal shielding coating layer is formed of at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, or a mixture of metal and resin.

5. In Paragraph 4, A store service management system in which the signal shielding coating layer further comprises a signal absorbing material comprising at least one of carbon, ferrite, a conductive polymer, or a nickel and manganese-based composite oxide, or a signal absorbing layer is laminated on the outer side of the signal shielding coating layer.

6. In Paragraph 3, A store service management system in which a replaceable mechanism ring for adjusting the opening diameter to adjust the radiation angle is coupled to the lower opening of the housing part.

7. In Paragraph 3, A store service management system, wherein the sensor device comprises a receiving portion for accommodating a beacon sensor inside the housing portion, and the receiving portion is formed such that the upper surface of the main body of the beacon sensor is positioned at a specified depth from the lower opening end of the housing portion, taking into account the reflection pattern of the signal, thereby forming a downward directional radiation pattern of the signal.

8. In Paragraph 7, A store service management system, wherein the above-mentioned receiving portion is formed to include an internal locking groove or an elastic support portion for fixing the beacon sensor, so that the beacon sensor maintains an aligned state inside the housing.

9. In Paragraph 1, The above-described store service management device is a store service management system that operates to allow access to the service of a store selected by the user by displaying a main screen containing store information of multiple stores subscribed to the store service when the application is executed in a store where the sensor device is not installed.

10. A sensor device installed in a store transmits and communicates by intensively transmitting a signal only to a designated spatial area within the store by adjusting the installation height with respect to the floor surface of the store through a height adjustment unit or adjusting the radiation angle of the signal through a housing formed to satisfy specified conditions considering signal characteristics; and A store service management device receives identification information of the store transmitted from the sensor device through the user terminal device when an application for using the store service is executed on a user terminal device located within the store, and provides a store service available at the store where the user terminal device is located based on the received identification information; A method for providing store services in a store service management system, including 11. A housing portion having an opening opened in one direction and a receiving portion for accommodating a beacon sensor inside, wherein the receiving portion is formed such that the upper surface of the main body of the beacon sensor is positioned at a predetermined depth from the end of the opening, taking into account the reflection pattern and radiation angle of the signal output by the beacon sensor, thereby causing the signal to have a directional radiation pattern toward the opening; and A signal shielding coating layer formed on the inner wall of the housing portion to control attenuation or reflectance so as not to spread the signal radiated by the beacon sensor to the outside of the housing portion; Sensor device for store services including 12. In Paragraph 11, A sensor device for store services, wherein the signal shielding coating layer is composed of at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, or a composite material of metal and resin.

13. In Paragraph 12, A sensor device for store services, wherein the signal shielding coating layer further comprises a signal absorption layer comprising at least one of carbon, ferrite, a conductive polymer, or a nickel and manganese-based composite oxide, or a signal absorption layer formed by laminating on the outer side of the signal shielding coating layer.

14. In Paragraph 11, A sensor device for store services, wherein the inner wall of the housing portion is formed as an inclined surface having a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the floor surface of the store, and configured such that the signal radiated by the beacon sensor is concentratedly radiated to a designated spatial area within the store by the inclined surface.

15. In Paragraph 11, A sensor device for store service, wherein a replaceable opening ring (restrictor ring) for adjusting the opening diameter to adjust the effective radiation angle or directivity of the signal is detachably coupled to the lower opening of the housing portion.

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