JP2003085655A - System for monitoring progress of shop opening/closing processing and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shop operation monitoring system capable of remotely monitoring the progress of ship opening/closing processing of a shop in real time and quickly coping with an error generated in the processing as well. SOLUTION: To a shop operation system 22 installed in a shop 2 for performing at least the shop opening/closing processing of the shop 2, a data communicable shop opening/closing monitoring system 33 is connected through a communication network N. The shop opening/closing monitoring system 33 is provided with a monitoring means capable of monitoring the conditions of the shop opening/closing processing performed by the shop operation system 22 in real time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring system for online monitoring of a store operation system installed in a store that sells articles and the like in the distribution industry, and more particularly to a store opening / closing process executed by the store operation system. The present invention relates to an execution status monitoring system for opening and closing shop processing for monitoring status and a program used in this system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many of the stores that sell goods in the distribution industry have introduced a store operation system including computers and POS terminals. The range of protection of this store operation system varies depending on the scale of its introduction, but usually covers POS processing, FPS processing, attendance / leaving management, purchasing management, opening / closing shop processing, etc. that are performed for each shop.

[0003] This opening / closing store processing collects sales from various fields such as the entire store, product group, product item, and person in charge when the store is closed, and clears the POS terminal once.
It is a preparation process such as changing the unit price by JAN code for the next business day. When the stores are deployed in chains, it also includes a process of transmitting the sales totaling result to the chain store headquarters or receiving price instruction information from the headquarters and registering the information. By this opening and closing process, the sales record of the day is fixed, and the sales activity of the next business day can be prepared.

When a store exists alone, the store opens and closes the store independently. Even in the case of a chain store, a mechanism is often adopted in which the store operation system for each store performs opening / closing store processing and the processed data is transmitted to the chain store headquarters via communication means or the like.

[0005]

However, in the conventional opening / closing store processing, even in the case of a chain store that collects data at the headquarters and manages sales strategies such as selling prices, the opening / closing store processing is performed. No system has been provided that can remotely monitor the execution status of.

For this reason, in the opening and closing shop processing, if the secret code is erroneously input, for example, when the person in charge of the register is input, it is often difficult to deal with it on site. Therefore, a customer engineer (CE) who performs system maintenance service is called. The called CE visits the shop on site to view the cashier master, confirms the secret code, and makes a correct entry. Therefore, it takes a considerable amount of time for a series of operations such as a call from the error occurrence to the service company, an arrangement of the CE at the service company, a visit of the CE, and a repair work, and sometimes the opening of the store is delayed for several hours. obtain.

The present invention has been made to overcome such a situation, and the execution status of store opening / closing processing can be remotely monitored in real time, and an error caused by such processing can be promptly dealt with. Its purpose is to provide a monitoring system for store operations.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the execution status monitoring system of the opening / closing store process of the present invention, a store operation system installed in a store for performing at least the opening / closing store process of the store. And a monitoring system capable of performing data communication via a communication unit, the monitoring system being capable of monitoring in real time the status of the opening / closing store processing executed by the store operation system.

In a preferred example, the monitoring means collects, from the store operation system, information about the status of the opening / closing store processing executed by the store operation system when the monitoring means is activated at an arbitrary timing, That is, it has an analysis means for analyzing the collected information and an output means for outputting the analyzed information regarding the status of the opening / closing shop processing.

In another preferred example, the monitoring means is
Collecting means for automatically starting at a predetermined fixed time and collecting information about the status of the opening and closing store processing executed by the store operation system from the store operation system.
That is, it has an analysis means for analyzing the collected information and an output means for outputting the analyzed information regarding the status of the opening / closing shop processing.

Further, the collecting means may be means for selectively collecting information about the status of the opening / closing store processing for each store, for each fixed number of store groups, or for all stores.

Further, it is also possible to provide a program that causes a computer to perform each function in the execution status monitoring system of the above-mentioned opening / closing store processing so as to be functionally realized.

[0013]

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

One embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.
It will be explained based on.

FIG. 1 shows a chain store head office 1, a plurality of stores 2a, ..., 2n in which chains are deployed (hereinafter, represented by reference numeral 2 if necessary), and a service station 3. The block diagram of the hardware system used as a player is shown.

In the chain store head office 1, a system for connecting chain stores under the umbrella with a communication network N and for controlling the business is constructed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the chain store head office 1 includes a router 11 connected to the communication network N, a server 12 connected to the router 11, and a head office system connected to the server 12. 13 and 13. The headquarters system 13 further includes a plurality of clients 13a and 13b and a database 13c. As a result, the chain point headquarters 1 can transmit and receive data in real time to a plurality of stores 2 and service stations 3 using the system via the network N under a predetermined protocol. .

As the communication network N, a public line, an ISDM leased line or the like is used as an example.

In addition, a system relating to the operation of the stores 2 is built in each of the stores 2 in the chain. This system also has the function of opening and closing the store.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the system of each store 2 includes a router 2 connected to a communication network N.
1 and a store operation system 2 connected to this router 21
2 and a POS terminal system 23 operated under management of the store operation system 22. Among them, the store operation system 22 is functionally responsible for opening and closing store processing, and is also responsible for processes other than opening and closing store processing such as purchase management and attendance and attendance management necessary for store operation. Further, the store operation system 22 is capable of transmitting and receiving data in real time between the chain store headquarters 1 and the service station 3 via the communication network N under a predetermined protocol.

The service station 3 is provided with an opening / closing store monitoring system capable of remotely confirming the operating status of processes including the opening / closing store process executed by the store operation system 22 of each store 2 in real time via the communication network N. Has been built. The name "service station" here means a site equipped with an opening / closing store monitoring system 33 that remotely monitors the operating status and processing results of the store operation system 33, and is not necessarily limited to this name. . For example, the name may be a service center, call center, call station, "xxx" service company name, or the like.

The real-time monitoring based on this opening / closing store monitoring system 33 is a mode in which the operator activates the monitoring program at an arbitrary timing, and the system automatically activates the monitoring program when a predetermined time is reached. There is a mode to let. As will be described later, in any mode of monitoring, the execution status at the time when the monitoring program is activated and data is collected can be confirmed in real time.

In order to enable this monitoring, the service station 3 has a communication network N as shown in FIG.
The router 31 connected to the router 31, the server 32 connected to the router 31, and the above-mentioned opening / closing store monitoring system 33, the client 34, and the database 35 connected to the server 32. Server 32, client 3
4 and the database 35 are also used for remote monitoring of the execution status of the opening / closing store processing in each store 2. A monitoring program for this monitoring is stored in advance in a hard disk (not shown) of the opening / closing shop monitoring system 33.

In the service station 3, when the client 34 issues an instruction to monitor the opening / closing store processing, a monitoring program incorporated in the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 is activated to activate the service. As a result, the main menu shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the monitor of the client 34. In this main menu, (1) Confirm opening / closing store process execution, (2)
Execution status log analysis, (3) hard disk list monitoring, (4) database table inquiry, (5) opening / closing store DLL (Down Line Loading: loading necessary information from server to register) processing result confirmation, (6 ) Buttons for inquiry of return code of store operation system, (7) environment setting, and (8) end are prepared.

The button (1) for confirming the execution of the opening / closing store process is used when the operator manually confirms the execution at that time. As mentioned above, the mode in which the system side automatically confirms execution at a certain time is (7)
It is set for each store according to the environment setting of.

The process of "execution confirmation of opening / closing store process" is roughly connected to the store operation system 22 of all the user stores to be monitored or any store 2 via the communication network N,
This is a process of acquiring data in a database incorporated in the store operation system 20 and creating a log.

More specifically, when the operator selects the button "(1) Confirm opening / closing store process execution" in the main menu, the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 generally follows the software procedure defined by the monitoring program. , As shown in FIG.

First, in response to such selection, a combo box (not shown) showing the user items to be monitored is displayed on the monitor. Using this box, the monitored users are all stores or arbitrary stores. Whether or not is selected (steps S1 and S2). When all stores are selected and the connection start button on the box is clicked,
The open / close store monitoring system 33 is sequentially connected from the selected store 2, and the latest stored data at that time is sequentially collected from the database of the store operation system 22 almost in real time (step S3). It should be noted that a connection time-out time is determined for this connection, and when a time-out occurs, a predetermined error process is performed and a connection to the next store is started.

On the other hand, even when an arbitrary store is selected and the connection start button on the box is clicked, the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 is connected to the selected store 2 and the store operation system 22 stores the database in the database. The latest stored data at the time is collected in almost real time (step S4). These collected data are created in the log file (step S5).

The objects to be monitored by the opening / closing shop monitoring system 33 are set as follows. When the store operation system / checkpoint is open or in business, it is the opening process on the day of the system management and the closing process on the day before the system management. On the contrary, when the store operation system / checkpoint is closed or has been closed, the process is the closing process on the day of the system management and the closing process on the day before the system management.

Next, when the operator selects the "(2) execution status log analysis" button from the main menu (see FIG. 2), a predetermined box is displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (step S6). S7). By clicking the "display option" button on this box, it is possible to select whether the display content is "current day processing status" or "previous day closing processing" (step S8).

By clicking the "Browse" button on the box shown in FIG. 4, a file for analyzing a past log file can be designated. Click the "Error Log" button to display the connection error log. Furthermore, when the "Display log" button is clicked, the log is displayed directly without analyzing the error log. Click the "Delete log" button to delete all error logs in the folder.

Further, when the "analysis" button is clicked on the box shown in FIG. 4, the opening / closing store monitoring system 3
3 analyzes the log file created as described above (step S9), and as shown in FIG. 5, displays the analysis result as a list of all stores (step S10).

In the all store list display screen shown in FIG. 5, the processing status can be grasped by the color displayed in the store name column. As an example, a blue store name display indicates a store where the closing process on the previous day ended normally, a red store name display indicates a store where the closing process on the previous day ended abnormally, and a yellow store name display indicates a store that could not be connected, Further, a green store name display indicates a store whose processing of the previous day's closing processing has not been completed. Also,
When the store number attached to the store name is green, it indicates a store holiday.

When the "report output" button is clicked on the all store list display screen shown in FIG. 5, the all store list display report can be output under the item of the confirmer name (steps S11 and S12). .

Further, when the store name is double-clicked on the screen of the list of all stores shown in FIG. 5, the store name is entered in the combo box above the "Analysis by store" button, and in this state, the "Analysis by store" button Click to jump to the detailed display for each store (steps S13 to S15). An example of this detailed display for each store is shown in FIG.

On the detailed display screen for each store shown in FIG. 6,
A variety of jobs related to the open / close store processing are displayed in a list, and the processing state is displayed in a different color for identification. The display colors are, for example, blue = normal end, green = not executed, light green =
Normal skip, red = abnormal end, purple = interruption of power interruption, white = skip (unplanned), etc.

Clicking the "→" or "←" button on this screen switches to the detailed display of the next or previous store. Also, when the scroll bar is slid, the execution contents after the item that is not on the display screen are scroll-displayed. Further, when the "print" button is clicked, the displayed contents are printed with the end time of each process.

Next, other items of the main menu will be described.

In the main menu shown in FIG. 2, when the operator clicks the button (3) "monitor hard disk list", a box is displayed. When a desired store is selected from this box, the server of the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 connects to the store operation system 22 of the store 2 via the communication network N and collects the contents of the hard disk of the server of the store operation system 22. Can be displayed.

In the main menu shown in FIG. 2, when the operator clicks the button (4) "Query database table", a box is displayed. When a desired store and a desired master (table) are selected from this box, the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 connects to the store operation system 22 of the store 2 via the communication network N, and then opens the database from the store operation system 22. The contents of the master can be collected and displayed.

Further, in the main menu shown in FIG. 2, when the operator clicks the button (5) “confirm result of opening / closing store processing DLL”, the operator is connected to the desired store online as described above, and the opening / closing store processing is performed. To register D
The processing result at the time of performing LL can be displayed on the opening / closing store monitoring system 33. As a result, the service station 3 can recognize the result of the DLL processing and the like before receiving a call from the store when an error occurs, which enables quicker and more appropriate treatment.

Further, in the main menu shown in FIG. 2, when the operator clicks the button (6) "Query return code of store operation system", a list of error return codes of the database server of the store operation system can be displayed. .

When the operator clicks the "environment setting" button (7) in the main menu shown in FIG. 2, a setting screen is displayed as shown in FIG. On this setting screen, necessary items such as addition or deletion of registered users, user setting contents, addition and deletion of registered stores, and store setting contents can be set and input. Among these, in the user setting contents, the setting of “execute / not execute” the automatic start-up of the above-described monitoring can be performed for each user or each user's store.

An outline of this automatic startup will be illustrated. As shown in FIG. 8, when a predetermined time (for example, a predetermined time before the opening of the user store every morning) is reached, the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 activates the monitoring program by this automatic start-up function. When started, first, the database server of the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 of the store 2 is connected according to the setting contents (step S20), and the execution status of the opening / closing store process on the day and the data of the closing process execution result of the previous business day are stored from the hard disk. Collect (step S21). Next, this collected data is created in the log (step S22). Subsequent processing is, for example, performed in the same manner as the processing from step S6 onward in FIG.

Therefore, it is possible to set that the log has already been created when the staff of the service station 3 comes to the office. Therefore, immediately after coming to the office, the execution status log analysis can be performed to check the status of the opening / closing store processing, and a necessary report can be output.

As described above, the opening / closing store monitoring system 33 of the service station 3 can remotely access the store operating system 22 of each store 2 at a timing desired by the operator, and the execution status of the opening / closing store process at that time can be almost real-time. Can be monitored. Therefore, by performing this status monitoring on a regular basis, even if an error or abnormality occurs in the opening and closing shop processing, there is a great opportunity to grasp such a situation more reliably and accurately than waiting for a call from the site. Will increase. Therefore, the monitoring is highly reliable, and
It is possible to quickly and appropriately take measures against such an error or abnormality.

[0048] For example, depending on the content and degree of the error or abnormality collected by monitoring, it is possible to recover by instructing via a telephone, whether it is better to switch to remote maintenance and recover, or immediately send the CE to the site. It is possible to easily discriminate whether it is better to send it. Further, even if the CE cannot be dealt with without being dispatched, it is possible to make a determination as to what technical level of CE is required and which specialized field of CE is required.

Therefore, it is possible to minimize the situation that the opening of the store is delayed or the sales activity is delayed due to the abnormality or the error in the opening / closing process.

The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can further modify the present invention in various forms within the scope of the claims. is there.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a store operation monitoring system that can remotely monitor the execution status of store opening / closing processing in real time and can quickly deal with an error that occurs in such processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a connection relationship between an execution status monitoring system for opening / closing store processing and a store operation system that is a monitoring target according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a screen view showing an example of a main menu displayed when the monitoring system of the service station is activated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing a monitoring process executed when a button related to the execution status monitoring of the opening / closing store process is clicked in the main menu.

FIG. 4 is a screen diagram illustrating one of boxes displayed during the process of monitoring the execution status of the opening / closing store process.

FIG. 5 is a screen view of an all-stores batch display showing an example of an execution status monitoring result of opening / closing store processing.

FIG. 6 is a screen view of detailed display for each store showing another example of the execution status monitoring result of the opening / closing store processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a first screen when setting an environment for opening and closing store processing.

FIG. 8 is a partial flowchart illustrating automatic start-up of an opening / closing store processing program.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 stores 3 service stations 21 router 22 Store operation system 23 POS terminal system 31 router 32 servers 33 Open / close store monitoring system 34 clients 35 Database N communication network

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A monitoring system capable of performing data communication via a communication means to a store operation system installed in a store and performing at least the store open / close process of the store, wherein the store open / close process executed by the store operation system. An execution status monitoring system for opening / closing store processing, which is provided with a monitoring means capable of monitoring the status of in real time. 2. The execution status monitoring system for opening / closing shop processing according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means relates to the status of opening / closing shop processing executed by the shop operation system when activated at an arbitrary timing. Collecting means for collecting information from the store operation system, and analyzing means for analyzing the collected information,
An execution status monitoring system for opening and closing shop processing, comprising: an output unit that outputs information regarding the analyzed status of opening and closing shop processing. 3. The opening / closing store processing execution status monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit is automatically activated at a predetermined fixed time and is executed by the store operation system. Collecting means for collecting information about the situation from the store operation system, and analyzing means for analyzing the collected information;
An execution status monitoring system for opening and closing shop processing, comprising: an output unit that outputs information regarding the analyzed status of opening and closing shop processing. 4. The execution status monitoring system for opening and closing shop processing according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the collecting means is information on the status of the opening and closing shop processing for each store, for a certain number of stores, or for all stores. Execution status monitoring system for open / close store processing, which is a means for selectively collecting data. 5. A program for causing a computer to perform each function in the execution status monitoring system for opening / closing store processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4 so as to be functionally realized.