JP2012238166A - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing device and a program which allow prompt use of an application when shifting to a power-saving mode after recovering from a power outage.SOLUTION: The information processing device includes storage means, start-up means and mode shifting means. The storage means stores operation modes of the own device. The start-up means starts the own device when power supply has been restored after a power interruption occurred without execution of a prescribed interruption processing in one of the operation modes, and then starts a prescribed application. The mode shifting means makes the own device enter a power-saving mode after starting the application when the storage means stores the power-saving mode as one of the operation modes.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus and a program.

  In a large store or the like, there are cases where a plurality of POS (Point Of Sales) terminals are operated according to the customer's capacity, and POS terminals that do not need to be operated are shifted to a standby mode to take power saving measures. In such a standby mode, power supply to a part of the control unit or the like is stopped in a state where an application used for settlement processing or the like is activated. Therefore, when returning from the standby mode to the normal mode, the payment application can be used promptly, and the payment process can be resumed without waiting for the customer.

  By the way, in such a POS terminal, when the power supply is restored after a power failure, it is desired that the POS terminal is quickly restored to a state in which payment processing can be performed. Conventionally, there has been disclosed a technique for automatically shifting an apparatus to an operation mode before power-off when power is restored after power-off.

  However, the conventional technique has a problem that the application cannot be used promptly after the power supply is restored.

  The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a storage unit, an activation unit, and a mode transition unit. The storage means stores the operation mode of the own device. The activation means activates its own device and activates a predetermined application when the power supply is interrupted without performing a predetermined interruption process in the operation mode and the power supply is restored after the power supply interruption. When the power saving mode is stored as the operation mode in the storage means, the mode shifting means shifts the own apparatus to the power saving mode after the application is started.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the POS terminal of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the POS terminal. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the POS terminal. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of operation mode transition processing performed by the POS terminal. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the startup process performed after the POS terminal recovers the power. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the POS terminal according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the application activation time table. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the startup process performed after the POS terminal recovers the power.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a POS terminal is used as the information processing apparatus will be described. Note that the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment is not limited to this, and may be used in other electronic devices such as a PC (Personal Computer).

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the POS terminal 1 of the first embodiment. The POS terminal 1 is placed on a drawer 12 for storing cash and controls opening and closing of a drawer 12a of the drawer 12. On the front side of the POS terminal 1, a mode key 14 is provided for selecting various business modes such as registration, inspection, checkout, and setting. Also, on the keyboard 13 provided in front of the POS terminal 1, an operator (store clerk), for example, a numeric key for placing a deposit amount or the like, or a total output of products registered for sale as one transaction There are arranged operation keys for inputting various operations, such as a current total key for instructing 1 and a closing key for selecting the end of sales registration for a transaction and performing accounting processing and closing processing.

  Further, the POS terminal 1 is provided with a store clerk display 15 on the front side and a customer display 16 on the back side. For example, a liquid crystal display or the like is used for the store clerk display 15 and the customer display 16, and displays the name and price of a product registered for sale, the total amount of one transaction, the amount of change, and the like. The POS terminal 1 has a built-in printer 17 for printing receipts and journals. The receipt printed by the printer 17 is issued from a receipt issuing port 18 formed on the front side of the POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1 is connected to a scanner 19 for reading a barcode attached to the product.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a communication I / F 24, and the like, which are connected to each other via a bus 26.

  Also, an I / O device control unit 25 is connected to the bus 26. The I / O device control unit 25 includes a keyboard 13, a display 15 for salesclerks, a display 16 for customers, a printer 17, a scanner 19, and an HDD (Hard). I / O devices such as (Disk Drive) 27 are connected. The CPU 21 controls these I / O devices via the I / O device control unit 25. The communication I / F 24 communicates with other information processing apparatuses and store servers via a network such as a LAN.

  The ROM 22 stores various programs executed by the CPU 21 and various data. The RAM 23 is configured by a FlashROM such as a BIOSROM, and stores various types of BIOS data and a program according to the present embodiment. The RAM 23 temporarily stores data and programs when the CPU 21 executes various programs. Further, the RAM 23 stores sales data indicating the sales record of the product and various screen display data to be displayed on the store clerk display 15 and the customer display 16. The CPU 21 (processor) generates the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 on the main storage device by reading and executing the program of the present embodiment together with the BIOS from the RAM 23.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the POS terminal 1. The program executed by the POS terminal 1 of the present embodiment has a module configuration including an activation unit 31, an operation mode transition unit 32, a shutdown state management unit 33, a mode determination unit 34, and the like. The CPU 21 (processor) reads out the program of the present embodiment from the RAM 23 together with the BIOS and executes it. As a result, the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device, and an activation unit 31, an operation mode transition unit 32, a shutdown state management unit 33, a mode determination unit 34, and the like are generated on the main storage device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a power saving mode storage area 28 and a shutdown state storage area 29 are provided in the nonvolatile memory area of the RAM 23.

  The activation unit 31 performs activation processing of the POS terminal 1. That is, when power is supplied to the POS terminal 1, the activation unit 31 reads the BIOS from the BIOS ROM, activates the BIOS, and activates the OS after the BIOS is activated. And the starting part 31 starts the application registered into startup after starting of OS. As a startup application (hereinafter referred to as a startup application), for example, there is a payment application for performing a payment process.

  The operation mode transition unit 32 transitions the power saving mode of the POS terminal 1 in cooperation with the OS and the BIOS. The operation mode transition unit 32 transitions the power supply of the POS terminal 1 from the normal mode to the predetermined power saving mode when there is no input from the user for a predetermined time. The operation mode transition unit 32 may cause the POS terminal 1 to transition to a predetermined power saving mode when a suspend request is received from an OS shutdown menu, a power button, or the like.

  The normal mode is a power supply mode in which a user can perform information processing by operating the POS terminal 1, and is a mode generally called an S0 mode.

  The power saving mode is a power supply mode in which a user cannot operate the POS terminal 1 to perform information processing, and is generally a mode called an S1 mode, an S3 mode, an S4 mode, or the like. The power saving mode is also called a suspend mode or a standby mode.

  The S1 mode (Power On Suspend) is a power saving mode in which energization to the CPU 21 is stopped and the CPU clock is stopped while energization to the chipset is maintained. The S3 mode (Suspend To RAM) is a power saving mode in which the power supplied to the RAM 23 is stopped while the energization of the RAM 23 is held and the data developed in the RAM 23 is held as it is. The S4 mode (Suspend To HDD) is a power saving mode in which the data developed in the RAM 23 is copied to the HDD 27 and the power supply to the HDD 27 is stopped while power supply to the HDD 27 is stopped.

  Electronic devices such as POS terminals and PCs are generally provided with a power management application, and input from the user, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, etc., is fixed according to the power management application or BIOS settings. When there is no time or more, it is possible to automatically shift to each power saving mode.

  The operation mode transition unit 32 causes the POS terminal 1 to transition from the normal mode to the power saving mode when there is no input to the POS terminal 1 for a certain period of time based on such a power management application or BIOS setting. .

  Further, the operation mode transition unit 32 is a case where the POS terminal 1 is in a certain power saving mode (first power saving mode), and when there is no input from the user for a certain time, another power saving mode (second (Power saving mode).

  As described above, generally, the transition to the power saving mode is executed by at least one of the BIOS and the OS. Therefore, the function of the operation mode transition unit 32 may be generated on the BIOS or a function generated on the OS.

  When the POS terminal 1 shifts from the normal mode to the power saving mode, the operation mode shift unit 32 stores information indicating the transfer destination power saving mode in the power saving mode storage area 28. In addition, the operation mode transition unit 32, when the POS terminal 1 is shifted from the first power saving mode (for example, the S1 mode) to the second power saving mode (for example, the S3 mode), Information indicating (S3 mode) is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28.

  The power saving mode storage area 28 is a storage area for storing information indicating the power saving mode of the transfer destination when the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 has shifted to any one of the plurality of power saving modes. is there. As information indicating the power saving mode of the transfer destination, a mode number indicating each power saving mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28, such as S1, S3, S4, for example. Each power saving mode may be indicated using a flag.

  The shutdown state management unit 33 normally shuts down in the shutdown state storage area 29 when the POS terminal 1 is powered off through a predetermined procedure, such as when shutdown is selected from the OS shutdown menu. Remind me.

  The shutdown state storage area 29 is a storage area for storing the shutdown state of the POS terminal 1 using a flag value or the like.

  As an example, the shutdown state management unit 33 sets the value of the flag in the shutdown state storage area 29 to 1 when the POS terminal 1 is activated (for example, when the BIOS is activated). Moreover, the shutdown state management part 33 sets the value of a flag to 0, when a shutdown operation is received. Then, in the event of an emergency such as a power failure, when the power is shut off without a predetermined shut-off process, the flag in the shutdown state storage area 29 is 1, and it is determined that the shutdown is normal (the flag value is 0). can do.

  Next, the operation when the power is restored after the power failure and the POS terminal 1 is activated will be described. The activation unit 31 performs BIOS and OS activation processing and activates a startup application.

  When the value of the flag in the shutdown state storage area 29 is 1 (that is, when the power is shut off without performing a predetermined shutdown process), the mode determination unit 34 stores the value in the power saving mode storage area 28. Read the operating mode. And the mode determination part 34 determines whether the operation mode at the time of a power supply interruption is a power saving mode.

  That is, when the S0 mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28, the mode determination unit 34 determines that the operation mode when the power is turned off is not the power saving mode because it is the normal mode. On the other hand, when any one of the S1 mode, S3 mode, and S4 mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28, the mode determination unit 34 determines that the operation mode at the time of power-off is the power saving mode. To do.

  The operation mode transition unit 32 transitions the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 to the power saving mode read by the mode determination unit 34 when the startup application is activated by the activation unit 31. That is, the operation mode transition unit 32 cooperates with the OS to monitor the activation state of the application, and when the activation processing of all the applications registered in the startup is completed, the operation mode is changed to the above power saving mode. Transition.

  Next, the procedure of the operation mode transition process performed by the POS terminal 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of operation mode transition processing performed by the POS terminal 1.

  The POS terminal 1 starts the operation in the normal mode (S0 mode) after the OS is started (step S1). The operation mode transition unit 32 determines whether or not an operation from the user is accepted for a predetermined time (step S2). While the user's operation is accepted (step S2: No), the process returns to step S1. When the operation from the user is not accepted for a predetermined time (step S2: Yes), the operation mode transition unit 32 shifts the POS terminal 1 to a predetermined power saving mode (for example, S1 mode) and saves the transition destination. Information indicating the power mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28 (step S3).

  Then, the operation mode transition unit 32 determines whether or not an operation from the user has been accepted (step S4). When an operation from the user is accepted (step S4: Yes), the operation mode transition unit 32 transitions the operation mode to the normal mode (step S1).

  If no operation from the user is accepted (step S4: No), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed without accepting the operation (step S5). If the predetermined time does not elapse (step S5: No), the process returns to step S4 and waits until the predetermined time elapses. On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed (step S5: Yes), the mode shifts to another power saving mode (for example, S3 mode), and information indicating the destination power saving mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28. (Step S6).

  Next, the procedure of the startup process performed after the POS terminal 1 restores power will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the startup process performed by the POS terminal 1 after the power supply is restored.

  First, when the power is restored after a power failure (step S11), the activation unit 31 performs a BIOS activation process (step S12). When the BIOS activation process ends, the activation unit 31 performs an OS activation process (step S13). In this case, the operation mode is the normal mode. When the startup process of the OS ends, the startup unit 31 starts the startup process of the application registered in the startup (Step S14).

  The mode determination unit 34 determines whether or not the power saving mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28 (step S15). When the power saving mode is not stored and the normal mode (S0 mode) is stored (step S15: No), the normal mode is continued (step S18), and the startup process is terminated.

  In step S15, when the power saving mode is stored (step S15: Yes), the operation mode transition unit 32 determines whether or not the application activation process started in step S14 has ended (step S15). S16). If the application activation process is not completed (step S16: No), the process waits (step S16). When the application activation process ends (step S16: Yes), the operation mode shift unit 32 shifts the operation mode to the power saving mode read in step S15 (step S17), and ends the activation process.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, after a predetermined application is activated after the power is restored, the application is shifted to the power saving mode. Therefore, even when returning from the power saving mode, the application can be used promptly. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the POS terminal 201 according to the second embodiment. The same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 230 of the POS terminal 201 mainly includes an activation unit 31, an operation mode transition unit 232, a shutdown state management unit 33, and a mode determination unit 34. The RAM 23 further stores an application activation time table 35.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the application activation time table 35. As shown in FIG. 7, the application activation time table 35 stores the time (activation time) required for activation of the startup application (application) in association with each application. For example, the application activation time table 35 stores that the activation time of the application A and the application B is 20 seconds, and the activation time of the application C is 30 seconds.

  The activation time of each application is measured in advance before shipment of the POS terminal 201 and stored in the application activation time table 35. Further, when another application is added to the startup after shipment, the user adds the startup time of the application to the application startup time table 35 and stores it.

  Next, an operation when the power is restored after the power failure and the POS terminal 201 is activated will be described.

  Based on the application activation time table 35, the operation mode transition unit 232 determines whether the time required for activation of the startup application has elapsed. In addition, the operation mode transition unit 232 transitions the operation mode of the POS terminal 201 to the power saving mode stored in the power saving mode storage area 28 when the time required for starting the startup application has elapsed.

  More specifically, the operation mode transition unit 232 changes the operation mode of the POS terminal 201 before power-off when the time including the total time required for activation of the startup application stored in the application activation time table 35 has elapsed. Transition to standby mode.

  Here, as the time including the total time required to start the application, for example, a time obtained by adding a predetermined time to the total start time of each application can be used. That is, according to the example of FIG. 7, the operation mode transition unit 232 adds the sum of the activation time of the application A of 20 seconds, the activation time of the application B of 20 seconds, and the activation time of the application C of 30 seconds. For example, when 80 seconds including 10 seconds as a spare time elapses in 70 seconds, the operation mode is shifted to the standby mode before power-off.

  In addition, as another example of the time including the sum of the activation times of the apps, it may be a time obtained by multiplying the activation time of the apps by a predetermined ratio, for example, by 1.1 times the sum of the activation times of the apps.

  Thereby, even when a plurality of applications are activated, the time required for activation of all the applications can be estimated. Therefore, the operation mode can be shifted after all applications are activated.

  Next, a description will be given of the startup process performed by the POS terminal 201 after the power supply is restored. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the startup process performed by the POS terminal 201 after the power is restored. In addition, description here is abbreviate | omitted about the procedure similar to the procedure demonstrated in FIG.

  In step S15, when the power saving mode is stored in the power saving mode storage area 28 (step S15: Yes), the process proceeds to step S26. Based on the application activation time table 35, the operation mode transition unit 232 determines whether the time required for the startup application activation process has elapsed (step S26). That is, it is determined whether or not the time including the sum of the activation times of the applications stored in the application activation time table 35 has elapsed (step S26).

  If the time required for the startup application startup time has not elapsed (step S26: No), the process waits (step S26). When the time required for the application activation time has elapsed (step S26: Yes), the operation mode transition unit 232 transitions the operation mode to the power saving mode read in step S15 (step S17), and performs the activation process. finish.

  In the above description, the operation mode transition unit 232 transitions the operation mode when the time including the sum of each application has elapsed, but the mode transition condition may be other conditions. As another example, the operation mode transition unit 232 may transition to the power saving mode when the time including the activation time of the application having the longest activation time has elapsed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the time required for starting a predetermined application has elapsed, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode. Therefore, after the application is started, the mode can be shifted to the power saving mode. . Therefore, even when returning from the power saving mode, this application can be used promptly.

  As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, the application can be shifted to the power saving mode after the application is started. Can be used.

  In the above description, the activation of the application registered in the startup as the predetermined application is determined. However, the predetermined application is not limited to this, and it may be determined whether the activation of another preset application is performed. Good.

  The program executed by the POS terminals 1 and 201 of the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. The program executed in the POS terminals 1 and 201 of the present embodiment is a file in an installable or executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. You may comprise so that it may record and provide on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Furthermore, the program executed by the POS terminals 1 and 201 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The program executed by the POS terminals 1 and 201 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example 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 1,201 ... POS terminal 12 ... Drawer 13 ... Keyboard 14 ... Mode key 15 ... Salesperson display 16 ... Customer display 17 ... Printer 18 ... Receipt issue port 19 ... Scanner 25 ... I / O device control unit 26 ... Bus 27 ... HDD
28 ... Power-saving mode storage area 29 ... Shutdown state storage area 30, 230 ... Control unit 31 ... Activation unit 32,232 ... Operation mode transition unit 33 ... Shutdown state management unit 34 ... Mode determination unit 35 ... Application activation time table

JP 2007-243547 A

Claims (6)

Storage means for storing the operation mode of the device itself;
In the operation mode, the power is shut off without a predetermined shut-off process, and when the power supply is restored after the power is shut off, the self-device is started, and further, a starting unit for starting a predetermined application,
When a power saving mode is stored as the operation mode in the storage means, after the application is started, a mode shifting means for shifting the own apparatus to the power saving mode;
An information processing apparatus comprising: Storage means for storing the operation mode of the device itself;
In the operation mode, the power is shut off without a predetermined shut-off process, and when the power supply is restored after the power is shut off, the self-device is started, and further, a starting unit for starting a predetermined application,
When a power saving mode is stored as the operation mode in the storage means, mode transition means for shifting the own apparatus to the power saving mode after elapse of time required for starting the application;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The storage means stores the time required for starting the application in association with each application,
In the case where a power saving mode is stored as the operation mode in the storage unit, the mode transition unit causes the device to switch itself to the power saving mode after the time required for starting the application stored in the storage unit has elapsed. To move to
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The mode shift means shifts the own device to the power saving mode after elapse of time including the total time required to start each application.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3. In an information processing apparatus provided with storage means for storing an operation mode of the own apparatus,
In the operation mode, the power is shut off without a predetermined shut-off process, and when the power supply is restored after the power is shut off, the self-device is started, and further, a starting unit for starting a predetermined application,
When a power saving mode is stored as the operation mode in the storage means, after the application is started, a mode shifting means for shifting the own apparatus to the power saving mode;
Program to function as. In an information processing apparatus provided with storage means for storing an operation mode of the own apparatus,
In the operation mode, the power is shut off without a predetermined shut-off process, and when the power supply is restored after the power is shut off, the self-device is started, and further, a starting unit for starting a predetermined application,
When a power saving mode is stored as the operation mode in the storage means, mode transition means for shifting the own apparatus to the power saving mode after elapse of time required for starting the application;
Program to function as.

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