KR20170025311A - Apparatus and method for managing location of Electronic information label - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, disclosed is a technology to manage location information, and more specifically, disclosed is a computing technology to manage location information of an electronic label device. One objective of the present invention is to monitor location information of an electronic label device by using an ultrawideband (UWB) real time location system even if a register registering the electronic label device and goods cannot use wireless communication in a UWB. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus to manage a location of an electronic label device calculates location information of a tag based on location information of a plurality of anchors and information of a time when the anchor receives a signal from the tag, and generates the location information of the electronic label device from the generated location information of the tag.

Description

[0001] Apparatus and method for managing an electronic label device [

  A technology for managing location information, and more particularly, a computing technology for managing location information of an electronic label device is disclosed.

The paper label attached to the store in the store has the troubles of replacing the product information displayed by the electronic label and the environmental problem caused by the replacement. An electronic information label (EIL) is known in which product information is displayed electronically in place of a paper label, and product information to be updated is displayed by changing display information. The electronic label receives product information to be displayed from the server through the gateway.

When interference occurs due to the presence of another communication medium having the same frequency band as that of the communication medium used for the price update, the electronic label does not smoothly receive display information to be updated from the management server through the gateway. In this case, if there is a communication failure between the gateway and the electronic label, it is necessary to track the location of the electronic label and quickly reinstall or repair it.

As described above, there is a growing demand for functions using position information of electronic label devices in electronic label systems. The position of the electronic label device in which the communication is abnormally performed through the positional information of the electronic label device as well as a service for registering the position information of the electronic label device and helping to find the position of the product allocated to the electronic label device There is a growing demand for monitoring systems and the like.

One of the problems to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electronic labeling device and a registration device for registering a product, which can perform wireless communication in ultra wide band (UWB) The location information of the electronic label device can be monitored in real time using the location system.

Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to identify a communication area and a shadow area with an electronic label device for each gateway device.

In an aspect of the present invention, the electronic label device position management apparatus calculates location information of a tag based on position information of a plurality of anchors and time information when an anchor receives a signal from the tag, And generates position information.

In another aspect, the electronic label device position management apparatus compares the time information at which the anchor received the signal from the tag and the registration time information in which the registration device registered the product with the electronic label device, and calculates the position of the electronic label device from the tag position can do.

In yet another aspect, the electronic label device location management device can output identification information of an electronic label device that does not communicate smoothly with the gateway device.

In another aspect, the communication status output unit can display electronic label devices that are not in communication with the gateway device on the store map.

In another aspect, it is possible to calculate the position of a gateway device to be added, which can communicate with an electronic label device that is not in communication with any gateway device in the store.

In yet another aspect, the merchandise position output section can calculate the position of the merchandise from the calculated position of the electronic label apparatus and display it on the store map.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the position of the electronic label device or the product can be displayed on the display to facilitate the management of the electronic label device.

1 shows an overall configuration of an electronic label system according to an embodiment.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic label device location management apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 illustrates a method of calculating the position of a tag through an ultra-wideband real-time location tracking technique.
4 shows a method of calculating the position of the electronic labeling device.
5 is a table listing electronic label device registration information and tag signal reception time information.
6 shows an example of a wireless communication environment of an electronic label system.
Fig. 7 shows an example of a modification to add a gateway device in the electronic label system of Fig.
8 shows an example of a map showing the position of each good on the floor plan of the store.
9 is a flowchart of a method for managing the location of an author label device according to an embodiment.
10 is a detailed flowchart of the electronic label device position generating step.

The foregoing and further aspects are embodied through the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the components of each embodiment are capable of various combinations within an embodiment as long as no other mention or mutual contradiction exists. Furthermore, the proposed invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

In order to clearly illustrate the claimed invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and like reference numerals are used for like parts throughout the specification. And, when a section is referred to as "including " an element, it does not exclude other elements unless specifically stated to the contrary. As used herein, the term " block " refers to a block of hardware or software configured to be changed or pluggable, i.e., a unit or block that performs a specific function in hardware or software.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation and that those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made therein. It will be possible. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be determined only by the appended claims.

1 shows an overall configuration of an electronic label system according to an embodiment. As shown, the label management server apparatus 110 communicates with the plurality of electronic label apparatuses 171-1, ..., 171-N via the gateway apparatus 130. [ In the illustrated embodiment, the label management server apparatus 110 and the gateway apparatus 130 are connected by wire, and the gateway apparatus 130 and the electronic label apparatuses 171-1,. .., 171-N communicate according to a protocol defined on the PHY / MAC layer according to short-range wireless communication, for example the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

The label management server 110 manages identification information of electronic label devices, product identification information of the product information displayed by the electronic label, and product information to be displayed. When the electronic labeling apparatus is installed, the registration terminal 150 reads, for example, a barcode attached to the counter where the merchandise is displayed. The registration terminal is, for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA). The registration terminal 150 is a personal communication terminal having a Wi-Fi communication function and a bar code scanning function, and is known as an electronic label registration terminal. The barcode includes positional information of a position where the barcode is attached, for example, code information for specifying a barcode number and a position in the barcode.

Then, the registration terminal 150 reads the barcode of the article and reads the barcode attached to the back of the electronic label to be attached to the bar. The read information is transmitted to the label management server 110. For example, the registration terminal 150 communicates with the label management server 110 via WiFi communication.

The tag transmits a radio signal to an anchor 170, which will be described later. The anchor 170 wirelessly communicating with the tag transmits the packet received from the tag to the label management server or the service server 120. The label management server or the service server 120 can calculate the position of the tag based on the received packet, which will be described later in detail.

The electronic label device location management device may be implemented by the service server 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic label management server 110 and the service server 120 are described as separate servers that communicate with each other via a network. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The electronic label device location management device may be implemented by the service server 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic label management server 110 and the service server 120 are described as separate servers that communicate with each other via a network. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Each server may be a separate process that runs physically on one server. Current advanced computing technologies can physically operate one server as a plurality of logical servers. Furthermore, they can be implemented as separate processes running on one logical server, rather than being logically separate servers. Furthermore, they may be implemented as a whole.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic label device location management apparatus according to an embodiment.

In an aspect, the electronic label device position management apparatus includes a storage unit 240, a communication unit 220, a registration information reception unit 211, a tag signal reception time information reception unit 212, a tag position information calculation unit 213, And a label device position information generation unit 230. [

Although not shown, the electronic label device location management device includes a control unit for overall control of the electronic label device location management device. The control unit is, for example, a microcontroller or a microprocessor. That is, the control unit is implemented by a microprocessor or a microcontroller that executes a program stored in the storage unit 240. [ The control unit includes the registration information receiving unit 211, the tag signal receiving time information receiving unit 212, the tag position information calculating unit 213, the electronic label device position information generating unit 230 and the communication state output unit 250 And a tag information receiving unit 212, a tag position information calculating unit 213 and an electronic label device position information generating unit 230 generate program instruction sets . However, it is not limited thereto, and may be implemented by dedicated hardware, for example, sequential and / or combinational logic circuitry.

In one embodiment, the storage unit 240 stores location information of a plurality of anchors 170. The location information may be, for example, location information of an anchor 170 installed in a store, and may be a global positioning system (GPS) coordinate system. As another example, the location information may be information that can identify the location in the store. For example, a store may be divided into a grid of 1 m in width and a coordinate in which the position on the grid is represented by a rectangular coordinate system. Another example would be a combination of a code identifying a store installed in a store and a code specifying a section in an ordered section within the store. As will be described later, the position information of the plurality of anchors 170 is used to calculate the position information of the tag.

In one embodiment, the communication unit 220 communicates with the registration terminal 150 and the anchor 170.

In one embodiment, the registration information receiving unit 211 receives the registration information including the electronic label device identification information, the product identification information, and the registration time information from the registration terminal 150 via the communication unit 220.

The registration information receiving unit 211 obtains the product identification information from the barcode attached to the product in the process of registering the goods and the electronic label in the store through the registration terminal 150 and extracts the product identification information from the barcode attached to the electronic label, As shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic label apparatus may include an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag, and the registration terminal 150 may tag the electronic label apparatus to obtain the identification information of the electronic label apparatus. The electronic label device location management device matches and stores the electronic label device identification information and the product identification information included in the registration information received by the registration information receiving section 211. [ This process is completed for all electronic labeling devices and products in the store, and the electronic labeling device location management device stores information that matches all the electronic labeling devices and all products.

In one embodiment, the tag signal reception time information reception unit 212 receives the tag signal reception time information from the anchor 170 through the communication unit 220. The tag signal is a blinking message transmitted by the tag to the anchor 170, and the tag signal reception time information is the time information when the anchor 170 receives the blinking message from the tag. A further explanation of the tag signal reception time information receiving unit 212 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In one embodiment, the tag position information calculation unit 213 calculates the position information of the tag from the position information of the anchor 170 and the tag signal reception time information.

First, the tag position information calculation unit 213 calculates the distance between the anchor 170 and the tag.

Equation 1

The coordinates of the anchor 170 are (x1, y2), the coordinates of the anchor 170 are (x2, y2), and the coordinates of the anchor 170 are (x3, y3). The coordinates of the tag are (xm, ym), D1 is the distance between the tag and the anchor 170, D2 is the distance between the tag and the anchor 170 2, D3 is the distance between the tag and the anchor 170,

In one embodiment, D1, D2 and D3 can be calculated using the relationship with the intensity of the received signal.

      Equation 2

Equation 2 is to find the path loss in free space with the Friis formula, L is the loss (dB) of the transmitted signal, λ is the wavelength of the radio wave, do.

Equation 3

Equation 3 represents Equation 2 for distance D, c is propagation velocity, and f is frequency.

  In another embodiment, D1, D2 and D3 are calculated using Time of Arrival (TOA) information.

     Equation 4

Equation 4 is a simple physical formula of velocity = distance / time. The tag and the plurality of anchors 170 must be synchronized with each other in terms of time so that the correct distance is calculated.

The tag position information calculation unit 213 calculates D1, D2, and D3 using received information intensity or arrival time information. The tag position information calculation unit 213 calculates the coordinates (xm, ym) of the tag by substituting the coordinates of the anchors 170 and the calculated values D1, D2, and D3 into the equation (1).

Using the calculated D1, D2, and D3, the three anchors 170 are positioned at the center of the circle, and a circle having a radius of D1, D2, and D3 is drawn using the triangulation method according to another embodiment, . (Xm, ym) where the three circles having the radii D1, D2, and D3 meet is the position of the tag.

The tag position information calculation unit 213 may calculate the position of the tag using Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) information. The arrival time difference information is an algorithm for finding the position of a tag on a hyperbola that focuses on a point where the distance difference between the gateway devices is focused by measuring the difference between the arrival times of the tags and the signals transmitted / received by the two or more anchors 170. The position of the tag can be found by finding the intersection using two hyperbolas obtained from the three anchors 170.

Equation 5

 D3-D2 and D3-D1 represent the delay difference of the signal arrival time, and the arrival time delay difference of each signal is shown in a hyperbolic form. The intersection of the hyperbola is the position of the tag. D1, D2, and D3 can be calculated using the above-described method, for example, received signal strength or arrival time information. The position (xm, ym) of the tag can be calculated by using the calculated values of D1, D2, and D3 and the position coordinates of the anchor 170.

   In another embodiment, the position of the tag can be calculated using the angle of arrival (AOA) information. The anchor 170 measures an angle by using a direction angle of a signal transmitted from a tag and calculates an intersection point of the angle between the anchor 170 and the tag to measure the position of the tag. In order to measure the position of the tag, at least two direction angles are required, and the position can be grasped by intersecting them.

In one embodiment, the electronic label device location information generation unit 230 generates location information of the electronic label device from the registration time information and the calculated tag location information. The electronic label device position generation unit may include a time difference determination unit 231 and an electronic label device position information calculation unit 232. [

In one embodiment, the time difference determination unit 231 may compare the tag signal reception time information with the registration time information to determine whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference. The tag may be carried along with the registration terminal 150. For example, the tag is engaged in the loop of the registration terminal 150. The tag position information calculated by the tag position information calculation unit 213 may be position information of the registered terminal 150 concluded with the tag.

While the registration terminal 150 registers the goods and the electronic label device as described above, the tag position information calculation section 213 continuously calculates the position of the tag. The electronic label device location management apparatus manages the location information of the tag when the anchor 170 receives the blink message from the tag. The electronic label device location management device also manages registration time information, electronic label device identification information, and product identification information when the registration terminal 150 registers a product with the electronic label device. The time difference determination unit 231 determines whether the difference between the tag signal reception time and the registration time is a predetermined difference through the tag signal reception time information and the registration time information stored in the electronic label device location management device. The predetermined difference may be, for example, several ms or less. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined difference can be freely determined in consideration of the installation interval of the electronic label device on the stand.

In one embodiment, when the time difference determination unit 231 determines that the difference is a predetermined difference, the electronic label device position information calculation unit 232 calculates the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within a predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time Calculates the position information of the electronic label device with the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time. If the time difference between the tag signal reception time information and the registration time information is small, the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time is set to the electronic label device registered at the time adjacent to the tag signal reception time As shown in FIG. In this way, in order to generate the position information of the electronic label device, the time difference determination unit 231 determines whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference. If it is determined that the difference is a predetermined difference, the electronic label device position information calculation unit 232 calculates the position of the electronic label device using the position of the tag as the position of the electronic label device. That is, the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is calculated as the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time.

In one embodiment, the communication status output unit 250 outputs the identification information of the electronic label devices that lost the communication signal. The identification information of the electronic label devices means unique code information given to the electronic label device to identify a plurality of electronic label devices located in the store. In one embodiment, the communication status output unit 250 includes a communication status information collection unit 251, a radio environment calculation unit 252, and a communication status display unit 253.

In one embodiment, the communication status information collecting unit 251 collects identification information of electronic label devices that are connected to the gateway device and can communicate with each gateway device. Electronic label devices wake up at regular intervals and try to connect with the gateway device. If communication fails, try again after a certain period. Electronic label devices that are not connected for a predetermined period of time after the gateway device has called through the wake-up channel may be considered to be unable to communicate. Information of electronic label devices capable of communicating at a specific time point for each gateway device is collected by the electronic label device location management device. The communication status information is recorded in the storage unit 240. [

In one embodiment, the wireless environment computing unit 252 processes the electronic label devices capable of communicating collected by the gateway devices with an electronic label device having a good communication signal, and communicates with any of the installed electronic label devices The electronic label devices not found in the list of electronic label devices are processed by a signal-lost electronic label device and recorded in the storage part 240. In yet another embodiment, the gateway device may report electronic label devices that are not connected from a certain point in time of a good electronic label device with a communication signal to an electronic label device that lost the communication signal. In another example, a group of electronic label devices assigned to each gateway device is designated, and the gateway devices are all connected to the electronic label devices of the group and the information of the failed electronic label devices, Can be reported to the location management apparatus. The electronic label device location management device can collect the information and identify the electronic label devices that are not in communication with any gateway device.

In one embodiment, the communication status display unit 253 displays electronic label devices that have lost communication signals on the store map. It is possible to know which gateway device each of the electronic label devices is communicating with, so that it is possible to display the area where communication is possible by collecting the positional information of the electronic label device communicating with a specific gateway device. In addition, the shadow area can be displayed by collecting the position information of the electronic label device in which the communication signal is lost (signal-lost) or the electronic label device not responding. By periodically updating these area indications, the wireless communication status of the electronic label system can be closely monitored in real time.

 The communication status display unit 253 displays the communication status through a table composed of rows and columns of the identification information of the electronic labels that lost the communication signal. In one embodiment, the table displayed by the communication status display section 253 includes identification information of an electronic label in which a communication signal is lost, a communication signal loss time of an electronic label that lost the communication signal, a received signal strength indicator , Received Signal Strength Indicator) information, and the like.

In an aspect, the electronic label device location management device may further include a gateway device location calculation unit 260. [

In one embodiment, the gateway device position calculation section 260 can calculate the position of a gateway device to be added, which can communicate with the electronic label device that lost the communication signal. The gateway device position calculation unit 260 calculates the position of the gateway device to be added from the communication shadow area. In one embodiment, the center of gravity of the distributed mass points is determined using the electronic label devices located in the shaded area as mass points, and calculated as the position of the gateway device to be added. As another example, the center of the polygonal graphic shape generated by connecting the electronic label devices of the outermost area among the electronic label devices located in the shaded area may be obtained and calculated as the position of the gateway device to be added.

 In another embodiment, it is possible to design an existing gateway device to move by manually moving an existing gateway device, adding a gateway device, or adding a gateway device. Since the visually communicable area and the wireless shaded area are shown, this operation can be easily achieved. Also, after the gateway device is manually added or moved, the result of the real-time monitoring is confirmed again, so that the wireless environment of the changed system can be effectively measured and the validity of the change can be verified.

In one aspect, the electronic label device location management device may include a goods location output unit 270. [

In one embodiment, the merchandise position output unit 270 displays the calculated position of the electronic label apparatus on the store map as the position of the merchandise matched with the electronic label apparatus. The method of calculating the position of the electronic labeling device has been described above. Since the electronic labeling device is attached to the counter where the registered product is provided, the position of the electronic labeling device can be regarded as the location of the electronic labeling device and the registered product. The goods location output unit 270 displays the goods on the store map based on the location of the goods calculated by the above-described method.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of calculating the position of a tag through an ultra-wideband real-time location tracking technique. Referring to FIG. 3, four anchors 170 wirelessly communicate with the tag, and one anchor 170 of the four anchors 170 communicates with the electronic labeling device management server. The A1 anchor 170 transmits a clock calibration packet to the A2, A3, and A4 anchor 170, which are the slave anchors 170, with the master anchor 170. The times of the slave anchors 170 that received the time correction packet are synchronized. The tag broadcasts a blink message at a predetermined time interval (Brodcasting). The constant time interval is, for example, once every several tens of ms. Tag transmits the blink message to the anchor 170 using the UWB communication method or the ultrasonic communication method.

Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication is a wireless transmission technology occupying an occupied bandwidth of 25% or more of the center frequency. The UWB communication method is suitable for the local area network because the signal is distributed in the wide band, and since it receives and detects the energy distributed in the wide band, it is very resistant to the interference caused by the narrowband communication signal. In addition, since the pulse width is very narrow and the duty cycle is as small as 1% or less, spreading and overlapping of signals due to multiple propagation paths can be avoided and the diffusion band is increased. And because most circuits can be implemented in digital, circuit is simple and carrier wave is not used, so power consumption of transceiver is low.

The ultrasonic wave is a sound wave which is larger than the audible frequency 20KHz and the transmission distance is 300m.

The slave anchors 170 receiving the blink message from the tag send the packet to the master anchor 170. The packet includes the reception time information from which the blink message was received from the tag. The master anchor 170 transmits the packet received from the slave anchor 170 to the electronic label device location management device. The tag signal reception time information reception unit 212 of the electronic label device location management apparatus receives the tag signal reception time information from the master anchor 170. The tag signal reception time information is a packet including reception time information of the blink message. The information included in the packet is not limited to this, but may include received signal strength information received from the tag or direction information of a signal sent from the tag.

The tag position information calculation unit 213 of the electronic label device positioning apparatus calculates the position of the tag from the packet received from the master anchor 170. The embodiment for calculating the position of the tag is not limited thereto and only three anchors 170 can exist without the master anchor 170. [ The three anchors 170 directly transmit the packet including the reception time information of the blink message received from the tag to the electronic label device management apparatus, and the tag position information calculation unit 213 can calculate the position of the tag.

4 shows a method of calculating the position of the electronic labeling device.

As shown in FIG. 4, the registration terminal 150 and the tag are adjacent. As described in FIG. 3, the tag transmits the blink message at a predetermined time interval, and the electronic label device location management device calculates the position of the tag. The electronic label device location management device also receives registration information including electronic label device identification information, product identification information, and registration time information from the registered terminal 150 adjacent to the tag. The tag is adjacent to the registration terminal 150 in such a manner that it is concatenated to the registration terminal 150. If the time difference between the tag signal reception time information and the registration time information is small, the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time is set to the electronic label device registered at the time adjacent to the tag signal reception time As shown in FIG. In this way, in order to generate the position information of the electronic label device, the time difference determination unit 231 determines whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference. If it is determined that the difference is a predetermined difference, the electronic label device position information calculation unit 232 calculates the position of the electronic label device using the position of the tag as the position of the electronic label device. That is, the position of the electronic label device registered at the time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is calculated as the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time.

5 is a table listing electronic label device registration information and tag signal reception time information.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cola was registered at 13: 2: 2 with an electronic label device having an identification number of 50CCF829FA9B0001. The tag is located at (x ', y') on the store map, which is implemented as a grid point at 13:02. Among the times at which the position of the tag is measured, the time at which the electronic label device having the identification number of 50CCF829FA9B0001 is closest to the registered time is 13.2 minutes. The position of the electronic label device having the identification number of 50CCF829FA9B0001 can be calculated as (x ', y') which is the position of the tag at 13:02.

6 shows an example of a wireless communication environment of an electronic label system.

The communication status display unit 253 displays electronic label devices that have lost communication signals on the store map as shown in Fig. It is possible to know which gateway device each of the electronic label devices is communicating with, so that it is possible to display the area where communication is possible by collecting the positional information of the electronic label device communicating with a specific gateway device. In addition, the shadow area can be displayed by collecting the position information of the electronic label device in which the communication signal is lost (signal-lost) or the electronic label device not responding. By periodically updating these area indications, the wireless communication status of the electronic label system can be closely monitored in real time.

Fig. 7 shows an example of adding a gateway device and changing the position of the gateway device in the electronic label system of Fig. In FIG. 7, in addition to the existing gateway apparatuses 310 to 390, gateway apparatuses 410 and 430 are added, and the existing gateway apparatuses 350, 310, and 370 are moved for the efficiency of wireless communication .

8 shows an example of a map showing the position of each good on the floor plan of the store. Since the electronic labeling device is attached to the counter where the registered product is provided, the position of the electronic labeling device can be regarded as the location of the electronic labeling device and the registered product. The merchandise position output unit 270 displays the merchandise on the store map based on the position of the merchandise calculated by the above-described method as shown in FIG.

9 is a flowchart of a method for managing the location of an author label device according to an embodiment.

In an aspect, an electronic label device position management method includes an anchor position storage step (S10), a registration information reception step (S20), a tag signal reception time information reception step, a tag position information calculation step (S40) And a generation step (S50).

In one embodiment, the anchor location storage step (S10) stores location information of a plurality of anchors 170. The location information may be, for example, location information of an anchor 170 installed in a store, and may be a global positioning system (GPS) coordinate system. As another example, the location information may be information that can identify the location in the store. For example, a store may be divided into a grid of 1 m in width and a coordinate in which the position on the grid is represented by a rectangular coordinate system. Another example would be a combination of a code identifying a store installed in a store and a code specifying a section in an ordered section within the store. As will be described later, the position information of the plurality of anchors 170 is used to calculate the position information of the tag.

In one embodiment, the registration information receiving step receives registration information including electronic label device identification information, product identification information, and registration time information from a registration terminal.

The registration information receiving step (S20) acquires the product identification information from the barcode attached to the product in the process of registering the goods and the electronic label in the store through the registration terminal 150, and acquires the product identification information from the barcode attached to the electronic label And obtains the identification information of the device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic label apparatus may be provided with an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag, and the registered terminal may acquire the identification information of the electronic label apparatus by tagging the electronic label apparatus.

In one embodiment, the tag signal reception time information reception step (S30) receives the tag signal reception time information from the anchor 170. The tag signal is a blinking message transmitted by the tag to the anchor 170, and the tag signal reception time information is the time information when the anchor 170 receives the blinking message from the tag.

In one embodiment, the tag position information calculation step S40 calculates the position information of the tag from the position information of the anchor and the tag signal reception time information.

First, the tag position information calculation step S40 calculates the distance between the anchor 170 and the tag.

Equation 1

The coordinates of the anchor 170 are (x1, y2), the coordinates of the anchor 170 are (x2, y2), and the coordinates of the anchor 170 are (x3, y3). The coordinates of the tag are (xm, ym), D1 is the distance between the tag and the anchor 170, D2 is the distance between the tag and the anchor 170 2, D3 is the distance between the tag and the anchor 170,

In one embodiment, D1, D2 and D3 can be calculated using the relationship with the intensity of the received signal.

      Equation 2

Equation 2 is to find the path loss in free space with the Friis formula, L is the loss (dB) of the transmitted signal, λ is the wavelength of the radio wave, do.

Equation 3

Equation 3 represents Equation 2 for distance D, c is propagation velocity, and f is frequency.

  In another embodiment, D1, D2 and D3 are calculated using Time of Arrival (TOA) information.

     Equation 4

Equation 4 is a simple physical formula of velocity = distance / time. The tag and the plurality of anchors 170 must be synchronized with each other in terms of time so that the correct distance is calculated.

The tag position information calculation unit 213 calculates D1, D2, and D3 using received information intensity or arrival time information. The tag position information calculation unit 213 calculates the coordinates (xm, ym) of the tag by substituting the coordinates of the anchors 170 and the calculated values D1, D2, and D3 into the equation (1).

Using the calculated D1, D2, and D3, the three anchors 170 are positioned at the center of the circle, and a circle having a radius of D1, D2, and D3 is drawn using the triangulation method according to another embodiment, . (Xm, ym) where the three circles having the radii D1, D2, and D3 meet is the position of the tag.

The tag position information calculation step S40 may also calculate the position of the tag using Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) information. The arrival time difference information is an algorithm for finding the position of a tag on a hyperbola that focuses on a point where the distance difference between the gateway devices is focused by measuring the difference between the arrival times of the tags and the signals transmitted / received by the two or more anchors 170. The position of the tag can be found by finding the intersection using two hyperbolas obtained from the three anchors 170.

Equation 5

 D3-D2 and D3-D1 represent the delay difference of the signal arrival time, and the arrival time delay difference of each signal is shown in a hyperbolic form. The intersection of the hyperbola is the position of the tag. D1, D2, and D3 can be calculated using the above-described method, for example, received signal strength or arrival time information. The position (xm, ym) of the tag can be calculated by using the calculated values of D1, D2, and D3 and the position coordinates of the anchor 170.

   In another embodiment, the position of the tag can be calculated using the angle of arrival (AOA) information. The anchor 170 measures an angle by using a direction angle of a signal transmitted from a tag and calculates an intersection point of the angle between the anchor 170 and the tag to measure the position of the tag. In order to measure the position of the tag, at least two direction angles are required, and the position can be grasped by intersecting them.

In one embodiment, the electronic label device position information generating step (S50) generates position information of the electronic label device from the registration time information and the calculated tag position information. The electronic label device position generating step may include a visual difference determining step and an electronic label device position information calculating step.

In one embodiment, the time difference determination step may compare the tag signal reception time information with the registration time information to determine whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference. The tag may be carried along with the registration terminal 150. For example, the tag is engaged in the loop of the registration terminal 150. The tag position information calculated by the tag position information calculation step S40 may be position information of the registered terminal concluded with the tag.

As described above, while the registration terminal 150 registers the goods and the electronic label device, the tag position information calculation step S40 continuously calculates the position of the tag. The time difference determination step determines whether the difference between the tag signal reception time and the registration time is a predetermined difference through the tag signal reception time information and the registration time information. The predetermined difference may be, for example, several ms or less. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the predetermined difference can be freely determined in consideration of the installation interval of the electronic label device on the stand.

In one embodiment, the electronic label device position information calculation step determines that the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is smaller than the tag signal reception time The electronic label device position information is calculated based on the position of the tag in the electronic label device. If the time difference between the tag signal reception time information and the registration time information is small, the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time is set to the electronic label device registered at the time adjacent to the tag signal reception time As shown in FIG. In this way, in order to generate position information of the electronic label device, the time difference determination step determines whether the tag signal reception time and registration time are a predetermined difference. If it is determined that the difference is a predetermined difference, the electronic label device position information calculation unit 232 calculates the position of the electronic label device using the position of the tag as the position of the electronic label device. That is, the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is calculated as the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time.

In one embodiment, the communication state output step S60 outputs the identification information of the electronic label devices that lost the communication signal. The identification information of the electronic label devices means unique code information given to the electronic label device to identify a plurality of electronic label devices located in the store. In one embodiment, the communication state output step S60 includes a communication state information collection step, a radio environment calculation step, and a communication state indication step.

In one embodiment, the communication state information collection step collects identification information of electronic label devices that are connected to the corresponding gateway device and can communicate with each gateway device. Electronic label devices wake up at regular intervals and try to connect with the gateway device. If communication fails, try again after a certain period. Electronic label devices that are not connected for a predetermined period of time after the gateway device has called through the wake-up channel may be considered to be unable to communicate. In the communication state information collection step, information of electronic label devices capable of communicating at a specific time point is collected for each gateway device.

In one embodiment, the wireless environment computing step may include processing the electronic label devices capable of communicating collected by the gateway device with an electronic label device having a good communication signal, The electronic label devices which are not found in the list of the electronic label devices are treated as signal-lost electronic label devices. In yet another embodiment, the gateway device may regard electronic label devices that are not connected from a certain point in time of a good electronic label device with a communication signal as an electronic label device that lost the communication signal. As another example, a group of electronic label devices assigned to each gateway device is designated, and the gateway devices can manage all of the electronic label devices of the group and the information of the failed electronic label devices have. The wireless environment calculating step can collect the information and identify the electronic label devices that are not in communication with any gateway device.

In one embodiment, the communication status display step displays on the store map electronic label devices that have lost communication signals. It is possible to know which gateway device each of the electronic label devices is communicating with, so that it is possible to display the area where communication is possible by collecting the positional information of the electronic label device communicating with a specific gateway device. In addition, the shadow area can be displayed by collecting the position information of the electronic label device in which the communication signal is lost (signal-lost) or the electronic label device not responding. By periodically updating these area indications, the wireless communication status of the electronic label system can be closely monitored in real time.

 The communication status display step displays the communication status through a table composed of rows and columns of identification information of the electronic labels in which communication signals are lost. In one embodiment, the table displayed by the communication status display step includes identification information of an electronic label for which a communication signal is lost, a communication signal loss time of an electronic label that lost the communication signal, a received signal strength indicator (RSSSI, Received Signal Strength Indicator) information.

In an aspect, a method of managing an electronic label device position may further include a gateway device position calculating step (S70).

In one embodiment, the gateway device position calculation step S70 may calculate the position of the gateway device to be added, which can communicate with the electronic label device that lost the communication signal. The gateway device position calculation step S70 calculates the position of the gateway device to be added from the communication shadow area. In one embodiment, the center of gravity of the distributed mass points is determined using the electronic label devices located in the shaded area as mass points, and calculated as the position of the gateway device to be added. As another example, the center of the polygonal graphic shape generated by connecting the electronic label devices of the outermost area among the electronic label devices located in the shaded area may be obtained and calculated as the position of the gateway device to be added.

 In another embodiment, it is possible to design an existing gateway device to move by manually moving an existing gateway device, adding a gateway device, or adding a gateway device. Since the visually communicable area and the wireless shaded area are shown, this operation can be easily achieved. Also, after the gateway device is manually added or moved, the result of the real-time monitoring is confirmed again, so that the wireless environment of the changed system can be effectively measured and the validity of the change can be verified.

In an aspect, the electronic label device position management method may include a merchandise position output step (S80).

In one embodiment, the product location output step S80 displays the calculated location of the electronic label device on the store map as the location of the goods matched with the electronic label device. The method of calculating the position of the electronic labeling device has been described above. Since the electronic labeling device is attached to the counter where the registered product is provided, the position of the electronic labeling device can be regarded as the location of the electronic labeling device and the registered product. The merchandise position output step S80 displays the merchandise on the store map based on the position of the merchandise calculated by the above-described method.

10 is a detailed flowchart of the electronic label device position information generation step (S50). The time difference determination step S51 compares the tag signal reception time information with the registration time information to determine whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference. If the electronic label device position information calculation step S52 determines that the time difference determination step S51 is the predetermined difference, the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is the tag signal reception time The electronic label device position information is calculated based on the position of the tag in the electronic label device. If the time difference between the tag signal reception time information and the registration time information is small, the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time is set to the electronic label device registered at the time adjacent to the tag signal reception time As shown in FIG. In this way, in order to generate the position information of the electronic label device, the time difference determination step S51 determines whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference. If it is determined that the difference is a predetermined difference, the electronic label device position information calculation step S52 calculates the electronic label device position information by using the position of the tag as the position of the electronic label device. That is, the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is calculated as the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation and that those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made therein. It will be possible. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be determined only by the appended claims.

150: Registration terminal
160: Tag
120: service server
170: Anchor
211: registration information receiver
212: Tag signal reception time information receiver
213; The tag position information calculation unit
220:
230: Electronic label device position information generation unit
231:
232: Electronic label device position information calculation unit
240:
250: communication state output section
251: Communication status information collecting unit
252: Wireless environment calculation unit
253: Communication status indicator
260: Gateway device position calculation unit
270: Commodity position output section

Claims (12)

A storage unit for storing location information of a plurality of anchors;
A communication unit for communicating with the registration terminal and the anchor;
A registration information receiving unit that receives registration information including electronic label device identification information, product identification information, and registration time information from a registration terminal through a communication unit, a tag signal reception time information reception unit that receives, from an anchor, Position information of the electronic label device from the tag position information calculation section for calculating the position information of the tag from the tag signal reception time information, the tag signal reception time information, the registration time information, and the calculated tag position information And an electronic label device position information generating unit
Electronic label device position management device.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic label device position information generating unit
A time difference judging unit for comparing the tag signal reception time information with the registration time information to judge whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference,
If the time difference judging unit judges that the difference is a predetermined difference, the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal receiving time is calculated as the position of the tag at the tag signal receiving time and calculates the electronic label device position information And the electronic label device position information calculation unit
Electronic label device position management device.
The electronic label device position management device according to claim 1,
A communication state output unit for outputting identification information of electronic label devices which have lost communication signals; To
Wherein the electronic label device position management device further comprises:
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication status output unit
A communication state information collecting unit for collecting identification information of electronic labels capable of communicating with the gateway from the gateway;
A radio environment calculation unit for calculating electronic labels having communication signals having good communication signals and communication signals lost among the installed electronic labels from identification information of the collected electronic labels;
And a communication status display unit for displaying electronic label devices which have lost communication signals on a store map.
. The electronic label device position management device according to claim 1,
A gateway device position calculation unit for calculating a position of a gateway device to be added which can communicate with an electronic label device that lost a communication signal; To
Wherein the electronic label device position management device further comprises:
The electronic label device position management device according to claim 1,
A product position output unit for displaying the calculated position of the electronic label device on the shop map with the position of the product matched with the electronic label device; To
Wherein the electronic label device position management device further comprises:
Anchor location storing step of storing location information of the anchor;
A registration information receiving step of receiving registration information including electronic label device identification information, product identification information, and registration time information from a registration terminal;
A tag signal reception time information reception step of receiving tag signal reception time information from an anchor;
A tag position information calculation step of calculating position information of the tag from the position information of the anchor and the tag signal reception time information; And
An electronic label device position information generation step of generating position information of the electronic label device from the tag signal reception time information, the registration time information, and the calculated tag position information; Wherein the electronic label device position management method comprises:
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic label device position information generation step
A time difference determination step of comparing the tag signal reception time information with the registration time information to determine whether the tag signal reception time and the registration time are a predetermined difference,
If it is determined that the time difference determination step is the predetermined difference, the position of the electronic label device registered at a time within the predetermined difference from the tag signal reception time is calculated as the position of the tag at the tag signal reception time, and the electronic label device position information is calculated The electronic label device position information calculating step
A method for managing the position of an electronic label device.
The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic label device position management method
A communication state output step of outputting identification information of electronic label devices which have lost communication signals; To
Further comprising the step of:
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the communication state output step
A communication state information collecting step of collecting identification information of electronic labels capable of communicating with the gateway from the gateway;
A radio environment calculating step of calculating electronic labels having communication signals which are good from among the installed electronic labels and communication signals lost from identification information of the collected electronic labels;
And a communication status display step of displaying electronic label devices which have lost communication signals on a store map.
. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic label device position management method
A gateway device position calculating step of calculating a position of a gateway device to be added capable of communicating with an electronic label device that lost a communication signal; To
Further comprising the step of:
The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic label device position management method
A product position output step of displaying the calculated position of the electronic label device on the shop map as the position of the product matched with the electronic label device; Further comprising
A method for managing the position of an electronic label device.

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