JP2003067847A - Device for supporting sales management and system for sales management - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sales management supporting device for constructing an inexpensive and reliable sales management system and the sales management system. SOLUTION: A store controller 10 being a sales management supporting device collects sales data from POS terminals 11, 110 and 111 through a LAN 12 and stores the sales data. The store controller 10 transmits the sales data collected from the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111 to a main FTP server 20 and a backup FTP server 21. The sales data are transmitted through the Internet 31. In the case some error occurs in collecting the sales data from the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111 or transmitting the sales data, the store controller 10 transmits e-mail to a PC 22 for management and a service disk PC 23 to notify of the error.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of Point).
Sales management support apparatus and sales management system for collecting sales data from a terminal and transmitting the collected sales data to a server of a data center.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a company having a plurality of stores equipped with a plurality of POS terminals, each store is connected to a data center by a dedicated line, sales data is collected from the POS terminals, and totalization is performed based on the collected sales data. , Sales, etc. are calculated. The sales data is used not only for calculating sales results, but also for business analysis such as customer sales trends.

As one of sales management systems for managing sales data, there is a totalization processing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143544. In this aggregation processing system, sales data is aggregated in pre-divided areas, and the aggregation results are further aggregated to obtain the final aggregation result. This realizes high-speed aggregation processing when handling a large amount of sales data.

[0004]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-1435
In the tabulation processing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 44, when an error occurs in transmitting sales data, the error can be confirmed only by the side transmitting the sales data or the side receiving the sales data. Therefore, when the totaling process is performed automatically, it is impossible for the sales data manager to know the occurrence of the error in real time. If the device that manages the sales data goes down, the sales data may be lost.

In order to prevent the sales data from disappearing,
A possible method is to send the data file to multiple servers. In this case, first, the data file is transmitted to the first server. At this time, if there is no error and the data file can be transmitted normally, the data file is transmitted to the second server. Similarly, the third and fourth units are transmitted. Such a series of processing is continuously performed. When the data file is sent to all the servers to be sent, the data file on the sending side is deleted.

However, in such a data file transmitting method, when a communication error occurs on the way, the data file cannot be transmitted to the remaining servers thereafter. Therefore, the transmission process is delayed. Further, due to the reduction of the processing of each server, it may not be possible to transmit at the preset transmission time.

It is possible to send the data file again to the server in which the communication error occurred, but in this case, the data file is sent to all the servers even though the data file has not been sent yet. You may accidentally delete it. Also, the same possibility can be obtained even if the data is transmitted to the respective servers at different times.

Further, in the conventional system, one CAT (Credit Authorization Terminal) is provided for one POS terminal in order to enable a tightening operation using a card.
A terminal is needed. Therefore, in a store equipped with a plurality of POS terminals, the system configuration becomes complicated and a large installation space is required.

When changing the system, it is necessary to change the setting of each device, but it is necessary to change the setting at the site where the device is installed.

It is possible for a large company that operates stores nationwide to construct a totalization processing system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143544 using a dedicated line. It is difficult to construct such a system for a small number of small and medium-sized enterprises because of the high cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sales management support apparatus and a sales management system for constructing an inexpensive and highly reliable sales management system.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a sales management is provided for each store, to which a POS terminal is connected, and sales data collected from the POS terminal is transmitted to a data center that manages the sales data of each store. The support device has a storage unit for storing sales data collected from the POS terminal, and a communication unit for transmitting the sales data stored in the storage unit to an FTP server provided in a data center via the Internet. Is a sales management support device.

According to the invention, the storage means stores the sales data collected from the POS terminal, and the communication means transmits the sales data stored in the storage means via the Internet. By using the Internet in this way, a sales management system can be constructed at low cost.

Further, the present invention has a compression means for compressing sales data collected from the POS terminal, and the communication means comprises:
The sales data compressed by the compression means is transmitted to the FTP server.

According to the invention, since the compression means compresses the sales data collected from the POS terminal, the capacity of the storage means may be small.

Further, the present invention has an encryption means for encrypting the sales data collected from the POS terminal, and the communication means transmits the sales data encrypted by the encryption means to the FTP server. Characterize.

According to the present invention, the encryption means encrypts the sales data collected from the POS terminal, and the communication means transmits the encrypted sales data to the FTP server.
The sales data can be safely transmitted to the FTP server.

Further, the present invention is a collection time storage means for storing the time of collecting the sales data from the POS terminal, and a transmission time storage means for storing the time of transmitting the sales data stored in the storage means to the FTP server. And monitoring the current time, and when the time stored in the collection time storage means comes, collecting and storing means for collecting sales data from a POS terminal and storing the sales data in the storage means, and monitoring the current time, When the time stored in the transmission time storage means is reached, the sales data stored in the storage means is transmitted to the FTP server by the communication means.

According to the invention, the collection time storage means stores the time when the sales data is collected, and the transmission time storage means stores the time when the sales data is transmitted. Therefore, the sales data collection time and the sales data are stored. The sending time of can be set arbitrarily.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the communication means transmits sales data to two or more FTP servers.

According to the present invention, the communication means transmits the sales data to two or more FTP servers, so that one FT is used.
Even if the P server goes down, the sales data will not disappear.

The present invention further comprises a transmission completion flag storage means which is provided corresponding to the two or more FTP servers and stores whether or not the transmission of the sales data stored in the storage means is completed. Completion flag updating means for updating the storage content of the transmission completion flag storage means to content indicating completion of transmission when the transmission of the sales data stored in the storage means is completed, and storage of the transmission completion flag storage means When the contents indicate the completion of transmission to all the FTP servers, it is characterized by including erasing means for erasing the sales data stored in the storage means.

According to the present invention, the erasing means erases the sales data stored in the storage means when the content stored in the transmission completion flag storage means indicates the completion of transmission to all the FTP servers. Therefore, the sales data is not erased even though the transmission to all the FTP servers is not completed yet.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that when an error occurs when the sales data is transmitted by the communication means or when the sales data is collected from the POS terminal, the fact is notified by electronic mail.

According to the present invention, when an error occurs, the fact is notified by e-mail, so that the error can be notified in real time.

The present invention is also characterized in that an information processing terminal can be connected and the sales management support apparatus can be remotely controlled by the connected information processing terminal.

According to the present invention, the sales management support device can be remotely controlled by the information processing terminal. Therefore, for example, the sales management support device can be remotely controlled via a telephone line to change settings or perform maintenance. You can

Further, according to the present invention, when a card terminal for performing settlement and credit confirmation processing by communicating with a center for managing a card and a plurality of POS terminals are connected and the card is used at the POS terminal, the card data is stored. The sales management support apparatus is characterized by transmitting the processing result received from the card terminal to the corresponding POS terminal.

According to the present invention, the sales management support apparatus transmits the card data to the card terminal and the processing result received from the card terminal to the corresponding POS terminal, so that the sales management support apparatus is compatible with a plurality of POS terminals. Thus, even if a plurality of card terminals are not provided, one card terminal can handle the use of cards from a plurality of POS terminals.

Further, according to the present invention, a sales management support device provided for each store and a P connected to the sales management support device.
In a sales management system including an OS terminal and a data center that manages sales data of each store, the data center has an FTP server, and the sales management support device includes sales data collected from the POS terminal. And a communication means for transmitting the sales data stored in the storage means to the FTP server of the data center via the Internet.

According to the present invention, the sales management support device is
Since the sales data collected from the OS terminal is transmitted to the FTP server via the Internet, the sales management system can be constructed inexpensively using the Internet and the FTP server.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a store controller 10 which is an embodiment of the sales management support apparatus of the present invention. The store controller 10 uses multiple POs.
This device is used in a sales management system that collects sales data from S terminals and sends the collected sales data to an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server of a data center, and is an apparatus provided in each store.

The store controller 10 is a CPU (Cent
ral Processing Unit) 1, flash disk 2, hard disk 3, modem 4, clock circuit 5, RAM (Rand)
omAccess Memory) 6, ROM (Read Only Memory)
7, COM (COMmunication) port 8 and LAN (L
(Ocal Area Network) interface 9.

The CPU 1 controls the entire store controller 10. The flash disk 2 and the hard disk 3 are provided as storage means for storing sales data collected from the POS terminal. The flash disk 2 and the hard disk 3 store programs as well as sales data. If the amount of sales data handled is small, only the flash disk 2 may be provided.

The modem 4 functions as a communication means for transmitting sales data to the FTP server of the data center. The clock circuit 5 measures the current time. The RAM 6 stores an execution program and data. The ROM 7 stores microinstructions for controlling peripheral devices. C
OM port 8 is a CAT terminal or maintenance PC
It is provided to connect the (Personal Computer) and the store controller 10. LAN interface 9
Is provided for connecting the store controller 10 and the POS terminal in the store.

The store controller 10 also includes programs such as a compression program, an encryption program, a collection storage program, and a transmission program.

The compression program compresses sales data collected from the POS terminal. The encryption program is POS
Encrypt the sales data collected from the terminal. The collecting and storing program monitors the current time measured by the clock circuit 5,
At the set time, sales data is collected from the POS terminal and stored in the flash disk 2 or the hard disk 3. The transmission program monitors the current time measured by the clock circuit 5, and when the set time is reached,
Send the sales data to the FTP server.

The processing performed by the compression program, the encryption program, the collection storage program, and the transmission program is C
It is executed by PU1.

Further, the store controller 10 uses the RAS
(Remote Access Service) Has a server function. RA
The S server function makes it possible to control the store controller 10 with an information processing terminal at a remote location.

Further, the store controller 10 uses the CAT
It has a function. The CAT function includes a CAT terminal and a plurality of P
It enables communication with the OS terminal. CAT
The terminal communicates with the center that manages the card and performs payment and credit confirmation processing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a sales management system including the store controller 10. The sales management system is
It is composed of a plurality of stores 30 that transmit sales data, a management center 32 that manages sales data, and the Internet 31. For simplicity, FIG. 2 shows only one store 30.

The store controller 10 is installed in the store 30.
Is installed. Store controller 10 is a LAN
It is connected to the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111 via 12. Store controller 10 is serial cable 1
3 is connected to the CAT terminal 15. The store controller 10 can also be connected to the maintenance PC 14 via the serial cable 13. The store controller 10 and the maintenance PC 14 are connected only when maintenance is performed near the store controller 10, and normally the store controller 1 is connected.
0 and the CAT terminal 15 are connected via the serial cable 13. As the serial cable 13, for example, an RS-232C cable is used.

The management center 32 has two data centers,
It has a headquarters and a service desk. Each of the two data centers has an FTP server. Of the two FTP servers, one is the main FTP server 20 and the other is the backup FTP server 21. Management P at headquarters
There is C22, and the service desk is a service desk PC
There are 23. Main FTP server 20, backup FTP
Server 21, management PC 22 and service desk PC
23 are each connected to the store controller 10 via the Internet 31.

When controlling the store controller 10 from a remote location, the remote maintenance PC 24 dials up via the telephone line 33 to store controller 1.
Connected to 0.

Next, an example of sales data processing performed by the store controller 10 will be described. Store controller 10
Collects T-LOG data including transaction information and setting data including setting information from the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of T-LOG data. The T-LOG data is composed of a plurality of transaction data. Transaction data is one transaction information record,
It consists of multiple product information records. The transaction information record stores the date, time, person in charge and POS number. The product information record stores the product name, unit price, and quantity.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of setting data. The setting data is composed of a plurality of setting information. The setting information includes, for example, product setting information, person-in-charge setting information or tax setting information.

In this embodiment, T-LOG data and setting data are collectively referred to as POS data.

When the store controller 10 collects the T-LOG data, it adds a header to the T-LOG data and
It is stored in the flash disk 2 or the hard disk 3 as a G data file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a T-LOG data file. The T-LOG data file is composed of a header part and a data part. The above-mentioned T-LOG data is stored in the data section.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the header portion of the T-LOG data file. A file type indicating the type of data file is stored in the header part. Further, the head office number and the store number are stored in the header section. Furthermore, the date and time when the data file was created are stored in the header section.

When the store controller 10 collects the setting data, it adds a header to the setting data and stores it in the flash disk 2 or the hard disk 3 as a setting data file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the setting data file. The setting data file is composed of a header part and a data part. The above-mentioned setting data is stored in the data section.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the header portion of the setting data file. A file type indicating the type of data file is stored in the header part. Further, the head office number and the store number are stored in the header section. The header section stores the date and time when the data file was created. Further, the header section stores a list of types of setting information stored in the data section.

The store controller 10 is the above-mentioned TL.
Main FT for OG data file and setting data file
It is transmitted to the P server 20 and the backup FTP server 21.

In this embodiment, the T-LOG data file and the setting data file are collectively referred to as a POS data file.

Further, in the present embodiment, there are POS data which is T-LOG data and setting data, a T-LOG data file in which a header is added to T-LOG data, and a setting data file in which a header is added to setting data. The POS data file is collectively referred to as sales data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing processing of sales data performed by the store controller 10. Store controller 1
0 indicates the POS terminal 11 according to the collecting and storing program,
Collect POS data from 110 and 111. Then, the store controller 10 uses the collected POS data for P
An OS data file is created, and the POS data file is transmitted to the FTP server 20 and the backup FTP server 21 via the Internet 31 according to the transmission program.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing transmission of electronic mail by the store controller 10. If any error occurs while collecting the POS data or transmitting the POS data file, the store controller 10
The electronic mail is transmitted to the management PC 22 and the service desk PC 23.

Table 1 is a table showing the structure of the schedule setting table. The schedule setting table is a table that stores what kind of JOB is executed and when. The schedule setting table stores the type of communication, time, schedule, and type of T-LOG data or setting data. The communication type indicates whether the POS data is collected or the POS data file is transmitted. For sending POS data files, which FTP
Shows whether to send to the server. The time indicates the time when the execution of the JOB is started. The schedule is J
It is indicated whether the OB is executed daily or weekly. For example, the JOB with the number 1 collects T-LOG data from the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111.
This JOB is executed every day at 14:00.
Time 14:00 with numbers 1 and 2 whose communication type is POS,
The area storing 22:00 serves as the collection time storage means. Numbers 3 and 4 whose communication types are FTP and 2NDFTP
The area that stores the time of 2:00 and 3:00 is the transmission time storage means.

Table 2 is a table showing the structure of the day setting table. When WEEK is set in the schedule in the schedule setting table, the day of the week setting table is referred to. Information on whether to execute JOB is stored for each day of the week. For example, the job of number 2 is a job of collecting setting data from the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111, and this job is executed every Monday.

[0063]

[Table 1]

[0064]

[Table 2]

The store controller 10 follows the schedule setting table and day setting table described above.
Process sales data.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of sales data processing performed by the collection storage program and the transmission program of the store controller 10. For the sake of simplicity, the store controller 10 uses the T-LOG
Suppose that the data file and the setting data file are sent at the same time. Also, the number of the FTP server that is the destination is 1
Suppose

At step A1, it is determined whether it is the T-LOG data collection scheduled time. When it is not the T-LOG data collection scheduled time, the process proceeds to step A7. Step A
At 7, it is determined whether it is the scheduled time for setting data collection. If it is not the set data collection scheduled time, the process proceeds to step A12. In step A12, it is determined whether it is the POS data file transmission scheduled time. If it is not the POS data file transmission scheduled time, the process returns to step A1.

If it is the T-LOG data collection scheduled time in step A1, the process proceeds to step A2. At step A2, T-LOG data is uploaded from the POS terminals 11, 110, 111. At step A3, it is determined whether the upload is successful. If the upload is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step A6, an e-mail is sent to the management PC 22 and the service desk PC 23, and an error is notified. Then, the process returns to step A1. If the upload is successful, go to step A4. At step A4, a T-LOG data clear command is transmitted to the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111. In step A5, a header is added to the T-LOG data to create a T-LOG data file as shown in FIG.
Compress the LOG data file with a compression program and store it in the flash disk 2 or hard disk 3. Then, the process returns to step A1. These processes are performed by the collection storage program.

In step A7, if the set data collection scheduled time is reached, the process proceeds to step A8. At step A8, P
The setting data is uploaded from the OS terminals 11, 110 and 111. In step A9, it is determined whether the upload is successful. If the upload fails,
In step A11, an electronic mail is sent to the management PC 22 and the service desk PC 23 to notify the error. Then, the process returns to step A1. If the upload is successful, the process proceeds to step A10. Step A1
In 0, a header is added to the setting data to create a setting data file as shown in FIG. 7, and the setting data file is compressed by the compression program and stored in the flash disk 2 or the hard disk 3. Then, the process returns to step A1. These processes are also performed by the collecting and storing program.

If the POS data file transmission scheduled time is reached in step A12, the process proceeds to step A13. In step A13, the Internet is connected. Step A
In 14, the T-LOG data file and the setting data file, which are POS data files, are encrypted by the encryption program and transmitted to the FTP server. In step A15, it is determined whether the transmission has succeeded. If the transmission fails, the process proceeds to step A16 and the management P
An email is sent to C22 and the service desk PC 23 to notify the error. Then, the process returns to step A1. If the transmission is successful, the process returns to step A1. These processes are performed by the transmission program.

The store controller 10 always performs the above processing. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating maintenance of the store controller 10. Maintenance of the store controller 10 is performed from the maintenance PC 14 via the serial cable 13. Further, the maintenance of the store controller 10 is performed from the remote maintenance PC 24 at a remote place via the telephone line 33. However, the maintenance by the remote maintenance PC 24 is realized by the RAS server function of the store controller 10.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of maintenance of the store controller 10. In step B1,
Determine whether there is an instruction to start maintenance. If there is no instruction to start maintenance, the same judgment is performed again. If there is an instruction to start maintenance, step B
Go to 2.

At step B2, it is judged whether or not there is a program update instruction. If there is no program update instruction, the process proceeds to step B4. In step B4, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to upload / download the data file. If there is a data file upload / download instruction, step B6.
Proceed to. In step B6, it is determined whether or not there is a remote execution instruction of the diagnostic program. If there is no remote execution instruction of the diagnostic program, the process proceeds to step B8. In step B8, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to collect POS data. If there is no instruction to collect POS data, the process proceeds to step B10. At step B10, P
It is determined whether there is an instruction to send the OS data file. If there is no instruction to send the POS data file, the process returns to step B2.

If there is a program update instruction in step B2, the process proceeds to step B3. Step B
At 3, the program is updated. Then, the process returns to step B2. If there is a data file upload / download instruction in step B4, the process proceeds to step B5. In step B5, data file upload / download processing is performed. Then, the process returns to step B2. If there is a remote execution instruction of the diagnostic program in step B6, the process proceeds to step B7.
In step B7, remote execution processing of the diagnostic program is performed. Then, the process returns to step B2. Step B8
If there is an instruction to collect POS data, step B
Proceed to 9. At step B9, the POS terminals 11 and 11
Collect POS data from 0,111. Then, the process returns to step B2. If there is an instruction to send the POS data file in step B10, the process proceeds to step B11. At step B11, P is sent to the designated FTP server.
Send the OS data file. Then, the process returns to step B2.

FIG. 14 shows that when the tightening operation using a credit card is performed, the store controller 10 and the PO
It is a figure explaining the process which S terminal 11,110,111 and CAT terminal 15 perform.

For example, when a tightening operation using a credit card is performed at the POS terminal 11, the POS terminal 11
Transmits a request message requesting authentication and credit card data to the store controller 10 via the LAN 12. The store controller 10 is P
When they are received from the OS terminal 11, they are CATed
It is transmitted to the terminal 15. Upon receiving them from the store controller 10, the CAT terminal 15 performs payment processing based on them. Then, the CAT terminal 15 transmits a response message confirming the authentication to the store controller 10. Upon receiving the response message from the CAT terminal 15, the store controller sends it back to the POS terminal 11 that has requested the authentication.

Even if the tightening operation using the debit card is performed, the store controller 10 and the POS terminals 11 and 1
The 10, 111 and the CAT terminal 15 perform similar processing.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CAT function of the store controller 10.

At step C1, the POS terminals 11, 11
It is determined whether the request message is received from 0 or 111. When the request message is not received, the same judgment is made again. When the request message is received, the process proceeds to step C2. Here, PO
It is assumed that the request message is received from the S terminal 11.

At step C2, the request message received from the POS terminal 11 is converted. Step C3
Then, the request message is transmitted to the CAT terminal 15. In step C4, the response message is received from the CAT terminal 15. In step C5, the response message received from the CAT terminal 15 is sent to the POS terminal 1
Reply to 1. Then, the process returns to step C1.

Next, another example of sales data processing performed by the store controller 10 will be described. However, it is assumed that there are three FTP servers that transmit the POS data file.

Table 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the FTP data table. The FTP data table is provided in the RAM 6. In the FTP data table, the IP address of each FTP server and the time when the POS data file is transmitted to the FTP server are stored in association with each other.
In addition, the FTP data table contains the IP of each FTP server.
The address and the flag indicating whether or not the transmission is completed for the FTP server are stored in association with each other. The area for storing the transmission time is the transmission time storage means, and the area for storing the flag indicating whether or not the transmission is completed is the transmission completion flag storage means.

[0083]

[Table 3]

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example of sales data processing performed by the store controller 10.

At step D1, the IP address of the FTP server to which the POS data file is transmitted is set. At step D2, the collection time of the POS data and the transmission time of the POS data file are set.

At step D3, it is judged whether or not it is the collection time of POS data. If it is the collection time of the POS data, the process proceeds to step D11, where the POS terminals 11, 110,
A sales data collection command is sent to 111 to collect POS data from the POS terminals 11, 110 and 111, and P
An OS data file is created and stored in the flash disk 2 or hard disk 3. Then, the process returns to step D3. If it is not the POS data collection time, the process proceeds to step D4. This processing is performed by the collecting and storing program.

In step D4, it is determined whether it is the time to send the POS data file. If it is not the transmission time of the POS data file, the process returns to step D3. If it is the transmission time of the POS data file, the process proceeds to step D5. At step D5, the POS data file is transmitted to the FTP server. This processing is performed by the transmission program.

At step D6, it is determined whether the transmission is normally completed. If the transmission is not completed normally, the process proceeds to step D12. In step D12, FT
Set the No data in the P data table. Then, the process returns to step D3. If the transmission is normally completed, the process proceeds to step D7. In step D7, the transmission completion data is set in the FTP data table. This processing is performed by the completion flag updating means.

In step D8, it is determined whether the transmission of the POS data file to all the FTP servers is completed by referring to the FTP data table. If not completed, the process returns to step D3. If it has been completed, the process proceeds to step D9. At step D9, the POS data file is deleted. In step D10, the transmission completion flag is reset. Then, the process returns to step D3.
This processing is performed by the erasing means.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the sales management system including the store controller 10 is constructed by using the Internet 31 and the FTP server, the cost for constructing the system can be reduced. Also F
If the sales data accumulated in the TP server is totaled and the totalized result is managed by the Web server, it is possible to access from anywhere. Further, by outsourcing the sales data totaling process as described above, the cost for the totaling process can be reduced. In this case, P
The OS terminals 11, 110, 111 do not need to perform the aggregation process and need only send the sales data, so that the sales management system can be constructed with the inexpensive POS terminals 11, 110, 111 having few functions.

In the above-described embodiment, the POS data file is simply stored in the flash disk 2 or the hard disk 3. However, the flash disk 2 or the hard disk 3 is provided with a storage directory and a transmission directory to store the POS data file. You may memorize each. In the save directory, POS
Accumulate and save data files. The POS data file to be transmitted next is stored in the transmission directory and deleted after the transmission. This prevents the sales data from disappearing. Also, the POS data file to be transmitted next can be distinguished.

Although not in the above-described embodiment, the sales data from the store controller 10 is collected between the store controller 10 and the Internet 31 to obtain the FT.
A device for sending to the P-server can be provided. In this case, the store controller 10 may be provided with a LAN interface instead of the modem 4, and the store controller 10 and the device may be connected via the LAN.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention, sales data is transmitted to the FTP server via the Internet.
Thus, by using the Internet, a sales management system can be constructed at low cost.

Further, according to the present invention, since the sales data compressed by the compression means is stored in the storage means, the capacity of the storage means may be small.

Further, according to the present invention, since the sales data encrypted by the encryption means is transmitted to the FTP server, it is possible to prevent the sales data from leaking.

Further, according to the present invention, the collection time of the sales data and the transmission time of the sales data can be arbitrarily set, so that the setting can be made according to the usage pattern.

Further, according to the present invention, since the communication means transmits the sales data to two or more FTP servers, the sales data will not disappear even if one FTP server goes down. Therefore, a highly reliable sales management system including the sales management support device can be constructed.

Further, according to the present invention, since the sales data is not deleted even though the transmission has not been completed to all the FTP servers, the sales data can be surely transmitted to all the FTP servers. You can

Further, according to the present invention, when an error occurs, an electronic mail is sent and the error is notified in real time, so that the sales data manager can immediately deal with the error. Therefore, the reliability of the sales management system can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the sales management support device can be remotely controlled by the information processing terminal, it is not necessary to provide the sales management support device itself with a keyboard or a display. Therefore, the sales management support device can be made compact.

Further, according to the present invention, since one card terminal can handle the use of cards from a plurality of POS terminals, a simple card terminal for a plurality of POS terminals is required. You can build a system.

Further, according to the present invention, since the sales management system is constructed using the Internet and the FTP server, the cost for constructing the system can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a store controller 10 which is an embodiment of a sales management support device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a sales management system including a store controller 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of T-LOG data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of setting data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a T-LOG data file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a structure of a header portion of a T-LOG data file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of a setting data file.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of a header portion of a setting data file.

9 is a diagram showing processing of sales data performed by the store controller 10. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing transmission of an electronic mail performed by the store controller 10.

11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of sales data performed by a collection storage program and a transmission program of the store controller 10. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating maintenance of the store controller 10.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of maintenance of the store controller 10.

FIG. 14 shows the store controller 10, the POS terminal 11, when a tightening operation using a credit card is performed.
11 is a diagram illustrating processing performed by 110 and 111 and the CAT terminal 15. FIG.

15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CAT function of the store controller 10. FIG.

16 is a flowchart showing another example of sales data processing performed by the store controller 10. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 flash disk 3 hard disk 4 modem 5 clock circuits 6 RAM 10 store controller 11,110,111 POS terminal 14 Maintenance PC 15 CAT terminal 20 Main FTP server 21 Backup FTP server 22 Management PC 23 Service Desk PC 24 Remote maintenance PC 30 stores 31 Internet

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomokazu Miyazawa             22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside the company F term (reference) 3E042 AA01 CB01 CB07 CC03 CC10                       EA05 EA06 EA10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A sales management support device which is provided for each store, to which a POS terminal is connected, and which transmits sales data collected from the POS terminal to a data center which manages the sales data of each store, collects from the POS terminal. A sales management support apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores the sales data that has been stored; and a communication unit that transmits the sales data stored in the storage unit to an FTP server provided in a data center via the Internet. . 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising compression means for compressing sales data collected from the POS terminal, wherein the communication means transmits the sales data compressed by the compression means to an FTP server. Sales management support device. 3. An encryption unit for encrypting sales data collected from a POS terminal, wherein the communication unit sends the sales data encrypted by the encryption unit to an FTP server. The sales management support device according to claim 1. 4. A collection time storage means for storing the time of collecting the sales data from the POS terminal, a transmission time storage means for storing the time of transmitting the sales data stored in the storage means to an FTP server, and The time is monitored, and when the time stored in the collection time storage means is reached, the collection storage means for collecting sales data from the POS terminal and storing the sales data in the storage means, and the current time are monitored and the transmission time is displayed. 4. A transmission unit for transmitting the sales data stored in the storage unit to the FTP server by the communication unit when the time stored in the storage unit comes.
The sales management support device described in any one of 1. 5. The communication means transmits sales data to two or more FTP servers.
4. The sales management support device described in any one of 4. 6. A transmission completion flag storage unit which is provided corresponding to the two or more FTP servers and stores whether or not the transmission of the sales data stored in the storage unit is completed, and the storage unit. When the transmission of the sales data stored in is completed, the completion flag updating means for updating the storage content of the transmission completion flag storage means to the content indicating the transmission completion, and the storage content of the transmission completion flag storage means are all FTP
6. The sales management support apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an erasing unit that erases sales data stored in the storage unit when transmission completion is indicated to the server. 7. When an error occurs when the sales data is transmitted by the communication unit or when the sales data is collected from the POS terminal, the fact is notified by e-mail. 6. The sales management support device according to any one of 6. 8. The sales management according to claim 1, wherein the information processing terminal is connectable, and the sales management support apparatus can be remotely controlled by the connected information processing terminal. Support device. 9. A card terminal for performing settlement and credit confirmation processing by communicating with a card management center and a plurality of P's.
When the OS terminal is connected and the card is used at the POS terminal, the card data is transmitted to the card terminal, and the processing result received from the card terminal is transmitted to the corresponding POS terminal. Management support device. 10. A sales management system comprising a sales management support device provided for each store, a POS terminal connected to the sales management support device, and a data center for managing sales data of each store, The data center has an FTP server, the sales management support apparatus stores the sales data collected from the POS terminal, and stores the sales data stored in the storage unit in the FTP of the data center. A sales management system comprising: a communication means for transmitting to a server via the Internet.