WO2016088935A1

WO2016088935A1 - Group management for beacon device

Info

Publication number: WO2016088935A1
Application number: PCT/KR2015/000723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dong Hyun Kim
Original assignee: Hana Micron Inc.
Priority date: 2014-12-05
Filing date: 2015-01-23
Publication date: 2016-06-09

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a beacon group management server. The beacon group management server includes: a group configuring unit for receiving state information of each beacon device from an administrator's terminal device, and for configuring a beacon map for each group according to the state information by categorizing the beacon device into groups; and a group managing unit for storing and managing the configured beacon map for each group, and for pushing a beacon map of a group corresponding to a location of a user's terminal device when receiving a request for the beacon map from the user's terminal device.

Description

GROUP MANAGEMENT FOR BEACON DEVICE

The present invention generally relates to group management for beacon devices and, more particularly, to a beacon group management server, a beacon group management system, a beacon group management method, and a computer-readable storage medium on which a beacon group management program is recorded, for group management for beacon devices.

These days, with the rapid spread of smart devices including smartphones, the paradigm of the mobile communication industry has changed from providing voice calls to providing applications. Particularly, as it is possible to locate a user's terminal device, applications that provide various services based on the user's location information in real-time have emerged.

Locating a user's terminal device with GPS-based technology is widely used outdoors. However, indoors or below ground level, the use of GPS is limited because it is difficult to receive a GPS signal. Consequently, to solve this problem, short-distance communication methods have been suggested. Specifically, beacon devices using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) have recently emerged as a solution to the problem.

A BLE beacon device periodically transmits its own location information to a user's terminal device, and the user's terminal device receives the information and retransmits it to a beacon management server. Accordingly, the beacon management server may detect the location of the user's terminal device through the location of the BLE beacon device. Consequently, based on the location of the user's terminal device, the beacon management server may transmit information about the BLE beacon device to the user's terminal device.

In this case, the user's terminal device does not have all of the information of each beacon device located around it. For example, the user's terminal device does not have state information of the beacon devices, including a location, a transmitting power level, and the like. Therefore, the beacon device may broadcast its location information, but installers or owners of the beacon device may not want anonymous access to the beacon device. Furthermore, the user may not trust the location information from the beacon device. Additionally, whenever a user's terminal device receives a packet from unknown beacon devices, it is necessary to access the beacon management server through wireless communications to get information about the beacon devices. Therefore, to confirm a location of the user, a lot of electric power may be consumed and a time delay may be caused.

Accordingly, to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present invention intends to provide group management for beacon devices, which enables for a user's terminal device to download information of multiple beacon devices in a group unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention to accomplish the above object, a beacon group management server is provided. The beacon group management server may include: a group configuring unit for receiving, from an administrator's terminal device, basic information of each beacon device and information of a building in which the beacon device is installed, and for configuring a beacon map for each group by categorizing the basic information of the beacon device into groups according to a location or a purpose of service; and a group managing unit for storing and managing the configured beacon map for each group, and for pushing, when receiving a request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device, a beacon map for a group that corresponds to a location of the user's terminal device.

In an embodiment, the group configuring unit may configure the beacon map for each group according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

In an embodiment, the basic information includes an ID of a relevant building, a number of floors in the building, x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), a transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmitting cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map; and the information of the building may include an ID of the building, a name of the building, a description of the building, an address of the building, a highest floor, a lowest floor, and GPS coordinates.

In an embodiment, the group configuring unit may update the beacon map by receiving, from the administrator's terminal device, basic information and building information of a new beacon device or of an existing beacon device whose location has changed.

In an embodiment, the group configuring unit may extract a beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for a beacon map.

In an embodiment, the beacon group management server may further include a validating unit for verifying validity of the user's terminal device when receiving the request for a beacon map from the user's terminal device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a user's terminal device is provided. The user's terminal device may include: a storing unit for storing a beacon map related to beacon devices disposed as a group unit; a predicting unit for predicting whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to the stored beacon map; and a controlling unit for sending a request for a relevant beacon map to a beacon group management server when the user's terminal device is expected to the new area, and for controlling storage of the beacon map received from the beacon group management server in the storing unit.

In an embodiment, the predicting unit may predict whether to enter a new area according to any one among comparison of a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device not included in the stored beacon map with a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device included in the stored beacon map, estimation of a current location by trilateration using an intensity or arrival time of a signal received from each beacon device, estimation of a current location by a direction and speed of current movement using a motion sensor, and estimation of a current location according to a GPS signal outdoors.

In an embodiment, the controlling unit may delete a previously stored beacon map when a predetermined time period has passed after receiving a beacon map corresponding to the new area or when a capacity of the storing unit is insufficient to store a beacon map.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a beacon group management system is provided. The beacon group management system may include the beacon group management server, the beacon device disposed as a group unit; and the user's terminal device, described above.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a beacon group management method is provided. The beacon group management method may include: receiving, from an administrator's terminal device, basic information of each beacon device and information of a building in which the beacon device is installed, in the beacon group management server; configuring a beacon map for each group by categorizing the basic information of the beacon device into groups according to a location and a purpose of service; and pushing, when receiving a request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device, a beacon map of a group that corresponds to a location of the user's terminal device to the user's terminal device.

In an embodiment, the beacon group management method may further include updating the beacon map when receiving, from the administrator's terminal device, basic information and building information of a new beacon device or of an existing beacon device whose location has changed.

In an embodiment, in configuring the beacon map for each group, the beacon map for each group may be configured according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

In an embodiment, the basic information may include an ID of a relevant building, a number of floors in the building, x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), a transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmitting cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map; and the information of the building may include an ID of the building, a name of the building, a description of the building, an address of the building, a highest floor, a lowest floor, and GPS coordinates.

In an embodiment, the beacon group management method may further include verifying, before pushing the beacon map, validity of the user's terminal device that has requested the beacon map.

In an embodiment, the beacon group management method may further include extracting, before pushing the beacon map, a beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for a beacon map.

In an embodiment, the beacon group management method may further include: predicting, in the user's terminal device, whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to a previously stored beacon map; sending a request for a relevant beacon map to the beacon group management server when the user's terminal device is expected to enter the new area; and storing the beacon map received from the beacon group management server.

In an embodiment, in predicting whether to enter the new area, whether to enter the new area is predicted according to any one among comparison of a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device not included in the stored beacon map with a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device included in the stored beacon map, estimation of a current location by trilateration using an intensity or arrival time of a signal received from each beacon device, estimation of a current location by a direction and speed of current movement using a motion sensor, and estimation of a current location according to a GPS signal outdoors.

In an embodiment, the beacon group management method may further include deleting, when a predetermined time period has passed after receiving a beacon map corresponding to the new area or when a capacity for storing the beacon map is insufficient, the previously stored beacon map.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention a computer-readable storage medium on which a program, executed in a beacon group management server, is recorded, is provided. The program may include: a code for receiving, from an administrator's terminal device, basic information of each beacon device and information of a building in which the beacon device is installed; a code for configuring a beacon map for each group by categorizing the received basic information of the beacon device into groups according to a location and a purpose of service; and a code for pushing, when receiving a request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device, a beacon map corresponding to a location of the user's terminal device.

In an embodiment, the program may further include a code for updating the beacon map when receiving, from the administrator's terminal device, basic information and building information of a new beacon device or of an existing beacon device whose location has changed.

In an embodiment, the code for configuring the beacon map for each group may configure the beacon map for each group according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

In an embodiment, the program may further include a code for verifying validity of the user's terminal device that has requested the beacon map before pushing the beacon map to the user's terminal device.

In an embodiment, the program may further include a code for extracting, before pushing the beacon map to the user's terminal device, a beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for a beacon map.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium on which a program, executed in a user's terminal device that is connected to a beacon group management server, is recorded, is provided. The program may include: a code for predicting whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to a previously stored beacon map; a code for sending a request for a new beacon map to the beacon group management server when the user's terminal device is expected to enter the new area; and a code for storing a beacon map received from the beacon group management server.

In an embodiment, the code for predicting predicts whether to enter the new area according to any one among comparison of a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device not included in the stored beacon map with a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device included in the stored beacon map, estimation of a current location by trilateration using an intensity or arrival time of a signal received from each beacon device, estimation of a current location by a direction and speed of current movement using a motion sensor, and estimation of a current location according to a GPS signal outdoors.

The program may further include a code for deleting, when a predetermined time period has passed after receiving a beacon map corresponding to the new area or when it is determined that a capacity for storing the beacon map is insufficient, the previously stored beacon map.

Group management for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention enables for a user's terminal device to download information of multiple beacon devices in a group unit, whereby communication between the user's terminal device and a beacon management server may be minimized and electric power consumption and a time delay may be reduced.

By downloading information of beacon devices in the group at once, in which a user's terminal device is located, an embodiment of the present invention may provide comprehensive service using multiple devices in a group, for example, price comparison.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a group management system for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a configuration of beacon device groups;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a beacon device for beacon device group management according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a user's terminal device for beacon device group management according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a group management server for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a management DB of a group management server for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a group management method for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a group management method for beacon devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail referring to accompanying drawings. The following exemplary embodiments are described in order to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and practice the invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms. Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a group management system for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of beacon device groups of FIG. 1. Hereinafter, referring to the drawing, a group management system for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, a group management system for beacon devices 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes multiple beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N, a user's terminal device 200, a beacon group management server 300, a management DB 350, and an administrator's terminal device 400.

Each of the multiple beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N may include multiple beacon devices 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N may include multiple beacon devices 100 assigned to groups that are configured according to each level of a building. For example, these beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N may be configured according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3, a beacon device 100 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a beacon device for beacon device group management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A beacon device 100 may include a state information collecting unit 110, a packet generating unit 120, and a transmitting unit 130. The beacon device 100 may be a BLE beacon device.

The state information collecting unit 110 may collect various state information of the beacon device 100. For example, the state information collecting unit 110 may collect state information including transmitting power, battery power, the temperature, and humidity.

The packet generating unit 120 may generate a packet including the state information collected by the state information collecting unit 110. For example, the packet generating unit 120 may generate a packet including the transmitting power, battery power, temperature, and humidity of the beacon device 100.

The transmitting unit 130 may broadcast the packet generated in the packet generating unit 120 to a user's terminal device 200. For example, the transmitting unit 130 may broadcast the packet using Bluetooth Low Energy. However, not limited to this, the transmitting unit 130 may use any short-distance communication method, including Wi-Fi.

Again referring to FIG. 1, when there is a beacon device 100 not included in a beacon map that has been previously stored in the user's terminal device 200 or when the user's terminal device 200 is expected to enter a group corresponding to a new area, the user's terminal device may send a request for a beacon map corresponding to the new area to a beacon management server 300. Also, the user's terminal device 200 may transmit state information received from the beacon device 100 to the beacon group management server 300.

Hereinafter, a user's terminal device will be described in detail referring to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a user's terminal device for beacon device group management according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A user's terminal device 200 may include a receiving unit 210, a storing unit 220, a controlling unit 230, a communicating unit 240, and a predicting unit 250.

The receiving unit 210 may receive a packet broadcast from a beacon device 100. For example, the receiving unit 210 may receive the packet using Bluetooth Low Energy. However, not limited to this, the receiving unit 210 may use any short-distance communication method including Wi-Fi.

The storing unit 220 may store a beacon map for each group, which is received from a beacon group management server 300. Here, the beacon map stored in the storing unit 220 may be a beacon map of beacon devices 100 in a group in which the user's terminal device is currently located. Also, the beacon map stored in the storing unit 220 may be a beacon map of beacon devices 100 in a group to which the user's terminal device 200 is expected to move.

When the user's terminal device 200 is expected to enter a new area by the predicting unit 250 that will be described later, or when there is a beacon device that does not correspond to a stored beacon map, the controlling unit 230 may send a request for a relevant beacon map to the beacon group management server 300.

Also, the controlling unit 230 receives the beacon map corresponding to the requested group from the beacon group management server 300, and may store the beacon map in the storing unit 220.

Also, when a predetermined time period has elapsed after receiving the beacon map corresponding to a new area from the beacon group management server 300 or when determining that a capacity of the storing unit 220 is insufficient to store the beacon map, the controlling unit 230 may delete a previously stored beacon map, which is a previously used beacon map. For example, when the user's terminal device 200 receives a beacon map corresponding to a new area from the beacon group management server 300 and stores it, a previously stored beacon map has a low probability to be used. Accordingly, the controlling unit 230 may determine the condition for deleting the previously stored beacon map. Also, when the user's terminal device 200 receives a beacon map corresponding to a new area, it is probable that the user's terminal device 200 is located in a group corresponding to the beacon map. Accordingly, the controlling unit 230 may delete a previously stored beacon map as a predetermined time period passes. Also, when a capacity for storing a beacon map is insufficient, the previously stored beacon map may be deleted because it is unnecessary to retain it.

The communicating unit 240 may communicate with the beacon group management server 300. For example, the communicating unit 240 may communicate with the beacon group management server 300 using a long-distance communication method, including a cellular network. However, not limited to this, the communicating unit 240 may communicate with the beacon group management server 300 using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

The predicting unit 250 may predict whether to enter a new area, which does not correspond to a beacon map stored in the storing unit 220. For example, the predicting unit 250 compares the receiving signal intensity of a beacon device that is not included in a beacon map stored in the storing unit 220 with that of a beacon device included in the beacon map stored in the storing unit 220. Then, when the receiving signal intensity of the beacon device that is not included in the beacon map is larger than that of the beacon device included in the beacon map, or when the receiving signal intensity of the beacon device that is not included in the beacon map gradually increases, the predicting unit 250 may predict entry into the new area.

Also, the predicting unit 250 may estimate a current location by trilateration using the intensity or arrival time of the signal received from each beacon device 100. Also, the predicting unit 250 may measure the direction and speed of the current movement using a motion sensor (not illustrated), and estimate the current location based on the measurement. Accordingly, when the estimated current location is not an area corresponding to a beacon map, the predicting unit 250 may predict entry into a new area.

Similarly, using a GPS signal, the prediction unit 250 may estimate the current location outdoors, and when the current location is not an area corresponding to a beacon map, the prediction unit 250 may predict entry into a new area.

Again referring to FIG. 1, a beacon group management server 300 manages beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N. In response to a request of the user's terminal device 200, the beacon group management server 300 may transmit a beacon map configured according to a group to the user's terminal device 200. A management DB 350 may store data related to beacon group management.

Hereinafter, a beacon group management server 300 and a management DB 350 will be described in detail referring to FIG. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a group management server for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The beacon group management server 300 may include a group configuring unit 310, a group managing unit 320, a communicating unit 330, and a validating unit 340.

After receiving, from an administrator's terminal device 400, both basic information of each beacon device 100 disposed as a group and information of a building in which the beacon devices 100 are installed, the group configuring unit 310 may configure a beacon map for each group by categorizing the information of the beacon devices 100 into groups based on a location or a purpose of service. For example, based on the building information, in other words, based on any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name, the group configuring unit 310 may configure a beacon map for each group by locations. Also, based on a purpose of service, the group configuring unit 310 may configure a beacon map for each group. For example, a beacon map for each group may be configured for stores specializing in the same or similar products, for stores dealing in products of the same or similar brands, or for products of the same or similar brand. Here, the basic information may include an ID of a building, the number of floors in the building, the x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), the transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmission cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map. Also, the building information may include a building ID, a building name, a description of the building, a building address, the highest floor, the lowest floor, and GPS coordinates.

Also, the group configuring unit 310 may update a beacon map by receiving, from an administrator's terminal device 400, basic information and building information of either a new beacon device 100 or an existing beacon device 100 whose location has changed. For example, when a new beacon device 100 is installed or when a location of an existing beacon device 100 is changed, the group configuring unit 310 may update the beacon map stored in a management DB 350 by receiving the basic information and building information of the relevant beacon device from the administrator's terminal device 400.

The group managing unit 320 manages a beacon map for each group, which is configured by the group configuring unit 310, to be stored in the management DB 350. When receiving the request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device 200, the group managing unit 320 searches the management DB 350 for a beacon map corresponding to the location of the user's terminal device, and extracts it from the management DB 350. Then, the group managing unit 320 may push the extracted beacon map to the user's terminal device 200 that has requested it. More specifically, when the user's terminal device 200 requests a beacon map of a relevant beacon device, which is required as the user's terminal device 200 enters a new area, the group managing unit 320 extracts the beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device 200 from the management DB 350. Also, when the user's terminal device 200 requests a beacon map corresponding to a group that is related to a new area where the user's terminal device 200 is expected to move, the group managing unit 320 may extract the relevant beacon map from the management DB 350.

The communicating unit 330 may communicate with a user's terminal device 200 or an administrator's terminal device 400. For example, the communicating unit 330 may communicate with the user's terminal device 200 or the administrator's terminal device 400 using a long-distance communication method such as a cellular network. However, not limited to this, the communicating unit 330 may communicate with the user's terminal device 200 or the administrator's terminal device using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

When receiving a request for a beacon map from the user's terminal device 200, the validating unit 340 may verify validity of the user's terminal device 200. For example, the validating unit 340 searches the management DB 350 for the user's terminal device 200 that has transmitted the request for the beacon map, and may verify the validity of the user's terminal device 200 according to whether the user's terminal device 200 is registered. Alternatively, the validating unit 340 may verify the validity of the user's terminal device 200 based on MAC address of the user's terminal device 200, a user ID/password, and a service application ID/password.

The management DB 350 includes user information 352, building information 354, and a beacon map for each group 356. The user information 352 is registered user information, and may be used for verifying validity of a user's terminal device 200. The building information 354 is information of a building in which a beacon device 100 is installed, and may be information used for generation of a beacon map. For example, the building information 354 may include a building ID, a building name, a description of the building, a building address, the highest floor, the lowest floor, and GPS coordinates. The beacon map for each group 356 may be configured by categorizing basic information of the beacon devices 100 into groups according to a location or a purpose of service. The basic information may include an ID of a building, the number of floors in the building, the x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), the transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmission cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map.

Again referring to FIG. 1, to generate a beacon map for beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N, both basic information and building information of each beacon device 100 in the beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N is input to an administrator's terminal device 400, and may be transmitted to a beacon group management server 300. Also, when a new beacon device 100 is installed or when a location of an existing beacon device 100 has changed, basic information and building information of either the new beacon device 100 or the existing beacon device 100 whose location has changed may be input to the administrator's terminal device 400.

This administrator's terminal device 400 may have a configuration similar to that of the user's terminal device 200 illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, to transmit the input state information to the beacon group management server 300, the administrator's terminal device 400 may include a communicating unit that is similar to the communicating unit 240 of the user's terminal device 200.

As described above, a group management system for beacon devices 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention enables for a user's terminal device to download information of multiple beacon devices in a group unit, whereby communication between the user's terminal device and a beacon management server may be minimized and electric power consumption and a time delay may be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to provide comprehensive service using multiple devices in a group, for example, price comparison.

Hereinafter, a group management method for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a group management method for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The group management method for beacon devices 700 includes: a step for generating a beacon map for each group by receiving, from an administrator's terminal device 400, both basic information of each beacon device 100 included in beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N and information of a building in which the beacon device 100 is installed (S701 to S703); and a step for updating the beacon map for each group (S704 to S706).

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, basic information of each beacon device 100 in beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N and information of a building in which the beacon device 100 is installed may be input to the administrator's terminal device 400 (S701). Here, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N may include multiple beacon devices 100 assigned to groups that are configured according to each level of a building. These beacon device groups 100-1 to 100-N may be configured based on building information, for example, based on any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name. In this case, the basic information input to the administrator's terminal device 400 may include an ID of a building, the number of floors in the building, the x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), the transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmission cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map. Also, the building information may include a building ID, a building name, a description of the building, a building address, the highest floor, the lowest floor, and GPS coordinates.

Next, the administrator's terminal device 400 may transmit both basic information and building information of the beacon device 100 to a beacon group management server 300 (S702). In other words, in order that the beacon group management server 300 configures a beacon map for each group, the administrator's terminal device 400 may transmit both the basic information and building information of each beacon device 100 to the beacon group management server 300.

Next, the beacon group management server 300 may configure a beacon map for each group by categorizing the basic information of the beacon devices, which is received from the administrator's terminal device 400, into groups based on a location or a purpose of service, and may store the beacon map in a management DB 350 (S703). Here, the beacon map for each group may be configured based on the building information, for example, based on any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name, where the beacon device 100 is located. Also, the beacon map for each group may be configured according to a purpose of service. For example, the beacon map is configured for a group of stores specializing in the same or similar products, for a group of stores dealing in products of the same or similar brands, or for a group of products of the same or similar brand. The beacon map configured as the above description may include the basic information of the beacon device, including an ID of the building, the number of floors in the building, the x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), the transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmission cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map.

Next, when a new beacon device 100 is installed or when a location of an existing beacon device 100 is changed, basic information and building information of either the new beacon device 100 or the existing beacon device 100 whose location has changed may be input to the administrator's terminal device 400 (S704). In other words, after a beacon device 100 is newly installed or after the location of a beacon device has changed, an administrator may input both basic information and building information of the relevant beacon device 100 using the administrator's terminal device 400.

Next, state information of either the new beacon device 100 or the beacon device whose location has changed may be transmitted from the administrator's terminal device 400 to the beacon group management server 300 (S705). In other words, after a beacon device 100 is newly installed or after a location of a beacon device 100 has changed, both the basic information and building information of the beacon device 100, which is input to the administrator's terminal device 400, may be transmitted to the beacon group management server 300 to update a beacon map for each group.

Next, the beacon group management server 300 receives the basic information and building information of either the new beacon device 100 or the beacon device 100 whose location has changed from the administrator's terminal device 400, and may update the beacon map (S706). In other words, when a new beacon device 100 is installed or when a location of an existing beacon device 100 has changed, the beacon group management server 300 may receive the relevant basic information and building information from the administrator's terminal device 400, and may update the beacon map stored in the management DB 350.

Hereinafter, a group management method for beacon devices according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a group management method for beacon devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The group management method for beacon devices 800 may include: a step for requesting a beacon map for a new group according to change of a location of a user's terminal device 200 (S801 to S803); a step for extracting a beacon map for the requested group and for pushing the beacon map to the user's terminal device 200 (S804 to S807); and a step for deleting an existing beacon map (S808 to S809).

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, first, a beacon device 100 may broadcast a generated packet to a user's terminal device 200 (S801). In this case, the broadcast packet may include various state information of the beacon device 100, for example, state information including transmitting power, battery power, the temperature, and humidity.

Next, the user terminal device 200 may predict whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to a beacon map that has been previously stored in the user's terminal device 200 (S802). In this case, the user's terminal device 200 compares the receiving signal intensity of a beacon device that is not included in the previously stored beacon map with that of a beacon device included in the previously stored beacon map. Then, when the receiving signal intensity of the beacon device that is not included in the beacon map is larger than that of the beacon device included in the beacon map, or when the receiving signal intensity of the beacon device that is not included in the beacon map gradually increases, the user's terminal device 200 is expected to enter a new area. Also, the user's terminal device 200 may estimate a current location by trilateration using the intensity or arrival time of the signal received from each beacon device 100. Also, the user's terminal device 200 may measure the direction and speed of the current movement using a motion sensor, and estimate the current location based on the measurement. Accordingly, when the estimated current location is not an area corresponding to a beacon map, entry into a new area may be predicted. Similarly, using a GPS signal, the user's terminal device 200 may estimate the current location outdoors, and when the current location is not an area corresponding to a beacon map, entry into a new area may be predicted.

Next, according to a result of the prediction, when the user's terminal device 200 enters a new area, in other words, when there is a beacon device not included in the currently stored beacon map, or when the user's terminal device 200 is expected to enter a new area, in other words, when the user's terminal device 200 is expected to move to another group, a request for a beacon map for the relevant group may be sent to the beacon group management server 300 (S803).

Next, the beacon group management server 300 may verify validity of the user's terminal device 200 that has requested the beacon map (S804). For example, the beacon group management server 300 may search the management DB 350 for the user's terminal device 200 that has transmitted the request for the beacon map. Then, according to whether the user's terminal device 200 is registered, the validity of the user's terminal device 200 may be verified. Alternatively, the beacon group management server 300 may verify the validity of the user's terminal device 200 based on MAC address of the user's terminal device 200, a user ID/password, and a service application ID/password.

Next, according to the request for the beacon map transmitted from the user's terminal device 200, a beacon map for a group that corresponds to the location of the user's terminal device 200 is searched for and extracted from the management DB 350 (S805). In this case, when the user's terminal device 200 requests a beacon map of a relevant beacon device 100, which is required as the user's terminal device 200 enters a new area, the beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for the beacon map is extracted from the management DB 350. When the user's terminal device 200 requests a beacon map corresponding to a group that is related to a new area where the user's terminal device 200 is expected to move, the relevant beacon map may be extracted from the management DB 350.

Next, the extracted beacon map for a beacon device 100 of the new area may be pushed to the user's terminal device 200 (S806). In other words, a beacon map for a beacon device 100 of a new area or a beacon map for a group to which the user's terminal device is expected to move may be pushed to the user's terminal device 200.

Next, the user's terminal device 200 may store the beacon map for the new area, which is received from the beacon group management server 300 (S807). Using the stored beacon map for the new area, the user terminal device 200 may confirm its own location and may receive supplementary information services.

Next, it is determined whether a predetermined time period has elapsed after receiving the beacon map for a new area from the beacon group management server 300, or whether a capacity is insufficient to store the beacon map (S808). In other words, when a beacon map corresponding to a new area is received from the beacon group management server 300 and the beacon map is stored, a previously stored beacon map has a low probability to be used. Accordingly, a condition for deleting the previously stored beacon map may be determined.

According to the determination in the step of S808, when the predetermined time period has elapsed after receiving the beacon map corresponding to a new area or when determining that the capacity is insufficient to store the beacon map, a previously stored beacon map may be deleted (S809). In other words, when the user's terminal device 200 receives a beacon map corresponding to a new area, it is probable that the user's terminal device 200 is located in a group corresponding to the beacon map. Accordingly, a previously stored beacon map may be deleted as a predetermined time period passes. Also, when the capacity for storing a beacon map is insufficient, a previously stored beacon map may be deleted because it is unnecessary to retain it.

As described above, a group management method for beacon devices according to an embodiment of the present invention enables for a user's terminal device to download information of multiple beacon devices in a group unit, whereby communication between the user's terminal device and a beacon management server may be minimized and electric power consumption and a time delay may be reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to provide comprehensive service using multiple devices in a group, for example, price comparison.

The methods described above may be implemented by a beacon device 100, a user's terminal device 200, a beacon group management server 300, and an administrator's terminal device 400, illustrated in FIG. 1. Especially, the methods may be implemented by software programs that perform the described steps. In this case, these programs may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or may be transmitted by a computer data signal combined with carrier wave through the transmission medium or communication network.

In this case, the computer-readable storage medium includes all kind of recording devices storing data that can be read by computer systems. For example, the computer-readable storage medium may be ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, hard disks, optical data storage devices, and the like.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A beacon group management server, comprising:

a group configuring unit for receiving, from an administrator's terminal device, basic information of each beacon device and information of a building in which the beacon device is installed, and for configuring a beacon map for each group by categorizing the basic information of the beacon device into groups according to a location or a purpose of service; and

a group managing unit for storing and managing the configured beacon map for each group, and for pushing, when receiving a request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device, a beacon map for a group that corresponds to a location of the user's terminal device.

The beacon group management server of claim 1, wherein the group configuring unit configures the beacon map for each group according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

The beacon group management server of claim 1, wherein:

the basic information includes an ID of a relevant building, a number of floors in the building, x, y coordinates of any point in the building, MAC address, a beacon ID (UUID), a transmitting signal intensity and receiving signal intensity of the beacon device, a transmitting cycle, and a group ID of a beacon map; and

the information of the building includes an ID of the building, a name of the building, a description of the building, an address of the building, a highest floor, a lowest floor, and GPS coordinates.

The beacon group management server of claim 1, wherein the group configuring unit updates the beacon map by receiving, from the administrator's terminal device, basic information and building information of a new beacon device or of an existing beacon device whose location has changed.

The beacon group management server of claim 1, wherein the group configuring unit extracts a beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for a beacon map.

The beacon group management server of claim 1, further comprising:

a validating unit for verifying validity of the user's terminal device when receiving the request for a beacon map from the user's terminal device.

A user's terminal device, comprising:

a storing unit for storing a beacon map related to beacon devices disposed as a group unit;

a predicting unit for predicting whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to the stored beacon map; and

a controlling unit for sending a request for a relevant beacon map to a beacon group management server when the user's terminal device is expected to enter the new area, and for controlling storage of the beacon map received from the beacon group management server in the storing unit.

The user's terminal device of claim 7, wherein the predicting unit predicts whether to enter a new area according to any one among comparison of a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device not included in the stored beacon map with a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device included in the stored beacon map, estimation of a current location by trilateration using an intensity or arrival time of a signal received from each beacon device, estimation of a current location by a direction and speed of current movement using a motion sensor, and estimation of a current location according to a GPS signal outdoors.

The user's terminal device of claim 7, wherein the controlling unit deletes a previously stored beacon map when a predetermined time period has passed after receiving a beacon map corresponding to the new area or when a capacity of the storing unit is insufficient to store a beacon map.

A beacon group management system, comprising:

a beacon group management server of any one of claim 1 to 6;

a beacon device disposed as a group unit; and

a user's terminal device of any one of claim 7 to 9.

A beacon group management method, comprising:

receiving, from an administrator's terminal device, basic information of each beacon device and information of a building in which the beacon device is installed, in a beacon group management server;

configuring a beacon map for each group by categorizing the basic information of the beacon device into groups according to a location and a purpose of service; and

pushing, when receiving a request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device, a beacon map of a group that corresponds to a location of the user's terminal device to the user's terminal device.

The beacon group management method of claim 11, further comprising:

updating the beacon map when receiving, from the administrator's terminal device, basic information and building information of a new beacon device or of an existing beacon device whose location has changed.

The beacon group management method of claim 11, wherein in configuring the beacon map for each group, the beacon map for each group is configured according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

The beacon group management method of claim 11, wherein:

The beacon group management method of claim 11, further comprising:

verifying, before pushing the beacon map, validity of the user's terminal device that has requested the beacon map.

The beacon group management method of claim 11, further comprising:

extracting, before pushing the beacon map, a beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for a beacon map.

The beacon group management method of claim 11, further comprising:

predicting, in the user's terminal device, whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to a previously stored beacon map;

sending a request for a relevant beacon map to the beacon group management server when the user's terminal device is expected to enter the new area; and

storing the beacon map received from the beacon group management server.

The beacon group management method of claim 17, wherein in predicting whether to enter the new area, whether to enter the new area is predicted according to any one among comparison of a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device not included in the stored beacon map with a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device included in the stored beacon map, estimation of a current location by trilateration using an intensity or arrival time of a signal received from each beacon device, estimation of a current location by a direction and speed of current movement using a motion sensor, and estimation of a current location according to a GPS signal outdoors.

The beacon group management method of claim 17, further comprising:

deleting, when a predetermined time period has passed after receiving a beacon map corresponding to the new area or when a capacity for storing the beacon map is insufficient, the previously stored beacon map.

A computer-readable storage medium on which a program, executed in a beacon group management server, is recorded,

wherein the program comprises:

a code for receiving, from an administrator's terminal device, basic information of each beacon device and information of a building in which the beacon device is installed;

a code for configuring a beacon map for each group by categorizing the received basic information of the beacon device into groups according to a location and a purpose of service; and

a code for pushing, when receiving a request for the beacon map from a user's terminal device, a beacon map corresponding to a location of the user's terminal device.

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the program further comprises,

a code for updating the beacon map when receiving, from the administrator's terminal device, basic information and building information of a new beacon device or of an existing beacon device whose location has changed.

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the code for configuring the beacon map for each group configures the beacon map for each group according to any one among a regional address, a building, a level of a building, and a street name.

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein:

a code for verifying validity of the user's terminal device that has requested the beacon map before pushing the beacon map to the user's terminal device.

a code for extracting, before pushing the beacon map to the user's terminal device, a beacon map corresponding to the request of the user's terminal device for a beacon map.

A computer-readable storage medium on which a program, executed in a user's terminal device that is connected to a beacon group management server, is recorded,

wherein the program comprises:

a code for predicting whether to enter a new area that does not correspond to a previously stored beacon map;

a code for sending a request for a new beacon map to the beacon group management server when the user's terminal device is expected to enter the new area; and

a code for storing a beacon map received from the beacon group management server.

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the code for predicting whether to enter the new area predicts whether to enter the new area according to any one among comparison of a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device not included in the stored beacon map with a receiving signal intensity of a beacon device included in the stored beacon map, estimation of a current location by trilateration using an intensity or arrival time of a signal received from each beacon device, estimation of a current location by a direction and speed of current movement using a motion sensor, and estimation of a current location according to a GPS signal outdoors.

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the program further comprises,

a code for deleting, when a predetermined time period has passed after receiving a beacon map corresponding to the new area or when it is determined that a capacity for storing the beacon map is insufficient, the previously stored beacon map.