JP2005348286A - Ordering entry system and its data transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ordering entry system to prevent an efficiency deterioration of a data transmission by an interruption of the data transmission, while suppressing a system complication and a cost push. <P>SOLUTION: A handy terminal 17 measures electric field strengths of peripheral radio base stations 14a and 14b. Once it detects a movement toward an adjacent cell, it interrupts the data transmission and transmits a switching request for a CS switching to a controller 13. When there is a CS switching response from the controller, the handy terminal cuts a radio connection to the communicating radio base station 14a and establishes the radio connection to the radio base station 14b to cover the cell of the movement destination. The handy terminal transmits only transmission-incomplete data to the radio base stations which have established the radio connection newly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ordering entry system and a data transmission method thereof, and more particularly to an ordering endless system capable of efficiently performing data transmission and a data transmission method thereof.

  A conventional ordering entry system includes an ordering entry system controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a controller) connected to a POS terminal, a plurality of radio base stations (CS: Cell Station) connected to the controller, and a plurality of these And a handy terminal that can be wirelessly connected.

  The handy terminal creates transmission data based on the input information. The handy terminal then establishes a wireless connection with one of the plurality of wireless base stations. Then, the handy terminal transmits the created transmission data to the controller via a wireless base station that is wirelessly connected.

  The radio base station with which the handy terminal establishes radio connection is usually the radio base station with the strongest electric field strength among all the radio base stations. However, when the electric field strength of the radio base station decreases due to movement of the handy terminal, data transmission may not be completed. In such a case, the handy terminal performs error processing, reconnects wirelessly to a wireless base station having a higher electric field strength, and performs data transmission again. As described above, in the conventional ordering entry system, handover is not performed as in the mobile phone system.

  On the other hand, as a handover technique in a mobile phone system or the like, there is a method in which a CS that can be handed over in advance during a call is scanned to select the best CS and the switching time is short (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2002-291010 A (summary)

  In the conventional ordering entry system, data transmission from the handy terminal to the controller is performed only through one radio base station selected from a plurality of radio base stations. Therefore, when the electric field strength of the radio base station wirelessly connected to the handy terminal decreases, there is a problem that data transmission is stopped and the data transmission operation must be performed again.

  As a method for solving the above problems, it is conceivable to adopt a handover technology adopted in a mobile phone system or the like. However, in an ordering entry system that does not require real-time characteristics such as a voice call, the handover technology is adopted. There is a problem that the effect obtained is small compared with the increase in burdens such as the complexity of the system and the accompanying cost increase due to the adoption of.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ordering entry system and a data transmission method therefor that can prevent a reduction in data transmission efficiency due to interruption of data transmission while suppressing system complexity and cost increase.

  The first gist of the present invention is an order entry system including a controller connected to a POS terminal, a plurality of radio base stations connected to the controller, and a handy terminal capable of wireless connection to the plurality of radio base stations. The handy terminal includes an electric field strength measurement unit for measuring electric field strengths of the plurality of radio base stations, and a radio connection control unit for changing a radio connection destination based on a measurement result of the electric field strength measurement unit And a data transmission control unit that interrupts data transmission when the wireless connection control unit changes the wireless connection destination, resumes transmission of the suspended data after changing the wireless connection destination, and transmits only incomplete transmission data It is characterized by having.

  The second gist of the present invention is a data transmission method in which data transmission from a handy terminal to a controller is performed by wirelessly connecting the handy terminal to any one of a plurality of radio base stations connected to the controller. The handy terminal measures the electric field strength of the plurality of radio base stations, determines the change of the wireless connection destination of the handy terminal based on the measurement result of the electric field strength, and before changing the wireless connection destination The data transmission is interrupted, the transmission of the interrupted data is resumed after changing the wireless connection destination, and only the incomplete data is transmitted.

  According to the present invention, when measuring the electric field strength of the radio base station and changing the radio connection destination of the handy terminal based on the measurement result, the data transmission is interrupted, and the transmission is not completed after the radio connection destination change. By transmitting only data, an ordering entry system can be obtained that can prevent a decrease in data transmission efficiency at a low cost with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an ordering entry system (OES) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The ordering entry system shown in the figure includes a hub (for example, an Ethernet hub) 11, a POS terminal 12 connected to the hub 11, an ordering entry system controller (OES-C) 13, and a plurality (two in the figure) of radio base stations. (CS) 14, self-order terminal (ST) 15, kitchen printer (KP) 16, and at least one (two in the figure) handy terminal (HT) 17.

  This ordering entry system is used in restaurants and the like, and is used for managing order information.

  The hub 11 enables data transmission between the entry system controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a controller) 13 and other devices 12 and 14-16.

  The POS terminal 12 is disposed at a checkout location or the like, and is connected to a host computer (not shown). Upon receiving the order data from the controller 13 via the hub 11, the POS terminal 12 stores it in the internal memory and transmits it to the host computer.

  The controller 13 is disposed in the office room together with the hub 11. The controller 13 receives the order data from the radio base station 14 and the self-order terminal 15 via the hub 11 and sends it to the POS terminal 12 and the kitchen printer 16.

  The plurality of radio base stations 14 are arranged so as to cover each cell when the passenger seat floor is divided into a plurality of cells of a predetermined size, for example. Each radio base station 14 receives the order data transmitted from the handy terminal 17 located in the corresponding cell, and transmits the received order data to the controller 13 via the hub 11.

  The self-order terminal 15 is arranged on a customer table or the like, and accepts orders by operations of customers or the like. Then, the self-order terminal 15 transmits order data including predetermined information (table number, etc.) and order information (type, quantity, etc.) to the controller 13 via the hub 11.

  The kitchen printer 16 is arranged in a kitchen or the like, and prints out the order data sent from the controller 13.

  The handy terminal 17 is carried by a store clerk and is used to input predetermined information (table number and the like) and order information (type and quantity, etc.) according to the customer's order. The handy terminal 17 selects one of the plurality of radio base stations 14 according to the position, establishes a radio connection (PIAFS connection, TCP / IP connection) with the selected radio base station 14, and receives the order data. Send.

  In the above configuration, the order data transmitted from the self-order terminal 15 is transmitted to the POS terminal 12 and the kitchen printer 16 via the hub 11 and the controller 13. The order data transmitted from the handy terminal 17 is transmitted to the POS terminal 12 and the kitchen printer 16 via any one of the radio base stations 14, the hub 11, and the controller 13.

  Hereinafter, the handy terminal 17 used in the system according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the handy terminal 17 includes an input operation unit 21, a data transmission control unit 22, a search unit 23, a communication control unit 24, a radio unit 25, and an antenna 26.

  The input operation unit 21 receives input of order information and outputs the information to the data transmission control unit 22.

  The data transmission control unit 22 converts the order information from the input operation unit 21 into order data in a predetermined format, and wirelessly transmits the order data to the outside via the wireless unit 25 and the antenna 26. The transmission control unit 22 performs a retransmission process when an error or the like occurs during the transmission of order data, and performs a process corresponding to a change in the wireless connection destination during the transmission of order data.

  The search unit 23 functions as an electric field strength measuring unit that measures the electric field strength of the plurality of radio base stations 13. That is, the search unit 23 monitors a predetermined signal transmitted from the plurality of radio base stations 13 via the radio unit 25 and the antenna 26 and determines a radio base station to which order data is to be transmitted.

  The communication control unit 24 controls the radio unit 25 to transmit the order data to the radio base station determined by the search unit 23. As will be described later, the communication control unit 24 can change the wireless connection destination while the order data is being transmitted in accordance with the determination of the search unit 23.

  Hereinafter, in addition to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the operation of the system when moving from a cell covered by a wireless base station 14 with a handy terminal to an adjacent cell covered by another wireless base station 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the handy terminal 17 starts communication with the radio base station 14a in a cell 31 (for example, an area having an electric field strength of 40 dBμ or more) covered by a radio base station 14a. And the handy terminal 17 shall move to the cell 32 which the adjacent radio base station 14b covers in the state which continued communication with the radio base station 14a. In this case, the handy terminal 17, the radio base stations 14a and 14b, and the controller 13 operate as shown in FIG.

  That is, the radio base stations 14 a and 14 b establish a connection with the controller 13 via the hub 11 in advance.

  When the order data to be transmitted is generated by the operation of the input operation unit 21, the handy terminal 17 and the radio base station 14a covering the cell 31 where the search unit 23 detects the cell 31 where the own unit is located, Establish a connection (eg, extension PHS connection).

  When the wireless connection with the radio base station 14a is established, the handy terminal 17 divides the order data into blocks of a predetermined size, and assigns a sequence number (for example, a cyclic number of 0 to 9) to each block. It is packetized and transmitted to the radio base station 14a. The sequence number is used by both the handy terminal and the controller in order to determine whether transmission of each block has been completed.

  Data received by the radio base station 14 a is sent to the controller 13 via the hub 11, and further sent from the controller 13 to the POS terminal 12 via the hub 11.

  It is assumed that the handy terminal 17 enters the cell 32 and further exits the cell 31 after transmitting a packet including the block having the sequence number SN = 0. The search unit 23 detects that the handy terminal exits from the cell 31 and exists in the cell 32. Then, the search unit 23 notifies the data transmission control unit 22 and the communication control unit 24 of that fact.

  Upon receiving the notification from the search unit 23, the data transmission control unit 22 interrupts the data transmission and transmits a CS switching request signal notifying that the data transmission is performed to the radio base station 14b covering the cell 32. To do. This CS switching request signal is transmitted to the controller 13 via the radio base station 14a and the hub 11.

  When the controller 13 receives the CS switching request signal from the handy terminal 17, the controller 13 sends a CS switching response signal including the sequence number of the data block last received from the handy terminal 17 that transmitted the CS switching request signal to the radio base station 14a. Output. The CS switching response signal is transmitted from the CS 14a to the handy terminal 17.

  When receiving the CS switching response signal, the communication control unit 24 of the handy terminal 17 disconnects the wireless connection with the wireless base station 14a and establishes the wireless connection with the wireless base station 14b.

  Thereafter, the data transmission control unit 22 transmits a packet including a block to which the next sequence number (here, SN = 1) is added following the sequence number (here, SN = 0) included in the CS switching response signal. And transmitted to the radio base station 14b.

  Thereafter, the same operation as described above is performed, and when the handy terminal 17 transmits the last data, the controller 13 transmits a response signal indicating reception completion. When receiving the response signal, the communication control unit of the handy terminal 17 disconnects the wireless connection with the wireless base station 14b and ends the process.

  The controller 13 reconstructs the order data from the data sequentially transmitted in units of blocks as described above, and transmits the order data to the POS terminal 12 and the kitchen printer 16.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of le-order data format used in the system according to the present embodiment.

  In the format of FIG. 5, “device” is a field indicating whether the transmission source is, for example, the handy terminal 17 or the controller 13. “Command” is a field indicating whether this packet is for transmitting order data or indicating a response, for example. “Own station ID” is a field for individually identifying a transmission source. The destination ID is a field for identifying the destination. “Data (Max 507 Byte)” is a field for a data block and a header portion (block division, sequence number, and data division) added thereto.

  Further, the data block (= Data (Max 503 Bytes)) includes one or more data having a header part, a menu part, an order unit price part, and a submenu part as a unit. Each header portion includes a sequence number (for example, a cyclic number of 0 to 255) different from the sequence number given for each order (ordered product).

  As described above, in the system according to the present embodiment, when the handy terminal has moved to an adjacent cell during order data transmission, data transmission is temporarily interrupted, and the destination radio base station and Since only the blocks that have not been transmitted are transmitted after the wireless connection is established, an error processing operation is not required as in the prior art. In addition, it is not necessary to retransmit a data block that has already been transmitted, so that the amount of communication data can be reduced and a decrease in transmission efficiency can be prevented. In addition, since it is not necessary to perform a handover process unlike a mobile phone, it can be realized with a simple configuration.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ordering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the handy terminal in the system of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the system of FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the relationship between a handy terminal and a cell. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the system of FIG. FIG. 1 is a format diagram of order data used in the system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Hub 12 Pos terminal 13 Ordering entry system controller 14, 14a, 14b Wireless base station 15 Self-order terminal 16 Kitchen printer 17 Handy terminal 21 Input operation part 22 Data transmission control part 23 Search part 24 Communication control part 25 Radio part 26 Antenna 31 cells 32 cells

Claims (12)

In an order entry system including a controller connected to a POS terminal, a plurality of radio base stations connected to the controller, and a handy terminal capable of wireless connection to the plurality of radio base stations,
The handy terminal is
An electric field strength measurement unit for measuring the electric field strength of the plurality of radio base stations;
A wireless connection control unit for changing a wireless connection destination based on the measurement result of the electric field strength measurement unit;
A data transmission control unit that interrupts data transmission when the wireless connection control unit changes the wireless connection destination, resumes transmission of data interrupted after the wireless connection destination change, and transmits only incomplete transmission data;
An order entry system characterized by comprising: In the order entry system according to claim 1,
The order entry system, wherein the electric field strength measurement unit constantly measures electric field strengths of the plurality of radio base stations. In the order entry system according to claim 1 or 2,
The wireless connection unit determines that the current wireless connection is established when the field strength of a wireless base station that is currently wirelessly connected is less than or equal to a predetermined value and there is another wireless base station having a field strength greater than the predetermined value. An order entry system characterized by disconnecting and establishing a wireless connection with the other wireless base station. In the order entry system according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
An order entry system, wherein when the wireless connection unit changes a wireless connection destination, the controller is notified in advance of the change of the wireless connection destination. In the order entry system according to claim 4,
An order entry system, wherein the controller notifies the handy terminal of predetermined information related to already received data when receiving a notification of a change of a wireless connection destination. In the order entry system according to claim 5,
The data transmission control unit divides the data into one or more blocks and transmits each block with different block number information.
The order entry system, wherein the controller transmits the block number information as the predetermined information. In a data transmission method for performing data transmission from a handy terminal to a controller by wirelessly connecting the handy terminal to any one of a plurality of radio base stations connected to the controller,
The handy terminal measures the electric field strength of the plurality of radio base stations;
Based on the measurement result of the electric field strength, determine the change of the wireless connection destination of the handy terminal,
Suspend data transmission before changing the wireless connection destination,
A data transmission method comprising: resuming transmission of data interrupted after changing a wireless connection destination and transmitting only uncompleted data. The data transmission method according to claim 7, wherein
A data transmission method characterized in that measurement of electric field strength of the plurality of radio base stations is always performed. The data transmission method according to claim 7 or 8,
If the field strength of the radio base station to which the handy terminal is currently wirelessly connected is less than a predetermined value and there is another radio base station having a field strength greater than the predetermined value, the current wireless connection is disconnected. A data transmission method comprising establishing a wireless connection with the other wireless base station. The data transmission method according to claim 7, 8 or 9,
When the handy terminal changes a wireless connection destination, the controller transmits a wireless connection destination change notification to the controller in advance. The data transmission method according to claim 10, wherein
A data transmission method characterized in that, when the controller receives a notification of a change of a wireless connection destination, the controller notifies the handy terminal of predetermined information related to already received data. The data transmission method according to claim 11, wherein
The handy terminal divides the data into one or more blocks, and sends each divided block with different block number information.
The data transmission method, wherein the controller transmits the block number information as the predetermined information.

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