JP2012042995A - Electronic device and information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store information indicating the operation status of a driving unit and to set a state in which an external information processing terminal can easily use the information.SOLUTION: A receipt printer 10, which performs radio communication with an external information processing terminal device in a non-contact manner, comprises: an RFID tag 27 that can write and read information to and from a flash memory 26 on the basis of the radio communication with the information processing terminal; and a control unit 20 that can write and read the information to and from the flash memory 26. The control unit 20 detects the operation status of a print engine 25, and writes information indicating the detected operation status of the print engine 25 to the flash memory 26.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device including a drive unit and an information management system including the electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic device that stores information indicating an operation state by recording an operation log or an error log is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this type of electronic device, for example, there is a display panel that can display various types of information, and information indicating the operation status is displayed on the display panel to notify the operation status.

JP 2010-56752 A

Here, in the electronic device described above, information indicating the operation status can be easily used by an external information processing terminal. For example, even when a display panel provided in the electronic device is broken, There is a need to be able to report information indicating an operation status from an external information processing terminal.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily use an operation state by an external information processing terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic device including a drive unit, which performs wireless communication with an external information processing terminal device in a contactless manner, and between the information processing terminal. A non-contact tag that can write and read information to and from the memory based on the wireless communication, and a control unit that can write and read information to and from the memory are provided in the housing. The information can be written to and read from the memory from either the non-contact tag or the control unit, and the control unit detects the operation status of the drive unit, and detects the detected operation status of the drive unit. Information to be written is written into the memory.
According to this configuration, the information indicating the operation status of the driving unit is written into the memory by the control unit, and the external information processing terminal is connected from the memory to the driving unit via the non-contact wireless communication with the non-contact tag. Information indicating the operation status can be read. For this reason, it is possible to cause the external information processing terminal to read information indicating the operation status of the drive unit stored in the memory by an easy operation of wireless communication between the external information processing terminal and the non-contact tag. It becomes possible.

Further, the present invention is an electronic device according to the above invention, wherein the contactless tag can execute writing and reading of information to and from the memory using a radio wave for power supply received from the information processing terminal Thus, the information processing terminal device can write and read information to and from the memory when the power is turned off.
According to this configuration, even when an error that prevents the power supply from turning on occurs in the electronic device, information indicating the usage status of the drive unit stored in the memory can be read by the external information processing terminal. it can.

Further, the present invention is the electronic device according to the above invention, wherein the contactless tag is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication with the information processing terminal in conformity with the NFC standard. .
Here, NFC is a short-range wireless communication standard approved as a next-generation standard by an international standard organization, and is widely compatible with other short-range wireless communication standards that are already widely used. In the future, it is considered that devices that perform short-range wireless communication compliant with the NFC standard will be widely used.
Based on this, according to the above configuration, the non-contact tag is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication conforming to the NFC standard, so that it has high usability and convenience both now and in the future. Thus, it is possible to execute processing of information regarding guarantee using a non-contact tag.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information management system, which performs wireless communication in a contactless manner between a drive unit and an external information processing terminal device, and the information processing terminal A non-contact tag capable of writing and reading information to and from the memory based on wireless communication between the memory, and writing and reading information to and from the memory. An electronic device having a control unit that writes information relating to a situation to the memory, and a server device connected to the information processing terminal via a communication line, the information processing terminal including the electronic device Reads information related to the operation status of the drive unit stored in the memory, transmits the read information to the server device, the server device received from the information processing terminal Storing the broadcast, characterized by.
According to this configuration, in the electronic device, the information indicating the operation state of the drive unit is written in the memory by the control unit, and the external information processing terminal is connected to the electronic device via the contactless wireless communication with the contactless tag. Information indicating the operation status of the drive unit can be read from the memory of the device. That is, according to the above configuration, the information indicating the operation state of the drive unit stored in the memory by the easy operation of wireless communication between the external information processing terminal and the non-contact tag is stored in the external information processing terminal. Can be read.
Furthermore, since information indicating the operation status of the drive unit included in the electronic device is transmitted to the server device and stored in the server device, the server device generally controls the drive unit for each electronic device. Information indicating the operating status of the system can be managed.

Further, in the information management system according to the invention, the contactless tag provided in the electronic device performs writing and reading of information with respect to the memory using a radio wave for power supply received from the information processing terminal. By adopting such a configuration, the information processing terminal device can write and read information to and from the memory when the electronic apparatus is powered off.
According to this configuration, even when an error that prevents the power supply from turning on occurs in the electronic device, information indicating the usage status of the drive unit stored in the memory can be read by the external information processing terminal. it can.

Moreover, in the information management system according to the above invention, the server device relates to a plurality of different electronic devices based on information received from the information processing terminal, and relates to an operation state of the drive unit included in the electronic devices. Information is stored in association with identification information for identifying each electronic device, and the trend of the operating status of the electronic device is analyzed based on the stored information, or the usage mode of the electronic device is analyzed It is characterized by that.
According to this configuration, the server device analyzes the trend of the operating status of the electronic device comprehensively and collectively using each of the information indicating the operating status of the drive unit included in the plurality of electronic devices. Alternatively, the usage mode of the electronic device can be analyzed. This analysis result can be used, for example, as useful information regarding the development of electronic devices and the sale of electronic devices.

The information management system according to the invention is characterized in that the contactless tag is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication with the information processing terminal in conformity with the NFC standard.
Here, NFC is a short-range wireless communication standard approved as a next-generation standard by an international standard organization, and is widely compatible with other short-range wireless communication standards that are already widely used. In the future, it is considered that devices that perform short-range wireless communication compliant with the NFC standard will be widely used.
Based on this, according to the above configuration, the non-contact tag is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication conforming to the NFC standard, so that high usability and convenience can be achieved both now and in the future. It is possible to execute information processing related to guarantees using contactless tags.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to store information indicating the operation status of the drive unit and easily use the information by an external information processing terminal.

It is a figure which shows the structure of an information management system. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a receipt printer. It is a list of data stored in the flash memory. It is a perspective view of a packing material. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the mobile phone with a read / write function. It is a figure which shows a data input screen. It is a list of data stored in the flash memory. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a receipt printer management database. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a receipt printer. It is a list of data stored in the flash memory.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information management system 1 according to the present embodiment.
In the following, after a retail store K such as a supermarket or a department store has constructed an environment for realizing a POS system, a receipt printer 10 for issuing a receipt, which is a physical component of the POS system, is constructed in order to construct a POS system. The present invention will be described by taking as an example the case of introducing a plurality of electronic devices (for example, 50).
As is well known, in the construction of an environment for realizing a POS system, not only the receipt printer 10 but also cash drawers disposed at each cash register of the retail store K, devices associated with cash drawers such as bar code readers, and sales However, in the present embodiment, a case where the receipt printer 10 is introduced into the retail store K will be described as an example in order to clarify the invention. .
In the following description, manufacturer M is an entity that manufactures receipt printer 10, and system integrator SI, which is an organization different from manufacturer M, is an entity that executes construction of a POS system in retail store K. It shall be.

First, the manufacturing / shipping step S1 in which the manufacturer M manufactures the receipt printer 10 and ships the manufactured receipt printer 10 to the system integrator SI will be described.
As described above, the manufacturer M is an organization that manufactures the receipt printer 10, and as shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturer management server 12 (configured to be accessible from the outside via the communication network 11 (communication line)). The maker management server 12 includes a receipt printer management database 13. The manufacturer management server 12 and the receipt printer management database 13 will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the receipt printer 10 manufactured by the manufacturer M. As shown in FIG.
The receipt printer 10 according to the present embodiment is connected to an external device such as a host computer, records an image on roll paper according to the control of the external device, and cuts the roll paper at a predetermined length, thereby receiving a receipt. As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal printer is issued, and as shown in FIG. 2, a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, an input unit 22, a display unit 23, an external interface unit 24, a print engine 25, and a flash memory 26 (memory ) And an RFID tag 27.

The control unit 20 centrally controls each unit of the receipt printer 10 and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other peripheral circuits. An RTC (not shown) is connected to the control unit 20, and the current date and time (date, time) can be detected based on an input value from the RTC. The control unit 20 includes a warranty expiration warning unit 28, which will be described later.
The storage unit 21 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage device, and stores various data under the control of the control unit 20.
The input unit 22 is connected to various operation switches provided in the receipt printer 10, detects an operation on the operation switch, and outputs it to the control unit 20 as an operation signal.
The display unit 23 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, and displays various types of information on the display panel under the control of the control unit 20.
The external interface unit 24 performs communication based on a communication standard with a connected external device under the control of the control unit 20.
Under the control of the control unit 20, the print engine 25 controls the printing mechanism included in the receipt printer 10 based on printing data and commands transmitted from the connected external device, and performs printing on roll paper. Specifically, the receipt printer 10 includes a print mechanism that includes a print head that applies heat to the print surface of the roll paper, a print head drive mechanism that moves the print head relative to the roll paper, a transport mechanism that conveys the roll paper, and the like. The printing mechanism is controlled by the print engine 25.
The flash memory 26 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The control unit 20 reads and writes various data to and from the flash memory 26 via the memory interface unit 29.

The RFID tag 27 is a passive-type non-contact tag, and short-range wireless communication conforming to the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard can be performed with a cellular phone 30 (information processing terminal) with a read / write function, which will be described later. Is possible.
NFC is a short-range wireless communication standard approved as a next-generation standard by an international standard organization, and is widely compatible with other short-range wireless communication standards that are already widely used. In the future, it is considered that devices that perform short-range wireless communication complying with the NFC standard will be widely used. Therefore, by adopting a non-contact tag compliant with the NFC standard as the RFID tag 27, various kinds of use of the RFID tag 27 have high usability and convenience both now and in the future. There is a merit that processing can be executed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the RFID tag 27 includes an antenna unit 31, an RF unit 32, a modulation / demodulation unit 33, a tag control unit 34, and a power supply unit 35.
The antenna unit 31 functions as an antenna for data transmission / reception.
The RF unit 32 transmits / receives data to / from a cellular phone 30 with a read / write function, which will be described later, via the antenna unit 31. When transmitting data, the RF unit 32 uses the transmission data as a radio wave via the antenna unit 31. Is transmitted to the mobile phone 30 with read / write function, and when data is received, a signal indicating the radio wave received from the mobile phone 30 with read / write function is output to the modulation / demodulation unit 33 via the antenna unit 31. To do.
The modulation / demodulation unit 33 modulates or demodulates transmission / reception data. At the time of data transmission, the modulation / demodulation unit 33 modulates the transmission data and outputs it to the RF unit 32. On the other hand, at the time of data reception, from the RF unit 32 Based on the received signal, the received data is restored and output to the tag control unit 34.
The tag control unit 34 controls the RFID tag 27 centrally. The tag control unit 34 encodes transmission data and outputs it to the modulation / demodulation unit 33 when data is transmitted, and decodes reception data input from the modulation / demodulation unit 33 when data is received. The tag control unit 34 can output the decoded received data to the control unit 20 and write it into the flash memory 26 via the memory interface unit 37. The tag control unit 34 can acquire various data from the flash memory 26 via the memory interface unit 37.
The power supply unit 35 includes a rectifier circuit (not shown), and power is supplied to each unit of the RFID tag 27 using a carrier wave for power supply received from the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function via the antenna unit 31. Supply. In the present embodiment, when the receipt printer 10 is powered off, the power supply unit 35 supplies power not only to each unit of the RFID tag 27 but also to the memory interface unit 37 and the flash memory 26. It can be supplied. With this configuration, even when the receipt printer 10 is powered off, the tag control unit 34 can write various data to the flash memory 26 based on the received data, and can access the flash memory 26. Thus, various data stored in the flash memory 26 can be acquired.

  Furthermore, the manufacturer M stores the following data in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10.

FIG. 3 shows a list of data stored in the flash memory 26 by the manufacturer M in the manufacturing / shipping step S1.
In FIG. 3, in the area field 40, names given to the respective storage areas formed in the flash memory 26 for convenience are displayed, and in the data field 41, data stored in the corresponding storage area is displayed. The name given for convenience is displayed.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the flash memory 26, the area A1 (one of the storage areas formed by dividing the storable area of the flash memory 26, and by the address indicating the data storage start position in the storable area) A storage area uniquely defined (the same applies to the following) stores serial number data indicating a serial number uniquely assigned to each receipt printer 10.
In the area A2, a serial number password indicating a password required when rewriting the serial number data stored in the area A1 is stored. This serial number password is a password that only the manufacturer M knows.
The receipt printer 10 according to the present embodiment operates the various operation switches of the input unit 22 while referring to various types of information displayed on the display panel of the display unit 23, so that the serial number data stored in the area A1 is stored. The serial number data stored in the area A1 is rewritten using a user interface provided by a dedicated application downloaded to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function, which will be described later. It can be executed. When rewriting the serial number data stored in the area A1, the input of the serial number password is requested, and only when the input serial number password matches the serial number password stored in the area A2. The serial number data is rewritten. With this configuration, unauthorized unauthorized rewriting of serial number data by a person other than manufacturer M is prevented.
In the area A3, manufacturing area data indicating the manufacturing area of the receipt printer 10 is stored, and in the area A4, a manufacturing area password indicating a password required for rewriting the manufacturing area data stored in the area A3 is stored. Is done.
In the area A5, product name data indicating the product name of the receipt printer 10 is stored, and in the area A6, a product name password indicating a password required for rewriting the product name data stored in the area A5 is stored. Is done.
In the area A7, warranty period data indicating a period (for example, 3 years) determined by the manufacturer M is stored as the warranty period of the receipt printer 10, and the warranty period data stored in the area A7 is rewritten in the area A8. A password for a guarantee period indicating a password required at the time is stored.
Similarly to the serial number data, the manufacturing location data, product name data, and warranty period data are protected by passwords to prevent unauthorized rewriting by persons other than the manufacturer M.
These serial number data, manufacturing location data, product name data, and warranty period data are data that can be set only by the manufacturer M, and the manufacturer M provides product support such as maintenance and repair of the receipt printer 10. At this time, the data is necessary for identifying the receipt printer 10 and grasping the manufacturing and shipping processes of the receipt printer 10.

  In the manufacturing / shipping step S1, the manufacturer M manufactures the receipt printer 10 having the above configuration, stores the manufactured receipt printer 10 in a dedicated packing material 45, and ships it to the system integrator SI. At that time, the packaging material 45 storing the receipt printer 10 is conveyed to a warehouse managed by the system integrator SI, for example.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the packaging material 45 in a state in which the receipt printer 10 is stored.
As shown in FIG. 4, a tag mark 46 is written on one side surface of the rectangular parallelepiped packing material 45.
The tag mark 46 is a mark written at a position corresponding to the antenna part 31 of the RFID tag 27 (position where the antenna part 31 is close) in the receipt printer 10 housed in the packing material 45. This tag mark 46 ensures short-range wireless communication between the read / write function mobile phone 30 and the RFID tag 27 when the later-described read / write function mobile phone 30 is brought close to the tag mark 46. From the viewpoint of making it perform, it is written in an appropriate position in the packaging material 45 by a prior experiment and simulation, and the read / write function mobile phone 30 is brought close to the tag mark 46 to Near-field wireless communication can be performed almost reliably between the mobile phone 30 with a light function and the RFID tag 27.
The receipt printer 10 is a mass-produced printer at the manufacturer M, and the position of the antenna unit 31 in the receipt printer 10 is the same for each receipt printer 10. Therefore, when it is assumed that the direction in which the receipt printer 10 is stored in each packing material 45 is the same, the position where the tag mark 46 should be written is the same for each packing material 45. For this reason, it can be easily mass-produced.

Next, preparation step S2, which is the next step after manufacturing / shipping step S1, will be described. In this preparation step S2, a predetermined process is performed on the receipt printer 10 stored in the packaging material 45 by the system integrator SI.
In the following description, the expression “system integrator SI” means not only the system integrator SI as an organization, but also an operator who actually performs work in the system integrator SI as appropriate according to the description. It shall be.
In the preparation step S2, the system integrator SI prepares the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function is a mobile phone having a function of performing short-range wireless communication with the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10 and reading and writing various data with respect to the RFID tag 27. , Portable side control unit 50, portable side input unit 51, portable side display unit 52, audio output unit 53, GPS unit 54, wireless communication unit 55, portable side storage unit 56, and RFID communication unit 57. And.
The mobile-side control unit 50 is a person who centrally controls each unit of the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other peripheral circuits.
The mobile-side input unit 51 detects a user operation on an operation switch provided in the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function, and outputs the detected operation to the mobile-side control unit 50.
The portable display unit 52 includes a liquid crystal display panel, and displays various information on the liquid crystal display panel under the control of the portable control unit 50.
The audio output unit 53 outputs various types of audio under the control of the mobile side control unit 50.
The GPS unit 54 receives GPS radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites by a GPS antenna or a receiver, calculates the position of the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function from the GPS signals superimposed on the GPS radio waves, Output to the controller 50.
The wireless communication unit 55 complies with a predetermined standard with the wireless base station 58 (FIG. 1) in the area where the mobile phone 30 with read / write function is located under the control of the mobile side control unit 50. Perform wireless communication. The radio base station 58 is connected to a communication network 11 (FIG. 1) such as the Internet or a mobile communication network, and the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function is connected to the manufacturer management server 12 via the communication network 11. It is possible to send and receive various data.
The portable storage unit 56 includes a nonvolatile storage device and stores various data in a nonvolatile manner.

The RFID communication unit 57 performs short-range wireless communication based on the NFC standard with the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10, and includes an antenna unit 60, an RF unit 61, a modulation / demodulation unit 62, and the like. And a portable tag control unit 63.
The antenna unit 60 functions as an antenna for transmitting and receiving data.
The RF unit 61 transmits / receives data to / from the RFID tag 27 via the antenna unit 60. At the time of data transmission, the RF unit 61 transmits a carrier wave for power supply and transmission data via the antenna unit 60. On the other hand, when receiving data, a signal indicating the radio wave received from the RFID tag 27 via the antenna unit 60 is output to the modulation / demodulation unit 62.
The modulation / demodulation unit 62 modulates or demodulates transmission / reception data. At the time of data transmission, the transmission data is modulated and output to the RF unit 61. On the other hand, at the time of data reception, from the RF unit 61 Based on the received signal, the received data is restored and output to the portable tag control unit 63.
The portable tag control unit 63 controls the RFID communication unit 57 centrally. The portable tag control unit 63 encodes the transmission data and outputs it to the modulation / demodulation unit 62 when transmitting data under the control of the portable control unit 50, while the modulation / demodulation unit receives the data. The received data input from 62 is decoded and output to the portable control unit 50.
The function of the RFID communication unit 57 can be added to an existing mobile phone by using an external memory option slot such as an SD card provided in the mobile phone and attaching an SD card with a built-in RFID communication function. Good. In this case, the portable storage unit 56 shown in FIG. 5 can use the storage memory of the added SD card.

In the preparation step S <b> 2, first, the system integrator SI writes predetermined data to the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 using the prepared mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
Specifically, first, the system integrator SI activates an application downloaded in advance from the manufacturer management server 12 managed by the manufacturer M, and displays the data input screen 65 on the display panel of the portable display unit 52. The URL of the site related to the manufacturer management server 12 may be communicated in advance from the manufacturer M to the system integrator SI, or the URL may be written on the packaging material 45. In addition, a two-dimensional barcode indicating the URL may be written on the packing material 45 in a form that can be read by the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the data input screen 65.
In the company name column 67, the company name of the system integrator SI in charge of building the POS system is input, and in the company name password column 68 corresponding to the company name column 67, the flash memory 26 will be described in detail later. After the company name data indicating the company name input in the company name column 67 is stored in the predetermined storage area, a password required for rewriting the company name data is input.
A representative person in charge of constructing the POS system is input to the person-in-charge column 69, and the person-in-charge password field 70 corresponding to the person-in-charge column 69 is stored in the person-in-charge column 69 in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26. After the person-in-charge data indicating the person-in-charge entered in is stored, a password required for rewriting the person-in-charge data is entered.
In the warranty period reference date column 71, the reference date of the warranty period of the receipt printer 10 is input. The reference date of the warranty period is a date that is predetermined as the date on which the warranty period is to be calculated. For example, the date on which the receipt printer 10 is transported from the manufacturer M to the system integrator SI should be calculated. In the case where the date is determined as the date, the date of transport corresponds to the reference date of the warranty period, and for example, the date of transporting the receipt printer 10 to the retail store K is determined as the date for which the warranty period should be counted. In such a case, the date of transportation corresponds to the reference date of the warranty period. In the warranty period reference date password field 72 corresponding to the warranty period reference date field 71, the warranty period reference date data indicating the warranty period reference date input in the warranty period reference date field 71 is stored in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26. Is stored, the password required to rewrite the warranty period reference date data is input.
In the warranty period extension days column 73, when the system integrator SI extends the warranty period determined by the manufacturer M, the extension days are input. In general, at the responsibility and burden of the system integrator SI, the system integrator SI may provide a service that extends the warranty period, or may implement a campaign that extends the warranty period. An extension days column 73 is provided. In the warranty period extension days password field 74 corresponding to the warranty period extension days column 73, the warranty period extension days data indicating the warranty period extension days input in the warranty period extension days column 73 is stored in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26. Is stored, the password required for rewriting the warranty period extension days data is input.

The system integrator SI inputs information to each of the input fields of the data input screen 65, and then operates an operation switch provided on the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function to confirm the input.
Next, the system integrator SI operates an operation switch provided in the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function to shift the operation mode of the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function to the data transmission / reception mode.
In the data transmission / reception mode, when the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function and the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10 are close to each other and can enter a short-distance wireless communication, the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function This is an operation mode in which write instruction data and stored data transmission instruction data are transmitted to the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10.
The write instruction data is used to store each data indicating information input in each of the input fields of the data input screen 65 in each of predetermined predetermined storage areas in the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10. It is data of. The tag control unit 34 that has received the write instruction data stores the corresponding data in each of the predetermined storage areas of the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 in accordance with the contents of the write instruction data. As described above, even when the receipt printer 10 is stored in the packing material 45 and the receipt printer 10 is in a power-off state, the power supply unit 35 controls the memory interface unit 37 and the flash memory 26. Power is supplied, and data can be written to the flash memory 26 by the tag control unit 34.
The stored data transmission instruction data is read / written on each data (excluding data related to the password) stored in the flash memory 26 after the data is written in the flash memory 26 based on the write instruction data. This is data for instructing transmission to the mobile phone 30 with a light function. The tag control unit 34 that has received the stored data transmission instruction data accesses the flash memory 26, acquires each data stored in each storage area of the flash memory 26, and provides each acquired data with a read / write function. Send to mobile phone 30.
Note that the generation and transmission of the write instruction data and the stored data transmission instruction data are realized by the function of the portable control unit 50 that executes the application.
In addition, when the transmission / reception of data to be transmitted / received between the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function and the receipt printer 10 is normally completed between the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function and the receipt printer 10 is completed, the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function An electronic sound indicating that is output from the audio output unit 53, and information indicating that is displayed on the display panel of the mobile side display unit 52 of the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a list of data stored in the storage area after each data is stored in each of the predetermined storage areas of the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 based on the write instruction data. .
The data stored in the area A1 to the area A8 has been described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the flash memory 26, the company name data indicating the company name input in the company name field 67 of the data input screen 65 is stored in the area A9, and the company name password field is stored in the area A10. The company name password indicating the password entered in 68 is stored.
In the present embodiment, the company name data stored in the area A9 can be rewritten using a user interface provided by an application downloaded to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function. Then, when rewriting the company name data stored in the area A9, the input of the company name password is requested, and only when the input company name password matches the company name password stored in the area A10. The company name data is rewritten. With this configuration, the company name data is prevented from being illegally rewritten by a person other than the regular system integrator SI who knows the correct password.
In the area A11, the person-in-charge data indicating the person in charge input in the person-in-charge column 69 of the data input screen 65 is stored. In the area A12, the person-in-charge password indicating the password input in the person-in-charge password field 70 is stored. Stored.
The area A13 stores guarantee period reference date data indicating the guarantee period reference date input in the guarantee period reference date field 71 of the data input screen 65, and the area A14 is input to the warranty period reference date password field 72. The warranty period reference date password indicating the password is stored.
The area A15 stores warranty period extension days data indicating the warranty period extension days input in the warranty period extension days column 73 of the data input screen 65, and the area A16 is input to the warranty period extension days password field 74. Stores the password for the extended warranty period indicating the password.
Similarly to the company name data, the person-in-charge data, the warranty period reference date data, and the warranty period extension days data are protected by passwords to prevent unauthorized rewriting by anyone other than the system integrator SI.

  As described above, when the operation mode is the data transmission / reception mode, the stored data transmission instruction data is transmitted from the mobile phone 30 with read / write function to the receipt printer 10 together with the write instruction data. Based on the transmission instruction data, each data (excluding data related to the password) stored in the flash memory 26 is transmitted from the RFID tag 27 to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function. Specifically, serial number data (area A1), manufacturing location data (area A3), product name data (area A5), warranty period data (area A7), company name data (area A9), person-in-charge data (Area A11), warranty period reference date data (Area A13), and warranty period extension days data (Area A15).

Further, when the operation mode is the data transmission / reception mode, when each data stored in the flash memory 26 is transmitted from the RFID tag 27 to the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function, the mobile side control unit 50 performs wireless communication. The unit 55 is controlled to transmit each data received from the RFID tag 27 to the manufacturer management server 12.
At that time, the mobile-side control unit 50 detects the current position based on the input value from the GPS unit 54, and transmits current position data indicating the detected current position to the manufacturer management server 12.
The manufacturer management server 12 generates one record in the receipt printer management database 13 based on the received data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the receipt printer management database 13.
As shown in FIG. 8, one record of the receipt printer management database 13 stores a serial number field 76 for storing serial number data, a manufacturing field 77 for storing manufacturing data, and product name data. Product name field 78, warranty period field 79 for storing warranty period data, company name field 80 for storing company name data, person in charge field 81 for storing person-in-charge data, and warranty period reference date data. A warranty period reference day field 82, a warranty period extension days field 83 in which warranty period extension days data is stored, and a current position field 84 in which the current position data described above are stored. Other fields will be described later.

As described above, in this embodiment, the warranty period reference date data and the warranty period extension days data (data indicating product warranty information) stored in the flash memory 26 are read from the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function. It is transmitted to the manufacturer management server 12. The manufacturer management server 12 stores these data separately for each receipt printer 10 in the receipt printer management database 13.
According to this, the maker management server 12 can manage data related to product warranty in a centralized manner for each receipt printer 10. In particular, in the present embodiment, product warranty data stored in the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 is read by the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function and transmitted to the maker management server 12 to be transmitted to the maker management server. 12, in order to manage data related to product warranty for each receipt printer 10 in the receipt printer management database 13 based on the received data, the contents of the data stored in the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 and the manufacturer Receipt between the manufacturer M that manages the manufacturer management server 12 and the system integrator SI that actually constructs the POS system is completely guaranteed to be identical to the data content managed by the management server 12. Printer The awareness of the 10 product warranty can be completely matched.

Here, the role of each data stored in the flash memory 26 will be described.
In the flash memory 26, serial number data, manufacturing location data, product name data, and warranty period data are stored in the areas A1 to A8, respectively, as shown in FIG. This information is necessary for specifying the receipt printer 10 and grasping the manufacturing process of the receipt printer 10. Further, in the flash memory 26, company name data, person-in-charge data, warranty period reference date data, and warranty period extension days data are respectively stored in areas A9 to A16 as shown in FIG. Is the information necessary for grasping the end date of the warranty period of the receipt printer 10 and the system integrator SI that has constructed the POS system using the receipt printer 10 and the person in charge thereof. It is.
The information indicated by each data stored in the flash memory 26 is information that has been conventionally entered in a paper-type warranty.
Based on this, in the present embodiment, each data stored in the flash memory 26 plays a role as a substitute for the conventional paper-type warranty. For this reason, in this embodiment, a paper type guarantee is not created.
Note that the serial number data, manufacturing location data, product name data, and warranty period data are protected by passwords so that anyone other than the manufacturer M cannot illegally rewrite them. Secured and maintained. Similarly, each of company name data, person-in-charge data, warranty period reference date data, and warranty period extension days data is protected by a password so that it cannot be illegally rewritten by anyone other than the system integrator SI. The reliability of the content is secured and maintained.

In the preparation step S2, writing and reading of data to the flash memory 26 described above are executed for all the receipt printers 10 transported from the manufacturer M.
Specifically, the system integrator SI opens the data input screen 65 and inputs information in each input field, and then shifts the operation mode of the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function to the data transmission / reception mode. Then, the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function is brought close to the packing material 45 in which the receipt printer 10 is stored, and short-range wireless communication is performed between the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function and the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10. The operation of performing the process is performed on all the packing materials 45.
Here, as described above, since the tag mark 46 is written on each of the packing materials 45, the system integrator SI can smoothly move the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function close to the tag mark 46, In addition, near field communication can be reliably performed between the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function and the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10.

Further, as described above, each data stored in the flash memory 26 substitutes for a conventional paper type warranty card, and writing of each data to the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 is performed on a conventional paper type. This corresponds to the act of entering the information indicated by each data in the warranty card.
Here, the conventional paper-type warranty card is often stored together with the receipt printer 10 in the packaging material 45 in order to reduce the risk of loss or the like while clarifying the electronic device to which the warranty card should be attached. In this case, in order to enter information on the paper-type warranty, it is necessary to first unpack the packing material 45 and take out the warranty, and then enter the information in the taken-out warranty. From the standpoint of reliably maintaining the quality of the electronic equipment, there are not a few people in the retail store K who do not want the packaging material 45 to be opened, and the packaging material 45 should not be opened. It was sought after. Furthermore, the series of operations of opening the packaging material 45, filling in information on the warranty card, and sealing the packaging material 45 is complicated and requires less time for the operation, and the efficiency of the operation is required. It was.
In this embodiment, the simple and easy operation of bringing the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function close to the position where the tag mark 46 of the packing material 45 is written without opening the packing material 45 is performed. Simply writing each data to the flash memory 26 (processing corresponding to the act of entering the information indicated by each data in a conventional paper type warranty) and reading each data from the flash memory 26 Therefore, it is possible to appropriately meet the need to prevent the packaging material 45 from being opened, and to facilitate the work and shorten the time required for the work.
Furthermore, there is a risk that, when the information is entered in the paper-type warranty card as in the prior art, there is a risk that an incorrect content is entered. In this embodiment, incorrect information is entered in each entry field of the data input screen 65. As long as is not input, a situation in which erroneous data is written in the flash memory 26 cannot occur.

Next, the construction step S3, which is the next step after the preparation step S2, will be described.
In this construction step S3, the system integrator SI transports the packaging material 45 in which the receipt printer 10 is stored to the retail store K. At that time, since the packing material 45 is not opened and has no evidence of opening, it is possible to give a sense of security and a sense of reliability to the person concerned in the retail store K.
Next, the system integrator SI takes out the receipt printer 10 accommodated in the packaging material 45, installs each of the receipt printers 10 at an appropriate position, and electrically connects the receipt printer 10 or communicates with an external device. To establish an environment in which the POS system is introduced. After constructing the environment in which the POS system is introduced, the system integrator SI constructs the POS system using the environment.

Here, conventionally, when the receipt printer 10 is introduced into the retail store K, the system integrator SI passes a paper-type warranty card to the retail store K for each of the receipt printers 10.
In this case, the retail store K that has received the paper-type warranty card needs to manage and store the warranty card by associating each receipt printer 10 with each warranty card after securing a space for storing the warranty card. The work related to management and storage was complicated.
Furthermore, in this case, it is necessary for the system integrator SI to surely fill in the information on the paper-type warranty card, and then reliably pass all the warranty cards to the retail store K, and these operations are complicated.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, each data stored in the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10 substitutes for a paper-type warranty card, and no paper-type warranty card is delivered, so the retail store K and the system integrator It is no longer necessary for the SI to perform the complicated work, and the workability and convenience of the retail store K and the system integrator SI are improved.

After the POS system is established in the retail store K, the person concerned in the retail store K receives the information indicated by each data in the flash memory 26 (that is, information corresponding to the information described in the conventional paper-based warranty). If you want to refer to it, you can do it as follows. It should be noted that the person concerned in the retail store K wants to refer to the information indicated by each data in the flash memory 26 when, for example, one receipt printer 10 fails and the warranty period of the one receipt printer 10 is to be investigated. Think.
That is, the receipt printer 10 according to the present embodiment displays a list of information indicated by each data (excluding data related to a password) stored in the flash memory 26, and records the list on roll paper. Is stored in a storage area such as a ROM. A person who wants to refer to information indicated by each data in the flash memory 26 operates an operation switch provided in the receipt printer 10 to display information indicated by each data stored in the flash memory 26 on the display panel. Instructing either to display or to record the information on roll paper.
When instructed to display on the display panel, the control unit 20 accesses the flash memory 26 to acquire each data, and displays a list of information indicated by each acquired data on the display panel. On the other hand, when instructed to record on roll paper, the control unit 20 accesses the flash memory 26 to acquire each data, controls the print engine 25, and rolls the information indicated by each acquired data. Record on paper.
As described above, when the person concerned in the retail store K wants to refer to the information indicated by each data in the flash memory 26, the information is displayed on the display panel and recorded on the roll paper, thereby smoothly. It can be referred to. In particular, in the past, when referring to the warranty card of one receipt printer 10, the work of confirming the serial number written on the back surface or the like of the one receipt printer 10 and specifying the warranty card corresponding to this serial number has been performed. Although necessary, in the present embodiment, it is possible to refer to the information indicated by each data stored in the flash memory 26 in one receipt printer 10 smoothly and easily without performing such work. it can.

Next, the operation of the receipt printer 10 in the operation step S4 after the POS system is established in the retail store K will be described.
First, the operation of the warranty expiration warning unit 28 provided in the control unit 20 of the receipt printer 10 in the operation step S4 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the warranty expiration warning unit 28.
The function of the warranty expiration warning unit 28 is realized by the cooperation of hardware and software, such as a CPU provided in the control unit 20 executing a program stored in the ROM.
The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is executed with, for example, a trigger when the receipt printer 10 is turned on, and a trigger when the current time has arrived at a predetermined time, for example.
First, the warranty expiration warning unit 28 acquires the current date based on the input value from the RTC (step SA1).
Next, the warranty expiration warning unit 28 accesses the flash memory 26 to acquire the warranty period data, the warranty period reference date data, and the warranty period extension days data, and based on these data, determines the final date of the warranty period. Obtain (step SA2).
Next, the warranty expiration warning unit 28 compares the current date acquired in step SA1 with the last date of the warranty period acquired in step SA2, and determines whether or not they match (step SA3).
If the current date matches the last date of the warranty period (step SA3: NO), the warranty expiration warning unit 28 controls the display unit 23 to indicate that today is the last date of the warranty period of the receipt printer 10. Is displayed (step SA4).
On the other hand, if the current date does not match the last date of the warranty period, the warranty expiration date warning unit 28 indicates that the current date is earlier in time than the last date of the warranty period, and the current date and the warranty period It is determined whether or not the number of days difference from the last day is below a predetermined threshold (step SA5).
When the number of days between the current date and the last date of the warranty period is below a predetermined threshold, the warranty expiration warning unit 28 controls the display unit 23 to indicate information indicating the last date of the warranty period, the warranty period Information indicating that the final date is approaching is displayed (step SA6).

  In this way, after the POS system is constructed, each receipt printer 10 monitors whether today is the last day of the warranty period and whether the last day of the warranty period is approaching. When it is the last day of the guarantee period or when the last day of the guarantee period is approaching, that fact is automatically notified. Thereby, the person concerned in the retail store K can recognize these easily and reliably. In particular, since the fact that today is the last day of the warranty period or that the last day of the warranty period is approaching is performed for each receipt printer 10, a newly added receipt printer 10 after the POS system is constructed. Even if the reference date of the warranty period is different for each receipt printer 10, the person concerned in the retail store K can easily and surely perform each receipt printer without performing complicated work. 10 can recognize the above.

In operation step S4, the control unit 20 of the receipt printer 10 detects the operation status of the print engine 25 that is the drive unit and the printing mechanism that is controlled by the print engine 25, and flushes the data indicating the detected operation status. Write to memory 26.
More specifically, the control unit 20 measures the cumulative amount of time that the receipt printer 10 has been turned on every day after the POS system is constructed, and the power is turned on for one day based on the measurement results. The average of the elapsed time is calculated, and the average energization time data indicating the calculated time is stored in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 at a predetermined timing. If data is already stored in the predetermined storage area, it is overwritten and updated.
Further, after the POS system is constructed, the control unit 20 measures the total time during which the power is turned on, and stores it as a total energization time data in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 at a predetermined timing. If data is already stored in the predetermined storage area, it is overwritten and updated.
Further, the control unit 20 counts the number of printed lines of the receipt printer 10 and the number of issued receipts issued by the receipt printer 10, average print line number data indicating the average number of print lines per day, and 1 Each of the average number-of-issues data indicating the average number of issued days is stored in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 at a predetermined timing. If data is already stored in the predetermined storage area, it is overwritten and updated.
The control unit 20 counts the total number of print lines of the receipt printer 10 after the POS system is constructed and the total number of issued receipts issued by the receipt printer 10, respectively, The total issued number data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 at a predetermined timing.
In addition, the control unit 20 stores error log data indicating an error log during a predetermined period from the present in a predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 at a predetermined timing. If data is already stored in the predetermined storage area, it is overwritten and updated.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list of data stored in the storage area after each data is stored in the predetermined storage area of the flash memory 26 by the control unit 20 in the operation step S4.
Note that the data stored in the area A1 to the area A16 has been described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the flash memory 26, the above-mentioned average energization time data is stored in the area A17, the above-mentioned print number data is stored in the area A18, and the above-mentioned average issuance is stored in the area A19. The sheet number data is stored, the total energization time data described above is stored in the area A20, the total print line number data described above is stored in the area A21, and the total issued sheet number data is stored in the area A22. In the area A23, error log data is stored.
These data stored in the areas A17 to A23 correspond to information indicating the operation status of the print engine 25 as the driving unit.

As described above, in the present embodiment, data indicating the operation status of the print engine 25 or the like serving as the drive unit is stored in the flash memory 26.
Here, the flash memory 26 can read and write data from both the control unit 20 and the RFID tag 27 as described above. For this reason, the control unit 20 that can always manage the operation status of the print engine 25 writes the data indicating the operation status of the print engine 25 into the flash memory 26, thereby making it possible to use the data stored in the flash memory 26. While maintaining high reliability, the mobile phone 30 with an external read / write function is brought close to the RFID tag 27, and short-distance wireless communication between these devices is performed in the flash memory 26 by an easy and simple operation. The stored data can be read by the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.

The data stored in these areas A17 to A23 is read by the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function during periodic maintenance by the system integrator SI, and is sent to the manufacturer management server 12 for other data (in areas A1 to A16). Stored data, excluding data related to the password). At that time, the mobile side control unit 50 of the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function detects the current position based on the input value from the GPS unit 54, and also manages the current position data indicating the detected current position together with the manufacturer. Send to server 12.
When the manufacturer management server 12 receives the data from the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function, the manufacturer management server 12 accesses the receipt printer management database 13 and, based on the serial number data included in the received data, stores each record of the database. Among these, a record to be processed (a record corresponding to the receipt printer 10 that has read data from the flash memory 26) is specified. Next, the manufacturer management server 12 stores the data in each field of the record to be processed based on the data received from the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function. For fields in which data is already stored, the data is overwritten and updated.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 8, serial number field 76, manufacturing place field 77, product name field 78, warranty period field 79, company name field 80, person in charge field 81, warranty period reference date field 82, and The warranty period extension days field 83 stores (overwrites and updates) corresponding data among the data received from the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
In the current position field 84, current position data received from the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function is stored (overwritten and updated). As a result, the current position data 84 indicating the most recent position of the receipt printer 10 is stored in the current position field 84.
The average energization time field 85 stores the average energization time data included in the data received from the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function, and the average print line number field 86 stores the average print line number data. The issued number field 87 stores average issued number data, the total energization time field 88 stores total energization time data, and the total print line number field 89 stores total print line number data. The issued number field 90 stores total issued number data, and the error log field 91 stores error log data.

The manufacturer management server 12 uses the data stored in the receipt printer management database 13 to analyze the trend of the operating status of the receipt printer 10 and analyze the usage mode of the receipt printer 10.
Hereinafter, the analysis performed by the receipt printer 10 will be described with a specific example.
Note that the manufacturer management server 12 stores a program in which an algorithm for performing the following analysis is incorporated, and the manufacturer management server 12 executes the following analysis by executing the program. That is, the following analysis is performed in cooperation with hardware and software in the manufacturer management server 12.

For example, the manufacturer management server 12 uses the average energization time data stored in the average energization time field 85 of each record, based on the average energization time of the entire receipt printer 10 related to the record in the receipt printer management database 13 (power supply per day). (The cumulative total of the time when is turned on). Next, the manufacturer management server 12 compares the energization time in the day of the receipt printer 10 predicted by the manufacturer M with the calculated average energization time of the entire receipt printer 10, and the expected energization time, The amount of deviation from the actual energization time is detected, and the detected amount of deviation is stored. The divergence amount detected here is used as useful information when the manufacturer M develops the receipt printer 10.
Similarly, the manufacturer management server 12 determines the actual number of printed sheets, issued sheets, and actual prints of the receipt printer 10 predicted by the manufacturer M based on the average printed line number data and average issued sheet number data. The number of sheets and the amount of deviation from the number of issued sheets are detected.
In this way, the manufacturer management server 12 analyzes the actual usage mode of the receipt printer 10 and outputs useful information based on the analysis result.

For example, the manufacturer management server 12 analyzes the tendency of the error that has occurred based on the error log data stored in the error log field 91 of each record.
Specifically, the maker management server 12 detects the frequency (trend) at which each error occurs for each error, and whether the frequency at which each error occurs exceeds the allowable range for the frequency at which each error occurs. Detect if. If it is detected that the frequency of errors exceeds the allowable range, the details of the error are clearly indicated, and a notification to that effect is given. The notification and warning are performed, for example, by being displayed on a display panel provided in the manufacturer management server 12. By performing the notification and warning, the manufacturer M can quickly recognize that there is an error that occurs at a frequency exceeding the allowable range, and based on this recognition, the cause investigation, Appropriate processing such as notification of the error can be executed.
Note that the frequency of error occurrence may be detected for each manufacturing location using the manufacturing location data stored in the manufacturing location field 77. According to this, it becomes possible to detect that an error has occurred at a frequency exceeding the allowable range for the receipt printer 10 manufactured at a specific manufacturing location, and the cause for the error to occur at such a frequency. Useful information regarding the investigation can be output to the manufacturer M.
Similarly, using the company name data stored in the company name field 80, the error occurrence frequency may be detected for each system integrator SI that has constructed the POS system.
As described above, the manufacturer management server 12 analyzes the tendency of the operation status including the tendency of the error that occurs for the receipt printer 10 and outputs useful information based on the analysis result.

Further, for example, the manufacturer management server 12 detects the position where the receipt printer 10 is installed based on the information indicated by the current position data stored in the current position field 84. When the detected position is out of the area assumed as the area where the receipt printer 10 is installed, the receipt printer 10 is located in a place outside the assumed area due to theft or other reasons. Because there is, there is a notification and warning.
In addition, for example, the manufacturer management server 12 detects the number of receipt printers 10 arranged for each area based on the information indicated by the current position data stored in the current position field 84 of each record. The arrangement status of the receipt printer 10 is analyzed and stored. This analysis result is used as useful information when the manufacturer M sells the receipt printer 10.

Next, a case where one receipt printer 10 fails and some error occurs in the operation step S4 will be described.
In this case, the person concerned in the retail store K contacts the system integrator SI responsible for the construction of the POS system and informs that one receipt printer 10 has failed and an error has occurred. In this connection, when the person concerned in the retail store K wants to know whether or not today is in the warranty period, as described above, the operation switch provided in the receipt printer 10 in which the failure has occurred. To display the information indicated by the data stored in the flash memory 26 on the display panel, and by recording the information on the roll paper, the present day is within the warranty period easily and reliably. You can know whether or not.
The system integrator SI received from the retail store K goes to the retail store K. Then, the system integrator SI operates an operation switch provided in the mobile phone 30 with read / write function, and shifts the operation mode of the mobile phone 30 with read / write function to the data siphoning mode.
The data siphoning mode refers to the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10 when the mobile phone 30 with read / write function and the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10 are close to each other and are in a state where short-range wireless communication is possible. This is an operation mode in which each data stored in the flash memory 26 is transmitted to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
Here, the failure of the receipt printer 10 includes a failure such that the power supply of the receipt printer 10 cannot be turned on, such as a failure of the power supply system. As described above, in this embodiment, the RFID tag 27 of the receipt printer 10 uses the power supply radio wave received from the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function to turn off the power of the receipt printer 10. Even in this case, the data can be read / written from / to the flash memory 26. For this reason, even when the above-described failure occurs, the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function whose operation mode is the data acquisition mode is brought close to the RFID tag 27, so that the flash memory 26 can be securely connected. The stored data can be transmitted from the RFID tag 27 to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.

When each data is transmitted from the RFID tag 27 to the mobile phone 30 with read / write function in the data acquisition mode, the mobile side control unit 50 of the mobile phone 30 with read / write function controls the mobile side display unit 52. Information indicating each received data is displayed on the display panel. This information includes the warranty period, the warranty period reference date, the warranty period extension days, and an error log.
Thus, since the warranty period, the warranty period reference date, and the warranty period extension days are displayed on the display panel of the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function, the system integrator SI can easily It can be determined whether or not the current time is within the warranty period.
Further, since the error log is displayed on the display panel of the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function, the system integrator SI refers to the content of the error log displayed on the display panel, and efficiently causes the failure or error. Can be investigated.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the receipt printer 10 is repaired, the system integrator SI can use the following services provided by the manufacturer management server 12.
That is, an application that provides a user interface for instructing transmission of error log data to the manufacturer management server 12 is provided by the manufacturer M, and the system integrator SI provides the application with a read / write function in advance. Download to mobile phone 30.
Then, the system integrator SI instructs to transmit the error log data received from the RFID tag 27 to the manufacturer management server 12 by using a user interface realized by the function of the application.
Using the instruction as a trigger, the mobile-side control unit 50 controls the wireless communication unit 55 by the function of the application and transmits error log data to the manufacturer management server 12.
The manufacturer management server 12 stores the error log data received in the past and data indicating information related to the handling procedure when the error indicated by the content of the error log data is dealt with. When the error log is received from the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function, the manufacturer management server 12 analyzes the received error log data, and selects the received error log data from the error log data received in the past. Error log data having the same or similar content is detected. Then, the maker management server 12 acquires data indicating information on a handling procedure when dealing with an error indicated by the content of the detected error log data, and transmits the acquired data to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
The system integrator SI displays information relating to the handling procedure on the display panel based on the data relating to the handling procedure received by the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function from the manufacturer management server 12, and uses this information to appropriately Then, the receipt printer 10 is repaired.
In addition, the manufacturer management server 12 prepares, as electronic data, a manual in which a procedure for solving each error is described for each error indicated by the content of the error log data, and according to the received error log data, Electronic data related to a manual may be transmitted to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.

Furthermore, there may be an error that occurs in the receipt printer 10 such that the error log is not normally written in the flash memory 26. In this case, the system integrator SI can use the following services provided by the manufacturer management server 12.
In other words, an application that provides a user interface for inputting the error status using the XX formula or the selection method is provided by the manufacturer M, and the system integrator SI reads the application in advance with a mobile phone with a read / write function. Download to 30.
Entering the error status using the XX formula or selection method is an alternative for selecting a question about the error status, such as "Power does not turn on-> Yes (Yes) or No (No)". This means inputting the status of an error or failure.
Then, the system integrator SI uses the user interface realized by the function of the application to input an error status and perform an operation of confirming the input content.
Using the operation as a trigger, the mobile-side control unit 50 controls the wireless communication unit 55 by the function of the application, and transmits data indicating the input content to the manufacturer management server 12.
The manufacturer management server 12 stores a combination of answers to the question and data indicating information on the error handling procedure in association with each other based on the data received in the past. Then, when data is received from the mobile phone 30 with read / write function, the manufacturer management server 12 acquires data indicating information on the handling procedure corresponding to the error indicated by the received data, based on the received data. The acquired data is transmitted to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
The system integrator SI displays information relating to the handling procedure on the display panel based on the data relating to the handling procedure received by the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function from the manufacturer management server 12, and uses this information to appropriately Then, the receipt printer 10 is repaired.
Note that the manufacturer management server 12 prepares a manual describing the procedure for solving each error as electronic data for each combination of answers to the question, and according to the received data, the electronic data related to the manual is prepared. May be transmitted to the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
In addition, the manufacturer management server 12 further uses not only error log data and data related to answers to questions, but also total energization time data, total print line number data, and total number of issued sheets data, An error may be specified. This makes it possible to specify multi-faceted errors.

As described above, the receipt printer 10 according to the present embodiment performs non-contact wireless communication with the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function, and also with the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function. An RFID tag 27 that can write and read information to and from the flash memory 26 and a control unit 20 that can write and read information to and from the flash memory 26 based on the wireless communication The information is written to and read from the flash memory 26 from either the RFID tag 27 or the control unit 20. Then, the control unit 20 detects the operation status of the print engine 25 serving as the drive unit and the printing mechanism controlled by the print engine 25, and writes information indicating the detected operation status in the flash memory 26.
According to this, information indicating the operation status of the print engine 25 serving as the driving unit and the printing mechanism controlled by the print engine 25 is written into the memory by the control unit 20, and the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function Information indicating the operation status of the drive unit can be read from the flash memory 26 via non-contact wireless communication with the RFID tag 27. For this reason, information indicating the operation status of the drive unit stored in the flash memory 26 by an easy operation of wireless communication between the mobile phone 30 with read / write function and the RFID tag 27 is provided with the read / write function. The mobile phone 30 can be read.

In the present embodiment, the RFID tag 27 is configured to be able to execute writing and reading of information with respect to the flash memory 26 using the power supply radio wave received from the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function. When the power is turned off, information can be written to and read from the flash memory 26 by the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function.
According to this, even when an error that cannot be turned on occurs in the receipt printer 10, the information indicating the usage status of the drive unit stored in the flash memory 26 by the mobile phone 30 with the read / write function. Can be read.

In this embodiment, the RFID tag 27 is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication with the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function in conformity with the NFC standard.
Here, NFC is a short-range wireless communication standard approved as a next-generation standard by an international standard organization, and is widely compatible with other short-range wireless communication standards that are already widely used. In the future, it is considered that devices that perform short-range wireless communication compliant with the NFC standard will be widely used.
Based on this, according to the above configuration, the RFID tag 27 is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication compliant with the NFC standard, so that high usability and convenience can be achieved both now and in the future. Therefore, processing of information regarding guarantee using the RFID tag 27 can be executed.

In the present embodiment, the RFID tag 27 includes data (average energization time data, average print line number data, average print number data, total energization data) related to the operation status of the drive unit stored in the flash memory 26 of the receipt printer 10. Time data, total number of printed lines, total number of issued sheets, and error log data), and transmits the read data to the manufacturer management server 12. The manufacturer management server 12 reads the mobile phone 30 with a read / write function. The information received from is stored.
According to this, the maker management server 12 can manage the data indicating the operation status of the drive unit in an integrated manner for each receipt printer 10.

In the present embodiment, the manufacturer management server 12 uses the receipt printer management database 13 to serialize information on the operation status of the receipt printers 10 for a plurality of different receipt printers 10. It is characterized in that it is stored in association with number data, and the trend of the operating status of the receipt printer 10 is analyzed based on the stored information, or the usage mode of the receipt printer 10 is analyzed.
According to this, the manufacturer management server 12 analyzes the trend of the operating status of the receipt printer 10 comprehensively and comprehensively using the data indicating the operating status stored in the receipt printer management database 13. Alternatively, the usage mode of the receipt printer 10 can be analyzed. This analysis result can be used, for example, as useful information regarding the development of the receipt printer 10 and the sales of the receipt printer 10.

The above-described embodiment is merely an aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the data stored in the flash memory 26 has been specifically described with an example. However, the data stored in the flash memory 26 is not limited to that described in the above-described embodiment. You may increase or decrease as necessary. For example, product code and data related to the product model may be stored, or data indicating the last day of the warranty period may be stored. The same applies to the data stored in the receipt printer management database 13.
In the embodiment described above, the receipt printer 10 has been described as an example of the electronic device. However, the electronic device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the receipt printer 10. That is, the present invention can be widely applied to electronic devices including a driving unit.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information management system, 10 ... Receipt printer (electronic device), 11 ... Communication network (communication line), 12 ... Manufacturer management server (server apparatus), 20 ... Control part, 25 ... Print engine (drive part), 26 ... Flash memory (memory), 27... RFID tag (non-contact tag), 30... Mobile phone with light function (information processing terminal).

Claims (7)

An electronic device comprising a drive unit,
Non-contact wireless communication can be performed with an external information processing terminal device, and information can be written to and read from a memory based on the wireless communication with the information processing terminal. Tag,
A control unit capable of executing writing and reading of information to and from the memory is provided in the housing, and the writing and reading of information to and from the memory can be performed from both the non-contact tag and the control unit. ,
The electronic device, wherein the control unit detects an operation state of the drive unit, and writes information indicating the detected operation state of the drive unit in the memory.   By configuring the non-contact tag to execute writing and reading of information to and from the memory using a power supply radio wave received from the information processing terminal, the information processing terminal device when the power is turned off 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information can be written to and read from the memory.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact tag is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication conforming to an NFC standard with the information processing terminal. Non-contact wireless communication is performed between the drive unit and an external information processing terminal device, and information is written to and read from the memory based on wireless communication with the information processing terminal. An electronic device comprising a possible non-contact tag and a control unit configured to execute writing and reading of information to and from the memory, and writing information on an operation state of the driving unit to the memory;
A server device connected to the information processing terminal via a communication line,
The information processing terminal reads information related to the operation status of the drive unit stored in the memory of the electronic device, and transmits the read information to the server device.
The information management system, wherein the server device stores information received from the information processing terminal.   The power supply of the electronic device is configured such that the contactless tag provided in the electronic device can execute writing and reading of information to and from the memory using a power supply radio wave received from the information processing terminal. 5. The information management system according to claim 4, wherein the information processing terminal device can write and read information to and from the memory when the computer is off. The server device is
Based on the information received from the information processing terminal, for a plurality of different electronic devices, the information related to the operation status of the drive unit included in the electronic devices is associated with identification information for identifying the electronic devices. 6. The information management system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a tendency of an operating state of the electronic device is analyzed based on the stored information, or a usage mode of the electronic device is analyzed.   The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the non-contact tag is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication conforming to an NFC standard with the information processing terminal.

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