JP2008276350A - Electronic apparatus, printer, method for setting reset validation in electronic apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus, etc., capable of inexpensively and reliably setting a reset function to be valid in the case of the runaway of software. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes: a reset circuit 12 for resetting a system in response to a reset command from a POS terminal 100; a validation/invalidation setting circuit 11 for setting the reset function to be valid or invalid; and a watch dog timer 24 for detecting the runaway of the software. When the watch dog timer 24 detects the runaway of the software, a printer 1 for POS forcibly allows the validation/invalidation setting circuit 11 to perform validation setting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a printer, a reset effective setting method for an electronic device, and a program that can switch the validity / invalidity of a reset function.

  Conventionally, a POS printer that is used in connection with a POS terminal and prints a receipt or a journal is known (for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 5 is a simplified configuration diagram of this kind of POS printer 201. As shown in the figure, the conventional POS printer 201 can be switched between valid / invalid of the reset function by a dip switch 211. When the setting of the dip switch 211 is “reset valid”, the reset signal received from the POS terminal 100 is input to the reset circuit 212 and the system is reset by the microprocessor (MPU) 213. On the other hand, when the setting of the dip switch 211 is “reset invalid”, the reset signal received from the POS terminal 100 is ignored.

As described above, many conventional POS printers can set the validity / invalidity of the reset signal transmitted from the POS terminal by the dip switch. The reason for this is that depending on the retail store that uses the POS printer, there is a concern about a malfunction caused by a malfunction when a reset signal is erroneously transmitted to the POS printer, rather than the advantage of enabling the reset function. Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary to set “reset invalid”. Some printers also use reset signal lines as signal lines for other functions. In such a configuration, even if priority is given to other functions, it is necessary to set "Reset invalid". There is.
JP 2000-194948 A

  However, when the enable / disable of the reset function is switched using the dip switch as described above, the setting work takes time (the printer is moved for the operation of the dip switch, or an instrument is required depending on the case). In addition, there is a problem that it is expensive to mount a dip switch.

  Therefore, it can be assumed that the set function is enabled / disabled in software. However, when the setting is enabled, there is a possibility that the software will be switched to “reset invalid” due to runaway of the software and the reset function may not work. In this way, when trying to switch between valid / invalid settings in software, there is a problem that it is not possible to guarantee that the reset will function normally when the software runs out of control even though the reset function is required only when the software runs out of control. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides an electronic device, a printer, a reset effective setting method for an electronic device, and a program capable of reliably setting a reset function at low cost and in the event of software runaway. The purpose is to do.

  The electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a reset unit that resets a system in accordance with a reset command from an external device, a valid / invalid setting unit that sets a reset function by the reset unit to either valid or invalid, and software runaway. Runaway detection means for detecting using software, and the valid / invalid setting means is configured to forcibly set valid using hardware when the software runaway is detected by the runaway detection means. To do.

  The electronic device reset valid setting method of the present invention is an electronic device reset valid setting method capable of setting the reset function to either valid or invalid according to a reset command from an external device. The steps of detecting a software runaway in the device using hardware, and forcibly setting to effective using the hardware when the software runaway is detected, are executed.

According to these configurations, when software runaway is detected by the runaway detection means, the setting of enabling / disabling the reset function is forcibly enabled using hardware. Can also be reliably set to “Reset Enabled”. In other words, if the configuration is used to enable / disable the reset function using software, it may switch to “reset invalid” due to a software runaway during the effective setting, and the reset function may not work. The problem can be solved. Further, since no dip switch is required, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost when a reset valid / invalid setting function is installed.
According to these configurations, even if the setting is invalid, the operator will unintentionally set “Reset Enabled” due to software runaway detection. However, in the case of the invalid setting, the reset function is used. There is a high possibility that the operation is not guaranteed when the software runs out of control.

  In this case, the runaway detection means is preferably realized by a watchdog timer that omits the reset function.

According to this configuration, it is possible to detect a software runaway using existing technology.
The “watchdog timer” is a function that periodically sends a signal to each application running on the system and receives a reply from each application to determine whether the system is operating normally. If the device is a device for monitoring and no response is returned after a signal has been sent, the application is assumed to be in an abnormal state (including software runaway) and the CPU is interrupted. System reset (restart). That is, the “watchdog timer” generally has a monitoring function for monitoring whether or not the system is operating normally and a reset function for resetting the system when an abnormal state is detected. Therefore, this configuration is characterized in that only the monitoring function is used among these two functions of the watchdog timer.

  The printer of the present invention is characterized by including each means in the electronic apparatus described above.

  In the printer described above, the external device is preferably a POS terminal.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute each step in the electronic device reset valid setting method described above.

  By using these, it is possible to realize an electronic device and a POS printer that can reliably set the reset function reliably at low cost and in the event of software runaway.

  Hereinafter, an electronic device, a printer, an electronic device reset valid setting method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the case where the electronic device and the printer of the present invention are applied to a POS printer connected to a POS terminal or ECR and used for the purpose of receipt printing or journal printing is illustrated.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a POS system SY including a POS terminal 100 and a POS printer 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the POS printer 1 includes a valid / invalid setting circuit 11, a reset circuit 12 (reset means), a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as “MPU”) 13, and a printing mechanism 14.

  The valid / invalid setting circuit 11 is a valid setting for enabling a reset function, which is a function of causing a system reset (restart) in accordance with a reset command from the POS terminal 100 (external device), and an invalid setting for invalidating the reset function. This is a circuit for setting to any one of the above. The switching between valid / invalid is based on a command from the MPU 13 (acquisition of a valid / invalid setting signal transmitted from the MPU 13 or a runaway detection output from the MPU 13). The “setting means” is realized by the MPU 13 and the valid / invalid setting circuit 11. A specific configuration will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The reset circuit 12 is a circuit for system resetting the POS printer 1. In response to a reset command from the POS terminal 100, the reset circuit 12 can perform a system reset only when the reset function is set to be valid in the valid / invalid setting circuit 11. In addition, when a reset button (not shown) mounted on the POS printer 1 is pressed, a system reset is performed regardless of the setting in the valid / invalid setting circuit 11.

  As the reset circuit 12, it is preferable to use a dedicated reset IC having a power supply voltage drop monitoring function. According to this configuration, when the power source becomes a predetermined value or less, the MPU 13 can be forcibly stopped by outputting a reset signal for a certain period of time to prevent malfunction. As the reset circuit 12, another circuit such as a delay circuit using a CR time constant can be applied.

  The MPU 13 has a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, a watchdog timer 24 (runaway detection means), and an external bus 25.

  The CPU 21 functions as a main control device of the POS printer 1. The RAM 22 is directly connected to the CPU 21 without going through the external bus 25, and is used as a work area for the CPU 21 to perform various controls.

  The ROM 23 is connected to the CPU 21 via the external bus 25 and stores a control program and control data for the CPU 21 to execute various processes. This control program includes a reset setting process (a reset setting command from the POS terminal 100 and a process for setting a reset function when a runaway is detected, see FIG. 3) and a reset process (a reset command from the POS terminal 100). And a program for executing a system resetting process (see FIG. 4).

  The watchdog timer 24 is a device for detecting software runaway, and is connected to the CPU 21 via the external bus 25. The watchdog timer 24 in this embodiment has only a monitoring function for monitoring software runaway. In other words, in general, a "watchdog timer" refers to one that has both a monitoring function that monitors whether the system is operating normally and a reset function that resets the system when an abnormal condition is detected. In this embodiment, only the monitoring function is used among these two functions of a general watchdog timer.

  The watchdog timer 24 (monitoring function) is realized by the runaway detection circuit 31 and the dedicated RC transmission circuit 32. Thus, by having the dedicated RC transmission circuit 32, monitoring can be continued even in the sleep state. The runaway detection circuit 31 periodically sends a signal to each operating control program (application) and receives a reply from each control program to determine whether the system is operating normally. Monitor. If no reply is received after a predetermined time has passed after sending the signal, it is determined that the control program is in an abnormal state (runaway) and a signal to that effect is output to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 forcibly enables the setting of the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 by acquiring a signal indicating an abnormality of the control program.

  The printing mechanism 14 includes various hardware mechanisms related to receipt printing and journal printing, such as a print head, a paper conveyance member, and a cutting member. The operations of these hardware mechanisms are also controlled by the CPU 21.

  On the other hand, the POS terminal 100 functions as a host computer of the POS printer 1 and includes a POS application 110 and a printer driver 120. Although not particularly shown, the POS terminal 100 includes peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a customer display, an operator display, a barcode reader, a card reader, and a cash drawer.

  When the POS application 110 is instructed to reset the POS printer 1 by an operator's button operation or the like, the POS application 110 transmits a reset signal indicating that to the POS printer 1 via the printer driver 120. Note that the POS application 110 also instructs the reset signal to be transmitted by detecting a predetermined state such as detection of power-off of the POS terminal 100 or detection of abnormality of peripheral devices. Further, when an instruction to enable / disable the reset function is given by an operator's keyboard operation or the like, a reset setting signal indicating that is transmitted to the POS printer 1 via the printer driver 120.

  Next, the logic circuit of the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The valid / invalid setting circuit 11 includes an AND circuit 51 and a NOR circuit 52. The AND circuit 51 receives a valid / invalid setting signal transmitted from the MPU 13 and a runaway detection output from the MPU 13. The NOR circuit 52 receives a reset signal transmitted from the POS terminal 100 and an output from the AND circuit 51.

  Note that the MPU 13 inputs “L” to the AND circuit 51 as a valid / invalid setting signal when commanding valid setting. The MPU 13 also inputs “L” to the AND circuit 51 as a runaway detection output when the runaway is detected. Further, when a reset signal is acquired from the POS terminal 100, “L” is input to the NOR circuit 52.

  With the above configuration, the AND circuit 51 outputs “L” to the NOR circuit 52 when either the valid / invalid setting signal or the runaway detection output is “L”. The NOR circuit 52 outputs “H” when both the reset signal and the output of the AND circuit 51 are “L”.

  In other words, a reset command is issued to the reset circuit 12 when the reset function is enabled and a reset signal is received and when a reset signal is received when runaway is detected. The reset circuit 12 performs a reset input (system reset command by interrupt processing) to the MPU 13 based on the reset command.

  Next, the flow of reset setting processing by the MPU 13 (CPU 21) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the MPU 13 receives a reset setting signal for setting the reset function to be valid / invalid from the POS terminal 100 (S01: Yes), the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 (reset) according to the signal as shown in FIG. Function) is set to be valid or invalid (S02).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the MPU 13 detects a software runaway based on the runaway detection output by the watchdog timer 24 (S03: Yes), the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 (reset function). Is set to be effective (S04). On the other hand, if no software runaway is detected (S03: No), the process returns.

  In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the reset function setting value is referred to before S02 and S04, and only when the reset function setting is different (in the case of S04, the reset function is invalid). Only when it is set to), the setting of the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 may be changed.

  Next, the flow of reset processing by the MPU 13 (CPU 21) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the MPU 13 receives an external reset signal from the POS terminal 100 (S11: Yes), if the setting of the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 (reset function) is valid (S12: Yes), the reset circuit 12 and the CPU 21 perform the system. Reset (S13). On the other hand, when the setting of the valid / invalid setting circuit 11 is not valid (S12: No), the received external reset signal is ignored (the signal is not input to the reset circuit 12).

  As described above, according to the POS system SY of the present embodiment, when software runaway is detected by the watchdog timer 24, the reset function is forcibly used by hardware (by the enable / disable setting circuit 11). Therefore, even if the software runs away, the reset function can be set to be valid. In other words, since the configuration is not configured to enable / disable the reset function using software, there is no possibility that the reset function is disabled by software runaway and the reset function does not work. Further, since no dip switch is required, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost when a reset valid / invalid setting function is installed. In this way, the reset function can be reliably set while enjoying the convenience of setting by software such as switch cost reduction and setting work efficiency.

  In addition, since the software runaway detection uses the watchdog timer 24, the runaway can be reliably detected, and the existing technology is applied, so that the development cost can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the reset valid setting method of the present invention is applied to the POS printer 1 is illustrated, but the present invention may be applied to printers other than the POS printer 1. Further, the present invention can be applied to any electronic device other than a printer as long as it is equipped with a function for switching the validity / invalidity of the reset function in accordance with a command from an external device.

  Further, each component (each function) of the POS printer 1 shown in the above embodiment can be provided as a program. Further, the program can be provided by being stored in various recording media (CD-ROM, flash memory, etc.). That is, a program obtained by programming each component (each function) of the POS printer 1 and a recording medium on which the program is recorded are also included in the scope of the right of the present invention.

  In addition, the apparatus configuration and processing steps of the POS printer 1 can be appropriately changed without departing from the present invention, regardless of the above embodiment.

It is a system configuration figure of a POS system. It is a figure explaining the logic circuit of a valid / invalid setting circuit. It is a flowchart which shows a reset setting process. It is a flowchart which shows a reset process. It is a figure explaining a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... POS printer 11 ... Valid / invalid setting circuit 12 ... Reset circuit 13 ... MPU 14 ... Printing mechanism 21 ... CPU 22 ... RAM 23 ... ROM 24 ... Watchdog timer 51 ... AND circuit 52 ... NOR circuit 100 ... POS terminal

Claims (6)

Reset means for resetting the system in accordance with a reset command from an external device;
Valid / invalid setting means for setting the reset function by the reset means to either valid or invalid;
A runaway detection means for detecting software runaway using hardware,
The electronic device characterized in that the valid / invalid setting means forcibly sets valid using hardware when the runaway detection means detects the software runaway.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the runaway detection unit is realized by a watchdog timer in which a reset function is omitted.   A printer comprising the means in the electronic apparatus according to claim 1.   The printer according to claim 3, wherein the external device is a POS terminal. According to a reset command from an external device, a reset enable setting method for an electronic device that can set the reset function to either valid or invalid,
The electronic device is
Detecting software runaway in the device using hardware;
And a step of forcibly setting the software using hardware when the runaway of the software is detected.   The program for making a computer perform each step in the reset effective setting method of the electronic device of Claim 5.

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