JP2001306345A - Information processor and pos terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent lowering of response due to memory leakage without periodically performing reboot. SOLUTION: Whether or not memory consumption exceeds a regulated value to affect the response of a CPU is judged by periodically checking the memory consumption. And when the memory consumption is judged to exceed the regulated value, a work process with the highest processing frequency is rebooted among various work processes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus in which an OS (Operating System) causing a memory leak is installed and a POS (Point Of Sales: point of sale information) terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, POS terminals used in the distribution and retail industries have become open systems, and a highly versatile OS used in computer systems such as personal computers is installed as basic software. Under control, business processes for performing various operations such as registration, inspection, and settlement are selectively executed one after another, and are put into practical use.

[0003] However, in some highly versatile OSs, the response of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) decreases due to the occurrence of a memory leak if the OS is operated continuously for a long period of time. There is something.

[0004] On the other hand, a POS terminal used in a 24-hour store such as a convenience store must basically be always in operation. Therefore, a memory leak occurs due to long-term continuous operation, and C
In order to prevent PU response from deteriorating, store managers at POS
A memory leak was removed by performing a reboot to reset the terminal softly.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Conventional POS of this kind
An information processing apparatus such as a terminal has a trouble that an operator must periodically reboot in order to prevent a decrease in response due to a memory leak.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in response due to a memory leak without periodically performing a reboot. Another object of the present invention is to provide a POS terminal capable of preventing a decrease in response due to a memory leak without periodically performing a reboot.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application has an OS on which a memory leak occurs installed, and selectively executes various business processes under the control of the installed OS. In an information processing apparatus including a central processing unit that performs information processing and a memory that the central processing unit uses as a temporary storage area of information,
A memory check means for periodically checking the memory usage to determine whether or not a specified value that affects the response of the central processing unit is exceeded; and the memory check means that the memory usage exceeds the specified value. And restart control means for restarting the business process having the highest processing frequency among the various business processes when it is determined that the business process has failed.

[0010] The invention according to claim 2 of the present application has an OS on which a memory leak occurs installed, and selectively executes various business processes such as a registration business and a settlement business under the control of the installed OS. In a POS terminal having a central processing unit for performing information processing by using a central processing unit and a memory used by the central processing unit as a temporary storage area for information, the state of use of the memory is periodically checked to check the central processing unit. A memory check means for determining whether or not a specified value affecting response has been exceeded, and a business process of a registered business among various business processes when it is determined that the memory usage has exceeded a specified value by the memory check means And restart control means for restarting.

[0009] The invention described in claim 3 of the present application is the above-described claim 2.
In the described invention, the memory check means is performed during execution of a business process of a settlement business which is periodically executed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a POS terminal compatible with an open system installed in a 24-hour store (for example, a convenience store).

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a POS terminal according to the present invention. The POS terminal has a CPU 1 as a central processing unit. Also, CPU
A ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 in which fixed data such as a start-up program for activating the CPU 1 are stored in advance, and a RAM (Random Acc
ess Memory) 3, a clock unit 4 for measuring the current date and time, a communication controller 5 for controlling data communication with a host device connected online, a drawer 6 for storing cash and the like.
An output port 7 for outputting an open command signal to the FDD (Floppy Disk Dri) for writing and reading data by accessing a floppy (registered trademark) disk mounted from the outside
ve) An FDD controller 9 for controlling the drive of the device 8, an HDD controller 11 for controlling the drive of a hard disk drive (HDD) device 10 for accessing a built-in hard disk and writing / reading data, and a product registration business. A keyboard interface 13 to which a keyboard 12 provided with various keys is connected, a scanner interface 15 to which a scanner 14 for optically reading a barcode is connected, a printer interface 17 to which a printer 16 for performing receipt printing or the like is connected, Registered product name,
A display interface 19 to which a display 18 for displaying a price or the like is connected is mounted. And CPU1 and R
OM2, RAM3, clock unit 4, communication controller 5, F
The DD controller 9, the HDD controller 11, and the interfaces 13, 15, 17, and 19 of various input / output devices are connected by a bus line 20 such as an address bus and a data bus to form a control circuit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the POS terminal.
And a main process 22 that operates under the control of. The main process 22 includes a registration process 23 for controlling the execution of the registration business, an inspection process 24 for controlling the execution of the inspection business, and a payment process 2 for controlling the execution of the payment business.
5, a memory determination process 26 for checking the use state of the RAM 3 and the like. If the OS 21 has been operating continuously for a long period of time, the CPU 1
Response is reduced.

By the way, the registration operation means that when a product code set for each product is input by scanning input of a bar code by the scanner 14 or key input of the keyboard 12, a product data file is searched by the input product code. Product data such as the corresponding product name and unit price is read, the unit price is registered as a sales amount in the sales data file, and the product name and unit price are displayed on the display unit 18. One transaction is performed by inputting the closing key of the keyboard 12. When the registration end is declared, the total data of the transaction is registered in the transaction data file and the printer 16 prints and issues a receipt. The closing code is entered. When the product code and the return amount are entered, the return amount is returned as return data. This is, for example, a return registration operation for registering a file.

Inspection work is the work of printing the data compiled in the sales data file, transaction data file, returned data file, etc. on recording paper by the printer 16 and outputting it as an inspection report. ,
This is the task of clearing the data in the data file after printing the data summed up in the sales data file, transaction data file, returned data file and the like on a recording paper by the printer 16 and outputting it as a settlement report.

Therefore, in a store that is not open for 24 hours,
Daily data such as sales data, transaction data, and returned goods data is obtained by selecting a registration operation at the time of opening the store and executing a settlement operation after the store is closed. In a store that is open 24 hours a day, similar registration data is obtained by executing the registration operation at all times and temporarily executing the settlement operation at the scheduled time every day.

The POS terminal having such a configuration includes a built-in hard disk, as shown in FIG. 3, particularly, a program file 31 storing program data of the OS 21 and the main process 22, a sales data file, a transaction data file, and a returned data file. And the like, and a backup data file 32 for backing up and saving various data files when the power is turned off, and a restart flag storage file 33 to be described later.

When the power is turned on and the CPU 1 is started by the start-up program in the ROM 2, the CPU 1
Reads the OS 21 from the hard disk and expands it in the program area of the RAM 3. Thereafter, the CPU 1 controls the operation of each unit under the control of the OS 21 until the power is turned off.

Here, when the execution of the registration job is instructed by the key input of the keyboard 12 or the command input from the host device connected online, the CPU 1
Reads the registration process 23 from the hard disk and
Expand to the program area of M3. Then, the registration process 23 is started.

As a result, the CPU 1 executes data processing relating to various registration services such as a merchandise registration business, a closing registration business, and a returned goods registration business. In this data processing, the CPU
1 uses the data area of the RAM 3 as a data storage area.

When the execution of the settlement operation is instructed by a key input or a command input, the CPU 1 reads the settlement process 25 from the hard disk, and stores it in the RAM.
Expand to program area 3 Then, the settlement process 25 is started.

Thus, the CPU 1 executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, as ST (step) 1, the data compiled in the sales data file, the transaction data file, the returned data file, and the like are printed on recording paper by the printer 16 and output as a settlement report, and then the data in the data file is cleared. Execute the checkout process. Next, the state of the restart flag is checked as ST2.

Here, if the restart flag is off (OFF) (NO in ST3), the memory determination process 26 is read from the hard disk as ST4,
Expand to program area 3 Then, the memory determination process 26 is started.

As a result, the CPU 1 executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the usage amount of the RAM 3 is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the usage amount exceeds a predetermined value. The specified value is obtained by measuring a value that affects the response of the CPU 1 in advance and setting the value in a hard disk or the like. (Memory check means) Here, RAM
If the usage amount of No. 3 exceeds the specified value, the restart flag is turned on. If it does not exceed the specified value, the restart flag is kept off. By executing the above processing, the memory determination process 26 ends. As a result, the program area of the RAM 3 in which the memory determination process 26 is stored is released.

On the other hand, in the processing of the settlement process 25, as a result of checking the state of the restart flag in ST2, if it is turned on (ON) (YE in ST3)
S), and terminate the operating registration process 23 once as ST5. As a result, the program area of the RAM 3 in which the registration process 23 is stored and the data area used by the CPU 1 by the processing of the registration process 23 are released. Next, the registration process 23 is read from the hard disk as ST6, and the program of the RAM 3 is read. The area is expanded and the registration process 23 is started again. (Restart control means) At this time, the restart flag is turned off (OFF) in ST7. Memory determination process 26 in ST4
Is started or the restart flag is turned off in ST7,
The settlement process 25 ends. As a result, the program area of the RAM 3 in which the settlement process 25 is stored is opened.

Now, assuming that the POS terminal of the present embodiment is used in a 24-hour convenience store, the POS terminal is always in operation.
Usually, a registration operation is performed, and sales data and the like of merchandise purchased by the shopper are registered. Also, at a predetermined time of the day, a settlement operation is performed, and daily total data such as sales data, transaction data, and returned data is calculated.

The amount of the RAM 3 used is checked in the settlement work that is periodically performed. Then, when the usage amount has not reached the preset specified value, the restart flag stored in the hard disk remains off. When the restart flag is off, the registration process 23 having the highest processing frequency is not restarted.

Therefore, a memory leak occurs due to the long-term continuous operation of the registration process 23, and the usage of the RAM 3 gradually increases. Then, when the usage amount of the RAM 3 exceeds the specified value, the restart flag is turned on. This allows
The registration process 23 is automatically restarted at the next execution of the settlement operation. As a result, the RAM area used by the registration process 23 is released, so that the usage of the RAM 3 is reduced. That is, C increases due to an increase in the usage of the RAM3.
Since the usage of the RAM 3 can be reduced before the response of the PU 1 decreases, the response of the CPU 1 does not decrease and the processing efficiency can be improved.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the POS
Since it is not necessary to perform a reboot for resetting the terminal by software, the burden on the operator can be reduced, and a drop in response due to forgetting to reboot cannot occur. Further, there is no risk of failure of the startup of the CPU 2 and there is no decrease in the response immediately after the startup, so that the reliability is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the RAM usage is checked during execution of the business process of the settlement business, and if it exceeds the specified value, a restart flag is set. Although the business process of the business is restarted, if the usage of the RAM has been checked and the specified value has been exceeded, the business process of the registered business may be restarted immediately. However, by using the restart flag as in the first embodiment, the memory determination process 2
6 does not have to be activated every time the settlement business is executed.
This has the effect of reducing the load on U1.

The present invention is not limited to a POS terminal, but can be applied to any information processing apparatus such as a personal computer in which an OS causing a memory leak is installed. In this case, it is preferable to check the usage of the RAM during the execution of the business process of the business that is periodically executed, and to determine whether or not the usage exceeds the specified value. In addition, the business process to be restarted is the process with the highest processing frequency, such as the business process that is always started, so that the memory usage can be reliably reduced.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in response due to a memory leak without periodically performing a reboot. Further, according to the inventions described in claims 2 and 3 of the present application, it is possible to provide a POS terminal that can prevent a decrease in response due to a memory leak without periodically performing a reboot.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a POS terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a software configuration of the POS terminal.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a file area stored in a hard disk built in the POS terminal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a CPU of the POS terminal executes a checkout process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a CPU of the POS terminal executes a memory determination process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU 2 ... ROM 3 ... RAM 10 ... HDD 21 ... OS 23 ... Registration process 25 ... Settlement process 26 ... Memory judgment process 33 ... File storing a restart flag

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A central processing unit for selectively executing various business processes under control of a preset operating system to perform information processing, and the central processing unit is used as a temporary storage area for information. A memory, a memory check means for periodically checking the amount of use of the memory and determining whether or not a prescribed value affecting a response of the central processing unit is exceeded; and a memory check means for using the memory by the memory check means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: restart control means for restarting a business process having the highest processing frequency among the various business processes when it is determined that the amount exceeds the specified value. 2. A central processing unit for selectively executing various business processes such as a registration business and a settlement business under the control of a preset operating system to perform information processing, A memory used as a temporary storage area, a memory check means for periodically checking a use state of the memory, and determining whether or not a specified value affecting a response of the central processing unit is exceeded. POS terminal comprising: a restart control unit for restarting a business process of a registered business among the various business processes when the check unit determines that the usage of the memory exceeds the specified value. . 3. The POS terminal according to claim 2, wherein said memory check means is performed during execution of a business process of a settlement business which is periodically executed.