JP2000076159A - Terminal controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent a process from being disabled owing to a difference in transaction program by sending object data to be processed after updating the transaction program that a terminal has to the latest version by sending the stored transaction program to the terminal when the program is not the latest version. SOLUTION: When the version numbers of both pieces of version information do not match each other (ST5-5), it is judged that the transaction program stored in a program file on a data processing terminal is older than the transaction program of the latest version stored in a program file on a terminal controller. Then an update instruction message instructing the data processing terminal to update the transaction program is generated first and sent to the data processing terminal through an adapter by an optical communication (ST5-6). Then the transaction program stored in the program file is read out and sent to the data processing terminal through the adapter by an optical communication (ST5-7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal control device having a function of updating a business program installed in a data processing terminal for executing a predetermined data processing business.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a retail market such as a supermarket, for example, a portable data processing terminal may be used for ordering goods. In this case, a terminal control device mainly composed of a computer is prepared separately from the data processing terminal,
The terminal control device and the data processing terminal can transmit and receive data by wireless communication, optical communication, or the like.

[0005] In such an ordering business system, the terminal control device stores and manages past sales data and order result data of each product. Therefore, the person in charge of ordering the store first operates the terminal control device to create an ordering master file in which the sales and ordering result data for the past several days are registered for each product. Next, after transferring the ordering master file to the data processing terminal by wireless communication, optical communication, or the like, the user goes to a store or warehouse with the data processing terminal to check the stock amount of each product. Then, the current order quantity is determined for each product from the sales and order result data and the current stock quantity, and the product-specific order data is input to the data processing terminal. In this way, the product-specific order data input to the data processing terminal is transmitted to the terminal control device by wireless communication, optical communication, or the like. Then, the order control result data is updated in the terminal control device, and an order slip is created. In this manner, the terminal control device can perform data communication with a data processing terminal equipped with a business program for executing a predetermined data processing business, and creates and transmits data to be processed by the terminal, It had a function of receiving and processing data processed by the terminal.

In a data processing system including a terminal control device and a data processing terminal of this kind, a data processing task to be executed by the data processing terminal is added.
When changing the contents of an existing data processing operation, it is necessary to update the operation program installed in the data processing terminal. In such a case, conventionally, the person in charge conventionally creates the latest version of the business program on the terminal control device and stores it in the program file. Next, when the operation mode of the data processing terminal is switched to the program update mode, the terminal control device is operated to execute the terminal program transmission task. Thus, a program file storing the latest version of the business program is transmitted from the terminal control device by wireless communication, optical communication, or the like, and the program file is received by the data processing terminal switched to the program update mode. Then, the content of the program file originally possessed by the terminal is rewritten to the content of the program file received this time, and the business program is updated.

[0005]

As described above, in the data processing system including the conventional terminal control device and the data processing terminal, if it becomes necessary to update the business program mounted on the data processing terminal, the data processing system may be changed. In general, the operation mode of the data processing terminal must be switched to the program update mode, or the terminal control device must be operated to execute the terminal program transmission task. For this reason, if the operator forgets to update the business program installed in the data processing terminal, the terminal control device creates data to be processed by the data processing terminal based on the latest version of the business program and stores the data in the terminal. Even when transmitted, the business program of the terminal was not normally processed because it was not updated to the latest version.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to automatically update the latest version of a business program installed in a data processing terminal to be controlled when the business program is not the latest version. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal control device that can be updated to a terminal device and can reliably prevent processing target data to be transmitted to the terminal from being unprocessable due to a difference in a business program.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a function for performing data communication with a data processing terminal equipped with a business program for executing a predetermined data processing business, and transmitting processing target data to the terminal. In the terminal control device having the above, a program storage means for storing the latest version of the business program to be installed in the terminal is provided, and when processing for transmitting the processing target data to the terminal occurs, the data is transmitted each time. Check the version of the business program installed in the terminal before performing the operation.If the version is the latest version, immediately transmit the corresponding processing target data.If the version is not the latest version, transmit the business program stored by the program storage unit to the terminal. Update the business program installed in the terminal to the latest version It is obtained so as to transmit the processed data to those for.

Specifically, in addition to the program storage means for storing the latest version of the business program to be installed in the data processing terminal, if processing for transmitting processing target data to the terminal occurs, the data processing terminal transmits Version comparison means for comparing each time the version of the business program mounted on the terminal with the version of the business program stored in the program storage means to determine whether or not they match each other. When it is confirmed that the versions match, the first data transmission control means for transmitting the corresponding processing target data to the terminal, and when the version comparison means confirms that the versions of both business programs do not match, the program storage means Send the latest version of the stored business program to the terminal And program update means for updating to the latest version business program of the terminal Te,
When the business program of the terminal is updated by the program updating means, a second data transmission control means for transmitting the corresponding processing target data to the terminal is provided.

With this configuration, the latest version of the business program installed in the data processing terminal is stored in the program storage means. In this state, when data to be processed is generated in the data processing terminal, the version of the business program installed in the terminal is checked before transmitting the processing target data. When the version is the latest version, the processing target data is immediately transmitted to the terminal. On the other hand, if the latest version is not the latest version, the latest version of the business program stored by the program storage means is transmitted to the terminal,
After the business program of the terminal is automatically updated, the corresponding processing target data is transmitted to the terminal. Therefore, the business program installed in the data processing terminal to which the processing target data has been transmitted is always the latest version.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system has a plurality of optical communication functions equipped with a business program for executing a predetermined data processing business such as a product ordering business. Data processing terminals 1 and a terminal control device 2 having a function of transmitting processing target data such as a master file for ordering to each data processing terminal 1. An adapter 3 is connected to enable data transmission and reception between the terminal control device 2 and the data processing terminal 1 mounted on the adapter 3 by optical communication.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the terminal control device 2 includes a processing object data creating unit 21 for creating the processing object data, and a data storing the processing object data created by the data creating unit 21. A file 22, a terminal program creating unit 23 for creating a business program to be installed in each data processing terminal 1, and this program creating unit 23
File 24 as program storage means for storing the latest version of the business program created by the above, a version information storage unit 25 for storing version information of the business program stored in the program file 24, and a clock unit for clocking the system date 26, comprising a processing target data transmitting unit 27 for transmitting the processing target data stored in the data file 23 to the data processing terminal 1 via the adapter 3 by optical communication, and a display unit 28 for performing an error display or the like. It was done.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, each data processing terminal 1 includes a program file 11 for storing a business program, a version information storage unit 12 for storing version information of the business program stored in the program file 11, A clock unit 13 for measuring a system date; a processing target data receiving unit 14 for receiving processing target data transmitted by optical communication from the terminal control device 1 via the adapter 3; a processing target received by the data receiving unit 14 A data file 15 for storing data, a terminal data processing unit 16 for executing data processing based on a business program stored in the program file 11 by referring to processing target data stored in the data file, and inputting data and the like. Input unit 17, display unit 18 for displaying data, etc.
And a temporary storage file 19 for temporarily storing a business program transmitted by optical communication from the terminal control device 2 via the adapter 3.

The version information of the business program installed in each data processing terminal 1 is, as shown in FIG.
For example, it is composed of 14-digit numerical data obtained by combining numerical data corresponding to a 6-digit version number and 8-digit numerical data corresponding to an update date (year, month, day).

In the data processing system having such a configuration, the processing target data transmitting section 27 of the terminal control device 2 realizes the processing of transmitting the processing target data according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. Data receiving unit 14
Implements the process of receiving the data to be processed by the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the processing target data transmission unit 27 of the terminal control device 2 waits for the processing target data to be stored in the data file 22 in ST5-1. When the processing target data created by the operation of the processing target data creation unit 21 is stored in the data file 22,
In ST5-2, it is determined whether or not the data processing terminal 1 is attached to the adapter 3. Here, if not mounted, it waits until it is mounted. When it is confirmed in ST5-2 that the data processing terminal 1 is attached to the adapter 3, it is determined in ST5-3 whether the data to be processed can be transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 attached to the adapter 3. Is created, and the transmission confirmation message is transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 via the adapter 3 by optical communication.

On the other hand, the processing target data receiving section 14 of the data processing terminal 1 attached to the adapter 3 waits for a message from the terminal control device 2 in ST6-1. In this state, when the transmission confirmation message is received from the terminal control device 2 in ST6-2, the version information stored in the version information storage unit 12, that is, the version information stored in the program file 11 in the terminal is stored in ST6-3. The version information of the business program is read, and an answer message in which the version information is set is created. After creation, ST6-4
The response message is transmitted to the terminal control device 2 by optical communication.

Processing target data transmission unit 2 of terminal control device 2
7 transmits a transmission confirmation message to the data processing terminal 1 attached to the adapter 3 in ST5-3, and then waits for an answer message from the data processing terminal 1 in ST5-4.
When the answer message is received via the adapter 3 within a predetermined time, the version number of the version information set in the answer message and the version of the version information stored in the version information storage unit 25 are set as ST5-5. Compare with the number (version comparison means).

As a result, if the two version numbers match, the program file 1 of the data processing terminal 1
1 is determined to match the latest version of the business program stored in the program file 24 of the terminal control device 2. And
Proceeding to ST5-10, if the processing target data stored in the data file 22 has been transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 by optical communication via the adapter 3 (first data transmission control means), the current processing is performed. And waits for the data to be processed stored in the data file 22 again.

On the other hand, if the version numbers of the two version information do not match in ST5-5, the business program stored in the program file 11 of the data processing terminal 1 is changed to the program file 2 of the terminal control device 2.
4 is determined to be an older version than the latest version of the business program. And first, ST
As 5-6, an update instruction message for instructing the data processing terminal 1 to update the business program is created, and the update instruction message is transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 via the adapter 3 by optical communication. Subsequently, the business program stored in the program file 24 is read out as ST5-7, and transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 by optical communication via the adapter 3. At this time, the version information storage unit 25
The version number of the version information stored in is also transmitted. If the business program has a large data amount and cannot be transmitted at one time, the program is transmitted several times (program updating means).

When the transmission of the business program is completed in ST5-8, it is determined in ST5-9 whether all the business programs have been transmitted normally.
When the transmission is completed normally, the process proceeds to ST5-10,
The data to be processed stored in the data file 22 is transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 by optical communication via the adapter 3 (second data transmission control means). Thus, the current process is completed, and the process waits until the data to be processed is stored in the data file 22 again.

Note that the program file 2 is set in ST5-9.
If the business program stored in No. 4 has not been transmitted normally, a warning indicating a program update error is displayed on the display unit 28 in ST5-11. Then, the current process is terminated without transmitting the processing target data, and the process waits for the processing target data to be stored in the data file 22 again. Also, after transmitting the transmission confirmation message in ST5-4,
If an answer message cannot be received from the data processing terminal 1 even after a certain period of time, a display indicating a communication error is displayed on the display unit 28. Then, the process returns to ST5-1 to wait for the data to be processed stored in the data file 22 again.

On the other hand, the processing target data receiving unit 14 of the data processing terminal 1 transmits the reply message in ST6-4,
At T6-5, it receives an update instruction message of the business program from the terminal control device 2, or waits at ST6-6 to receive processing target data. In this state, if the processing target data is received without receiving the update instruction message of the business program, the received processing target data is stored in the data file 15 as ST6-7, and the terminal data processing unit 16 Transfer control to.

If an update instruction message for the business program is received before the data to be processed is received, ST6
As -8, the temporary storage file 19 is initialized in preparation for receiving the business program. Thereafter, as ST6-9, the process waits for reception of the business program transmitted from the terminal control device 2. When the business program is received by optical communication, the received business program is stored in the temporary storage file 19 as ST6-10.

If all the business programs transmitted by optical communication from the terminal control device 2 via the adapter 3 have been normally received in ST6-11, the process proceeds to ST6-1.
As 2, the contents of the temporary storage file 19 are transferred to the program file 11, and the business program in the program file 11 is updated to the latest version. Also,
In step ST6-13, version information is created from the version number received together with the business program of the latest version and the date measured by the clock unit 13, and the version information in the version information storage unit 12 is updated to the one created this time.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to ST6-6, and when the processing target data transmitted by optical communication from the terminal control device 2 via the adapter 3 is received, the received processing target data is stored in the data file 15. Then, the control is transferred to the terminal data processing unit 16. If the business program cannot be normally received in ST6-11, ST6-14
To clear the temporary storage file 19 and
An abnormality display is performed on the display unit 18 as T6-15.

When the data processing system of the present embodiment configured as described above is applied to an ordering business in a distribution and retail business, the program file 1 of each data processing terminal 1
1 is provided with an ordering business program for controlling data processing related to the ordering business. The terminal control device 2 stores and manages past data such as past sales and orders for each product.

Here, if it becomes necessary to update the ordering business program in accordance with the change in the processing contents of the ordering business, the program operator operates the terminal program creation unit 23 of the terminal control device 2 to order the latest version. Create a business program. As a result, the latest version of the ordering business program is stored in the program file 24. Further, the version information storage unit 25 stores version information including the latest version number and the creation date.

In this state, when an ordering operation is performed using the data processing terminal 1, the ordering person first operates the processing target data creating unit 21 of the terminal control device 2 to separate the products for the past several days by product. Create an ordering master file that registers sales and ordering results data. Thus, the master file for ordering is stored in the data file 22. Next, the ordering person attaches one data processing terminal 1 to the adapter 3. Then, the processing target data transmission unit 21 of the terminal control device 2 operates, and first, a transmission confirmation message is transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 by optical communication.
As a result, the processing target data receiving unit 14 of the data processing terminal 1 operates to generate an answer message in which the version information of the ordering business program stored in the program file 11 is set. It is transmitted by optical communication.

Here, in the terminal control device 2, the version information of the ordering business program set in the answer message is compared with the version information stored in the version information storage unit 25. At this time, since the version numbers of both version information do not match, the corresponding data processing terminal 1
, The latest version of the ordering business program stored in the program file 24 is transmitted by optical communication, and the program installed in the program file 11 of the data processing terminal 1 is automatically updated to the latest version of the ordering business program. Is done. Thereafter, the ordering master file stored in the data file 22 is automatically transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 and stored in the data file 15 for the data processing terminal 1. Then, the person in charge of order removes the data processing terminal 1 from the adapter 3, goes to a store or a warehouse, and inputs order data to the data processing terminal 1. In this case,
The ordering master file stored in the data file 15 corresponds to the latest version of the ordering business program stored in the program file 11, so that the ordering business can be reliably processed.

When the data processing terminal 1 updated to the latest version of the ordering business program is attached to the adapter 3, the version information and the version set in the reply message returned from the data processing terminal 1 are set. Since the version information stored in the information storage unit 25 matches, the data to be processed (ordering master file) is immediately transmitted to the data processing terminal 1 without updating the program. Therefore, the time required for the program update processing is wasted only when the versions of the programs do not match, so that the efficiency of the operation using the data processing terminal 1 is not hindered.

In the above embodiment, the terminal control device 2 is focused on the time efficiency of the program update process.
When it is determined that all the business programs have been transmitted normally, the processing data is transmitted to the data processing terminal 1. However, emphasis is placed on the reliability of the program update process, and the data processing terminal 1 May be configured to notify the terminal control device 2 of the normal reception or update end of the communication, and the terminal control device 2 that has received the notification may transmit the processing data.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where data transmission and reception between the terminal control device 2 and the data processing terminal 1 is performed by optical communication has been described. Applicable. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, such as the format of the version information shown in FIG.

[0033]

As described in detail above, claims 1 and 2 of the present application are provided.
According to the described invention, when the business program installed in the data processing terminal to be controlled is not the latest version, it can be automatically updated to the latest version, and the processing target data transmitted to the terminal can be updated to the business version. It is possible to provide a terminal control device that can surely prevent the processing from being disabled due to a difference between programs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a functional part of the terminal control device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing a functional part of the data processing terminal according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a format of version information in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main part of a processing procedure executed by a processing target data transmitting unit which is one function of the terminal control device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart showing a main part of a processing procedure executed by a processing target data receiving unit which is one function of the data processing terminal according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data processing terminal 2 ... Terminal control device 11 ... Program file 12 ... Version information storage part 14 ... Processing target data receiving part 15 ... Data file 16 ... Terminal data processing part 19 ... Temporary storage file 21 ... Processing target data creation part 22 ... Data file 23 ... Terminal program creation unit 24 ... Program file 25 ... Version information storage unit 27 ... Processing target data transmission unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A terminal control device capable of performing data communication with a data processing terminal equipped with a business program for executing a predetermined data processing business and having a function of transmitting processing target data to the terminal. A program storage unit for storing a latest version of a business program to be mounted on the data processing terminal; when a process of transmitting processing target data to the data processing terminal occurs, the program is mounted on the terminal before data transmission; Check the version of the business program
When the latest version, the corresponding processing target data is transmitted immediately, and when not the latest version, the business program stored by the program storage unit is transmitted to the terminal, and then the corresponding processing target data is transmitted. Terminal control device. 2. A terminal control device capable of performing data communication with a data processing terminal equipped with a business program for executing a predetermined data processing business and having a function of transmitting data to be processed to the terminal. A program storage means for storing the latest version of a business program to be installed in the data processing terminal; and a process for transmitting data to be processed to the data processing terminal, wherein the business installed in the terminal before data transmission is performed. Version comparing means for comparing each time the version of the program and the version of the business program stored in the program storage means to determine whether they match, and the version comparing means matches the versions of both business programs. After confirming that the data to be processed is transmitted to the data processing terminal, When the first data transmission control means and the version comparison means confirm that the versions of both business programs do not match, the latest version of the business program stored in the program storage means is transmitted to the data processing terminal, A program updating means for updating the business program of the data processing terminal to the latest version; and a second data transmission for transmitting the corresponding processing target data to the terminal after the business program of the data processing terminal is updated by the program updating means. And a control means.