JPH05151125A - Terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily grasp the working state of a terminal equipment by counting the elapsed time after the transmission/reception of data carried out between the terminal equipment and a host device and transmitting a signal when the count value of the elapsed time reaches a prescribed level. CONSTITUTION:When the communication including the reception of the software data, etc., is complete to a host device 2, a soft vending machine (host device) 1 clears the count value of a timer 7 and starts the counting operation at 0. When the communication is required, before the count value of the timer 7 reaches a prescribed level, i.e., before a prescribed time passes after the communication is complete to the device 2, the communication is carried out to the device 2. Meanwhile the recognition numbers set for each vending machine 1, for example, are transmitted to the device 2 and the working state of the relevant machine 1 is reported to the host device 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device for transmitting / receiving data to / from a host device using a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a vending machine terminal that is connected to a host through a communication line, communication is performed between the host and the vending machine terminal when the vending machine terminal It is when the sales information is transmitted to the host when sales are made, the vending machine terminal notifies the host of any abnormality, or the host transmits unit price setting information or the like to each vending machine terminal. When the host manages and operates the vending machine terminal, the host needs to know whether the vending machine terminal is in operation or not, and to know when each vending machine terminal is out of stock. It is necessary to communicate with each of these vending machine terminals by themselves.

[0003]

However, if the vending machine terminal is operating normally, the sales information is sent to the host when sales occur, and the stock information is sent to the host when the stock runs out. , If some abnormality occurs in the communication function of the vending machine terminal, or if the vending machine terminal cannot operate not only the communication function but also the vending machine terminal itself due to a power failure or the like, Since the information “power off” is not transmitted from the vending machine terminal, the host determines that the vending machine terminal is operating normally. In other words, it is not possible for the host to judge whether the vending machine terminal is operating normally and there is no information to send, and whether the call is not sent to the host, or because the vending machine terminal does not operate normally and is not sent. For example, it was impossible to determine whether the terminal was operating normally or could not operate normally by not making a call to the vending machine terminal once.

Further, in order for the host to know the current operating status of each vending machine terminal, etc., when the call is sent to each vending machine terminal, the processing time of the host increases in proportion to the number of vending machine terminals. However, it takes an enormous amount of time just to make a call without sending / receiving data, which adversely affects the sending / receiving of the originally necessary data.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device capable of periodically transmitting the operating status of the terminal device to the host device. To aim.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, a terminal device of the present invention is a terminal device for transmitting / receiving data to / from a host device via a communication line. And a transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the host device when the count value of the measuring means has reached a predetermined value. I have it.

[0007]

In the terminal device of the present invention having the above configuration, the time counting means counts the elapsed time after the terminal device transmits / receives data to / from the host device. The transmitting means sends a signal to the host device when the count value of the time measuring means reaches a predetermined value.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of embodying the present invention in a known software vending system using a communication line will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the host device 2
And each software vending machine 1 are connected via a communication line 3, and the host device 2 supplies software and the like to each software vending machine 1 as needed. Then, the user can purchase the desired software by operating the software vending machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the software vending machine 1 of this embodiment includes a well-known CPU 5 for controlling the operation of the software vending machine 1. The CPU5 is the CPU5
RO storing an operation program for operating
M11 and a floppy disk (not shown) housed in the software vending machine 2 are ejected, and a sales device 6 for writing software on the floppy disk for sale, selection of desired software, etc. A keyboard 10 to be used, a demonstration of each software, a CRT 9 that displays the usage method and operation procedure of the software vending machine 1, various software programs, and the usage method and operation procedure of the software vending machine 1 described above. An HDD (hard disk drive) 8 that stores the data, a communication unit 4 that is configured by a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like, and that communicates with the host device 2.
A timer 7 that measures the time after the communication with the host device 2 by the communication unit 4 is completed is connected.

Regarding the software sales processing by the sales device 6, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed in JP-A-62-549.
Since it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7, the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the host device 2 has a well-known CPU 20 for controlling the operation of the host device 2.
Is equipped with. The CPU 20 has a ROM 21 that stores an operation program for operating the CPU 20.
And a communication unit 24 configured by a modem, a terminal adapter, etc., for communicating with the software vending machine 1,
A timer 27 for measuring the time after the communication unit 24 has finished communicating with the software vending machine 1, an HDD 18 for storing data such as software to be transmitted to the software vending machine 1, and a host device 2. A keyboard 30 for inputting commands and the like, and software vending machines 1
It is connected to the CRT 29 that displays the operating status transmitted from the.

When a plurality of software vending machines 1 are connected to one host device 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the timer 27 corresponds to each software vending machine 1. It is provided.

Next, the operation of the software vending machine 1 and the host device 2 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, in the software vending machine 1, when communication such as reception of software data with the host device 2 is completed (S1), the count value of the timer 7 is cleared ( In S2), counting is started from 0 (S3). Then, before the count value of the timer 7 reaches a preset predetermined count value, that is, before a predetermined time elapses after communication with the host device 2 (S5 · NO), the host device When it becomes necessary to communicate with the host device 2 (YES in S4), the process returns to S1 to communicate with the host device 2.

On the other hand, if the predetermined time has passed without the need to communicate with the host device 2 (S4, NO) (S5, YES), for example, the software vending machine 1
The identification number set for each is transmitted to the host device 2,
The host device 1 is informed that the software vending machine 1 is in operation (S6). After transmitting the fact that it is operating to the host device 1, the count value of the timer 7 is cleared again (S2), the count is started from 0 (S3), and the above-described operation is performed. That is, when it is not necessary to communicate from the software vending machine 1 to the host device 2, the software vending machine 1 periodically notifies the host device 2 that the software vending machine 1 is in operation. Will be sent.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the host device 2, when the communication with the software vending machine 1 is completed (S7), the timer 27 corresponding to the software vending machine 1 counts. Clear the value (S8) and set the count to 0
It starts from (S9). Then, the communication performed before the count value of the timer 27 reaches the same count value as the predetermined count value set in the software vending machine 1 described above, that is, with the software vending machine 1. Before the predetermined time has elapsed since the end of (S11.N
O), when it becomes necessary to communicate with the software vending machine 1 or when data is received from the software vending machine 1 (S10, YES), the process returns to S7 and the software vending machine 1 is called. Communicate between. On the other hand, there is no need to communicate with the software vending machine 1 (S10N
O) When the predetermined time has passed (S11.YE
S) Since the above-mentioned software vending machine 1 did not perform the periodical transmission to the host device 2, the host device 2 gives an error such as a display or sound warning to the operator. Processing is performed (S12). As a result, the software vending machine 1 is notified that an abnormality has occurred.

Since the host device 2 performs the above-described processing in parallel for each software vending machine 1, even if any software vending machine 1 has an abnormality, the host device 2 can easily operate. It is possible to correspond to.

By performing such control, the host device 2 can determine that the software vending machine 1 is operating normally even if the software vending machine 1 becomes unable to communicate due to some abnormality. There is no.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the ISDN line of the basic interface having two B channels is used as the communication line as shown in FIG. It is also possible to perform periodic transmission from the software vending machine 1 to the host device 2 by using the B channel or D channel.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the terminal device of the present invention, the operating status of the terminal device can be periodically transmitted from the terminal device to the host device. The host device can easily grasp the operating status of the terminal device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a software vending machine embodying a terminal device of the present invention and a host device corresponding to the software vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a software automatic vending system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the software vending machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the host device of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example in which an ISDN communication line is used as a communication line used in the software vending system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Software vending machine 2 Host 3 Communication line 4 Communication unit 5 CPU 7 Timer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device that transmits and receives data to and from a host device via a communication line, and clocking means that counts an elapsed time after transmitting and receiving data to and from the host device. When the count value of the time measuring means reaches a predetermined value,
A terminal device, comprising: a transmission means for transmitting a signal to the host device.