JP2006134093A - Usb device and usb system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a USB host to normally identify each USB device even if connecting the USB device of the same machine type to one USB host regardless of holding/non-holding of a serial number. <P>SOLUTION: This USB device is provided with: a memory 33 storing a vendor ID specifying a sales supplier or a maker; and a dip switch 40 allowing manual setting of a code of an arbitrary digit number. The code set by the dip switch 40 is acquired, and a product ID specifying the kind of the USB device is generated from the code. When receiving a requirement command for USB device identification information from the USB host, the vendor ID stored in the memory 33 and the product ID generated from the code set by the dip switch 40 are transmitted to the USB host. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a USB system in which a host such as a personal computer and a peripheral device (device) such as a display are connected by USB (Universal Serial Bus), and a USB device used in this system.

  In recent years, among POS terminals that function as merchandise sales data processing devices for POS (Point Of Sales) systems used in retail distribution, there are models that have a USB port and can be selectively connected to a USB device. is there. When such a model is used, for example, the same USB electronic display can be commonly used as a cashier display and a customer display, thereby reducing the cost.

  However, when a USB device of the same model number (in this case, a USB electronic display) is connected to one USB host (in this case, a POS terminal), the USB host cannot normally identify each USB device, The USB device may not operate normally.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, as the identification information held by the USB device, in addition to the vendor ID for specifying the manufacturer or the sales supplier and the product ID for specifying the product type (model number), it is unique to the device. If a serial number is included, USB identification information is generated on the USB device side based on this serial number so that the USB host can be normally identified even with the same USB device having the same vendor ID and product ID. There was technology that did. If the serial number is not included, the USB host adds an address number to each USB device, and each USB device generates a new serial number from this address number. Thereafter, similarly, there is a technology in which USB identification information is generated on the USB device side based on this serial number so that the USB host can be normally identified even with the same USB device having the same vendor ID and product ID. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-062347 A

  However, the former prior art can only be applied to a USB device that holds a serial number in addition to a vendor ID and a product ID. Since it is not essential to retain serial numbers in the USB standard, there are USB devices that do not retain serial numbers, and it is difficult to assign serial numbers to all of these USB devices. .

  On the other hand, although the latter prior art can be applied to USB devices that do not hold serial numbers, the USB host needs a function to add address numbers to each USB device, and each USB device is also serialized from the address number. There was a problem that a function for generating numbers had to be added.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances. The purpose of the present invention is to connect a USB device of the same model to a single USB host regardless of whether or not the serial number is held. It is an object of the present invention to provide a USB system in which a USB host can normally identify each USB device and a USB device used in this system.

  The USB device of the present invention includes a storage means for storing a vendor ID for specifying a USB device manufacturer or distributor, a code setting means capable of manually setting a code having an arbitrary number of digits, such as a dip switch, and the code. A code acquisition means for acquiring a code set by the setting means; an ID generation means for generating a product ID for identifying the type of the USB device from the acquired code; and a USB device identification information from a USB host connected by USB. A command receiving means for receiving a request command; a USB identification information transmitting means for transmitting a vendor ID stored in the storage means in response to receiving the request command and a product ID generated by the ID generating means to the USB host; It is equipped with.

  The USB system of the present invention includes a USB device configured as described above, command transmission means for transmitting a request command for USB device identification information to the USB device connected to the USB port, and a vendor ID and product ID from the USB device that transmitted the request command. USB identification information receiving means for receiving the USB identification information storage means for saving the vendor ID and product ID received from the USB device, and the USB device connected to the USB port from the saved vendor ID and product ID And a USB host provided with a device specifying means for specifying the function.

  According to the present invention in which such a measure is taken, the USB host can normally identify each USB device even if the USB device of the same model is connected to one USB host regardless of whether or not the serial number is held. A USB system that can be used and a USB device used in the system can be provided.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment exemplifies a POS terminal functioning as a POS system product sales data processing device as a USB host having a USB port, and a common USB as an operator display and a customer display of the POS terminal. This is a case where an electronic display is applied.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system configuration of the present embodiment. In FIG. The POS terminal main body 1 has a plurality (three in the figure) of USB ports 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3. The first USB port 2-1 has a front display 3 attached to the scanner to be described later, the second USB port 2-2 has a customer display 4 attached to the scanner, and a third USB. The customer display 5 attached to the POS terminal main body is connected to the port 2-3 via the USB cable 6 respectively.

  Each display 3, 4, 5 uses a USB electronic display of the same model manufactured by the same manufacturer. By doing so, the cost can be reduced. The front display 3 is provided as an operator display, and the customer display 4 and 5 are provided as customer displays.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a USB electronic display that is commonly used as the front display 3 and customer display 4 attached to the scanner and the customer display 5 attached to the main body. The USB electronic display includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 as a main control unit. The CPU 31 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) 33, an image memory 34, and a USB interface 35. Are connected to each other. The ROM 32 stores in advance fixed data such as display font data. The SRAM 33 stores a vendor ID that identifies the manufacturer of the USB electronic display and a product ID that identifies the type (model number) of the product. The image memory 34 is for storing image data displayed on the display 36. The USB interface 35 manages data communication with a USB host connected to the USB connector 37 via the USB cable 6.

  The USB electronic display also resets the CPU 31, the image memory 34, the power supply circuit 38 that converts the power supply voltage supplied from the USB host connected to the USB connector 37 to the drive voltage of each part including the display 36, and supplies the power supply circuit 38. A reset signal generation circuit 39 is mounted.

  Further, the USB electronic display has a dip switch 40 capable of setting a binary code having an arbitrary number of bits as code setting means capable of manually setting a code having an arbitrary number of digits. The binary code set by the dip switch 40 is made different for each of a plurality of USB devices connected to one USB host. Incidentally, in this embodiment, since three USB electronic displays are connected to one POS terminal body 1, the number of bits of the dip switch 40 is set to two digits, and “1 (01H)”, “2 (01H ) ”,“ 3 (11H) ”, three types of binary codes are assigned to each USB electronic display and set.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the POS terminal main body 1. The POS terminal main body 1 is equipped with a CPU 11 as a main control unit. The CPU 11 has a ROM 13 in which fixed data such as programs are stored in advance via a bus line 12 such as an address bus and a data bus, and a RAM 14 in which various memory areas necessary for processing merchandise sales data are formed. In addition to the HDD device 15 that functions as a nonvolatile auxiliary storage device, the clock unit 16 that measures the current date and time, the communication interface 17, the printer interface 18, the scanner interface 19, the keyboard controller 20, the display controller 21, and the USB ports 2 Each part such as -1,2,2 and 2-3 is connected. The POS terminal main body 1 is equipped with a power supply unit 22, and drive power is supplied from the power supply unit 22 to each unit including the USB ports 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3. .

  A store server is connected to the communication interface 17 via a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). A printer for receipt printing is connected to the printer interface 18.

  A scanner 23 for reading a barcode is connected to the scanner interface 19. The scanner-attached front display 3 is provided on the front side (casher side) of the scanner 23, and the scanner-attached customer display 4 is provided on the back side (customer side).

  The keyboard controller 20 is provided with various keys necessary for a POS terminal such as a numeric key, a clear key, a PLU key, a department key, a subtotal key, a deposit / cash key, a discount key, and a cancel key. Is connected. The display controller 21 is connected to a display 25 capable of displaying the product name, price, total amount of one business transaction, change amount, and the like. The keyboard 24 and the display 25 are provided on the front side of the POS terminal main body 1. And the said main body attached customer surface display 5 is provided in the upper surface of this POS terminal main body 1, for example.

  The POS terminal main body 1 having such a configuration is a USB identification information storage unit that stores USB identification information for identifying USB devices connected to the USB ports 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3. As shown in FIG. 5, a vendor ID (Vid_XXXX) for specifying a USB device manufacturer or sales supplier and a product ID (Pid_000N) for specifying the type of the USB device are connected to the USB port to which the USB device is connected. A registry file 26 to be stored in association with port identification information (hereinafter referred to as port No.) specifying 2-1 2-2, 2-3 is formed in the HDD device 15. The port number is a number assigned to each USB port 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 in order. In this embodiment, the port number of the USB port 2-1 is “1”, The following description will be continued assuming that the port number of the USB port 2-2 is “2” and the port number of the USB port 2-3 is “3”.

  Thus, when the CPU 11 starts up when the POS terminal body 1 is turned on, the CPU 11 executes the start-up process shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, initialization processing such as initialization of the RAM 14 and initialization of the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 is performed as ST1. Next, after resetting the number counter n to “0” as ST2, the number counter n is incremented by “1” as ST3. Then, as ST4, the processes of ST5 to ST9 are repeatedly executed until the number counter n exceeds the number “3” of the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3.

  That is, a USB port whose port number is n (= value of the number counter n) is searched from the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 (ST5), and whether or not a USB device is connected to this USB port is determined. Judgment is made (ST6). If a USB device is connected, a request command for USB device identification information is transmitted to the USB device (ST7: command transmission means). Then, it waits for the USB device identification information to be sent from this command transmission destination USB device (ST8: USB identification information receiving means), and if it receives the USB device identification information, it is included in the USB identification information. The vendor ID and product ID are recorded in the registry file 26 in association with the port number n of the USB port to which the USB device is connected (ST9: USB identification information storage means).

  When the USB identification information and the port number n of the USB devices connected to the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 are all recorded in the registry file 26, the CPU 11 proceeds to the next processing step.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 31 of the USB electronic display connected to each of the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 of the POS terminal body 1 via the USB cable 6 starts up by the power supply voltage supplied from the pos terminal body 1, The startup process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed. First, it waits for a request command for USB identification information to be sent from a USB host connected by USB as ST11 (command receiving means). If the request command for the USB identification information sent from the USB host, that is, the POS terminal main body 1 is received via the USB interface 35, the CPU 31 stores the vendor ID stored in the SRAM 33 as the storage means as ST12. Is read. Further, the CPU 31 acquires a binary code set by the dip switch 40 as ST13 (code acquisition means). In ST14, a product ID indicating the model number of the USB device is generated from this binary code (ID generating means).

  Specifically, when the binary code is “01H”, N of the product ID “Pid_000N” is set to “1”, and when the binary code is “10H”, the product ID “Pid_000N” is set. If N is “2” and the binary code is “11H”, N of the product ID “Pid_000N” is set to “3”.

  Thereafter, the CPU 31 sends the USB device identification information including the vendor ID read from the SRAM 33 and the product ID generated from the binary code set by the DIP switch 40 via the USB interface 35 to the POS that is the USB host. If transmitted to the terminal body 1 (USB identification information transmitting means), the process proceeds to the next processing step.

  In this way, the startup process shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is performed by the POS terminal main body 1 and the three USB electronic displays connected to the USB ports 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3 of the POS terminal main body 1 ( When executed by the scanner-attached front display 3, the scanner-attached customer-face display 4, and the body-attached customer-face display 5), the POS terminal main body 1 performs normal operations (registration, inspection, settlement, etc.) as a POS terminal. It becomes executable. In this normal business data processing, for the operation input of the scanner 23, scanner front display data consisting of display items to the operator (casher), and scanner customer surface display data consisting of display items to the shopper. Is generated. For the operation input of the keyboard 24, main body front display data consisting of display items for the operator and main body customer surface display data consisting of display items for the shopper are generated.

  And when these display data are produced | generated, CPU11 performs the display process schematically shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the display data is main body front display data (ST21), this display data is output to the display controller 21 and displayed on the display 25 (ST22).

  On the other hand, if the display data is the main body customer display data (ST23), the CPU 11 functions as the main body customer display 5 from the vendor ID and product ID stored in the registry file 26. Search electronic display. That is, the data of the display manufacturer whose vendor ID is preset and the product ID of “Pid_0003” is searched (ST24: device specifying means). When the corresponding data is searched, the port number stored in association with the data is acquired, and the main body customer face display data is obtained from the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 specified by the port number. Send out (ST25).

  If the display data is the scanner front display data (ST26), the CPU 11 determines the USB electronic display functioning as the scanner attached front display 3 from the vendor ID and product ID stored in the registry file 26. Search for. That is, the data of the display manufacturer whose vendor ID is set in advance and the product ID of “Pid_0002” is searched (ST27: device specifying means). When the corresponding data is retrieved, the port number stored in association with the data is acquired, and the scanner front display data is transmitted from the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 specified by the port number. (ST28).

  If the display data is the scanner customer display data (ST29), the CPU 11 performs USB electronic display functioning as the scanner-attached customer display 4 from the vendor ID and product ID stored in the registry file 26. Search for vessels. That is, the data of the display manufacturer whose vendor ID is set in advance and the product ID of “Pid_0001” is searched (ST30: device specifying means). When the corresponding data is searched, the port number stored in association with the data is acquired, and the scanner customer display data is obtained from the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 specified by the port number. Send out (ST31).

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, a main body attached customer surface display 5 composed of a USB electronic display is provided on the upper surface of the POS terminal main body 1. Further, a scanner-attached front display 3 and a scanner-attached customer display 4 that are also configured by USB electronic displays are provided on the front side and the back side of the scanner 23, respectively. These indicators 3, 4 and 5 are connected to any of the USB ports 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3 via the USB cable 6, respectively. Here, the USB electronic displays used as the respective displays 3, 4, 5 are all the same model in which the vendor ID set in the SRAM 33 and the product ID match.

  As described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the POS terminal main body 1 according to the present embodiment recognizes the USB electronic display with the product ID “Pid_0003” as the main body attached customer display 5 and the product ID is “ The USB electronic display with “Pid_0002” is recognized as the scanner-attached front display 3, and the USB electronic display with product ID “Pid_0001” is recognized as the scanner-attached customer display 4.

  Therefore, the user sets 3 = “11H” on the DIP switch 40 of the USB electronic display used as the customer-side display 5 attached to the main body. Further, the dip switch 40 of the USB electronic display used as the scanner-attached front display 3 is set to 2 = “10H”. Further, the dip switch 40 of the USB electronic display used as the scanner-attached customer display 4 is set to 1 = “01H”.

  Thus, when each USB electronic display receives a request command for USB identification information from the POS terminal main body 10, it generates a product ID from the binary data set by the DIP switch 40. Therefore, the product ID generated by the USB electronic display used as the main body attached customer display 5, the product ID generated by the USB electronic display used as the scanner attached front display 3, and the scanner attached customer surface The product ID generated by the USB electronic display used as the display 4 shows a different value. A product ID that differs for each USB electronic display and a common vendor ID stored in the SRAM 33 are returned to the POS terminal body 10 as USB identification information and stored in the registry file 26.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the scanner-attached front display 3 in which code 2 = “10H” is set by the dip switch 40 is connected to the first USB port 2-1, and the code 1 = “ The scanner-attached customer display 4 set to “01H” is connected to the second USB port 2-2, and the camera-attached customer display 5 whose code 3 = “11H” is set by the DIP switch 40 is the third. 2 is stored in the registry file 26 of the POS terminal main body 10 in the startup process after the power is turned on. According to the data in the registry file 26, in the POS terminal body 10, the USB electronic display connected to the first USB port 2-1 with the port number = 1 functions as the scanner-attached front display 3, and the port number = 2 The USB electronic display connected to the second USB port 2-2 functions as the scanner-attached customer display 4 and is connected to the third USB port 2-3 with the port number = 3. The USB electronic display is recognized as functioning as the main body attached customer display 3, and display processing is executed. Therefore, each USB electronic display operates normally.

  After that, when the USB electronic display is once disconnected from the USB ports 2-1 to 2-3, for example, due to the maintenance of the device and then connected again, as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the customer-side display 4 attached to the scanner is connected to the USB port 2-2, the customer-side display 4 attached to the scanner is connected to the third USB port 2-3, and the customer-side display 5 attached to the main body is connected to the first USB port 2-1. . Then, in the startup process after the power is turned on, data having the contents shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the registry file 26 of the POS terminal main body 10. According to the data in the registry file 26, in the POS terminal main body 10, the USB electronic display connected to the first USB port 2-1 with the port number = 1 functions as the main display attached to the customer display 5 and the port The USB electronic display connected to the second USB port 2-2 with the number = 2 functions as the scanner-attached front display 3, and is connected to the third USB port 2-3 with the port number = 3. The USB electronic display is recognized as functioning as the customer display 4 attached to the scanner, and display processing is executed. Therefore, also in this case, each USB electronic display device operates normally.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the DIP switch 40 is provided in the USB electronic display which is one aspect of the USB device, and the same model connected to one POS terminal main body 10 which is one aspect of the USB host. By making the binary code set by the DIP switch 40 different between the USB electronic displays, the POS terminal body 10 can normally identify each USB electronic display. Accordingly, since the serial number is not necessary for identifying each USB electronic display, it can be handled regardless of whether the USB electronic display holds a serial number that is not essential to be held in the USB standard.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a POS terminal having three USB ports 2-1 to 2-3 is shown as one aspect of the USB host. However, it goes without saying that the number of USB ports is not limited to three. . For example, when the number of USB ports is five, up to five USB devices can be connected, so the number of bits of binary data that can be set by the dip switch 40 may be three.

  In the embodiment, the USB host is a POS terminal and the USB device is a USB electronic display. However, a computer device other than the POS terminal is a USB host and a device other than the USB electronic display, for example, a keyboard. The present invention can be similarly applied to a USB system using a USB device such as a printer or a printer.

  In the above-described embodiment, the dip switch 40 is shown as a code setting unit that can manually set a code having an arbitrary number of digits. However, the code setting unit is not limited to the dip switch 40, and the number of digits can be manually set. Any code can be applied if it can be set.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.

1 is a block diagram showing a connection example of a USB system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure preserve | saved at a registry file in the USB system shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the USB electronic display used in the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the POS terminal main body used in the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal part of the starting process which CPU of the POS terminal main body used in the embodiment performs. The flowchart which shows the principal part of the starting process which CPU of the USB electronic display used in the embodiment performs. The flowchart which shows the principal part of the display process which CPU of the POS terminal main body used in the embodiment performs. The block diagram which shows the other example of a connection of the USB system which is one embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure preserve | saved at a registry file in the USB system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... POS terminal main body, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 ... USB port, 3 ... Front display with a scanner (USB electronic display), 4 ... Customer display with a scanner (USB electronic display), 5 ... Front display attached to the main body (USB electronic display), 6 ... USB cable, 11 ... CPU, 25 ... Display, 26 ... Registry file, 31 ... CPU, 33 ... SRAM, 40 ... Dip switch.

Claims (7)

In a USB device connected to a USB host by USB (Universal Serial Bus),
Storage means for storing a vendor ID for specifying a manufacturer or sales supplier of the USB device;
Code setting means that can manually set a code of any number of digits;
Code acquisition means for acquiring the code set by the code setting means;
ID generation means for generating a product ID for identifying the type of the USB device from the code acquired by the code acquisition means;
Command receiving means for receiving a request command for USB device identification information from the USB host;
USB identification information transmitting means for transmitting the vendor ID stored in the storage means and the product ID generated by the ID generating means to the USB host in response to receiving the request command by the command receiving means. When,
A USB device comprising:   2. The USB device according to claim 1, wherein the code setting means is a dip switch capable of setting a binary code having an arbitrary number of bits. In a USB system comprising a USB host having a USB port and a USB device connected to the USB port of the USB host by USB,
The USB device is set by a storage unit that stores a vendor ID that identifies a manufacturer or a distributor of the USB device, a code setting unit that can manually set a code of an arbitrary number of digits, and the code setting unit. A code acquisition unit that acquires the generated code, an ID generation unit that generates a product ID that identifies the type of the USB device from the code acquired by the code acquisition unit, and a request command for USB device identification information from the USB host. A command receiving means for receiving, and the vendor ID stored in the storage means in response to receiving the request command by the command receiving means and the product ID generated by the ID generating means to the USB host. USB identification information transmitting means for transmitting,
The USB host transmits a request command for the USB device identification information to the USB device connected to the USB port, and the vendor ID from the USB device that has transmitted the request command by the command transmission unit. USB identification information receiving means for receiving the product ID and USB identification information storage means for storing the vendor ID and product ID received from the USB device by the USB identification information receiving means, and the USB identification information storage means A USB system comprising: device specifying means for specifying the function of the USB device connected to the USB port from the vendor ID and product ID stored in step (1).   4. The USB system according to claim 3, wherein the code setting means of the USB device is a dip switch capable of setting a binary code having an arbitrary number of bits. In a USB system comprising a USB host having a plurality of USB ports and a plurality of USB devices respectively connected to any one of the USB ports of the USB host by USB.
Each of the USB devices includes a storage unit that stores a vendor ID that identifies a manufacturer or a distributor of the USB device, a code setting unit that can manually set a code of an arbitrary number of digits, and the code setting unit. Code acquisition means for acquiring the set code, ID generation means for generating a product ID that identifies the type of the USB device from the code acquired by the code acquisition means, and a request command for USB device identification information from the USB host A command receiving means that receives the request command, and the USB ID stored in the storage means and the product ID generated by the ID generating means in response to receiving the request command by the command receiving means. Each having a USB identification information transmitting means for transmitting to
The USB host includes a command transmission unit that transmits a request command for the USB device identification information to the plurality of USB devices respectively connected to the USB ports, and the USB device that has transmitted the request command by the command transmission unit. USB identification information receiving means for receiving the vendor ID and product ID from the USB port, and the USB port to which the USB device is connected with the vendor ID and product ID received from the USB device by the USB identification information receiving means. USB identification information storage means for storing in association with port identification information for identifying the USB identification information, and the USB connected to each USB port from the vendor ID, product ID and port identification information stored by the USB identification information storage means Device features Comprising a device identifying means for identifying the destination of the USB device with the function,
A USB system, wherein a code set by the code setting unit of the USB device connected to each USB port is made different for each USB device.   6. The USB system according to claim 5, wherein the code setting means included in each USB device is a dip switch capable of setting a binary code having an arbitrary number of bits.   6. The USB system according to claim 5, wherein the USB host is a merchandise sales data processing device, and each USB device is a display for merchandise sales data.

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