KR20210080896A - Apparatus and method for managing sales - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for managing sales of the present invention may comprise: a setting part that sets an application programming interface (API) function call policy for a sales management system; a distribution part that stores the API function call policy, and generates a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for a type of the sales management system; and a communication part providing the message generated by the distribution part to the sales management system. Therefore, the present invention is capable of allowing a variety of services to be used.

Description

Sales management device and sales management method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SALES}

The present invention relates to a sales management apparatus and a sales management method that enable various point-of-sale information management systems operated in the field to be operated in a general-purpose environment.

In recent years, with the development of wireless technology, the area of wired and wireless networks is expanding worldwide, and it is also possible to secure stable quality, support for broadband communication (WIBRO, WCDMA), and decrease the price of communication modules and terminals and reduce the cost of wireless communication. As the market declines, the POS (Point Of Sales) market is expanding.

As the market expands, interest in service quality of a POS system (sales management system) is increasing. In order to improve the service quality of the POS system, it is necessary to solve problems such as the load of the POS device or the load of the communication network and the POS terminal error. This problem occurs because the POS terminal manages and uses POS terminal hardware resources and communication resources by itself in the service network. For this reason, compatibility between service networks or compatibility between POS terminals is problematic.

Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2014-0133656 discloses an Android-based POS system that can build applications and communication environments that are compatible with the system of a mobile terminal.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0133656

An object of the present invention is to provide a sales management apparatus and a sales management method capable of operating various types of sales systems (POS) operated in a field in a general-purpose environment.

A sales management apparatus of the present invention includes a setting unit for setting an API (application programming interface) function call policy for a sales management system; a distribution unit that stores the API function call policy and generates a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for the type of the sales management system; and a communication unit that provides the message generated by the distribution unit to the sales management system.

A sales management apparatus of the present invention includes a setting unit for setting an API (application programming interface) function call policy for a plurality of types of terminals; a distribution unit that stores the API function call policy and generates a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for the type of the terminal; and a communication unit that provides the message generated by the distribution unit to the terminal.

In the sales management method of the present invention, an API function module for converting between the terminal information format used in the sales management system or terminal and the central information format processed by the sales management device is provided, and the type of the sales management system and the type of the terminal Regardless of the type, the end side and the sales management device can communicate using the API function module.

According to the sales management apparatus and sales management method of the present invention, an interface capable of operating various types of sales systems (POS) operated in the field in a general-purpose environment is implemented, and an environment in which sales can be performed by linking on/offline is provided can be

According to the present invention, it is possible to expand the service by applying it to an environment operated alone, such as a small business operator. Therefore, even a small business operator can utilize a variety of services by using a server that is building large-scale data and sales information.

According to the present invention, since different types of POS are compatible with each other on the server or with each other on the terminal, it is possible to sell a variety of products, including tickets for tourist attractions/accommodation reservations and restaurant orders, using only one type of POS terminal. Do.

According to the present invention, product recommendation information based on the corresponding big data from some servers using common big data can be provided to customers regardless of the POS model.

Since a web/mobile-based service may be provided to general users, various product recommendation information may be provided to the user through the web or mobile.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a sales management apparatus of the present invention.
2 is a schematic diagram showing a transaction system to which the sales management apparatus of the present invention is applied.
3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sales management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sales management apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic diagram showing a sales management apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a sales management method of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement them. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. And in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and similar reference numerals are attached to similar parts throughout the specification.

In the present specification, duplicate descriptions of the same components will be omitted.

Also, in this specification, when it is mentioned that a certain element is 'connected' or 'connected' to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but another element in the middle. It should be understood that there may be On the other hand, in this specification, when it is mentioned that a certain element is 'directly connected' or 'directly connected' to another element, it should be understood that the other element does not exist in the middle.

In addition, the terms used herein are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Also, in this specification, the singular expression may include the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Also in this specification, terms such as 'include' or 'have' are only intended to designate that the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification exist, and one or more It should be understood that the existence or addition of other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof is not precluded in advance.

Also in this specification, the term 'and/or' includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any of a plurality of listed items. In this specification, 'A or B' may include 'A', 'B', or 'both A and B'.

Also, in this specification, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a sales management apparatus 100 of the present invention. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a transaction system to which the sales management apparatus 100 of the present invention is applied. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sales management apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sales management apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sales management apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a sales management method of the present invention.

The sales management apparatus 100 of the present invention may manage a POS system. The sales management apparatus 100 of the present invention may manage the terminal 10 of a user who desires reservation, transaction, product recommendation, etc. through the POS system.

Since the sales management apparatus 100 of the present invention achieves its purpose through management and distribution of an application programming interface (API) function module, it may be called an API management apparatus.

The present invention may be based on a heterogeneous sales management API development.

POS systems are similar between manufacturers, but are not standardized. After all, in the technical implementation stage, a plurality of POS systems may be manufactured according to different standards. As a result, there is a problem that each POS system is not compatible with each other. Therefore, it is difficult for a POS system newly entered the market or a foreign POS system to be compatible with the existing POS system due to its own standards.

POS (point of sales) is a method of systematically managing sales information by installing a computer terminal at the base of sales and accounting. It is a general configuration to mark the type, price, etc. of a product on a price tag in advance and read it with a reader or the like to aggregate sales information. The terminal 10 includes an electronic cash register, a reconnaissance reader, and a credit card. The entire system in which an automatic identification device or the like is interlocked with a central computer is referred to as a POS system (point of sale information management system, sales management system 30).

The entry-level sales management system 30 may be implemented as a system including universal functions that can be used in general stores. The POS system operating in the existing field can be implemented to provide additional services by providing APIs that can be used in common. For example, a general-purpose POS API providing service that can be used not only in the POS system but also in the terminal 10 of a general user such as a smart phone may be developed.

According to the present invention, an API service capable of processing product information and reservation information of tourist destinations/accommodations/restaurants may be implemented.

According to the present invention, the user can receive the same service in various environments such as smart menu board (restaurant order), digital signage (ticket order), mobile, and web. Reservation information and sales information can be integrated and managed through a smart tourism integrated management system through real-time external data linkage. According to the present invention, product recommendation can be made automatically based on big data. As an example, a product recommendation artificial intelligence model may be provided. The artificial intelligence model can automatically recommend products based on the data accumulated in the smart tourism integrated management system and personal preferences. In addition, service products suitable for classification such as gender/age may be recommended. A product may be recommended based on individual purchasing propensity and preference.

The sales management apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a setting unit 110 , a distribution unit 130 , a communication unit 150 , and a management unit 170 .

The setting unit 110 may set an application programming interface (API) function call policy for the sales management system 30 .

API (application programming interface) is a tool composed of functions that enable processing such as creating a window and opening a file when creating an application program in an operating system or a language such as C, C++, or Pascal. API is a set of subroutines or functions that a program or application can call to the operating system (OS) for some processing, and refers to a set of functions that define the functions of the operating system (OS), etc. and how to use the functions.

In the case of Windows API, it consists of more than 1000 functions, and an application program writer can use various functions by calling a function by simply describing the function during programming. This set of functions is called an API.

These APIs have the language or message format used by applications to communicate with system programs such as operating systems or database management systems, and APIs are implemented by calling functions that provide connections to specific subroutines for execution within the program. do.

The program stack of a general device consists of a device O/S, an application API platform, an API, and a plurality of applications from the bottom. Here, the application API platform is a software layer that provides an environment in which a service application can be executed using the API. The device starts by calling the API function of the application first to run the service application. Therefore, by controlling the API function call, it is possible to control the operation of the device application. That is, by controlling the function call authority of the API, it is possible to control the execution authority of the device application, the execution timing and the execution frequency, and the like.

In the description of the present invention, the definition of the calling permission level that grants permission to call what kind of API function or what kind of API function is called will be referred to as an 'API function call policy'. In addition, in the description of the present invention, API functions related to data communication or data processing for converting data formats among pre-stored API functions are targeted.

The distribution unit 130 may store the API function call policy and generate a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for the type of the sales management system 30 .

The communication unit 150 may provide the message generated by the distribution unit 130 to the sales management system 30 .

The management unit 170 may manage management information including at least one of reservation information, sales information, and product recommendation information.

The reservation information may include information that a user who purchases a specific product or wants to receive a service makes a reservation for purchasing a specific product. The reservation information may include a product name, buyer information, seller information, an expected purchase (sale) amount, and an expected purchase (sale) date.

The sales information may include various types of information indicating the fact that a specific product is purchased. The sale information may include a product name, buyer information, seller information, a purchase (sale) amount, a purchase (sale) date, and the like. The product recommendation information is product recommendation information provided to a user in a store, etc., and the information may be output on a receipt or the like or displayed on the user terminal 10 with the user's consent.

The product recommendation information may correspond to product advertisement. The product recommendation information may be provided from the store side to the user terminal 10 side. In some cases, product recommendation information may be provided from the operation server 'operation server' of FIG. 2 to the store side, that is, the POS system corresponding to the sales management system. The POS system may provide appropriate product information to the POS terminal or the user terminal 10 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the distribution unit 130 includes a plurality of API function modules that convert the format of management information processed by the plurality of types of sales management system 30 according to the compatible format required by the management unit 170 . This can be provided. Each API function module may be provided with an order interface, a reservation interface, a payment interface, and other interfaces. Each interface can unify the communication protocol or convert it according to the compatibility information.

When the sales management system 30 requests the API function module through a message, the distribution unit 130 may distribute an API function matching the sales management system 30 to the sales management system 30 .

According to the present embodiment, a message may be provided to all sales management systems 30 managed by the management unit 170 . In another embodiment, a separate message may not be provided for the general-purpose sales management system 30 to reduce communication load and processing load. Instead, the management unit 170 may use the data format used in the general sales management system 30 from the initial stage as it is. In addition, the sales management apparatus 100 may distribute the message only to the general-purpose sales management system 30 different from the general-purpose sales management system 30 .

For example, the management unit 170 may transmit/receive at least one of the first reservation information, the first sales information, and the first product recommendation information to the first sales management system 31 . The communication unit 150 may provide the message to the second sales management system 32 . The first sales management system 31 may be a general-purpose POS system that does not require provision of a message. On the other hand, the second sales management system 32 may be a heterogeneous POS system using a data format different from the general POS system. Specifically, the second sales management system 32 provides the management unit 170 with second reservation information in a format different from the first reservation information, second sales information in a format different from the first sales information, and first product recommendation information. and a sales management system 30 for transmitting and receiving one of the second product recommendation information in a different format.

The distribution unit 130 may distribute the API function module to the second sales management system 32 in response to the message provided to the second sales management system 32 .

The API function module may convert the format of the second reservation information to be the same as that of the first reservation information. Alternatively, the API function module may convert the format of the second sales information to be the same as that of the first sales information. Alternatively, the API function module may include a library that converts the format of the second product recommendation information to be the same as that of the first product recommendation information.

In the above embodiment, an API function module for converting a communication format or a communication protocol may be installed in the sales management system 30 or the terminal 10 . An embodiment in which the API function module is installed in the management unit 170 to reduce the processing load of the sales management system 30 or the terminal 10 is possible.

For example, the management unit 170 may be provided with a plurality of API function modules for converting the format of the management information processed by the plurality of types of sales management system 30 according to the compatible format required by the management unit 170 .

The management unit 170 may allocate an API function module matching the sales management system 30 according to the message provided to the sales management system 30 .

When specific management information is obtained from the specific sales management system 30 through the communication unit 150 , the management unit 170 converts the specific management information into a compatible format using a specific API function module assigned to the specific sales management system 30 . can be converted

Meanwhile, the sales management apparatus 100 may apply the API function module to various terminals 10 that are not included in the sales management system 30 in addition to the sales management system 30 . For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the setting unit 110 may set an application programming interface (API) function call policy for a plurality of types of terminals 10 . The distribution unit 130 may store the API function call policy and may generate a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for the type of the terminal 10 . The communication unit 150 may provide the message generated by the distribution unit 130 to the terminal 10 .

An API function module for converting a management information format between the management unit 170 and the terminal 10 may be provided in the management unit 170 for managing management information including at least one of reservation information, sales information, and product recommendation information. The API function module may be installed in the management unit 170 or distributed to the terminal 10 through the distribution unit 130 or the communication unit 150 .

The management unit 170 may extract product recommendation information to be provided to the terminal 10 by using a product recommendation model generated through machine learning. Sales information or reservation information provided by the terminal 10 may be used as input information of the product recommendation model.

The management unit 170 may convert the product recommendation information into the management information format of the terminal 10 by using the message or the response of the terminal 10 to the message.

The communication unit 150 may provide the product recommendation information converted into the management information format of the terminal 10 to the terminal 10 . The product recommendation information may be provided to various sales agencies such as tourism service product sales agencies A, B, and C. The sales agency may provide the product recommendation information to the terminal 10 of the main character analyzing the product recommendation information as shown in FIG. 4 .

The sales management method of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 6 may be performed by the sales management apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 .

According to the sales management method of the present invention, an API function module for converting the terminal information format used by the sales management system 30 or the terminal 10 and the central information format processed by the sales management device 100 can be provided. have. In the sales management method, regardless of the type of the sales management system 30 and the type of the terminal 10 , the terminal side and the sales management device 100 may communicate using the API function module. The end side may include a sales management system 30 or a terminal 10 .

According to the sales management method of the present invention, conversion between the terminal information format and the central information format may be performed on the sales management device 100 side by using the API function module installed in the sales management device 100 . Alternatively, the conversion between the terminal information format and the central information format may be performed on the terminal side away from the sales management apparatus 100 using the API function module installed in the sales management system 30 or the terminal 10 .

According to the present invention, big data including sales (purchase) information, reservation information, product recommendation, etc. obtained through all types of sales management system 30 can be easily collected theoretically.

As an example, various management information may be collected by Hadoop.

Hadoop is an open Java software framework that supports distributed applications running on large clusters of computers capable of processing large amounts of data. Hadoop is an implementation of the Hadoop distributed file system HDFS and the distributed processing system MapReduce, which can replace the Google file system, a distributed processing system.

Management information is data refined based on Hadoop in the MSS file system, and a reorganized data mart can be configured in a format that can be used in various fields.

When a specific product is first inquired through the terminal 10 , the product recommendation artificial intelligence model may analyze a preference and perform analysis based on a product recommendation algorithm. Through the analysis, products are recommended and additional product inquiries are induced.

In the product recommendation artificial intelligence model, when a user repeatedly inquires a specific product, it is possible to analyze the preference again and re-perform the analysis based on the product recommendation algorithm. A personalized recommendation product may be output through re-performing of the analysis, and a menu for inducing a click on the recommended product once again may be provided to the terminal 10 . When a recommended product is clicked, a purchase action may be induced through a big data-based event. When a user purchases a product through the terminal 10 , the purchase information may be incorporated into some elements of the data mart through Hadoop.

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present invention is not implemented only through the apparatus and/or method described so far, and a program for realizing a function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium in which the program is recorded may be implemented. And, such an implementation can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art from the description of the above-described embodiments.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims are also presented. It belongs to the scope of the invention.

10...Terminal 30...Sales Management System
31...first sales management system 32...second sales management system
100...Sales management unit 110...Setting unit
130...Distribution Department 150...Communication Department
170...Management Department

Claims (9)

a setting unit for setting an API (application programming interface) function call policy for the sales management system;
a distribution unit storing the API function call policy and generating a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for the type of the sales management system;
a communication unit providing the message generated by the distribution unit to the sales management system;
A sales management device comprising a.
According to claim 1,
A management unit for managing management information including at least one of reservation information, sales information, and product recommendation information is provided,
A plurality of API function modules for converting the format of management information processed in a plurality of types of sales management systems are provided in the distribution unit according to the compatible format required by the management unit,
When the sales management system requests the API function module through the message, the distribution unit distributes an API function matching the sales management system to the sales management system.
According to claim 1,
A management unit for transmitting and receiving at least one of first reservation information, first sales information, and first product recommendation information to the first sales management system is provided;
The communication unit provides the message to the second sales management system,
The second sales management system may include, for the management unit, second reservation information in a format different from the first reservation information, second sales information in a format different from the first sales information, and in a format different from the first product recommendation information. A sales management system for transmitting and receiving one of the second product recommendation information,
The distribution unit distributes the API function module to the second sales management system in response to the message provided to the second sales management system,
The API function module converts the format of the second reservation information to be the same as the first reservation information, converts the format of the second sales information to be the same as the first sales information, or A sales management device for converting a format to the same as that of the first product recommendation information.
According to claim 1,
A management unit for managing management information including at least one of reservation information, sales information, and product recommendation information is provided,
The management unit is provided with a plurality of API function modules for converting the format of management information processed in a plurality of types of sales management systems in accordance with the compatible format required by the management unit,
The management unit allocates the API function module matching the sales management system in accordance with the message provided to the sales management system,
When specific management information is obtained from the specific sales management system through the communication unit, the management unit converts the specific management information into the compatible format using a specific API function module assigned to the specific sales management system.
a setting unit for setting an API (application programming interface) function call policy for a plurality of types of terminals;
a distribution unit that stores the API function call policy and generates a message for updating the API function call policy suitable for the type of the terminal;
a communication unit providing the message generated by the distribution unit to the terminal;
A sales management device comprising a.
6. The method of claim 5,
A management unit for managing management information including at least one of reservation information, sales information, and product recommendation information is provided,
The management unit is provided with an API function module for converting the management information format between the management unit and the terminal,
The API function module may be installed in the management unit or distributed to the terminal through the distribution unit or the communication unit.
6. The method of claim 5,
The management unit extracts product recommendation information to be provided to the terminal using a product recommendation model generated through machine learning,
The management unit converts the product recommendation information into a management information format of the terminal by using the message or a response of the terminal to the message,
The communication unit is a sales management device for providing the product recommendation information converted into the management information format of the terminal to the terminal.
A sales management method performed by a sales management device, comprising:
An API function module for mutually converting a terminal information format used in a sales management system or terminal and a central information format processed by the sales management device is provided, and the API function A sales management method in which an end side and the sales management device communicate using a module.
9. The method of claim 8,
The conversion between the terminal information format and the central information format is performed on the sales management device side by using the API function module installed in the sales management device, or by using the API function module installed in the sales management system or the terminal. A sales management method in which the conversion of the terminal information format and the central information format is performed at an end side away from the sales management device.

Images