Wireless communication system, and apparatus and method for controlling communication connections with plurality of user terminals in system

A beacon device, comprising:

• a beacon communication unit configured to communicate with at least one terminal device via wireless communication;
• a beacon control unit configured to
• assign a bit mask,
• when a communication connection with the at least one terminal device has been established, transmit the assigned bit mask to the at least one terminal device via the beacon communication unit, and
• release the communication connection when data reception from the at least one terminal device via the beacon communication unit is completed;
• and
• a beacon storage unit configured to store data that is transmitted to and received from the at least one terminal device,
• wherein the beacon control unit is configured to
• store, when the data is received from the at least one terminal device via the beacon communication unit, the received data in a queue of the beacon storage unit,
• perform processing of the data stored in the queue,
• change a value of the assigned bit mask to a value indicative of a case where a reconnection with the at least one terminal device is required when the processing of the data has been completed, and
• broadcast a signal including the changed bit mask, via the beacon communication unit.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein computer-readable program instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute a method of controlling communication connections with a plurality of user terminals, the method comprising:

• by a terminal device:
• executing a module for wireless communication in response to manipulation of a user;
• after the module for wireless communication has been executed, scanning a beacon signal, and identifying a beacon device when receiving a beacon signal broadcast by the beacon device;
• performing an operation for a communication connection after the beacon device has been identified;
• receiving and storing a bit mask required for a reconnection from the beacon device when the communication connection with the beacon device has been established;
• transmitting data to be transmitted to the beacon device, and then immediately releasing the communication connection;
• receiving a signal providing notification of completion of processing broadcast by the beacon device after the communication connection has been released;
• and
• checking a value of a bit mask included in the received signal, and performing an operation for a communication connection with the beacon device if the value of the bit mask is a value indicative of a case where the terminal device currently requires a communication connection with the beacon device,
• wherein the signal providing notification of completion of processing broadcast by the beacon device is a signal which is received as a Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) regarding whether a connection is required and in which the value of the bit mask has been included as “1”.