JP2002359622A - Wireless communication system, wireless terminal, and its host device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for troublesome settings when revision of a master station is required due to the movement of a wireless terminal. SOLUTION: The host device 10 is provided with a parameter management means that stores and manages a wireless communication parameter preset to each wireless base station. Upon the receipt of identification data for a wireless base station by a master station designation means, the wireless terminal 30 requests the host device 10 to revise the master station into a wireless base station identified by input identification data. The host device 10 receiving the request transmits a wireless communication parameter of the wireless base station designated as the revised master station to the wireless terminal being a master station revision request source. Upon the receipt of the wireless communication parameter sent wirelessly from the host device in response to the master station revision request, the wireless terminal 30 updates the wireless communication parameter having been stored in a parameter storage means into the received wireless communication parameter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system such as an OS (Point Of Sales) system, a wireless terminal device of the system, and a higher-level device thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of POS terminals installed at each sales floor in a store are connected to a store computer installed in a store office or the like via a communication line, and registered in the store computer at each POS terminal. 2. Description of the Related Art A system in which merchandise data is collected and tabulated to integrally manage sales, inventory, orders, and the like of the entire store, a so-called POS system, is used in retail stores such as department stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. .

In such a POS system, a wireless POS system using a wireless communication means between the store computer and each POS terminal has already been developed and put to practical use. The conventional wireless POS system uses each P
Each of the OS terminals is provided with a wireless unit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data, and a plurality of wireless base stations connected online to a store computer are distributed in the store. In each POS terminal, a wireless base station having the best communication environment is set as a master station of a wireless unit provided therein, while each wireless base station sets itself as a master station of the wireless unit. POS terminal information has been set. In the store computer, each P
The OS terminal manages which wireless base station is set as the master station of the wireless unit. With such a configuration, for example, PO
The product data registered in the S terminal is transmitted by wireless communication from a wireless unit provided in the POS terminal to a wireless base station set as a master station, and transmitted from the wireless base station to a store computer online, Was collected on the store computer.

[0004] The wireless POS system is easier to move the POS terminal than a system in which the store computer and the POS terminal are connected by wire.
In order to increase the number of customers due to the increase in customers due to special sales,
There is an advantage that the layout of the sales floor can be easily changed. However, when the movement of the POS terminal deteriorates the wireless communication environment between the POS terminal and the wireless base station set as the master station, it is necessary to change the master station for the wireless part of the POS terminal. . When changing the master station, not only the information on the master station on the POS terminal side but also the information on the radio base station side and the information on the store computer have to be reset.

[0005]

As described above, in a conventional wireless communication system of this type, when a wireless terminal such as a POS terminal moves, a master station for the wireless section of the wireless terminal is reset. In addition, it is necessary to change not only the settings of the POS terminal but also the settings of the wireless base station and the store computer, and these setting changes are performed manually and individually, which requires time and effort. In addition, changing the settings of the wireless base station and the store computer requires specialized knowledge, so that it could not be easily implemented.

Accordingly, the present invention can cope with a case where a master station needs to be changed due to the movement of a wireless terminal device, by simply designating a destination master station with the wireless terminal device to be moved. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system that can be simplified, a wireless terminal device of the system, and a higher-order device thereof.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless base stations are connected to a higher-level device of a wireless terminal device having a wireless section, and a communication between the wireless terminal device and the higher-level device is established. A wireless communication system in which data communication is performed wirelessly via a wireless base station designated as a master station for a wireless section of the wireless terminal device. Parameter management means for storing and managing a preset wireless communication parameter; and when a wireless terminal device receives a master station change request, the wireless communication parameter of the wireless base station designated as the change destination master station is changed by the master station change request source. Parameter transmission means for transmitting to the wireless terminal device using radio, and a parameter storage means for storing, in the wireless terminal device, wireless communication parameters of a wireless base station designated as a master station for the wireless section; Master station designating means for inputting identification data of a wireless base station designated as a master station of the radio section, and when the identification data of the wireless base station is inputted by the master station designating means, the higher-level device is given Master station change request means for making a master station change request to the specified radio base station;
Parameter receiving means for receiving a wireless communication parameter sent from a higher-level device in response to the master station change request by the master station change request means, and a wireless communication parameter for receiving the wireless communication parameter stored in the parameter storage means. Parameter updating means for updating the communication parameters.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless terminal device having a wireless unit, wherein the wireless terminal device performs data communication with a host device connected to a plurality of wireless base stations. The wireless communication unit performs wireless communication via any of the wireless base stations designated as the master station, and stores the wireless communication parameters of the wireless base station designated as the master station for the wireless unit. Parameter storage means, a base station designating means for inputting identification data of a wireless base station to be designated as a base station of the radio section, Master station change request means for making a master station change request to the wireless base station specified by the input identification data; and wireless communication sent from the host machine in response to the master station change request by the master station change request means. Parameter A parameter receiving unit that is obtained by providing a parameter updating means for updating the radio communication parameters received by the parameter receiving unit wireless communications parameters stored by the parameter storage unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless terminal device according to the second aspect, the wireless communication parameters before being updated by the parameter updating means are stored, and after the wireless communication parameters are updated by the parameter updating means. When the wireless communication performed based on the wireless communication parameter is not possible, a parameter return unit is provided for returning the wireless communication parameter stored in the parameter storage unit to the wireless communication parameter before being updated by the parameter updating unit.

[0010] The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is an upper-level device of a wireless terminal device having a wireless unit, which connects a plurality of wireless base stations and performs data communication with the wireless terminal device. In a wireless terminal of a wireless terminal device, the wireless communication is performed via one of the wireless base stations designated as a master station, and wireless communication parameters preset for each wireless base station are stored and managed. Parameter management means, and parameter transmission means for transmitting a wireless communication parameter of a wireless base station designated as a change destination master station to a wireless terminal apparatus of a master station change request source when a wireless terminal apparatus receives a master station change request. It is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the number of wireless terminal devices provided with a wireless section having the wireless base station as a master station is managed for each wireless base station in the host device according to the fourth aspect. Means for setting the parameter transmission means, the number of wireless terminal devices having a wireless section having a wireless base station designated as the change destination master station as a master station when a wireless terminal device requests a master station change is preset. And transmitting the wireless communication parameters of the wireless base station to the wireless terminal device that has issued the master station change request, provided that the number does not exceed the limited number.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a wireless POS system using a radio frequency hopping communication system.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless POS according to this embodiment.
1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system. The system includes one store computer 10 installed in a store office or the like,
Each place in the store is wireless zone Z1, Z2, Z3, respectively
Four wireless base stations 2 distributed to be Z4
1, POS terminals 30, 22, 23 and 24, and a large number of POS terminals 30 respectively installed at each sales floor. In addition, each PO
A wireless unit 40 is provided in each of the S terminals 30, and the wireless unit 40 of each POS terminal 30 and each of the wireless base stations 21, 22, 23, 2
4 constructs a wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

More specifically, the POS terminal 30 located in the wireless zone Z1 of the wireless base station 21 designates the wireless base station 21 as the master station of the wireless unit 40, and the wireless zone Z2 of the wireless base station 22. The radio base station 22 is designated as the master station of the radio unit 40 for the POS terminal 30 placed in the POS terminal 30 and the POS terminal 30 placed in the radio zone Z3 of the radio base station 23.
, The wireless base station 23 is designated as the master station of the wireless unit 40, and the PO set in the wireless zone Z4 of the wireless base station 24 is designated.
While the wireless base station 24 is designated as the master station of the wireless unit 40 for the S terminal 30, each of the wireless base stations 21, 22, 23,
24, information (station ID code) of the radio unit 40 having its own station as a master station is set and stored and held in a memory in each base station. Accordingly, all the POS terminals 30 located in the wireless zone Z1 perform wireless communication with the wireless base station 21 while sequentially switching the use frequency according to a predetermined frequency hopping pattern, and all the POS terminals 30 located in the wireless zone Z2. Reference numeral 30 denotes a radio base station 2 while sequentially switching the use frequency according to another frequency hopping pattern.
2, all the POS terminals 30 located in the wireless zone Z3 perform wireless communication with the wireless base station 23 while sequentially switching the use frequency according to another frequency hopping pattern, and are located in the wireless zone Z4. All the POS terminals 30 perform wireless communication with the wireless base station 24 while sequentially switching the use frequency according to another frequency hopping pattern, thereby constructing a wireless LAN.

The store computer 10 and each of the wireless base stations 21, 22, 23, 24 are connected by a wired LAN 50 to perform data communication. Thus, the store computer 10 and each POS terminal 30 are connected to the wired L
Data is transmitted and received via the AN 50 and the wireless LAN. Here, each POS terminal 30 functions as a wireless terminal device, and the store computer 10 functions as its higher-level device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of each POS terminal 30, and each POS terminal 30 has the same configuration. That is, a CPU (Central Proc
essingUnit) 301. Also, a ROM (Read Only Memories) in which fixed data such as programs are stored in advance
mory) 302, a random access memory (RAM) formed with various memory areas for storing various variable data.
Memory) 303, a clock section 304 for measuring the current date and time, an I / O port 306 for outputting a drive signal to an opening mechanism of a drawer 305 for storing cash and the like, and a front display 307 for a cashier. A display controller 308 for displaying data, a display controller 310 for displaying data on the customer surface display 309 for customers, and a keyboard interface 312 to which a keyboard 311 provided with various keys used for product registration and the like are electrically connected. A printer interface 314 to which a printer 313 for performing receipt printing or the like is electrically connected;
0 is provided with a wireless unit interface 315 and the like to be electrically connected. Then, the CPU 301 and the ROM 30
2, RAM 303, clock unit 304, I / O port 30
5. The display controllers 308, 310 and the respective interfaces 312, 314, 315 are connected by a bus line 316 such as an address bus or a data bus to constitute a control circuit.

In the POS terminal 30 having such a configuration, memory areas 321 to 328 shown in FIG. The memory area 321 is a TM number area for storing a terminal-specific TM number assigned and set to the POS terminal 30 in advance. The memory area 322 is an own station ID code area for storing a station ID code unique to the radio unit, which is preset and assigned to the radio unit 40 connected to the radio unit interface 315. The memory area 323 stores a base station ID code unique to the base station, which is pre-assigned and set to one of the base stations set as the base station of the radio section 40 connected to the radio section interface 315. It is a code area. The memory area 324 is a base station installation location information area that stores the installation location information of any of the wireless base stations set in the master station. The memory area 325 is a parameter storage unit that stores communication parameters such as a communication address and information on a frequency hopping pattern necessary for wireless communication with any of the wireless base stations set as the master station. The memory area 326 is a parameter saving unit that saves the communication parameters. The memory area 327 stores the PO
This is a flag area for storing a master station change flag F1 that is set when the master station of the S terminal 30 with respect to the radio unit 40 is changed. The memory area 328 stores the POS terminal 30
This is a flag area for storing a change disable flag F2 set when the change of the master station for the wireless unit 40 is rejected. Here, the parameter storage unit 325 forms a parameter storage unit.

Although not shown, each memory area 32
The data stored in the POS terminal 30 is stored in the RAM so that the data is stably stored even when the POS terminal 30 is turned off.
The power supply of the power supply 303 is backed up.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the store computer 10, and also a CP as a control unit main body.
U101 is mounted. The ROM 102, the RAM 103, and the clock unit 1 that function similarly to those of the POS terminal 30
04, each wireless base station 2 via the wired LAN 50.
L controlling data communication with 1, 2, 23, 24
AN controller 105, HDD as auxiliary storage device
(Hard Disk Drive) An HDD controller 107 that controls writing and reading of data to and from the device 106, an I / O device interface 108 to which various input / output devices such as a keyboard, a display, a mouse, and a printer are electrically connected. Have. Then, the CPU 101 and the RO
The M102, the RAM 103, the clock unit 104, the LAN controller 105, the HDD controller 107, and the I / O device interface 108 are connected by a bus line 109 such as an address bus and a data bus to form a control circuit.

The store computer 10 having the above-described configuration includes:
In particular, in order to establish wireless data communication with each POS terminal 30, the HDD device 106 has a terminal management table 110 having a data structure shown in FIG. 5 and a base station management table 111 having a data structure shown in FIG. Is formed.

The terminal management table 110 stores, for each TM number of each POS terminal 30, a station ID code (own station ID code) of the radio unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 and a master station for the radio unit 40. Radio base stations 21 and 2 assigned
2, 23, 24 station ID codes (master station ID codes);
A settlement flag that is set to “1” when the POS terminal 30 completes the settlement process performed after the store is closed every business day, and is reset to “0” when the start-up process is started;
Set to “1” when the POS terminal 30 executes a master station change process to be described later and receives a movement destination confirmation notification, and sets “1” when a master station change completion notification or a master station change cancellation notification is received in a subsequent start-up process. And a completion wait flag reset to "0". Here, the terminal management table 1
Reference numeral 10 denotes a parameter management unit.

The base station management table 111 includes, for each base station number set for convenience to identify each of the wireless base stations 21, 22, 23, and 24, the station ID code of the wireless base station and the wireless base station. The location information in the installed store, communication parameters such as a communication address and a frequency hopping pattern used by the radio base station, and “1” are set when the radio base station is operating normally. The operation flag that is reset to “0” when the wireless base station is stopped, the number of connected units M that is the number of wireless units 40 having the wireless base station as a master station, and the movement of the POS terminal 30 sets the wireless base station to the master station. And the scheduled number N of connection reservations, which is the number of wireless units 40 to be stored.

In this embodiment, the base station number which is identification data of the radio base station 21 is "1", the station ID code is "B01", and the location information is "1F East (East side of the first floor)". The base station number as identification data of the wireless base station 22 is “2”, the station ID code is “B02”, the location information is “1F west (west side of the first floor)”, and the identification data of the wireless base station 23. The base station number is "3" and the station ID code is "B
03, the location information is “2F East (the east side of the second floor)”, and the base station number that is the identification data of the wireless base station 24 is “4”.
The station ID code is "B04" and the location information is "2F West (west side of the first floor)".

The CPU 30 of each POS terminal 30
1 is programmed to selectively execute processing in various business modes such as “registration”, “inspection”, “payment”, and “setting” after completion of startup by turning on the power. Then, when the “registration” mode is selected, the registration processing for registering the sales data of the sold product and the sales data of the returned product in the memory is executed. When the “inspection” mode is selected, the registration process is performed. Executes an inspection process to output the sales data of each product as a report, and executes the checkout process to clear the memory after outputting the sales data of each product registered in the memory when the "payment" mode is selected. I do.
Further, when the “setting” mode is selected, particularly when the execution of the master station change processing is instructed by a key input or the like, the master station change processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is executed. . Incidentally, the master station change process is a process executed when a change of the master station to the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 is required as the POS terminal 30 moves.

That is, when the CPU 301 detects the execution command of the master station change process in the “setting” mode, first,
As ST (step) 1, a message such as “Please enter the base station number of the wireless base station installed at the terminal destination” is displayed on the front display 307, and it is assumed that the destination information is input. stand by. Here, the operator
Since the base station number is key-input as identification data of the wireless base station to which the terminal 30 is to be moved (master station designating means), C
After confirming and storing the key input of the base station number, the PU 301 stores the keyed base station number and TM in ST2.
A master station change request message including the TM number preset in the number area 321 and the destination of the master station ID code stored in the master station ID code area 323 is created.
Then, the radio section 40 is operated based on the communication parameters stored in the parameter storage section 325 to wirelessly transmit a master station change request message (master station change request means).

As described above, the master station change request message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless section 40 of the POS terminal 30 includes the master station ID of the destination.
The radio base station to which the code is set, that is, its radio unit 40
Is received by the radio base station set for the master station,
Further, the data is transmitted to the store computer 10 via the wired LAN 50. Thereby, the store computer 1
The CPU 101 of the CPU 0 executes the master station change request reception processing shown in FIG.

That is, the CPU 101 acquires the TM number from the master station change request message in ST41, searches the terminal management table 110, and checks the settlement flag corresponding to the TM number. If the settlement flag is set to “1”, the POS terminal 30 identified by the TM number, that is, the POS terminal 30 that is the transmission source of the master station change request message, has completed the settlement process. Therefore, in step ST42, the base station number is acquired from the parent station change request message, the base station management table 111 is searched, and the operating flag corresponding to the base station number is checked. If the operating flag is set to "1", the wireless base station corresponding to the base station number, that is, the destination (change destination) of the POS terminal 30 that has transmitted the master station change request message will be described. Since a certain radio base station is operating normally, the number of connected units M and the number of reserved connections N corresponding to the base station number are acquired from the base station management table 111 in ST43. Then, as ST44, it is determined whether or not a value obtained by adding 1 to the value obtained by adding the number of connected units M and the number of reserved connection units N exceeds a preset limit number. Here, the limit number is the maximum number of connected terminals capable of maintaining good communication efficiency of each of the wireless base stations 21, 22, 23, and 24, and is a value arbitrarily set in consideration of the performance of the wireless base station. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is set to “8”.

The CPU 101 determines in step ST44 that the number of connected devices M
If the value obtained by adding 1 to the value obtained by adding the number and the number of connection reservations N is equal to or less than the limit number, the master station change request message transmission source P
Since the wireless base station at the destination of the OS terminal 30 does not interfere with the master station of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30, the base station management table 11 is set as ST45.
1, the station ID code and the installation location information corresponding to the base station number are obtained, and an acknowledgment message (A
CK). Then, the destination of the acknowledgment message is transmitted to the wired LAN 50 as the station ID code of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 that has transmitted the master station change request message.

On the other hand, if the value obtained by adding 1 to the value obtained by adding the number of connected units M and the number of reserved connections N in ST44 exceeds the limit number, or in step ST42, the parent station change request message transmission source POS If the wireless base station at the destination of the terminal 30 is not operating normally (operation flag reset),
Alternatively, if the parent station change request message transmission source POS terminal 30 is not settled in ST41 (reset flag is reset), a negative response message (NAK) is created in ST46,
This negative acknowledgment message is sent to the wired LA
Transmit to N50.

In this way, the acknowledgment message or the negative acknowledgment message transmitted from the store computer 10 is transmitted by radio from the radio base station storing and managing the destination station ID code in the intra-station memory. The ID code is received by the set radio unit 40.

Then, the CPU 301 of the POS terminal 30
After transmitting a master station change request message by wireless in ST2 in FIG. 7, the process waits for a response from the store computer 10 to the master station change request. Then, when detecting that the acknowledgment message (ACK) is received by the radio unit 40 in ST3, the station ID code and the installation location information of the destination wireless base station are acquired from the acknowledgment message in ST4,
A message such as “Is the destination correct?” Is displayed on the front display 307. Here, the operator checks the display contents, and if the destination (change destination) is correct in the installation location information, performs a key input for instructing "confirmation OK". In step ST6, a connection confirmation message is created with the station ID code of the destination radio base station as the confirmation destination and the destination of the master station ID code stored in the master station ID code area 323, and the master station change request is issued. As in the case of the message, the connection confirmation message is wirelessly transmitted via the wireless unit 40.

Thus, the connection confirmation message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless section 40 of the POS terminal 30 is received by the wireless base station to which the destination base station ID code is set, and
The data is transmitted to another wireless base station designated as the confirmation destination via the AN 50. As a result, the other wireless base stations that have normally received the connection confirmation message return an acknowledgment message (ACK) to the POS terminal 30 that has transmitted the message. POS that sent the connection confirmation message
CPU 301 of terminal 30 waits for a response from the destination wireless base station. If it is detected in ST7 that the acknowledgment message has been received via the wireless unit 40,
As ST8, the base station ID code stored in the master station ID code area 323 including the base station number of the movement destination radio base station stored in the processing of ST1 and the TM number set in the TM number area 321 is sent to the destination. The base station information confirmation notification message is created, and the confirmation notification message is wirelessly transmitted via the wireless unit 40 as in the case of the master station change request message.

In this way, the destination base station information confirmation notification message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless section 40 of the POS terminal 30 is received by the wireless base station in which the destination base station ID code is set. The data is transmitted to the store computer 10 via the storage device 10. As a result, the CPU 101 of the store computer 10 executes the destination confirmation notification receiving process shown in FIG.

That is, the CPU 101 obtains the base station number from the transfer destination base station information confirmation notification message in ST51, searches the base station management table 111, and stores the station ID code and the communication parameter corresponding to the base station number. get. Then, an acknowledgment message including the station ID code and the communication parameter is created, and the destination of the acknowledgment message is set as the station ID code of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 that has transmitted the master station change request message. It transmits to the wired LAN 50 (parameter transmitting means). In step ST52, a TM number is acquired from the transfer destination base station information confirmation notification message, the terminal management table 110 is searched, and the own station ID code corresponding to the TM number, that is, the POS identified by the TM number. The station ID code set in the wireless unit 40 of the terminal 30 is obtained. Then, the station I is transmitted to the radio base station identified by the base station number in the destination base station information confirmation notification message.
A message for instructing the addition of the D code is transmitted to the wired LAN 50. Thereafter, as ST53, the base station management table 1
The number N of connection reservations corresponding to the base station number 11 is increased by one. Also, as ST54, the terminal management table 11
The completion waiting flag corresponding to the TM number of 0 is set to “1”.

As a result, the radio base station which has received the station ID code addition command of the radio unit 40 from the store computer 10 additionally sets the station ID code of the radio unit 40 in the intra-station memory.

The acknowledgment message including the station ID code and the communication parameter transmitted from the store computer 10 is transmitted by radio from a radio base station storing and managing the destination station ID code in the intra-station memory. Destination station I
The D code is received by the set radio unit 40.

Therefore, the CPU 301 of the POS terminal 30
After transmitting the destination base station information confirmation notification message by wireless in ST8 in FIG. 7, the control unit waits for a response from the store computer 10 to the information confirmation notification. And S
When detecting that the acknowledgment message (ACK) has been received by the radio unit 40 at T9 (parameter receiving means), ST1
The communication parameters stored in the parameter storage unit 325 as 0, that is, the communication parameters used in the wireless communication with the wireless base station before the movement and the master station ID code area 323
, The station ID code of the wireless base station before movement is transferred to the parameter saving unit 326 and stored, and then, as ST11, the station ID code and the communication parameters included in the acknowledgment message, that is, The base station ID code area 323 stores the station ID code of the destination wireless base station and communication parameters used in wireless communication with the wireless base station.
And the parameter storage unit 325 to update the master station ID code and the communication parameter (parameter updating means).

Thereafter, the front display 307 is set as ST12.
Display a message such as "Master station change completed." If the parent station change flag F1 of the flag area 327 is set to "1" in ST13, the parent station change processing ends.

It should be noted that the CPU 301 of the POS terminal 30
When the acknowledgment message (ACK) cannot be received in any of the processes of ST3, ST7, and ST9 (reception of the negative acknowledgment message (NAK) or timeout), and the key input of “confirmation OK” is performed in ST5 If not,
In ST14, a message such as "Failed to change the master station" is displayed on the front display 307, and the master station change process ends.

The CPU 301 of the POS terminal 30
As a part of the start-up processing executed after the power is turned on, the change confirmation processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is particularly executed. Incidentally, this change confirmation processing is performed by the POS terminal 30.
When the POS terminal 30 is moved and the power is turned on again because the change of the master station is approved, or when the power is turned on again at the destination, wireless communication is not possible. The processing is executed when the power is returned to the original place and the power is turned on again.

That is, first, the CPU 301 first proceeds to ST61.
The master station change flag F1 in the flag area 327 is checked. Here, if the master station change flag F1 is not set to "1", the change of the master station has not been approved, so this processing ends and the processing shifts to other normal start-up processing.

In ST61, master station change flag F1 is set to "1".
If it is set to ST62, the master station ID is set as ST62.
Wireless base station ID stored in code area 323
A connection confirmation message having the code as the transmission destination is created, and the wireless unit 40 is operated based on the communication parameters stored in the parameter storage unit 325 to wirelessly transmit the connection confirmation message.

Thus, the connection confirmation message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless section 40 of the POS terminal 30 is received by the wireless base station to which the destination master station ID code is set. This allows
The wireless base station that has normally received the connection confirmation message returns an acknowledgment message (ACK) to the POS terminal 30 that has transmitted the message, and thus confirms the connection with the wireless base station designated as the master station in ST62. CPU 301 of POS terminal 30 that transmitted the message
Waits for a response from the wireless base station. And S
If it is detected at T63 that an acknowledgment message has been received via the radio unit 40, the master station changes flag F2 in the flag area 328 is checked at ST64. If it is confirmed that the master station change impossible flag F2 is not set to "1", the master station includes the TM number set in the TM number area 321 as ST65,
A master station change completion notification message addressed to the master station ID code stored in the D code area 323 is created, and the master station change message is transmitted via the radio unit 40 in the same manner as the base station connection confirmation message. Transmit the completion notification message wirelessly.

As described above, the master station change completion notification message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless section 40 of the POS terminal 30 is received by the wireless base station in which the destination master station ID code is set, and further transmitted via the wired LAN 50. Store computer 10
Is transmitted to As a result, the CPU 101 of the store computer 10 executes the master station change completion notification receiving process shown in FIG.

That is, the CPU 101 obtains the TM number from the parent station change completion notification message in ST81, searches the terminal management table 110, and determines whether or not the completion wait flag corresponding to the TM number is set. I do.
If it is set, the own station ID code corresponding to the TM number, that is, the station ID code of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 of the transmission source of the notification message, the master station ID code, as ST82. In other words, the notification message sender POS
The wireless unit 40 of the terminal 30 acquires the ID code of the wireless base station that was the master station before the terminal moved. Then, a message instructing the wireless base station to which the master station ID code is set to delete the own station ID code is transmitted to the wired LAN 50. Also, in ST83, the number of connected base stations M in the base station management table 111 of the wireless base station for which the base station ID code is set is decremented by one.

Next, the CPU 101 acquires the station ID code of the wireless base station which is the destination of the parent station change completion notification message in ST84. Then, the number of connected units M on the base station management table 111 corresponding to the station ID code is increased by one, and the number of reserved connection units N is reduced by one. ST
As 85, the master station ID code corresponding to the corresponding TM number in the terminal management table 110 is rewritten to the station ID code of the wireless base station which is the destination of the master station change completion notification message, and as ST86, the corresponding TM number is assigned. The completion wait flag is reset to “0”. Thereafter, if an acknowledgment message (ACK) having the destination of the own station ID code corresponding to the TM number is created in ST87, the acknowledgment message is transmitted to the wired LAN 50.

If the completion wait flag corresponding to the TM number is not set in ST81,
In ST88, a negative acknowledgment message (NAK) addressed to the own station ID code corresponding to the TM number is created, and the negative message is transmitted to the wired LAN 50.

As a result, the radio base station that has received the station ID code deletion command of the radio unit 40 from the store computer 10 deletes the station ID code of the radio unit 40 from the intra-station memory.

The acknowledgment message or the negative acknowledgment message transmitted from the store computer 10 is the destination station ID.
The code is transmitted by radio from a radio base station that stores and manages the code in the intra-station memory, and is received by the radio unit 40 to which the station ID code of the destination is set.

Then, the CPU 301 of the POS terminal 30
In ST65 in FIG. 8, after transmitting a parent station change completion notification message using wireless communication, it waits for a response from the store computer 10 to the completion notification. When detecting that the acknowledgment message (ACK) has been received by the radio unit 40 in ST66, the master station change flag F1 of the flag area 327 is reset to “0” in ST67. After that, the process shifts to a normal start-up process.

Although the connection confirmation message was wirelessly transmitted in ST62, there is an obstacle between the wireless unit 40 and the wireless base station of the message destination, or the base station itself is down. If an acknowledgment message (ACK) is not obtained, the station ID code and communication stored in the parameter saving section 326 are stored in the master station ID code area 323 and the parameter storage section 325, respectively, as ST68. Return to parameters (parameter return means). ST6
9 and the front display 307 indicates "Cannot connect to master station.
Restore settings. Is displayed.
Thereafter, the master station change disable flag F in the flag area 328 is set.
2 is set to "1" to forcibly end the start-up processing.

In this case, the operator returns the POS terminal 3 to the position before the movement and turns on the power again. Then,
The change confirmation processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed again. When the connection with the wireless base station having the master station ID code stored in the master station ID code area 323 as the station ID code, that is, the wireless base station that was the master station before moving, is confirmed, the process proceeds to ST4. Since the master station change impossible flag F2 is set to "1", the CPU 301 proceeds to ST71 as T
Including the TM number set in the M number area 321;
Master station ID stored in master station ID code area 323
A master station change cancellation notification message addressed to the code is created, and the radio section 40 is operated based on the communication parameters stored in the parameter storage section 325 to wirelessly transmit the master station change cancellation notification message.

In this way, the master station change cancellation notification message wirelessly transmitted from the wireless unit 40 of the POS terminal 30 is received by the wireless base station in which the destination master station ID code is set, and further transmitted through the wired LAN 50. Store computer 10
Is transmitted to As a result, the CPU 101 of the store computer 10 executes the parent station change cancellation notification receiving process shown in FIG.

That is, the CPU 101 acquires the TM number from the parent station change cancellation notification message in ST91, searches the terminal management table 110, and determines whether or not the completion waiting flag corresponding to the TM number is set. I do.
If it is set, as ST92, the own station ID code corresponding to the TM number, that is, the station ID code of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 of the transmission source of the notification message, the master station ID code, In other words, the notification message sender POS
The wireless unit 40 of the terminal 30 acquires the ID code of the wireless base station that was the parent station of the terminal destination. Then, a message instructing the wireless base station to which the master station ID code is set to delete the own station ID code is transmitted to the wired LAN 50. Also, in ST93, the number N of reserved connections on the base station management table 111 of the wireless base station for which the master station ID code is set is decremented by one.

After that, the CPU 101 resets the completion wait flag corresponding to the TM number in the parent station change cancellation notification message to “0” in ST94. Thereafter, in ST85, an acknowledgment message (ACK) having the destination of the own station ID code corresponding to the corresponding TM number is created, and the acknowledgment message is transmitted to the wired LAN 50.

If the completion waiting flag corresponding to the relevant TM number is not set in ST91,
A negative acknowledgment message (NAK) addressed to the own station ID code corresponding to the TM number is created, and the negative message is transmitted to the wired LAN 50.

As a result, the radio base station that has received the station ID code deletion command of the radio section 40 from the store computer 10 deletes the station ID code of the radio section 40 from the intra-station memory.

The acknowledgment message or the negative acknowledgment message transmitted from the store computer 10 is the destination station ID.
The code is transmitted by radio from a radio base station that stores and manages the code in the intra-station memory, and is received by the radio unit 40 to which the station ID code of the destination is set.

Therefore, the CPU 301 of the POS terminal 30
After transmitting a parent station change completion notification message using wireless communication in ST71 in FIG. 8, it waits for a response from the store computer 10 to the completion notification. When detecting that the acknowledgment message (ACK) has been received by the wireless unit 40,
The master station change flag F1 and the master station change impossible flag F2 of the flag areas 327 and 328 are reset to “0”. After that, the process shifts to a normal start-up process.

Although the master station change completion notification message or the master station change cancellation notification message has been transmitted, the store computer 10
If no affirmative response message is received from, a system error is notified and the start-up process is forcibly terminated.

It is assumed that the data shown in FIG. 4 is stored and managed in the terminal management table 110 of the store computer 10, and the data shown in FIG. 5 is stored and managed in the base station management table 111. In this state, the POS terminal 30 with the TM number “002” is set to the station ID code “B0
From the location "1F East" where the wireless base station 21 of the base station number "1" set to "1" is set, the station ID code "B"
02 ”, the radio base station 22 with the base station number“ 2 ”
Is moved to the location "1F west" where is installed, the mobile operator first issues an instruction to execute the master station change process by key input in the "setting" mode of the POS terminal 30. Next, the base station number “2” of the wireless base station 22 installed at the destination “1F West” is input by key. Then, a master station change request message is wirelessly transmitted from the POS terminal 30 via the wireless unit 40.

The master station change request message is received by the wireless base station 21 having the base station number “1”, which is the master station of the wireless unit 40 at the present time, and further transmitted to the store computer 10. As a result, the store computer 10 executes the parent station change request message receiving process. Here the POS
The terminal 30 has been settled and the destination radio base station 22
Is operating normally, the number M of connections of the destination radio base station 22 is "6", the number N of reserved connections is "1", and "M + N + 1" is equal to or less than the limit number "8". Therefore, the station ID code “B02” of the destination wireless base station 22
An acknowledgment message including the location information "1F West" is transmitted.

The acknowledgment message is transmitted via the wired LAN 50 to the wireless base station 21 in which the station ID code “A02” of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 is set.
Is transmitted from the wireless base station 21 and received by the wireless unit 40 of the POS terminal 30. As a result, the station ID code “B02” of the destination wireless base station 22 and the installation location information “1” are displayed on the front display 307 of the POS terminal 30.
Since "F West" is displayed, the mobile operator checks the display, and if there is no mistake, key-in "OK". Then, a connection confirmation message is wirelessly transmitted from the POS terminal 30 via the wireless unit 40.

This connection confirmation message is received by the wireless base station 21 of the parent station before movement, and transmitted to the wireless base station 22 of the movement destination via the wired LAN 50. Here, assuming that the movement-destination radio base station 22 is operating normally, an acknowledgment message is transmitted from the radio base station 22, and the acknowledgment message is transmitted from the radio base station 21 of the parent station before moving. The data is transmitted and received by the wireless unit 40 of the POS terminal 30. Thereby, the destination base station information confirmation notification message is created in the POS terminal 30 and transmitted wirelessly via the wireless unit 40.

This destination base station information confirmation notification message is received by the wireless base station 21 of the parent station before the movement, and the priority LAN 50
Is transmitted to the store computer 10 via the. As a result, in the store computer 10, the destination confirmation notification receiving process is executed. Then, an acknowledgment message including the station ID code “B02” of the destination radio base station 22 and the communication parameters is transmitted. Further, the station ID code “A02” of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 is added to the destination wireless base station 22. In addition, the number N of connection reservations corresponding to the base station number “2” in the base station management table 111
Is updated to “2”. Further, the terminal management table 11
The completion wait flag corresponding to the TM number “002” of 0 is set.

The station ID code “B” of the destination radio base station 22
02 and a communication parameter, the acknowledgment message is wirelessly transmitted from the base station 21 of the parent station before the movement, and
The signal is received by the wireless unit 40 of the terminal 30. As a result, the station ID code “B02” of the destination wireless base station 22 is stored in the master station ID code area 323 of the POS terminal 30. The parameter storage unit 325 stores communication parameters used for wireless communication of the target wireless base station 22. Further, the parameter saving unit 326 stores the station ID code “B01” of the wireless base station 21 that was the master station before the movement and the communication parameters.

Thereafter, a message indicating the completion of the master station change is displayed on the front display 307 of the POS terminal 30 and the master station change flag F1 is set to "1". Turn off the power and move. Then, after the moving operation is completed, the power of the POS terminal 30 is turned on. Then, a connection confirmation message is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless base station 22 set as the master station. here,
When the wireless base station 22 is operating normally and an acknowledgment message is wirelessly returned, the POS terminal 30 transmits a master station change completion notification message.

The notification message of the completion of the change of the master station is transmitted to the radio section 40.
, And received by the wireless base station 22, and then transmitted to the store computer 10 via the wired LAN 50. As a result, the store computer 10 executes a master station change completion notification receiving process. Then, the station ID code of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 is deleted from the wireless base station 21 which was the master station before the movement. In addition, while the number M of connections to the radio base station 21 in the base station management table 111 decreases by one, the number M of connections to the destination radio base station 22 increases by one, and the number N of reservations increases by one.
Only decrease. In addition, the corresponding P in the terminal management table 110
The master station ID code corresponding to the OS terminal 30 is changed to the station ID code "B02" of the movement destination radio base station 22, and the corresponding completion waiting flag is reset.
Thereafter, an acknowledgment message is transmitted.

The acknowledgment message is transmitted to the destination radio base station 2
2 and wirelessly transmitted from the POS terminal 30
Received at. As a result, in the POS terminal 30, the master station change flag F1 is reset, and the POS terminal 30 starts up normally. Thereafter, the POS terminal 30 is connected to the wireless base station 2
2 enables wireless data communication with the store computer 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is necessary to change the wireless base station serving as the master station with the movement of the POS terminal 30 including the wireless unit 40, the POS terminal 30 to be moved is In the master station change process, the POS terminal 3 associated with the change of the master station is input simply by inputting the base station number which is the identification data of the wireless base station whose destination is the wireless zone.
In addition to the setting change of 0, the setting change of the wireless base station which was the master station before the movement and the wireless base station which becomes the master station after the movement and the setting change of the store computer 10 are automatically performed. The change of the master station accompanying the movement of the terminal 30 can be performed easily and in a short time.

In the present embodiment, the communication parameters such as the communication addresses of the respective radio base stations 21, 22, 23 and 24 are centrally stored and managed by the store computer 10, and each POS terminal 30 stores the communication parameters in the master station. Since only the communication parameters of the designated wireless base station are stored, there is an advantage that it is possible to easily cope with a system change accompanying the addition of wireless base stations. Further, the storage capacity of the POS terminal 30 does not increase.

By the way, although the POS terminal 30 is moved and the power is turned on, there may be a case where wireless communication with the designated base station 22 cannot be performed due to an obstacle or the like.
In such a case, in the present embodiment, the POS terminal 3
The data of the master station ID code area 323 of 0 and the data of the parameter storage unit 325 are returned to the data of the wireless base station 21 which was the master station before the movement stored in the parameter saving unit 326, respectively. Then, a message indicating that the master station cannot be changed is displayed on the front display 307. Further, the master station change impossible flag F2 is set to "1".

In such a case, the mobile operator can
After turning off the power of the S terminal 30 and returning it to the original place,
Turn on the power again. Then, a connection confirmation message is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless base station 21 which was the master station before the movement. Here, when the wireless base station 21 is operating normally and an acknowledgment message is wirelessly returned, the POS terminal 30
Sends a parent station change cancellation notification message.

The notification message of the cancellation of the master station change is transmitted to the radio section 40.
And transmitted to the store computer 10 via the wired LAN 50 after being received by the wireless base station 21. As a result, the store computer 10 executes the parent station change cancellation notification receiving process. Then, the station ID code of the wireless unit 40 provided in the POS terminal 30 is deleted from the wireless base station 22 that was the parent station of the movement destination. In addition, the number N of reserved connections for the wireless base station 22 in the base station management table 111 decreases by one. Further, the completion waiting flag corresponding to the POS terminal 30 in the terminal management table 110 is reset. Thereafter, an acknowledgment message is transmitted.

The acknowledgment message is transmitted by radio from the radio base station 21 and received by the radio section 40 of the POS terminal 30. Thereby, in the POS terminal 30,
The master station change flag F1 and the master station change impossible flag F2 are reset, and start up normally. Thereafter, the POS terminal 30 is connected to the store computer 1 via the wireless base station 21.
Wireless data communication becomes possible again with 0.

As described above, when the POS terminal 30 is moved but wireless communication cannot be performed at the destination, the POS terminal 30
Since the terminal 30 can be returned to the state before the movement only by returning the terminal 30 to the original place and turning on the power again, the trouble of resetting is unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, in the store computer 10, each of the radio base stations 21, 22, 2
It manages the number of POS terminals 30 each having 3 and 24 as master stations. If the number of connected devices exceeds a preset limit as the POS terminal 30 moves,
They refuse to move. Therefore, the P connected to one wireless base station with the movement of the POS terminal 30
It is possible to prevent an unlimited increase in the number of OS terminals and a decrease in communication efficiency.

In the above embodiment, the number of radio base stations is four, but the number of radio base stations and the number of POS terminals are not limited to those of this embodiment. is there.

In the above-described embodiment, the communication system between the radio base station and the radio unit is the radio frequency hopping communication system. However, the communication system is, of course, not limited to this.

In the above-described embodiment, the base station number is input as the identification data of the wireless base station. For example, a list of installation location information is displayed on the display unit (front display 307) of the POS terminal 30 and is selected. This may be substituted for the input of the identification data. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as applying the present invention to a wireless communication system other than the POS system.

[0081]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the parent station needs to be changed with the movement of the wireless terminal device, the parent terminal of the movement target wireless terminal device needs to change. It is possible to provide a wireless communication system which can be dealt with simply by specifying a station, can simplify complicated setting work, and can easily cope with a system change such as expansion of a wireless base station.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
When a change of the master station is required due to the movement, it is possible to cope with the change only by designating the master station of the movement destination, and it is possible to provide a wireless terminal device capable of simplifying complicated setting work.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to provide a wireless terminal device that can easily return to the original state without performing complicated setting work even when communication is impossible at the destination.

According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application,
If the master station needs to be changed due to the movement of the wireless terminal device, it can be dealt with simply by specifying the destination master station with the wireless terminal device to be moved. It is possible to provide a host device of a wireless terminal device which can easily cope with a system change such as expansion of a wireless terminal device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to provide a higher-level device of a wireless terminal device capable of preventing a decrease in communication efficiency of the wireless base station due to movement of the wireless terminal device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a wireless POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a main configuration of a POS terminal included in the wireless POS system.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a main memory area formed in a RAM of the POS terminal.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram showing a main configuration of a store computer constituting the wireless POS system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of a terminal management table stored and managed by the store computer.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a data structure of a base station management table stored and managed by the store computer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart specifically showing a master station change process executed by the CPU of the POS terminal.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart specifically showing a power-on change confirmation process executed by the CPU of the POS terminal.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart specifically showing a master station change request receiving process executed by the CPU of the store computer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart specifically showing a connection destination confirmation notification receiving process executed by the CPU of the store computer.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart specifically showing a master station change completion notification receiving process executed by the CPU of the store computer.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart specifically showing a parent station change cancellation notification receiving process executed by the CPU of the store computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Store computer (upper-level machine) 21, 22, 23, 24 ... Wireless base station 30 ... POS terminal (wireless terminal device) 40 ... Wireless part 50 ... Wired LAN 110 ... Terminal management table 111 ... Base station management table 325 ... Parameter Storage unit 326: parameter saving unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 7/22 H04B 7/26 MF term (Reference) 5B089 GA21 HA11 JA35 JB07 5K033 AA03 BA02 CB01 CC01 DA01 DA19 DB12 DB14 EC01 EC02 EC03 5K067 AA44 BB21 DD19 DD27 EE02 EE10 EE16 HH23 JJ39

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of wireless base stations are connected to a higher-level device of a wireless terminal device including a wireless unit, and data communication between the wireless terminal device and the higher-level device is performed by a wireless unit of the wireless terminal device. In a wireless communication system configured to perform wireless communication via any of the wireless base stations designated as a master station, the higher-level device stores and manages wireless communication parameters preset for each of the wireless base stations. Transmitting a wireless communication parameter of the wireless base station designated as a change destination master station to the wireless terminal apparatus as a master station change request source when there is a master station change request from the wireless terminal apparatus. Parameter transmitting means, the wireless terminal device comprising: parameter storing means for storing wireless communication parameters of a wireless base station designated as a master station for the wireless section; and a master station for the wireless section. A base station designating means for inputting identification data of a designated wireless base station; and a wireless base station specified by the input identification data to the host device when identification data of the wireless base station is inputted by the master station designating means. Master station change request means for making a master station change request to the base station; parameter receiving means for receiving a wireless communication parameter sent from the higher-level device with respect to the master station change request by the master station change request means; A parameter updating unit for updating the wireless communication parameters stored in the parameter storage unit to the wireless communication parameters received by the parameter receiving unit. 2. A wireless terminal device having a wireless unit, wherein data communication with a higher-level device connected to a plurality of wireless base stations is performed by a wireless unit of the wireless terminal device as a master station. A wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication via any of the designated wireless base stations, wherein the wireless unit stores wireless communication parameters of a wireless base station designated as a master station; Master station designating means for inputting identification data of a wireless base station to be designated as a master station of the unit; Master station change request means for making a master station change request to the wireless base station specified by the radio, and a wireless communication parameter transmitted from the higher-level device in response to the master station change request by the master station change request means. Receive Wireless terminal device comprising a parameter receiving unit, that the wireless communication parameters stored by the parameter storage unit and and a parameter updating means for updating the radio communication parameters received by the parameter receiving unit. 3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wireless communication parameters before being updated by the parameter updating means are stored, and the wireless communication is performed based on the wireless communication parameters updated by the parameter updating means. A wireless terminal device provided with parameter restoring means for returning the wireless communication parameters stored by the parameter storage means to the wireless communication parameters before being updated by the parameter updating means when the parameter is not available. 4. A higher-level device of a wireless terminal device having a wireless unit, wherein a plurality of wireless base stations are connected, and data communication with the wireless terminal device is performed by a wireless unit of the wireless terminal device. Parameter management means for storing and managing a wireless communication parameter set in advance for each wireless base station, wherein the wireless communication is performed via one of the wireless base stations designated by the master station. Parameter transmission means for transmitting the wireless communication parameters of the wireless base station designated as the change destination master station to the wireless terminal device of the master station change request source when there is a master station change request from the terminal device. An upper-level device of a wireless terminal device. 5. The high-level equipment according to claim 4, wherein for each wireless base station, the number of wireless terminal devices provided with a wireless section having the wireless base station as a master station is managed, When a master station change request is issued from a device, the number of wireless terminal devices having a wireless unit having the wireless base station designated as the change destination master station as a master station does not exceed a preset limit number. Transmitting the wireless communication parameter of the wireless base station to the wireless terminal device that has requested change of the master station.