JP2006227728A - Pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a POS system for performing distributed processing, based on distribution data having a reflection condition set therefor and a transaction state. <P>SOLUTION: A storage controller 12 attaches the reflection condition to the stored distribution data and transmits it to a POS terminal 13. The POS system 13 includes a reflection determining means for receiving the distribution data and determining the reflection condition, based on the reflection condition of the distribution data and the transaction state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of Sales) system.

  Conventionally, for example, in chain stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores that have multiple stores under their headquarters, POS terminals and store controllers are generally installed in each store and connected via a LAN (Local Area Network). A host computer is installed, the POS terminal and store controller of each store are connected to each other via a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the maintenance of the POS terminal and store controller of each store is centralized by remote operation using the host computer of the headquarters. A so-called POS system has been constructed that makes it possible. By constructing the POS system in this way, for example, the latest version of the program on the POS terminal can be updated simultaneously from the host computer or the store controller which is the host device.

  The host computer in the distributed processing system distributes and automatically updates various modules such as programs and parameters installed in each store POS system. Specifically, when the latest module such as the execution category of the distribution information file is transmitted, the module file reflection process of the execution category added to the latest module received by the latest module receiving means is immediately executed and the reservation date / time information is used. If the reservation date and time information has passed, even when the business process using the update target module is being executed, the business process is forcibly interrupted and the restart is prohibited. Thereafter, the module to be updated is reflected in the system by replacing the current module stored in the current module storage means. Thereafter, the start prohibition state of the corresponding business process is canceled. In addition, when it is forcibly interrupted, it is automatically restarted. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

A POS system installed in a 24-hour store such as a convenience store basically has to be in an always-on state. In such a long-term continuous operation situation, the POS terminal is busy when it does not consider the time required for data processing to acquire and reflect the distribution data such as the latest program distributed by the store controller, which is the host device. However, if the registration was not in progress, the distribution data was reflected.
JP-A-8-95760

  However, in the conventional POS system, since the distribution data is received even when the POS terminal is busy, each business process of the POS terminal, for example, display of the display after scanning is slow during the processing of the distribution data. After the key, there was a problem that the response such as the receipt output was slowed down and the response was lowered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a POS system in which a POS terminal performs processing by adding distribution condition information to distribution data and transmitting the distribution data according to the reflection condition and transaction state of the received distribution data.

  The host device of the present invention includes a transmission unit that transmits distribution data in which a reflection condition is set, and the POS terminal is a distribution data reception unit that receives the distribution data, and a reflection determination that determines the reflection condition based on the reflection condition and the transaction state. Means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the performance of the transaction state from being lowered by distributing the load of the POS terminals.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, for example, a case where the present invention is applied to a POS system such as a convenience store will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a POS system according to the present embodiment. This POS system 11 includes a store controller 12 and a plurality of POSs functioning as a payment terminal installed at a cashier counter such as a convenience store. The terminal 13 is connected and configured by a communication line such as a LAN 14 or the like. Note that the number of POS terminals 12 is not limited to a plurality, and may be one.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the store controller 12, which is a higher-level device. The store controller 12 controls the overall operation of the POS system 11. That is, the store controller 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 that constitutes a control unit body, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 that stores control programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 that stores various data, a current date. Through a clock unit 24 made up of an IC (Integrated Circuit) for measuring (year / month / day) and time (hour / minute / second), an HDD controller 26 for controlling an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) device 25 for forming a database, etc., and a LAN 14 A LAN controller 27 that controls data transfer with each unit, a keyboard 28 that includes various keys such as a confirmation key for declaring message confirmation, a keyboard interface 29 that controls the keyboard and captures key signals of input keys, and various types Display 30 for displaying information, and controlling the display 30 to display data A display interface 31 that displays a corresponding screen, a printer 32 that performs printing, a printer interface 33 and a communication interface 34 that control the printing operation of the printer, and the like are provided. CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, clock unit 24, HDD controller 26, LAN I / F 27, keyboard I / F 29, display I / F 31, printer I / F 33 and communication I / F 34 are connected by a bus line 35 such as an address bus and a data bus.

  The HDD device 25 stores a product master file, a store sales file, and the like. In addition, a latest program information table (not shown) such as distribution data as the latest version program to be transmitted to the POS terminal 13 is stored (distribution data storage means). The latest program information table stores software names, latest version programs, reflection conditions, reflection deadlines, and the like.

  The CPU 21 realizes distribution data transmission means for transmitting distribution data stored in the HDD device 25 by the operation of the control program in the ROM 22.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the POS terminal 13. That is, the POS terminal 13 accesses the CPU 51 constituting the control unit main body, the ROM 52 for storing control programs, the RAM 53 for storing various data, the clock unit 54 for measuring the current date and time, and the built-in hard disk to write data. An HDD controller 56 that controls the drive of the HDD device 55 that performs reading, a LAN controller 57 that controls data transfer to and from each unit through the LAN 14, a lock key that declares the end of transaction registration, and a message confirmation A keyboard 58 on which various keys such as a confirmation key are arranged, a keyboard controller 59 for controlling the keyboard 58 and capturing key signals of input keys, a display 60 for displaying a product name, a unit price, a total price, etc. of a customer-purchased product. Control device 60 to display a screen corresponding to the display data A display interface 61 for printing, a printer 62 for performing receipt printing and journal printing, a printer interface 63 for controlling the printing operation of the printer, a scanner interface 65 to which a scanner 64 for reading a barcode attached to a product is connected, A drawer interface 67 to which a drawer 66 for storing cash and the like is connected and a communication interface 68 are provided. The CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, clock unit 54, HDD controller 56, LAN controller 57, keyboard I / F 59, display I / F61, printer I / F63, scanner I / F65, drawer I / F67, and communication interface 68 are connected by a bus line 69 such as an address bus and a data bus.

  In addition to a control program for operating the CPU 51, the ROM 52 stores programs for realizing various tasks such as sales registration, return registration, and disposal registration performed by the POS terminal 13.

  The RAM 53 is assigned various buffers such as a sales buffer and a print buffer that function as a work area.

  The HDD device 55 having a memory function stores a product master file, a sales file for storing sales data related to transactions, and the like. In addition, the HDD device 55 has reception data storage means for receiving and storing distribution data.

  A mode switch (not shown) is provided near the keyboard 58. This mode switch is for selecting various business modes such as a registration mode, an inspection mode, and a payment mode.

  When the POS terminal 13 is used in a 24-hour convenience store, the POS terminal 13 is always in an operating state, and registration processing is usually executed, and sales data of products purchased by the shopper is registered. . Further, at a predetermined time of the day, a settlement operation is executed, and daily data such as sales data, transaction data, and return data is calculated.

  As described above, in the POS system 11 constituted by the store controller 12 and the POS terminal 13, a new function is added to the POS terminal 13 in the control program stored in the HDD device 55 of the POS terminal 13. Alternatively, in order to correct a problem in the program, there is a case where a so-called version upgrade is required in which the current control program is rewritten with the latest control program. Therefore, when the version of the control program is upgraded, the latest control program is downloaded to the memory storing the old control program. However, if there is a lot of distribution data to be downloaded, the POS terminal 13 may not be usable during the work.

  Therefore, the distribution data is downloaded to the POS terminal 13 from the distribution data storage unit of the store controller 12 in which the latest control program is stored, and the latest control program is installed.

  The distribution data is attached with a reflection condition and a reflection time limit, and is transmitted from the store controller 12 to the POS terminal 13. When the distribution data is received by the POS terminal 13, the reflection conditions, the reflection time limit, and the like are read from the distribution data, and the acquired (downloaded) program is reflected (installed) according to the reflection conditions, the reflection time limit, and the like. The distribution data is reflected as follows: 1: Immediately reflect; 2: Reflect in a non-transactional state. If the transaction is in progress, it will be reflected after the transaction ends. 3: It is defined to be reflected after the inspection or settlement.

  In the POS system 11 having the above-described configuration, the store controller 12 immediately reflects changes in various programs, for example, when a price of a product or the like is changed due to discounts on product sales information. Alternatively, when the consumption tax amount is changed, distribution data such as various programs is transmitted to the POS terminal 13 with reflection deadline (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) information and the like.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of information of distribution data from the store controller (S / C) 12 to the POS terminal 13.

  An update program or the like that is distribution data stored in the store controller (S / C) 12 is transmitted to the POS terminal 13 by the transmission means. The file 55a in the received message storage area of the HDD device 55 is received.

  Next, each distribution data is downloaded from the file 55a in the received message storage area to the temporary table file 55b, and the reflection request information set is transmitted to the reflection request information area file 55d to store the flag, the reflection time limit, and the like. .

  Next, when there is no immediate reflection of the reflection request information set and the transaction state of the POS terminal 13, the temporary request file 55b is stored in the setting (main) table file 55c and the reflection request information reset information is stored in the reflection request information area. It is transmitted to the file 55d and the flag, the reflection time limit, etc. are deleted.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the reception processing operation of the CPU 51.

  The CPU 51 checks whether or not the distribution data transmitted from the store controller 12 is received in step S11. When not receiving, return to the original.

  When receiving, it is checked in step S12 whether or not the date and time of the expiration date is set in the distribution data. When there is a reflection time limit, the date / time is updated as step S13, and the process returns to step S11.

  If the date and time are not set in the distribution data, the message format is saved in the file of the HDD device 55 in the received message format storage area as the next step S14, the writing position is updated, and the process returns to step S11.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the received message analysis process of the CPU 51. The store controller 12 is described as SC in the description of the flowchart.

  In step S21, the CPU 51 initializes a write pointer and a read pointer in the received message storage area, and starts SC reception processing.

  In step S22, the reflection request flag area in the temporary table of the file in the HDD device 55 is initialized.

  In step S23, it is checked whether there is a difference between the received message storage area write pointer and the read pointer.

  If there is a difference between the write pointer and the read pointer, the stored message is converted into a read table format in step S24, and then stored in a temporary table file for the corresponding data.

In step S25, a distribution data reflection condition is determined. (= 1: Immediate reflection, = 2: Reflected when not in transaction, = 3: After inspection or settlement)
When the reflection condition is 1: immediate reflection, the data of the temporary table is copied (reflected) to this table as step S26.

  When the reflection condition is “2” when the transaction is not in progress, it is checked whether or not the transaction flag is set in step S27 (reflection determination means). Here, if the in-transaction flag is reset, no transaction has been made, so the temporary table file in step S26 is copied (reflected) to this table.

  On the other hand, in step S27 (Yes), if the in-transaction flag is set, the transaction is in progress. Therefore, in step S28, the corresponding table reflection request flag = 2, the reflection time limit is set, and the process returns to step S23.

When the reflection condition is (= 3: after inspection or settlement), the corresponding table reflection request flag = 3 reflection deadline is set as step S29, and the process returns to step S23. FIG. It is a flowchart to show.

  In step S41, the inspection key or the adjustment key of the mode switch is operated to execute inspection or adjustment.

  In step S42, an inspection process or a settlement process is performed.

  In step S43, the reflection request flag area is checked for all tables from the first record.

  In step S44, it is checked whether the reflection request flag = 3 or the reflection data after inspection / settlement.

  Assuming that the reflected data is after inspection / settlement, the provisional table is reflected in this table as step S45.

  In step S46, the flag and reflection time limit of the corresponding table reflection request information area are deleted.

  In step S47, it is checked whether or not checking for all tables has been completed. If not completed, the information in the next table in step S48 is checked, and the process returns to step S44.

  If it is determined in step S44 (No) that it is not reflected data after inspection / settlement, the process proceeds to step S47.

  When the check for all the tables is completed in step S47, the inspection / settlement execution processing is ended.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transaction start process of the CPU 51.

  In step S61, various operations of the POS terminal are executed.

  In step S62, a trading flag = 1 and a trading flag are set.

  In step S63, each transaction business is processed and terminated.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transaction end process (closing process) of the CPU 51.

  In step S71, the transaction closing key on the keyboard of the POS terminal is operated.

  In step S72, each business operation is processed.

  In step S73, the flag during the transaction is reset and the transaction operation is terminated.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the setting table update monitoring process of the CPU 51.

  In step S81, it is checked whether or not the transaction flag is set (reflection determination means). If the in-transaction flag is set, it returns to the original state because the transaction is in progress.

  If the in-transaction flag is reset, no transaction has been carried out. Therefore, in the next step S82, the reflection request flag area is checked from the first record for all tables.

  In step S83, it is checked whether the reflection request flag = 2, that is, the reflection data when the transaction is not in progress (reflection determination means). If the transaction is not in progress, the corresponding temporary table in step S84 is copied and reflected in this table.

  In step S85, the reflection request flag = 0 of the corresponding table, that is, the reflection request flag is deleted.

  In step S86, it is checked whether checking for all tables has been completed.

  If there is a transaction in step S83, it is checked in step S87 whether the reflection request flag = 0, that is, whether there is reflection waiting data. If there is reflection waiting data, it is checked in step S88 whether the current date is equal to or exceeds the time limit on the reflection request information. If equal or over, the temporary table is copied and reflected in this table as step S89.

  In step S90, the corresponding table reflection request flag = 0, that is, the reflection request flag is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S86.

  When there is no reflection waiting data as step S87, the process proceeds to step S86.

  If the current date does not exceed the time limit on the reflection request information as step S88, the process proceeds to step S86.

  If the check for all the tables is not completed in step S86, it is checked in step S91 whether the transaction flag = 1 is set. When there is no new transaction start, after checking the information of the next table as step S92, the process returns to step S83.

  When the check for all tables is completed as step S86 and when there is a new transaction start as step S91, the update processing of the distribution data of the POS terminal is ended.

  As described above, in the POS system according to the present invention, a reflection condition is added to the distribution data distributed from the store controller, and the POS terminal reflects immediately according to the reflection condition, during registration, after reflection, during inspection, and during settlement. By reflecting after completion, the timing to reflect can be dispersed.

  Further, the POS terminal operates the business with the conventional program, and switches to the update program and deletes the conventional program at a reflection deadline, for example, at a time when the terminal is not loaded from midnight to early morning. The reflection determining means can reduce the load on the POS terminal 13 by distributing the types of distribution data and the time periods of the reflection deadlines.

  Thus, when the distribution data is acquired by adding the reflection condition and the reflection time limit, it is possible to disperse the burden on the POS terminal and prevent the performance from being lowered.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention at the stage of implementation.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the POS system which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the store controller which concerns on the same embodiment. The block diagram of the POS terminal which concerns on the same embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the flow of the information of the delivery data from the store controller which concerns on the embodiment to a POS terminal. The flowchart which shows the reception processing operation | movement of the store controller which concerns on the same embodiment. The flowchart which shows the received message analysis processing operation | movement of the POS terminal which concerns on the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing an inspection / settlement execution processing operation of the POS terminal according to the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the transaction start process operation | movement of the POS terminal which concerns on the same embodiment. The flowchart which shows the transaction end process operation | movement of the POS terminal which concerns on the same embodiment. 7 is a flowchart showing setting table update monitoring processing operation of the POS terminal according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Store controller, 13 ... POS terminal, 14 ... LAN, 21 ... CPU (transmission means), 51 ... CPU (reflection judgment means), 25 ... HDD apparatus (delivery data storage means), 55 ... HDD apparatus.

Claims (4)

  In a POS system that includes a POS terminal that executes merchandise sales registration processing and the like and a host device that can transmit and receive various data to and from the POS terminal, the host device sets a reflection condition for distribution data and the POS terminal The POS terminal includes a receiving unit that receives the distribution data, and a reflection determination unit that determines the reflection condition based on the reflection condition and transaction state of the distribution data. POS system.   2. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the reflection condition is set to reflect immediately after reflection, after completion of transaction of the POS terminal, after inspection or after settlement.   The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the reflection condition and a reflection time limit are set for the distribution data.   3. The POS system according to claim 1, wherein a POS terminal immediately reflects the distribution data when the distribution data is not reflected by a reflection deadline. 4.

Images