JP2012252588A - Information processor, program and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability for an operator.SOLUTION: An information processor has execution means and display control means. The execution means executes on the background software selected on a menu screen where various kinds of functions can be selected when other software displaying the menu screen is in operation on the foreground. The display control means displays an execution screen of the software executed by the execution means on the menu screen displayed by display means when the other software displaying the menu screen is in operation on the foreground.

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an information processing apparatus that can select application software (hereinafter simply referred to as “software”) for a desired (purpose) process by selecting an icon prepared on a menu screen and execute the process. Are known.

  However, in the conventional information processing apparatus, it is necessary to start desired software each time, and how many levels of icons prepared on the menu screen are selected and followed until the desired software is started. In some cases, there is a problem that the usability of the operator is not good.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an execution unit and a display control unit. The execution means executes the software selected on the menu screen capable of selecting various functions in the background when the software for displaying the menu screen is operating in the foreground. The display control means displays an execution screen of software executed by the execution means on the menu screen displayed by the display means when the software for displaying the menu screen operates in the foreground.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control system of the store server according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the store server. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically showing screen transitions related to the menu screen. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the menu screen display processing operation in the store server. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a menu screen. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a submenu screen. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the execution screen. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the execution screen. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the allocation selection screen. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a menu screen after allocation using the allocation selection screen. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the display area is enlarged and displayed. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system using a cloud system.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the following description, a case will be described in which the information processing apparatus and the program of the present embodiment are applied to a store server installed in a store that sells products.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control system of the store server 1 according to the present embodiment.

  Here, the store server 1 is a server device as a host device that manages and controls a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal (not shown) installed in a backyard of a store or the like and installed in an accounting place or the like. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the store server 1 has a hardware configuration using a general computer such as a personal computer. For example, the control unit 11, a communication I / F 12, and I / O device control The unit 13 is connected by a bus B1.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

  Further, a keyboard 14, a display 15, a printer 16, a storage device (such as a hard disk drive (HDD)) 17, etc. are connected to the control unit 11 via the bus B 1 and the I / O device control unit 13. Has been.

  In other words, the control unit 11 performs operations of various devices connected via the I / O device control unit 13 by causing the CPU to develop and execute a control program stored in the ROM, the storage device 17 or the like on the RAM. In addition to controlling, it controls the operation of transmitting / receiving various data to / from a plurality of POS terminals (not shown) connected via the communication I / F 12 and a network (not shown).

  The storage device 17 stores a product master (not shown) and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the store server 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 11 of the store server 1 executes a processing procedure of a flowchart described later by causing the CPU to develop and execute a predetermined control program stored in the ROM or the like in the RAM. It functions as the display processing unit 100.

  Here, the menu display processing unit 100 includes an input receiving unit 110, a screen display unit 120, and a software execution unit 130.

  The input receiving unit 110 performs processing for receiving operation inputs on various screens displayed on the display unit 15 by an input device such as a keyboard 14 or a mouse (not shown).

  The screen display unit 120 performs processing for displaying various screens (see FIGS. 5 to 11) on the display 15. In particular, the screen display unit 120 displays software on the menu screen 15A displayed on the display unit 15 when software for displaying a menu screen 15A (see FIG. 3) described later is operating in the foreground. An execution screen of software executed by the execution unit 130 is displayed.

  The software execution unit 130 executes software selected on various screens displayed by the screen display unit 120. In particular, the software execution unit 130 executes the software selected on the menu screen 15A in the background when the software displaying the menu screen 15A (see FIG. 3 and the like) is operating in the foreground.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically showing screen transitions related to the menu screen by the screen display unit 120.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the screen display unit 120 displays a menu screen 15A that is a screen for selecting various software (various function items) included in a predetermined control program stored in a ROM or the like. When a predetermined selection icon on the menu screen 15A is selected, if there is a submenu, the submenu screen 15B is displayed.

  Then, when a predetermined icon is selected on the menu screen 15A or the submenu screen 15B, the screen display unit 120 displays a software execution screen 15C corresponding to the selected icon. The screen display unit 120 also displays an execution screen 15D obtained by graphing the execution screen 15C.

  Here, each time a desired function is executed, the desired software must be activated, and the sub-menu from the icons prepared on the menu screen 15A until the desired (target) software is activated. It is very inconvenient for the operator to select and follow several levels via the screen 15B or the like.

  Therefore, the control unit 11 (the screen display unit 120 or the like) of the store server 1 starts the software continuously in the background when the software for displaying the menu screen 15A is operating in the foreground, as shown in FIG. As shown, a graph of the execution screen 15D, that is, a software execution screen is displayed on the menu screen 15A.

  In this way, a software execution screen that displays analysis data (such as a sales report graph) that is to be monitored intensively is always placed on the menu screen 15A, thereby requiring troublesome operations by the user. Therefore, it is possible to always see analysis data to be monitored on the menu screen 15A.

  Next, details of the processing operation in the store server 1 of this embodiment having the above-described features will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the menu screen display processing operation in the store server 1.

  In FIG. 4, when the screen display unit 120 of the menu display processing unit 100 displays the menu screen 15A (see FIG. 5) on the display unit 15 (step S101), the input receiving unit 110 performs a predetermined operation by the operator. When an operation for selecting the selection icons 15a to 15c is input, the screen display unit 120 displays the submenu screen 15B (see FIG. 6) on the display unit 15 (step S102).

  Here, the menu screen 15A shown in FIG. 5 is a screen for selecting various software (various function items) included in a predetermined control program stored in the ROM or the like. In the example of FIG. 5, the menu screen 15A is for selecting and executing the “check” selection icon 15a for selecting and executing the check software, the “checkout” selection icon 15b for selecting and executing the checkout software, and the setting software. A “setting” selection icon 15c is shown.

  Further, the menu screen 15A of the present embodiment is a display area for displaying an execution screen of software operating in the background in addition to the selection icons described above, and a unique number ((4 in the example in the figure)). ) To (9)) are provided with a plurality of display areas 15d to 15i as substantially blank display areas.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the default display sizes of the display areas 15d to 15i are the same display sizes as the selection icons 15a to 15c, but are not limited to this, and the display sizes of the two are different. It is also possible.

  Moreover, in the example of FIG. 5, although the arrangement | sequence of each display area 15d-15i has taken the same arrangement | sequence form as selection icon 15a-15c, it is not limited to this, You may make both arrangement | sequences different. Is possible.

  A submenu screen 15B shown in FIG. 6 is a screen displayed on the display unit 15 when each selection icon in the menu screen 15A of FIG. 5 is selected.

  The example of FIG. 6 shows a submenu screen 15B displayed on the display unit 15 when the “inspection” selection icon 15a on the menu screen 15A of FIG. 5 is selected. In the example of FIG. 6, the submenu screen 15B is used to select and execute an “ABC” selection icon 15j for selecting and executing software for executing ABC analysis and software for executing preliminary (sale of sales) analysis. The “breaking news” selection icon 15k is shown.

  Subsequently, returning to FIG. 4, when the input receiving unit 110 inputs an operation for selecting the predetermined selection icons 15 j and 15 k by the operator, the software execution unit 130 executes the software corresponding to the icon, and the screen display unit 120. However, the execution screen 15C (see FIG. 7) corresponding to the execution of the software is displayed on the display 15 (step S103).

  Here, the execution screen 15C shown in FIG. 7 is a screen displayed on the display unit 15 when the selection icon on the submenu screen 15B of FIG. 6 is selected.

  The example of FIG. 7 shows a software execution screen 15C displayed on the display unit 15 when the “breaking news” selection icon 15k on the submenu screen 15B of FIG. 6 is selected. In the example of FIG. 7, a table showing a sales report of a certain product A (for example, a table showing how many products A have been sold at what time) 15l is displayed.

  In the execution screen 15C, a plurality of instruction button icons 15m to 15r for instructing various functions are displayed on the right end of the screen.

  Specifically, a plurality of instruction button icons include a “next page” button icon 15m that displays the contents of the next page, a “previous page” button icon 15n that displays the contents of the previous page, and a display area 151. The “print” button icon 15o for printing the contents displayed on the screen, the “preview” button icon 15p for graphing the table displayed in the display area 151 and displaying it in the display area 151, and the display area 151 A “place on menu screen” button icon 15q for displaying the contents of the current screen in any of the display areas 15d to 15i of the menu screen and an “end” button icon 15r for closing and closing the execution screen 15C are included. Yes.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display mode of the execution screen 15D when the “preview” button icon 15p is selected on the execution screen 15C shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the execution screen 15D displays a graph 15s obtained by graphing a sales report of a certain product A shown in the table 15l. That is, in this case, a graph is displayed so that it can be seen at a glance whether or not the number of sales (items) of a certain product A has reached the daily sales target number (for example, 150). The graph 15s is displayed changing in real time.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the input receiving unit 110 inputs an operation of selecting the “place on menu screen” button icon 15 q by the operator on the execution screen 15 </ b> C, the software execution unit 130 displays the software to be placed on the menu screen. The software for displaying the execution screen is specified (step S104), and the screen display unit 120 displays the allocation selection screen 15E (see FIG. 9) on the display 15 (step S105).

  Here, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the allocation selection screen 15D displayed on the display unit 15 when the “place on menu screen” button icon 15q is selected on the execution screen 15C.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the allocation selection screen 15D is executed by selecting one of the numbers ((4) to (9), etc.) assigned to the display areas 15d to 15i of the menu screen 15A. This is a screen for displaying the table 15l of the screen 15C or the graph 15s of the execution screen 15D, that is, the software execution screen in any of the display areas 15d to 15i of the menu screen 15A.

  When a number assigned to the display areas 15d to 15i where the software execution screen is already displayed is selected, the newly selected software is replaced with the software execution screen already displayed. The execution screen is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, when the input selection unit 110 inputs an allocation selection operation for selecting a predetermined number by the operator on the allocation selection screen 15E, the screen display unit 120 corresponds to the number selected by the operator. In the display area (any one of 15d to 15i) to be displayed, the software execution screen identified in step S104, that is, the execution screen corresponding to the software execution of the software execution unit 130 is reduced and displayed (step S106). Terminate the process.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the menu screen 15A after assignment (after number designation) using the assignment selection screen 15E.

  The example of FIG. 10 shows the state of the menu screen 15A when the “place on menu screen” button icon 15q is selected on the execution screen 15D of FIG. 8 and the number (9) is selected on the assignment selection screen 15E. Yes.

  In this case, the software execution screen displayed in the display area 15i to which the number (9) is allocated operates in the background and always displays the graph 15s that changes in real time. Yes.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the display area 15i is enlarged and displayed.

  That is, FIG. 11 shows the software displayed in the display area 15i by dragging the corner of the execution screen of the software displayed in the display area 15i with the mouse icon on the menu screen 15A shown in FIG. This shows a state where the display size of the execution screen is changed to an enlarged display.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the operator can change the display size of the software execution screen displayed in the display areas 15d to 15i to an arbitrary size.

  In addition to the above-described embodiment, the above-described operation can be realized by an information processing system including a store server and another server device. In this case, one server device may perform processing for displaying the menu screen in the store server, or a plurality of server devices may share processing for displaying the menu screen in the store server. .

Cloud computing can be used to realize such an information processing system.
More specifically, a software providing form called “Software as a Service (SaaS)” is suitable.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system 10 that uses a cloud system.

  The information processing system 10 includes a store server 1, a cloud 2, and a communication network 3.

  In the example of FIG. 12, the cloud 2 includes a plurality of server devices 21, and the plurality of server devices 21 are configured to be able to communicate with each other. It is also possible to configure.

  The store server 1 can communicate with the cloud 2 via the communication network 3. As the store server 2, various personal computers such as a desktop type and a notebook type, and a portable information terminal can be used as appropriate. As the communication network 3, the Internet, a private network, a next generation network, a mobile network, or the like can be used as appropriate.

  The information processing system 10 includes a menu screen 15A (see FIGS. 5, 10, and 11), a submenu screen 15B (see FIG. 6), and an execution screen 15C (see FIG. 7) among the processes shown in FIG. ), Display data creation processing for displaying the execution screen 15D (see FIG. 8) and the allocation selection screen 15E (see FIG. 9) on the display 15 of the store server 1 is executed in the cloud 2.

  In the information processing system 10, a menu screen is arranged as a graphical user interface on the screen of the store server 1 serving as a client. That is, the store server 1 serving as a client functions as a UI control that controls a menu screen by using Microsoft Silverlight (registered trademark) which is a plug-in of a web browser, for example. Master data is set in such UI control. The master data set in the UI control is transmitted from the cloud 2 to the store server 1.

  That is, according to the embodiment described above, the usability of the operator can be improved.

  Specifically, each time you want to see the execution screen of the desired software, you do not have to start the desired software each time, that is, the icons prepared on the menu screen until the desired software is started. Since it becomes unnecessary to perform the troublesome operation of selecting and following several levels, it is possible to improve the usability of the operator.

  More specifically, software execution screens that display analysis data (such as sales report graphs) that you want to focus on are placed on the menu screen at all times, requiring cumbersome user operations. Therefore, it is possible to always see the analysis data to be monitored on the menu screen.

  As mentioned above, although demonstrated based on exemplary embodiment, this invention is not limited by above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a mode has been described in which an execution screen of software that executes software for analyzing breaking news (sales bulletin) is displayed in the display area (any one of 15d to 15i) on the menu screen 15A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an execution screen of other software can be displayed in the display area (any one of 15d to 15i) on the menu screen 15A.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the form in which the store server 1 is not included in the cloud 2 has been described, but the store server 1 may be included in the cloud 2 and any one of the server devices 21 may be used. In this case, a menu screen 15A (see FIGS. 5, 10, and 11), a submenu screen 15B (see FIG. 6), and an execution screen 15C are displayed on the display unit 15 of the server device 21 (store server 1). (See FIG. 7), execution processing of display data for displaying the execution screen 15D (see FIG. 8) and the allocation selection screen 15E (see FIG. 9) is executed in the other server device 21.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment is applied to a store server has been described. However, besides this, a POS (Point Of Sales: point-of-sale data management) terminal or an ECR (Electronic Cash) is used. The present invention can also be applied to other information processing apparatuses such as a (Register) apparatus.

  The program executed by the store server of the above-described embodiment can be provided by being incorporated in advance in a storage unit such as a ROM. The program can be provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium in an installable or executable format file. Furthermore, the program can be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Moreover, although some embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of 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.

1 store server 11 control unit 15 display (display means)
100 Menu display processing unit (display control means)
110 Input reception unit 120 Screen display unit 130 Software execution unit

JP-A-11-110646

Claims (6)

Display that displays a menu screen from which various functions can be selected. Software that operates in the background when operating in the foreground, and displays the execution screen of the software selected on the menu screen on the menu screen. Control means,
An information processing apparatus. Execution means for executing software selected on the menu screen capable of selecting various functions in the background when the software displaying the menu screen is operating in the foreground;
Display control means for displaying an execution screen of software executed by the execution means on the menu screen displayed by the display means when the software for displaying the menu screen is operating in the foreground;
An information processing apparatus. The display control means includes
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the software execution screen is reduced and displayed in a predetermined display area provided on the menu screen separately from a selection icon capable of selecting a function.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit displays a graph whose display changes in real time as the execution screen in the predetermined display area. Computer
Execution means for executing software selected on the menu screen capable of selecting various functions in the background when the software displaying the menu screen is operating in the foreground;
Display control means for displaying an execution screen of software executed by the execution means on the menu screen displayed by the display means when the software for displaying the menu screen is operating in the foreground;
Program to make it work. An information processing device for displaying a menu screen;
A server device that accepts a processing request from the information processing device;
An information processing system comprising:
The information processing apparatus includes:
Based on the data received from the server device, software that displays a menu screen that allows selection of various functions, operates in the background when operating in the foreground, and the software selected on the menu screen Display control means for displaying an execution screen on the menu screen;
An information processing system.

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