JP2013049242A - Electronic device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adequately notify a user of the details of an abnormality that occurs at starting before entering a normal operation.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes: a starting means that has a printer to print on paper and sequentially executes a plurality of initialization processes necessary to start a hardware before entering the normal operation; and a notification means that executes notification corresponding to a progress of the plurality of initialization processes to the printer. The printer includes an abnormality detection means that detects the abnormality occurred in a given initialization process based on the notification and an output means that prints the detected abnormality on the paper.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic device and a program.

  Conventionally, when an electronic device such as an electronic cash register or a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal has an error (abnormality) during BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) processing until the OS (Operating System) is started A beep sound was sent to notify the occurrence of an abnormality.

  However, in the prior art, since the occurrence of an abnormality can be notified to the user only with a beep sound, it is difficult to accurately notify the user of the details of the abnormality that occurred during the BIOS processing. For example, the details of the abnormality such as at which stage of the BIOS processing the abnormality has occurred are difficult for the user to understand with only the beep sound. Also, even if an abnormality occurs due to the operation of the watchdog timer, etc., if the BIOS process proceeds after a certain period of time, you should not notice the abnormality when you miss the beep sound due to the abnormality. It becomes.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment is an electronic apparatus having a printing device that prints on paper, and sequentially performs a plurality of initialization processes related to hardware activation before entering a normal operation. Starting means for performing, and notifying means for performing notification to the printing apparatus according to the progress of the plurality of initialization processes, the printing apparatus is an abnormality that has occurred in a predetermined initialization process based on the notification And an output means for printing the detected abnormality on the sheet.

  Further, the program according to the embodiment includes an activation unit that sequentially performs a plurality of initialization processes related to hardware activation before entering a normal operation of a computer of an electronic device having a printing device that prints on paper. It functions as a notification means for notifying the printing apparatus of the progress of the initialization process.

  Further, the program according to the embodiment is used when a computer of a printing apparatus that prints on paper sequentially performs a plurality of initialization processes for starting up hardware before an electronic device connected to the printing apparatus enters a normal operation. An abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality that has occurred in a predetermined initialization process based on notifications made in accordance with the progress of the plurality of initialization processes; and an output means for printing the detected abnormality on the sheet. And make it work.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the control unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the receipt printer. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the CPU and the controller. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a report indicating that an abnormality has occurred. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a report indicating that an abnormality has occurred.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, details of an electronic device and a program according to the embodiment will be described. In the following description, an electronic cash register or a POS terminal having a receipt printer for printing on a receipt is exemplified as an electronic device, but any electronic device having a printing device for printing on paper may be used. Also good.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an electronic device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 is an electronic cash register or a POS terminal having a receipt printer 20 as a printing device that performs printing on a receipt. In addition to the receipt printer 20, the electronic device 1 includes a control unit 10, a monitor 11, a customer display 12, a speaker 13, a barcode scanner 14, a keyboard 15, a storage unit 16, a communication unit 17, and a cash drawer 18.

  The control unit 10 performs overall control of the operation of the electronic device 1 (details will be described later). The monitor 11 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, a liquid crystal display, or the like whose display surface is installed toward the user (clerk), and performs display to the user under the control of the control unit 10. The customer display 12 is an LED display, a liquid crystal display, or the like whose display surface is installed for the customer, and performs display to the customer under the control of the control unit 10. The speaker 13 outputs a warning sound such as a beep sound under the control of the control unit 10. The barcode scanner 14 is an optical scanner that reads a barcode attached to a product or the like under the control of the control unit 10. The keyboard 15 has various keys such as numeric keys and selection keys, and accepts user operations. The storage unit 16 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and stores various data such as various application programs and setting information in addition to a basic program such as an OS. The communication unit 17 performs communication according to a predetermined communication protocol with an external device such as a store server (not shown) under the control of the control unit 10. The cash drawer 18 is a drawer for storing cash and the like, and opens and closes under the control of the control unit 10.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the control unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 10 includes a CPU 101 (Central Processing Unit), a chip set 102, a memory 103, a BIOS ROM 104 (BIOS Read Only Memory), a communication interface 105, and a sensor 106.

  The CPU 101 expands the BIOS program P1 stored in the BIOS ROM 104 and the program stored in the storage unit 16 in the work area of the memory 103, and sequentially executes the program expanded in the work area, thereby performing the operation of the electronic device 1. Central control. Specifically, when the power is turned on (ON), the CPU 101 reads the BIOS program P1 stored in the BIOS ROM 104, and enters a normal operation by executing the basic program or application program stored in the storage unit 16. Performs initialization processing related to the previous hardware startup. Next, the CPU 101 sequentially executes the basic program and the application program stored in the storage unit 16 to perform control related to normal operations such as product registration / settlement.

  The chip set 102 is an integrated circuit that bridges the connection between the CPU 101, the memory 103 and the BIOS ROM 104, and the connection between the BIOS ROM 104 and the communication interface 105. The memory 103 is a volatile memory that provides a work area to the CPU 101. The BIOS ROM 104 stores BIOS setting data and a BIOS program P1. Note that a nonvolatile memory is used as the BIOS ROM 104, for example, a rewritable Flash ROM or the like. The BIOS program P1 is a program for performing an initialization process for starting up the hardware before entering a normal operation, and performing input / output between the CPU 101 and various hardware. The communication interface 105 connects communication between the CPU 101 and the monitor 11, customer display 12, speaker 13, barcode scanner 14, keyboard 15, storage unit 16, communication unit 17, cash drawer 18, and receipt printer 20. Interface. The sensor 106 is a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or the like for monitoring a temperature state or a power supply state when the control unit 10 operates.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the receipt printer 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the receipt printer 20 includes a controller 201, a cutter mechanism 202, a print head 203, a paper transport mechanism 204, a ROM 205, and a communication interface 206.

  The controller 201 is a microcontroller (MCU) or the like, and controls the operation of the receipt printer 20 by developing a program stored in the ROM 205 in an internal RAM (not shown) and sequentially executing the program. The cutter mechanism 202 cuts the paper transported by the paper transport mechanism 204 under the control of the controller 201. The print head 203 is a thermal head, an inkjet head, or the like, and performs printing on a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance mechanism 204 under the control of the controller 201. The paper transport mechanism 204 transports the paper taken up by the paper roll along a predetermined transport path. In addition to various setting data, the ROM 205 stores a program P2 executed by the controller 201 when the power is turned on, and report information P3 for printing a report indicating an abnormality occurring when the CPU 101 is executing the BIOS program P1. . Note that a nonvolatile memory is used as the ROM 205, for example, a rewritable Flash ROM or the like. The communication interface 206 is an interface that connects communication between the controller 201 and the control unit 10.

  Next, a functional configuration realized by the CPU 101 and the controller 201 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration in the CPU 101 and the controller 201. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 101 functions as an initialization unit 110 and a notification unit 111 by sequentially executing the BIOS program P1 described above when the power is turned on. Further, the controller 201 functions as an abnormality detection unit 210 and a report output unit 211 by sequentially executing the program P2 by turning on the power.

  The initialization unit 110 sequentially performs a plurality of initialization processes for starting up the hardware after the power is turned on and before entering the normal operation by executing the basic program and application program stored in the storage unit 16. Specifically, the initialization unit 110 performs first initialization processing for initializing communication via the communication interface 105, display on the monitor 11, customer display 12, sound output by the speaker 13, barcode Second initialization processing for initializing input / output such as input from the scanner 14 and keyboard 15, third initialization for initializing communication reading / writing in the storage unit 16 and communication via the communication unit 17 Processes are executed sequentially.

  When the initialization unit 110 sequentially executes the first initialization process, the second initialization process, and the third initialization process, the notification unit 111 sends a notification according to the progress of the initialization process to the communication interface. The receipt printer 20 is notified via 105. Specifically, the notification unit 111 performs the second initialization process after the initialization unit 110 executes the first initialization process and the communication via the communication interface 105 is initialized. Before, the first notification indicating that the first initialization process has been performed normally is performed. Upon receipt of the first notification, the receipt printer 20 can confirm that the first initialization process is completed and is before the second initialization process. Next, the notification unit 111 indicates that the second initialization process has been normally performed before the third initialization process is performed after the initialization unit 110 has performed the second initialization process. Make a notification. By receiving this notification, the receipt printer 20 can confirm that the second initialization process has ended and is before the third initialization process. Next, the notification unit 111 performs notification indicating that the third initialization process has been normally performed when the notification unit 111 has executed the third initialization process. By receiving this notification, the receipt printer 20 can confirm that the third initialization process has been completed.

  The abnormality detection unit 210 detects an abnormality that has occurred in any of the first to third initialization processes described above based on the notification from the notification unit 111. If an abnormality occurs during the first to third initialization processes performed by the initialization unit 110, the process stops midway, and the notification by the notification unit 111 is not performed. Therefore, the abnormality detection unit 210 determines the level of notification received during the first to third initialization processes performed by the initialization unit 110, whereby the first to third initializations are performed. It is detected in which initialization process in the process an abnormality has occurred.

  If an abnormality occurs during the first to third initialization processes by the initialization unit 110, the process may proceed after a certain period of time has elapsed due to the watchdog timer. Therefore, when there is a notification that is not performed within a predetermined time in the notifications related to the first to third initialization processes, the abnormality detection unit 210 has an abnormality in the initialization process corresponding to the notification. Detect that.

  The report output unit 211 refers to the report information P3, prints a report indicating the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit 210, and outputs the report. Specifically, the report information P3 includes a report printed when an abnormality occurs in each of the first to third initialization processes (inquiry destination, model name, manufacturing number, error code indicating abnormality, countermeasure) Method etc.) is recorded in advance. The report output unit 211 reads a report corresponding to the initialization process in which an abnormality is detected in the first to third initialization processes from the report information P3, and prints the read report on paper. Thereby, the user can confirm in detail from the output paper which one of the first to third initialization processes is abnormal. Also, unlike anomaly notification by beep sound, a report indicating the anomaly is printed on paper and output, so even if the process is advanced by the watchdog timer, the occurrence of the anomaly is accurately notified to the user. it can.

  Next, details of the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment.

  First, details of the operation of the CPU 101 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, when the power is turned on (ON) by operating a power switch (not shown) or the like (S1), the CPU 101 performs a first initialization process by the initialization unit 110 (S2). Next, after the first initialization process is performed, the CPU 101 makes a first notification indicating that the first initialization process is completed to the receipt printer 20 by the notification unit 111 (S3). The initialization unit 110 performs a second initialization process (S4).

  Next, after the second initialization process is performed, the CPU 101 makes a second notification indicating that the second initialization process is completed to the receipt printer 20 by the notification unit 111 (S5). The initialization unit 110 performs a third initialization process (S6). Next, after the third initialization process is performed, the CPU 101 performs a third notification indicating that the third initialization process is completed to the receipt printer 20 by the notification unit 111 (S7), and the OS The program according to the above is read from the storage unit 16 and the OS is started (S8).

  Next, details of the operation of the controller 201 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, when the power is turned on (ON) by an operation of a power switch (not shown) or the like (S10), the controller 201 reads the program P2 from the ROM 205 to read the cutter mechanism 202, the print head 203, and the paper. Initialization processing of the transport mechanism 204, the ROM 205, etc. is performed (S11), and a notification from the CPU 101 is awaited (S12). When the standby of this notification is started, the controller 201 starts a timer using an RTC (Real Time Clock) function and counts the waiting time.

  Next, the abnormality detection unit 210 of the controller 201 determines whether or not there are first to third notifications within the counted predetermined time (S13 to 15), and performs the first to third initialization processes. In which initialization process an abnormality is detected. When there is the first to third notifications (S13 to S15: YES), since no abnormality has occurred in any of the initialization processes, the controller 201 performs printing in accordance with a printing command from the control unit 10. Transition to normal operation (S16).

  When there is no first notification (S13: NO), the report output unit 211 of the controller 201 refers to the report information P3 and prints a report indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the first initialization process on a sheet. (S17). If there is no second notification (S14: NO), the report output unit 211 of the controller 201 refers to the report information P3 and prints a report indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the second initialization process. (S18). When there is no third notification (S15: NO), the report output unit 211 of the controller 201 refers to the report information P3 and prints a report indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the third initialization process. (S19).

  6 and 7 are conceptual diagrams illustrating reports indicating that an abnormality has occurred. As shown in FIG. 6, in S17 to S19, there is an abnormality in the first to third initialization processes, an inquiry destination, a model name, a manufacturing number, an error code indicating an abnormality, a countermeasure method, and the like. The described report is printed on the receipt paper R1 to notify the user.

  In the report information P3, image data in which the contents to be printed when an abnormality occurs in each of the first to third initialization processes is recorded in code information such as a QR code (registered trademark) is recorded. Also good. As shown in FIG. 7, in S17 to S19, based on the recorded image data, code information BC including the contents of a report to be printed when an abnormality occurs is printed on the receipt paper R2, and is sent to the user. Notification may be made. The user can check the abnormality by causing the reading device such as a scanner to read the code information BC printed on the receipt paper R2. Although FIG. 7 illustrates the case where the report and the code information BC are printed together, an abnormality may be notified by printing one of them. In particular, when the abnormality is notified by the code information BC, the printing area can be narrowed compared to the case where the abnormality is notified by characters, so that paper can be saved.

  Note that the programs executed by the CPU 101 and the controller 201 of this embodiment are provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like. A program executed by the CPU 101 and the controller 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. The information may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium that can be read by the user.

  Furthermore, the program executed by the CPU 101 and the controller 201 of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the CPU 101 and the controller 201 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The program executed by the CPU 101 and the controller 201 according to the present embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units (initialization unit 110, notification unit 111, abnormality detection unit 210, and report output unit 211). As hardware, a CPU (processor) reads out a program from the ROM and executes it, so that the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device and are generated on the main storage device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic device, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Monitor, 12 ... Customer display, 13 ... Speaker, 14 ... Barcode scanner, 15 ... Keyboard, 16 ... Memory | storage part, 17 ... Communication part, 18 ... Cash drawer, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Receipt printer, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... Chip set, 103 ... Memory, 104 ... BIOS ROM, 105 ... Communication interface, 106 ... Sensor, 110 ... Initialization part, 111 ... Notification part, 201 ... Controller, 202 ... Cutter Mechanism, 203 ... Print head, 204 ... Paper transport mechanism, 205 ... ROM, 206 ... Communication interface, 210 ... Abnormality detection unit, 211 ... Report output unit, BC ... Code information, P1 ... BIOS program, P2 ... Program, P3 ... Report information, R1, R2 ... Receipt paper

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-85942

Claims (6)

An electronic device having a printing device for printing on paper,
Start means for sequentially performing a plurality of initialization processes for starting the hardware before entering normal operation;
Notification means for performing notification according to the progress of the plurality of initialization processes to the printing apparatus,
The printer is
An anomaly detection means for detecting an anomaly that has occurred in a predetermined initialization process based on the notification;
Output means for printing the detected abnormality on the paper;
Electronic equipment comprising. The notification means performs notification indicating that the initialization process has been normally performed for each of the initialization processes,
The abnormality detection means detects that an abnormality has occurred in the initialization process in which notification indicating that the operation has been normally performed within a predetermined time is not performed.
The electronic device according to claim 1. The output means prints code information indicating the detected abnormality on the paper;
The electronic device according to claim 1. An electronic computer having a printing device for printing on paper;
Start means for sequentially performing a plurality of initialization processes for starting the hardware before entering normal operation;
Notification means for notifying the printing apparatus of the progress of the plurality of initialization processes;
Program to make it function. A printer computer that prints on paper,
When performing a plurality of initialization processes for starting up hardware sequentially before the electronic device connected to the printing apparatus enters a normal operation, based on a notification performed in accordance with the progress of the plurality of initialization processes An anomaly detecting means for detecting an anomaly caused by a predetermined initialization process;
Output means for printing the detected abnormality on the paper;
Program to make it function. The output means prints code information indicating the detected abnormality on the paper;
The program according to claim 5.

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