JP2007226432A - Customer information management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and quickly facilitate countermeasures even to the change of the form of a data file to be transmitted from external equipment due to addition or exchange of external equipment or the change of specifications. <P>SOLUTION: This customer information management device is provided with a module group storage part 14 for managing program data for controlling file data processing for extracting point data from the reception file for every form of the reception file. A control part 16 discriminates the form of the reception file received from the external equipment through a communication part 11. Then, the program data pertinent to the discriminated form of the reception file are selected from a module group storage part 14. Then, the selected program data are executed, and point data stored in the reception file from the external equipment are extracted, and the customer-categorized cumulative points of a point mater file 7 are updated based on the extracted point data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a customer information management apparatus that manages cumulative points for each customer.

  Conventionally, point data for each customer calculated by a plurality of information terminals, for example, POS (Point Of Sales) terminals, is collected via a communication line, and the collected point data of each customer is added up for each customer. A computer that stores and manages another accumulated point, a so-called customer information management server, is already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such a customer information management server is usually provided with a database that records and holds point data for each customer in a predetermined format, for example, CSV (Common Separated Value) format. On the other hand, a received file sent from an external device such as an information terminal usually has data recorded in a binary format data format or data in a text format data format.

For this reason, when a customer information management server receives a data file from an external device, it first converts the received file into a data file in a data format that can be converted into CSV format data. Next, the converted data file is analyzed to create point data for each customer in the CSV format. Then, the database is updated with the point data in the CSV format. By executing such a series of processes, accumulated points for each customer are stored and managed.
JP 09-147237 A

  However, in this type of conventional customer information management server, a series of processing from taking in a received file from an external device to updating the accumulated points for each customer is performed by a procedure fixed by one type of program. It was broken. For this reason, if the format of the data file sent from the information terminal is changed due to the addition or replacement of external devices or changes in specifications, etc., it can be handled because the program cannot be corrected each time. It took a lot of trouble and a long time.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is when the format of the data file sent from the external device is changed due to the addition or replacement of the external device or the specification change. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a customer information management apparatus that can easily and quickly respond.

  The present invention includes a point storage unit that stores accumulated points for each customer, and updates the accumulated points for each customer in the point storage unit based on point data stored in a received file from an external device. Program storage means for storing program data for controlling file data processing for extracting point data from the received file for each received file format; file format determining means for determining the format of the received file received from the external device; The program selection means for selecting program data corresponding to the format of the received file determined by the file format determination means from the program storage means, and the program data selected by the program selection means is executed and received from the external device. Point data stored in the file And point extracting means for extracting a data, in which a point update processing means for updating the customer-specific points accumulated point storage unit based on point data extracted by the point extracting means.

  According to the present invention in which such measures are taken, even when the format of a data file sent from an external device is changed due to addition or replacement of an external device, a change in specifications, etc., it can be easily and quickly handled. Can provide a customer information management device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to the customer information management server 1 having a database for recording and holding the accumulated points for each customer in the CSV format.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of the present embodiment. The system of the present embodiment includes a customer information management server 1 as a computer that functions as the customer information management apparatus of the present invention. A plurality of file controllers 3 are connected to the customer information management server 1 via a communication line 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Further, a plurality of POS (Point Of Sales) terminals 5 are connected to each file controller 3 via a communication line 4 to construct a point service compatible POS system.

  The function of the point service compatible POS system is the same as that of a conventionally known POS system. That is, each POS terminal 5 has a function of processing sales data of products purchased by a customer to calculate sales data, and giving the customer points according to the sales data. In addition, at the time of payment for a product purchased by a customer, part or all of the accumulated points of the customer can be used for payment. Each time a commercial transaction with a customer is completed, transaction data including point data provided to the customer and point data used by the customer is generated and transmitted to the file controller 3 via the communication line 4. It is supposed to be.

  On the other hand, the file controller 3 has a function of totaling sales data for each classification item such as product or department based on transaction data collected from each POS terminal 5. In addition, a transaction file storing transaction data collected from each POS terminal 5 is created. The transaction file is transmitted to the customer information management server 1 via the communication line 2 regularly or irregularly.

  The customer information management server 1 includes a point master file 6 as a point storage unit that stores accumulated points for each customer. Based on the transaction file data received from each file controller 3, the accumulated points for each customer stored in the point master file 6 are added or subtracted to be updated.

  The point master file 6 is composed of a database that records and holds data in the CSV format.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the customer information management server 1. The customer information management server 1 includes a communication unit 11, a point master management unit 12, an interface unit 13, a module group storage unit 14, a conversion processing setting table 15, and a control unit 16 that controls them.

  The communication unit 11 is a part that controls data communication with an external device connected via the communication line 2. The point master management unit 12 is a part that accesses the point master file 6 to read, write, and erase data. The interface unit 13 is a part to which a maintenance personal computer that performs maintenance of the customer information management server 1 can be electrically connected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the module group storage unit 14 is a part that stores and holds a plurality of program data 31, 32, 33, 34,. Each program data 31, 32, 33, 34,... Is composed of a program main body 41 and a module name 42 assigned and set for each of the program data 31, 32, 33, 34,. It is configured.

  In the present embodiment, the point is obtained from a file conversion program for converting a data file received from an external device via the communication unit 11 into a format that can be processed by the server 1, or from a data file after conversion or that does not require conversion. Program data such as a file analysis program for obtaining data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the master file 6 is converted into parts for each module, and can be additionally registered as appropriate in the module group storage unit 14 via the maintenance personal computer. It has become. It is also possible to delete the program data added to the module group storage unit 14 via the maintenance personal computer. Here, the module group storage unit 14 constitutes a program storage unit.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the conversion processing setting table 15 is an area for storing a received file name, a first processing module name, and a second processing module name corresponding to consecutive table numbers. The received file name is a specific part of the name given to the data file received from the external device. Incidentally, the specific part is common in data files having the same data format. The first processing module name is a module name given to the file conversion program stored in the module group storage unit 14. The second processing module name is a module name given to the file analysis program stored in the module group storage unit 14.

  In the present embodiment, an arbitrary received file name, first processing module name, and second processing module name can be appropriately set in the conversion processing setting table 15 using a maintenance personal computer. That is, when the data for updating the accumulated points for each customer of the point master file 6 cannot be directly obtained from the received file from the external device, and the data file needs to be converted, the specific part of the received file is set. Corresponding to the file name shown, the module name (first processing module name) given to the corresponding file conversion program, and data for updating the accumulated points by customer of the point master file 6 from the converted data file The module name (second processing module name) assigned to the file analysis program for acquiring the data is set in the conversion processing setting table 15. In addition, when data for updating the customer-specific cumulative points of the point master file 6 can be acquired from the received file from the external device, the received file corresponds to the file name indicating the specific part of the received file. Only the module name (second processing module name) assigned to the file analysis program for acquiring data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 is set in the conversion processing setting table 15.

  Thus, when the control unit 16 receives a data file from the external device connected via the communication unit 11, that is, the file controller 3, the control unit 16 executes the file reception process of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. . This process is controlled by a main program that is fixedly stored in a program storage unit (not shown).

  First, the control unit 16 acquires a file name from the received data file (ST1). Next, the conversion processing setting table 15 is searched using the acquired file name identification part as a search key (ST2). Then, it is determined whether or not the file name specifying part as the search key is set in the conversion processing setting table 15 (ST3).

  Here, when the specific part of the corresponding file name is set in the conversion processing setting table 15, the received file is a point related file in which data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 is stored. The control unit 16 determines whether or not the first processing module name is set in the conversion processing setting table 15 corresponding to the file name (ST4: file format determination unit).

  If it is set, the program data with the first processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 (ST5: program selection means). Then, the program body of the read program data is activated to process the received file. That is, the received data file is converted into a format that can be processed by the server 1 (ST6). When the first processing module name is not set in the conversion processing setting table 15 corresponding to the file name, the processes of ST5 and ST6 are not executed.

  Next, the control unit 16 determines whether or not a second processing module name is set in the conversion processing setting table 15 corresponding to the file name (ST7: file format determination unit).

  If set, the program data with the second processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 (ST8: program selection means). Then, the program body of the read program data is activated to process the received file. That is, data for updating the customer-specific accumulated points in the point master file 6 is acquired from the data file (ST9: point extracting means). When the second processing module name is not set corresponding to the file name in the conversion process setting table 15, the processes of ST7 and ST8 are not executed.

  After that, based on the data acquired from the data file, the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 are added or subtracted and updated (ST10: point update processing means).

  Note that, in ST3, when the specific part of the corresponding file name is not set in the conversion processing setting table 15, the received file is a data file not related to the customer-specific cumulative point update of the point master file 6, so Execute the process.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the data format of the transaction file transmitted from the file controller 3 to the customer information management server 1 via the communication line 2 is a binary format, the customer information management server 1 First, a binary transaction file is converted into a text data file. Next, the data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 from the data file converted into the text format, that is, the customer code that can identify the customer and the point data provided to the customer or the data The point data used by the customer is extracted in CSV format. Based on the extracted CSV format point data, the cumulative points for each customer stored in the point master file 6 are added or subtracted to be updated.

  Therefore, in this case, a module-based file conversion program that can be completed simply by converting a binary transaction file into a text data file, and a point-by-customer total of the point master file 6 from the data file converted into the text format. A file analysis program for each module that is completed only for acquiring data for updating points in the CSV format is created and registered in the module group storage unit 14. Further, the module name of the file conversion program is the first processing module name, the module name of the file analysis program is the second processing module name, and the common part is common to the file name attached to the binary transaction file. And set in the conversion processing setting table 15.

  By doing so, when a transaction file is transmitted from the file controller 3 to the customer information management server 1, first, the conversion name is associated with a common specific part in the file name assigned to the transaction file in the conversion processing setting table 15. The set first processing module name is searched. Then, the program data with the first processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 and executed. As a result, the binary transaction file is converted into a text data file.

  Next, the second processing module name that is associated with the specific unit and set in the conversion processing setting table 15 is searched. The program data with the second processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 and executed. As a result, the data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 from the data file in the text format, that is, the customer code that can identify the customer, the point data provided to the customer, or the customer uses The acquired point data is extracted in CSV format. Then, the points given to the customer are added to the accumulated points stored for each customer code on the point master file 6. In addition, the points used by the customer are subtracted from the accumulated points.

  By the way, the data format of the transaction file may be changed with the design change or addition of the file controller 3. In such a case, a module-unit file conversion program that is completed only by converting the transaction file after the data format change into a text data file is created. Then, this file conversion program is registered in the module group storage unit 14. Further, the module name of the new file conversion program is used as the first processing module name, and data for updating the accumulated points for each customer of the point master file 6 is acquired in the CSV format from the data file converted into the text format. Therefore, the module name of the file analysis program that is completed only for the purpose is set as the second processing module name in the conversion processing setting table 15 in association with the specific part common to the file name attached to the transaction file after the data format change.

  By doing so, when a transaction file is transmitted from the file controller 3 to the customer information management server 1, first, the conversion name is associated with a common specific part in the file name assigned to the transaction file in the conversion processing setting table 15. The set first processing module name is searched. Then, the program data with the first processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 and executed. As a result, the transaction file after the data format change is converted into a text format data file.

  Next, the second processing module name that is associated with the specific unit and set in the conversion processing setting table 15 is searched. The program data with the second processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 and executed. As a result, the data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 from the data file in the text format, that is, the customer code that can identify the customer, the point data provided to the customer, or the customer uses The acquired point data is extracted in CSV format. Then, the points given to the customer are added to the accumulated points stored for each customer code on the point master file 6. In addition, the points used by the customer are subtracted from the accumulated points.

  Further, when the data format of the transaction file is changed to the text format due to the design change or addition of the file controller 3, the file conversion program becomes unnecessary. In this case, the module name of the file analysis program that can be completed only by acquiring the data for updating the accumulated points for each customer of the point master file 6 from the text format data file in the CSV format is the second processing module name. The first processing module name is not set, and is set in the conversion processing setting table 15 in association with a specific unit common to the file name attached to the text format transaction file.

  By doing so, when a transaction file is transmitted from the file controller 3 to the customer information management server 1, first, the conversion name is associated with a common specific part in the file name assigned to the transaction file in the conversion processing setting table 15. The set first processing module name is searched. In this case, since the first processing module name is not set, the second processing module name set in the conversion processing setting table 15 in association with the specific unit is searched. The program data with the second processing module name is read from the module group storage unit 14 and executed. As a result, the data for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point master file 6 from the data file in the text format, that is, the customer code that can identify the customer, the point data provided to the customer, or the customer uses The acquired point data is extracted in CSV format. Then, the points given to the customer are added to the accumulated points stored for each customer code on the point master file 6. In addition, the points used by the customer are subtracted from the accumulated points.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the data format of the transaction file sent from the file controller 3 is variously changed by adding or exchanging the file controller 3 or changing specifications, etc., it is divided into modules. It is only necessary to add the program data and set the data in the conversion processing setting table 15, and it is not necessary to modify the main program.

  In the present embodiment, the conversion processing setting table 15 is provided so that the first processing module name and the second processing module name can be set corresponding to each of a plurality of received file names. It is also possible for the server 1 to simultaneously process a plurality of types of received files having different data formats to update customer-specific point data stored in the point master file 6.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the module unit program includes two types of file conversion program and file analysis program. However, the present invention is not limited to these two types, and a program for controlling other processing is a module. It may be divided into parts in units.

  The external device that is the data file transmission source is not limited to the file controller. For example, the data file is directly sent to the customer information management server 1 from a terminal that processes point data such as a POS terminal or a multimedia information transmission terminal. The present invention can be similarly applied to a transfer system.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.

1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the customer information management server in the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the module group memory | storage part which the customer information management server has. The schematic diagram which shows the conversion process setting table which the customer information management server has. The flowchart which shows the principal part procedure of the file reception process which the control part of the customer information management server performs.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Customer information management server, 3 ... File controller, 5 ... POS terminal, 6 ... Point master file, 11 ... Communication part, 12 ... Point master management part, 13 ... Interface part, 14 ... Module group memory | storage part, 15 ... Conversion Process setting table, 16... Control unit.

Claims (2)

In a customer information management device comprising a point storage unit for storing accumulated points for each customer, and updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point storage unit based on the point data stored in the received file from the external device,
Program storage means for storing program data for controlling file data processing for extracting point data from the received file according to the format of the received file;
File format determining means for determining the format of the received file received from the external device;
Program selection means for selecting program data corresponding to the format of the received file determined by the file format determination means from the program storage means;
Point extraction means for executing the program data selected by the program selection means to extract point data stored in the received file from the external device;
Point update processing means for updating the accumulated points for each customer in the point storage unit based on the point data extracted by the point extraction means;
A customer information management device comprising: A conversion processing setting table for setting and storing a program name for specifying program data for controlling file data processing for extracting point data from a received file of the format corresponding to a file name capable of identifying the format of the received file Provided,
The program selection means searches the conversion processing setting table, acquires a program name set corresponding to a file name that can identify the format of the received file determined by the file format determination means, 2. The customer information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein program data specified by a program name is selected from the program storage means.

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