Visible Light Table Recognition for Electronic Menus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic menu systems face challenges in accurately determining customer positions without installing separate position information generators at each table, leading to increased costs and potential inaccuracies due to uncertain RF communication coverage and lack of directivity.
Innovation Solution
The system employs visible light communication, where smart devices receive signals from lamps installed in the restaurant, using sensors to detect valid signals and recognize the customer's table, eliminating the need for additional devices and reducing maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If RF communication is used to receive position information, then position information can be obtained without installing position information generators at each table, but the coverage area is uncertain and multiple position information may overlap causing imprecision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces RF communication with visible light communication to transmit position information. Visible light signals from lamps above each table provide directivity and precise location identification, eliminating the coverage overlap issues of RF communication while maintaining ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visible light signals (different colors/wavelengths) emitted by lamps above each table to encode position information. The smart device detects which lamp's light signal is received to determine the customer's table location, providing precise and unambiguous position identification.
2Measurement precision
If a position information generator including a separate power supply device is installed at each table, then precise position information can be provided, but installation and maintenance expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing lamps serve dual functions: providing illumination and transmitting position information via visible light communication. This eliminates the need for separate position information generators and power supply devices at each table, reducing system complexity and costs while maintaining precise position identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamps automatically provide position information without requiring additional power supply devices or complex installation. The existing lamp infrastructure is utilized to emit visible light signals that encode table position data, simplifying the system while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If employees visit customer tables to take and confirm orders, then service quality can be maintained, but time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic feedback to employees about customer position and order status through the electronic menu system. Employees can access order information and customer location digitally, reducing the need for physical table visits while maintaining service quality and improving efficiency.
4Measurement precision
If an electronic menu system is fixed to a table or requires manual table number input, then table position information can be provided, but customer convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies the customer's table position through visible light signal detection without requiring manual input. The smart device receives visible light signals from lamps above the customer's table and automatically determines the table number, providing both accuracy and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual table number input with automatic visible light-based position detection. This eliminates the need for customers to manually enter table numbers or have devices physically attached to tables, improving convenience while maintaining accurate table identification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides precise customer position information with high directivity, reducing installation and maintenance expenses while ensuring accurate table recognition.
Implementation Method 1
receiving, by a visible light receiver connected to a smart device provided to a customer in a restaurant, multiple visible light signals from multiple lamps installed in the restaurant
Implementation Method 2
measuring an acceleration of the smart device based on the sensor data; determining that the smart device is in the valid state when a state in which the acceleration satisfies a preset acceleration condition is maintained for a preset time period
Implementation Method 3
measuring a tilt of the smart device based on the sensor data when the smart device is in the valid state; and calibrating and detecting the valid signal in consideration of an orientation of the smart device, inferred from the tilt
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a method for recognizing a table for an electronic menu system based on visible light and an apparatus for the same. The method includes receiving, by a visible light receiver connected to a smart device provided to a customer in a restaurant, multiple visible light signals from multiple lamps installed in the restaurant; detecting at least one valid signal from the multiple visible light signals in consideration of the multiple visible light signals and sensor data collected from a sensor installed in the smart device; and recognizing a table at which the customer is sitting using table information included in the at least one valid signal.