JP2012194924A - Commodity sales data processing device and monitoring program for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately restore communication with a server even when communication becomes impossible due to abnormality of a network connected to the server.SOLUTION: A device body is loaded with a motherboard mounting a processor, memory, a chipset, and a communication interface. The device body performs data communication with a server through a first network which is connected to the communication interface and performs processing of commodity sales data. A monitor board is loaded on the device body, separately from the motherboard. The monitor board monitors a communication state of the first network and when communication abnormality is detected in the first network, it switches a line so that the device body is connected to the server through a second network which is different from the first network.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a merchandise sales data processing apparatus such as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal.

  For example, in a POS system built in a retail store such as a supermarket, a plurality of POS terminals, a POS server for centrally managing each POS terminal, and each POS terminal and the POS server are connected to each other so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. LAN (Local Area Network). The POS terminal processes sales data of products purchased by each customer. The POS server manages the sales of the entire store by collecting and aggregating product sales data processed by each POS terminal via the LAN.

  In recent years, general-purpose wide-area networks such as the Internet are further connected to each POS terminal. Each POS terminal is monitored by a monitoring computer system on a wide area network to deal with a system failure remotely. However, for example, if data communication between each POS terminal and the POS server is interrupted and cannot be recovered from a remote location, the service person must respond to the site. For this reason, it takes time to recover, and there is a risk of hindering store operations.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-066784

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a merchandise sales data processing apparatus capable of quickly recovering communication with a server even if communication is impossible due to an abnormality in a network connected to the server.

  A merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an apparatus main body and a monitoring board. The apparatus main body is mounted with a motherboard on which at least a processor, a memory, a chip set, and a communication interface are mounted. Then, data communication is performed with the server through the first network connected to the communication interface, and the product sales data is processed. The monitoring board is mounted on the apparatus main body independently of the motherboard. The monitoring board monitors the communication state of the first network, and when the monitoring means detects a communication abnormality of the first network, the monitoring board is connected through a second network different from the server and the first network. Switching means for switching the line is provided.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block block diagram which shows the apparatus main body of the POS terminal in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the monitoring controller of the POS terminal operates according to the monitoring program in the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a merchandise sales data processing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to the POS terminal 3 of the POS system 2 that can be connected to the Internet 1 as a wide area network.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment including a POS system 2. The POS system 2 includes a plurality of POS terminals 3, a POS server 4, and a LAN 5 that connects each POS terminal 3 and the POS server 4 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. The POS terminal 3 processes sales data of products purchased by each customer. The POS server 4 collects and aggregates the product sales data processed by each POS terminal 3 via the LAN 5 and manages the sales of the entire store.

  The POS server 4 and each POS terminal 3 are also connected to a network 6 dedicated to remote monitoring separately from the LAN 5. The dedicated network 6 is connected to the Internet 1 via the router 7. A monitoring computer system (hereinafter abbreviated as a monitoring system) 8 which is an external device for remotely monitoring the POS system 2 is connected to the Internet 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing the device main body 30 of the POS terminal 3. The POS terminal 3 has the motherboard 10 mounted on the apparatus main body 30. The motherboard 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, a random access memory (RAM) 13, an auxiliary storage unit 14, a clock unit 15, an input / output (I / O) port 16, and communication. An interface 17 and a chip set 18 are mounted.

  The CPU 11, which is a kind of processor, controls each unit to implement various business operations as the POS terminal 3 based on an operating system, middleware, and application programs.

  The ROM 12, which is a read-only main memory, stores the above operating system. The ROM 12 may store the above middleware and application programs. The ROM 12 may store data that is referred to when the CPU 11 performs various processes.

  A RAM 13, which is a readable / writable main memory, stores data to be referred to when the CPU 11 controls each unit. Further, the RAM 13 is used as a so-called work area that stores data temporarily used when the CPU 11 controls each unit. The RAM 13 may store the above middleware and application programs.

  The auxiliary storage unit 14 in which a hard disk drive, an SSD (solid state drive), or the like is used stores data used by the CPU 11 to control each unit and data generated by the control of the CPU 11. In addition, the auxiliary storage unit 14 may store the middleware and application programs described above.

The clock unit 15 measures the current date and time.
The I / O port 16 inputs a signal from the mode switch 21. The mode switch 21 is a switch for selecting any one mode from various business modes that can be executed by the POS terminal 3 such as “registration”, “inspection”, and “settlement”. “Registration” is a business mode in which sales data of each product input via the input unit is registered in a memory. “Inspection” is a mode of business in which sales data of each product registered in the memory is totaled and the totaled result is output as an inspection report. “Checkout” is a business mode in which the sales data of each product registered in the memory is totaled, and the totaled result is output as a settlement report, and then the memory is cleared.

  The I / O port 16 outputs a drive signal to the drawer 22. The drawer 22 stores cash, gift certificates, and the like, and automatically opens when a drive signal is input.

  The communication interface 17 manages a communication procedure of data transmission / reception performed via the LAN 5. The communication procedure is based on a communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The chip set 18 manages the exchange of data generated between the CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the auxiliary storage unit 14, the clock unit 15, the I / O port 16, and the communication interface 17.

  The POS terminal 3 is connected to the chip set 18 with a keyboard 23, an operator display 24, a customer display 25, a printer 26, a card reader 27, and a scanner 28 as input / output devices. The chip set 18 also manages the exchange of data generated between the CPU 11 and each input / output device.

  The keyboard 23 is provided with a numeric key for placing the number of purchased products, a deposit amount, etc., a subtotal key for instructing calculation of a subtotal amount, a closing key for declaring registration closing of a commercial transaction, and the like. . The operator display 24 displays the name and price of the registered product, the total amount of one commercial transaction, the amount of change, and the like for an operator called a cashier. The customer display 25 displays similar information to the shopper. The printer 26 prints and issues a purchase receipt. The printer 26 can also print and issue the inspection report and settlement report. The card reader 27 intercepts data on a card medium such as a credit card, a point card, a prepaid card, or an electronic money card. The scanner 28 optically reads a bar code or a two-dimensional data code.

  These input / output devices 23 to 28 are detachable with respect to the chip set 18, and it is not necessary to connect all of them as the POS terminal 3, and necessary devices are selectively used according to the use of the POS terminal 3. Connected to. In addition, other input / output devices such as a wireless tag reader / writer may be connected.

  The POS terminal 3 is equipped with a monitoring board 40 separately from the motherboard 10. The monitoring board 40 includes a monitoring controller 41, a memory 42, a monitoring side communication interface 43, and a changeover switch 44.

  The monitoring controller 41 is connected to the chip set 18. A function (monitoring means) for monitoring the state of the motherboard 10 in accordance with a monitoring program to be described later. When an abnormality of the motherboard 10 is detected by this function, an abnormality is detected in the monitoring system 8 using the dedicated network 6. When a function for notifying (notifying means) and a line switching request from the monitoring system 8 are received, the switch 11 is controlled to be switched so that the CPU 11 mounted on the motherboard 10 and the POS server 4 are connected through the dedicated network 6. A signal SWC is output to realize a function for switching lines (switching means).

  A non-volatile memory 42 such as a flash memory stores a monitoring program to be described later. Further, data necessary for monitoring by the monitoring controller 41 is stored.

  The monitoring-side communication interface 43 manages a data transmission / reception communication procedure performed via the dedicated network 6. The communication procedure is based on a communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The changeover switch 44 is interposed between the monitoring communication interface 43 and the monitoring controller 41, and connects the monitoring communication interface 43 to the monitoring controller 41 during normal times. When the switching control signal SWC is received from the monitoring controller 41, the monitoring side communication interface 43 is disconnected from the monitoring controller 41 and connected to the chip set 18 of the motherboard 10.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the monitoring controller 41 when the monitoring program is activated. The monitoring program is a resident program that is activated simultaneously with the activation of the POS terminal 3.

  When the monitoring program is started, the monitoring controller 41 monitors whether there is a communication abnormality in the LAN 5 from the state of the communication interface 17 mounted on the motherboard 10 (ST1, ST2). If no communication abnormality has occurred (NO in ST2), the monitoring controller 41 monitors whether a computer virus is detected from the data file stored in the auxiliary storage unit 14 or the RAM 13 on the motherboard 10 (ST3, ST4). ). When the computer virus is not detected (NO in ST4), the monitoring controller 41 returns to the process in step ST1 (the monitoring unit).

  As a result of monitoring the mother board 10 side, if a communication abnormality in the LAN 5 is detected (YES in ST2), the monitoring controller 41 proceeds to the process in step ST6. If a computer virus is detected (YES in ST4), the monitoring controller 41 sets a virus detection flag in the memory 42 (ST5), and then proceeds to the process of step ST6.

  In step ST6, the monitoring controller 41 notifies the monitoring system 8 from the monitoring side communication interface 43 to the monitoring system 8 through the dedicated network 6 of the abnormality on the motherboard 10 side. At this time, the type of abnormality, for example, the communication abnormality of LAN5, or whether a computer virus is detected is notified so as to be identifiable (ST6: notification means).

  The monitoring system 8 that has received the notification notifies the notification content. In addition, a line switching request command is transmitted to the notification source POS terminal 3 through the dedicated network 6.

  The monitoring controller 41 of the POS terminal 3 that has notified the abnormality on the mother board 10 side waits to receive a line switching request command (ST7). When receiving the command (ST7), the monitoring controller 41 determines whether or not a virus detection flag is set in the memory 42 (ST8).

  When the virus detection flag is not set in the memory 42 (NO in ST8), the monitoring controller 41 turns on the switching control signal SWC to the changeover switch 44 and connects the changeover switch 44 to the motherboard from the monitoring controller 41 side. 10 is switched to the chipset 18 side (ST9: switching means). On the other hand, when the virus detection flag is set in the memory 42, that is, when a computer virus is detected on the mother board 10 side (NO in ST8), the switch switching control in step ST9 is not performed.

  As described above, in the POS terminal 3 of the present embodiment, when the monitoring controller 41 detects that the LAN 5 has become unable to communicate for some reason, the monitoring controller 41 sends the LAN 5 via the dedicated network 6 to the monitoring system 8. An abnormality is notified. Upon receiving this notification, when a line switching request command is transmitted from the monitoring system 8 to the POS terminal 3 through the dedicated network 6, the changeover switch 44 is connected to the monitoring controller 41 side in the monitoring board 40 of the POS terminal 3. To the chipset 18 side of the motherboard 10. As a result, the CPU 11 on the mother board 10 side is connected to the POS server 4 via the dedicated network 6, so that even if the LAN 5 becomes incapable of communication, normal product sales data registration work as the POS terminal 3 is performed. can do.

  In addition, since the monitoring system 8 that has received the notification of abnormality reports that the LAN 5 cannot communicate, the operator of the monitoring system 8 investigates whether or not the LAN communication can be recovered remotely. If recovery is possible, perform recovery operation. If recovery is not possible, go to the site and perform recovery work. When the LAN communication is restored, a restoration command is transmitted from the monitoring system 8 to the POS terminal 3. This command is transmitted to the POS terminal 3 through the dedicated network 6 and is given to the monitoring controller 41 via the communication interface 43 and the chip set 18. As a result, the monitoring controller 41 turns off the switching control signal SWC to the changeover switch 44 and switches the changeover switch 44 from the chipset 18 side to the monitoring controller 41 side.

  On the other hand, when a computer virus is detected, the abnormality is notified to the monitoring system 8, but the changeover switch 44 is not switched. In addition, even if the LAN 5 becomes incapable of communication after the computer virus is detected, the changeover switch 44 is not switched. Therefore, there is no possibility that a data file containing a computer virus will be transmitted to the outside through the dedicated network 6 and the Internet 1.

Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described.
For example, in the embodiment, the monitoring controller 41 has a function of monitoring the state of the mother board 10 and a function of notifying the monitoring system 8 of an abnormality using the dedicated network 6 when an abnormality of the mother board 10 is detected. When the line switching request is received from the monitoring system 8, the function of switching the line so that the CPU 11 mounted on the motherboard 10 and the POS server 4 are connected through the dedicated network 6 is realized. As another embodiment, the monitoring controller 41 has a function of monitoring the state of the mother board 10, and when an abnormality of the mother board 10 is detected, the CPU 11 and the POS server 4 mounted on the mother board 10 are connected via the dedicated network 6. A switching control signal SWC is output to the changeover switch 44 so as to be connected, thereby realizing a function of switching the line. Providing a POS terminal 3 capable of quickly recovering communication with the POS server 4 via the dedicated network 6 even if such a configuration is adopted and communication is impossible due to an abnormality in the LAN 5 connected to the POS server 4 can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the monitoring controller 41 monitors the communication state of the LAN 5. However, the state on the motherboard 10 monitored by the monitoring controller 41 is not limited to the communication state of the LAN 5. The monitoring controller 41 monitors other states on the mother board 10 side, and notifies the monitoring system 8 of the abnormality through the dedicated network 6 when the abnormality is detected. When the operator on the monitoring system 8 side who has confirmed this abnormality performs a line switching instruction operation for recovery, the monitoring controller 41 may control the changeover switch 44 in response to the instruction command.

  In the embodiment, the monitoring controller 41 monitors computer viruses, but this function is not always necessary. The monitoring controller 41 may monitor only the communication state of the LAN 5.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a control program for realizing the functions of the invention is recorded in advance in the program storage unit in the apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar program may be downloaded from the network to the apparatus. Alternatively, a similar program recorded on the recording medium may be installed in the apparatus. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program such as a CD-ROM or a memory card and can be read by the apparatus. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading the program may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) in the apparatus.

  In addition, although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Internet, 2 ... POS system, 3 ... POS terminal, 4 ... POS server, 5 ... LAN, 6 ... Dedicated network, 8 ... Monitoring computer system, 10 ... Motherboard, 17 ... Communication interface, 40 ... Monitoring board, 41 ... Controller for monitoring, 42 ... Memory, 43 ... Monitoring side communication interface, 44 ... Changeover switch.

Claims (6)

A merchandise sales data processing apparatus main body having at least a processor, a memory, a chip set, and a motherboard mounted with a communication interface, and performing data communication with a server through a first network connected to the communication interface;
A monitoring unit that is mounted on the apparatus main body independently of the motherboard and that monitors a communication state of the first network. When a communication abnormality of the first network is detected by the monitoring unit, the server and the server A monitoring board comprising switching means for switching a line so as to be connected through a second network different from the first network;
A product sales data processing apparatus characterized by comprising: A merchandise sales data processing apparatus main body having at least a processor, a memory, a chip set, and a motherboard mounted with a communication interface, and performing data communication with a server through a first network connected to the communication interface;
A monitoring unit that is mounted on the apparatus main body independently of the motherboard and that monitors the state of the motherboard. When an abnormality on the motherboard is detected by the monitoring unit, an abnormality is detected in an external device through the second network. And a monitoring board comprising switching means for switching a line so as to be connected to the server through the second network upon receiving a line switching request from the external device,
A product sales data processing apparatus characterized by comprising:   The monitoring board is interposed between the monitoring communication interface connected to the second network, the monitoring controller functioning as the monitoring means and the notification means, and between the monitoring communication interface and the monitoring controller. In the normal time, the monitoring communication interface is connected to the monitoring controller, and when a line switching request is received from the external device, the monitoring communication interface is disconnected from the monitoring controller and is connected to the motherboard-side chipset. The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a changeover switch to be connected. The monitoring means monitors a communication state of the first network;
The notification means notifies an abnormality to an external device through a second network different from the first network when the monitoring means detects that the first network cannot communicate. 2. The product sales data processing device according to 2. The monitoring means further monitors the presence or absence of a computer virus,
5. The product sales according to claim 4, wherein the switching unit does not switch the line when receiving a line switching request from the external device when the monitoring unit detects the infection of the computer virus. Data processing device. A monitoring program for a merchandise sales data processing apparatus, which has a motherboard on which at least a processor, a memory, a chip set, and a communication interface are mounted, and performs data communication with a server through a first network connected to the communication interface Because
In the product sales data processing device,
A function of monitoring a communication state of the first network;
A function of switching a line so that the server and the first network are connected through a second network different from the first network when a communication abnormality of the first network is detected;
Monitoring program to realize

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