JP2015026381A - Distribution processing method, distribution processing device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distribution processing program and the like for processing data that is output for each device from an existing application, which can easily perform data distribution processing for each device without changing a program of the existing application.SOLUTION: A program causes a computer having two or more communication ports, which executes predetermined processing by an application, to execute distribution processing of data for a device that is output from the application. The program causes the computer to execute the following steps of: in an OS kernel layer, obtaining the data for the device that is to be output to a predetermined one communication port before the communication port receives the data; and, in an application layer, analyzing the obtained data for the device, determining a device to which the data is to be output, and outputting the data for the device to the communication port connected with the determined device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a program that processes data output from an existing application to each device, and in particular, a distribution that can easily perform data distribution processing to each device without changing the program of the existing application. It relates to processing programs.

  In retail sales businesses such as supermarkets, a POS system, which is a sales management system, has become widespread, and in this system, a plurality of terminal devices (registers) connected to a server via a network operate according to applications provided in the device. Execute the process. Usually, the terminal device is provided with a printer and a display, respectively, and outputs a receipt, a coupon, etc., and displays information to the user according to an instruction from the application. In addition, as a system having a configuration similar to the POS system with such output, there are a system used in a hospital, a system used in a transportation company, and the like.

  Even in such a system, it is necessary to expand the function and replace the device along with the technical improvement and business improvement request after the introduction. However, such a system is generally used as a business center at all times. Also, since there are many cases in which other systems are complexly linked, it is usually not easy to modify the application.

  As for this problem, the following proposals have conventionally been made regarding the functions of the output processing system.

  The following Patent Document 1 describes a device that performs a modem function in a personal computer that can remove the microprocessor and memory required for a conventional modem without having to modify an existing application program. Has been.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, by accessing one communication port without changing the application, it is possible to cause a printer connected to another communication port to execute printing simultaneously. A device is described that enables it.

JP-A-8-69427 JP 2006-338443 A

  However, the contents described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are not limited to realizing limited functions of the output system such as a modem function and a duplication printing function, and cannot satisfy other various demands. Further, since the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 is processing in the OS kernel layer, there is a problem that function construction (program development or the like) is generally not easy and functions are limited.

  As the printer function is improved, it is desired to expand the function of the output system with the addition or replacement of the printer, for example, to properly use the printer according to the application.

  Some existing devices have a printer and a display connected to a single communication port, and both devices can be switched. However, when replacing such a device and connecting each device to a different communication port, There is also a need to easily migrate the system without changing existing application programs.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is a program for processing data output from an existing application to each device, and easily performs data distribution processing to each device without changing the program of the existing application. To provide a distributed processing program, etc.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a computer having two or more communication ports that is operated by an operating system of the OS kernel layer and executes predetermined processing by an application provided in the application layer. A distributed processing program that executes distributed processing of device-oriented data output from the application before the communication port receives the device-oriented data output to the predetermined one communication port, in the OS kernel layer. In the data acquisition process to be acquired and the application layer, the data for the device acquired in the data acquisition process is analyzed, and the device that outputs the data for the device is determined based on the result of the analysis. The device is connected to the communication port to which the device is connected. A data processing step of outputting a scan for data, is allowed to execute the computer, is that.

  Further, in the above invention, according to one aspect, the connected device is a printing apparatus and a display apparatus, and the device data output from the application is printing apparatus data or display apparatus data. It is characterized by that.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, according to one aspect, in the case where the number of devices to be connected is two and the device switching signal is included in the device-oriented data output from the application, based on the switching signal. The device to output is determined.

  In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention comprises a computer having two or more communication ports that is operated by an operating system of the OS kernel layer and executes predetermined processing by an application provided in the application layer. Before the communication port receives the device-oriented data to be output to the predetermined one communication port, the distributed processing device that executes distributed processing of the device-oriented data output from the application receives the OS kernel Analyzing the data for the device acquired by the data acquisition unit in the data acquisition unit acquired by the layer and the application layer, and determining the device that outputs the data for the device based on the result of the analysis, The device is connected to the communication port to which the determined device is connected. Has a data processing unit for outputting data, a, is that.

  In order to achieve the above object, still another aspect of the present invention provides a computer having two or more communication ports that is operated by an operating system of an OS kernel layer and executes predetermined processing by an application provided in the application layer. A distributed processing method for performing distributed processing of data for devices output from the application, before the communication port receives the data for devices output to the predetermined one of the communication ports by the computer. The data acquisition step acquired by the OS kernel layer, and the computer analyzes the device data acquired in the data acquisition step by the application layer, and outputs the device data based on the analysis result Decide which device to use A data processing step of outputting a device for data communication port constant the device is connected, a, is that.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

It is a schematic block diagram which concerns on the embodiment of the POS terminal device to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic function block diagram of a POS terminal device. It is the flowchart which illustrated the process sequence of the output destination distribution process. It is a figure for demonstrating the improvement of a POS system.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a POS terminal device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic functional configuration diagram of the POS terminal apparatus. A POS terminal apparatus 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the apparatus, data for a device output from the POS application 201 is transmitted to a virtual port 203 (data acquisition unit) of the OS kernel layer 230. Get in. The acquired data is received by the port handler 204 of the application layer 220, and a predetermined output destination is determined based on the analysis result of the data. Thereafter, the processed data is output from the port handler 204 to the determined communication port 209. The POS terminal apparatus 2 executes such processing, and easily realizes distributed processing for device data without changing the program of the POS application 201.

  In this embodiment, a POS system used in a supermarket or the like is assumed, and a plurality of POS terminal devices 2 are connected to a POS server 1 via a network 4 as shown in FIG. Yes. The POS server 1 is constituted by a computer system, and executes processing such as management of the plurality of POS terminal devices 2 and aggregation and management of various data acquired from the POS terminal devices 2.

  The POS terminal device 2 is installed at each cash register and is connected to the printer 3. The printer 3 outputs a receipt or coupon according to the print data of the device-oriented data output from the POS terminal device 2. Therefore, the POS terminal device 2 is positioned as the host device of the printer 3.

  In addition, a display 5 is connected to the POS terminal device 2, and the display 5 displays the amount of merchandise shown to the customer according to the display data of the device-oriented data output from the POS terminal device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each POS terminal device 2 includes a POS terminal main body 21, a keyboard 23, a barcode reader 24, a card reader 25, and the like. The keyboard 23 is used for an operator to input product information such as price and product code, and customer information such as sex and age. Further, the barcode reader 24 reads the barcode attached to the product to acquire product information, and the card reader 25 reads the information stored in various cards to acquire information necessary for settlement.

  The POS terminal main body 21 generates information to be printed on a receipt or a coupon based on the information acquired from the keyboard 23, the barcode reader 24, and the card reader 25, and outputs the information to the printer 3 or the display 5 Generate and output information to be displayed on. The POS terminal main body 21 is configured by a computer and includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD and the like (not shown). A program of the POS application 201 to be described later and a program for the distributed processing are stored in the ROM, and each processing is executed by the CPU operating according to these programs.

  Further, the POS terminal device 2 has a functional configuration as shown in FIG. The POS application 201 generates information to be printed on the receipts and coupons described above and information to be displayed on the display 5 and outputs them, but the data generated here is the data before the output destination distributed processing is performed. The original data. The generated print data is in a format that can be output to the printer 3A as it is, that is, in a format that is a command depending on the model (device) of the printer 3A, or in a format that is passed to the printer 3A driver 202. . The former is generated in the case of simple print data such as printing of text only. The display data is also in a format that is output to the display 5 as it is.

  The printer 3A driver 202 is a printer driver for the printer 3A, and the printer 3A can receive and print the data output from the POS application 201 by a command depending on the model (device) of the printer 3A. Output as print data.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the POS application 201 and the printer 3A driver 202 are located in an application layer 220 on which a program executes each process based on an operating system (OS) of a computer. Both are constituted by a program stored in the ROM for instructing each processing content and the CPU for executing processing according to the program. Moreover, both are not the part newly added and improved by this invention, but the thing of a conventional apparatus is used as it is.

  Next, the virtual port 203 is located in the operating system before the communication port 209 receives print data or display data (herein referred to as original data) output from the POS application 201 or the printer 3A driver 202. This is a part received by the OS kernel layer 230. Then, the virtual port 203 delivers the acquired original data to the port handler 204.

  Next, a port handler 204, a data analysis unit 205, a data processing unit 206, a command conversion unit 207, and a data storage unit 208 are data processing units that execute output destination distribution processing using original data. The function of the POS application 201 can be expanded by the processing.

  The port handler 204 transfers the original data delivered from the virtual port 203 to the data analysis unit 205 and receives the data after the output destination distribution processing (herein, referred to as post-processing data) and responds to the data. The post-processing data is output to the communication port 209.

  The data analysis unit 205 is a part that analyzes the original data to determine the processing contents and determines the communication port 209 that outputs the processed data.

  The data processing unit 206 is a part that processes the original data according to the processing content determined by the data analysis unit 205.

  In addition, the command conversion unit 207 determines that the use command is different between the printer 3 connected to the communication port 209 specified by the original data and the printer 3 connected to the communication port 209 from which processed data is output. This is the part that performs the process of changing the command.

  The data storage unit 208 is a part that stores various data used by the data analysis unit 205 and the data processing unit 206. Here, a keyword database and a printer database are stored. In the former, each character string or image serving as a keyword is associated with processing contents corresponding thereto, and in the latter, each printer is stored. 3 use commands, print setting information, information of the communication port 209 to be connected, and the like. The data storage unit 208 is composed of the HDD or the like.

  A specific procedure of processing in the data processing unit described above will be described later.

  The virtual port 203, the port handler 204, the data analysis unit 205, the data processing unit 206, and the command conversion unit 207 are respectively executed by a program that instructs processing performed by each unit and the CPU that executes processing according to the program. Composed. The programs related to these portions correspond to the distributed processing program of the present invention.

  Next, the POS terminal device 2 includes communication ports 209A and 209B in the physical layer 240, and is connected to the printer 3A or the display 5 and the printer 3B, respectively. Here, as an example, the communication port 209A is a COM communication port for serial communication, and the communication port 209B is a USB communication port for performing USB communication. For the printer 3, as an example, the printer 3A is a monochrome printer, and the printer 3B is a color printer. Here, although two communication ports 209 are provided and two printers 3 are connected to the POS terminal apparatus 2, the number of communication ports 209 and printers 3 to be connected is not limited to this. That's all. In addition, the type of the communication port 209 can be configured in other ways, such as both being USB communication ports. Also, regarding the type of the printer 3, other configurations can be adopted depending on the application, such as a combination of a SIDM printer and a laser printer, or a combination of a SIDM printer and a TM printer.

  The POS terminal device 2 having the above-described configuration is characterized by output destination distribution processing using original data, and the specific processing procedure will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the output destination distribution processing. Here, a case where the printers 3A and 3B are provided and the device data is print data will be described.

  First, as described above, the original data is output directly from the POS application 201 or via the printer 3A driver 202 (step S1). For example, the original data is print data of a receipt that is assumed to be output from the printer 3A. Therefore, the communication port 209A is designated as the output destination communication port, and is expressed by a command depending on the printer 3A. ing.

  Next, the output original data is received by the virtual port 203 before reaching the designated communication port (here, the communication port 209A) (step S2). This processing is realized by changing the (priority) setting of the registry so that the virtual port 203 receives data for any communication port 209, and the setting change is started by the OS. Sometimes executed. Thereafter, the received original data is sent from the virtual port 203 to the port handler 204 of the application layer 220 (step S2).

  Next, the port handler 204 transfers the sent original data to the data analysis unit 205 (step S3). The data analysis unit 205 interprets the original data command and analyzes the content of the data (step S4). Then, the processing content and the output destination communication port 209 are determined from the analysis result.

  Specifically, the data analysis unit 205 detects a keyword stored in the data storage unit 208 from the original data, determines that the processing content associated with the keyword is to be executed, and performs the processing. The corresponding output destination communication port 209 is determined. This process is a process for distributing the output destinations. The process contents include a process for dividing the print contents of the original data into a plurality of parts and outputting them to output destinations suitable for the respective contents (split process). There are processing to output the print contents of data to multiple output destinations (duplication processing) and processing to change the output destination of print data (distribution processing). Predetermined. A more specific example of processing contents will be described later.

  The output destination communication port 209 determined by the data analysis unit 205 is notified to the port handler 204, and the determined processing content is notified to the data processing unit 206. When the processing content and the output destination are fixed regardless of the original data, the data analysis unit 205 is not necessary, and the original data is transferred from the port handler 204 to the data processing unit 206.

  Next, the data processing unit 206 executes data processing on the original data (step S5). Specifically, the print data is processed according to the determined processing content, and post-process print data is generated. As main processing, the above-described division of the print content, modification to data suitable for the specification of the output destination, and the like are performed. A specific processing example will be described later. Also in such processing, the data in the data storage unit 208 is referred to as necessary, such as the information in the printer database described above.

  Further, when there are a plurality of processing contents, the data processing unit 206 may be configured by a plurality of processing parts corresponding to each processing content. If the determination by the data analysis unit 205 is that the process (data processing) is not performed, the data processing unit 206 does not execute the processing.

  Next, when it is necessary to change the command for the processed print data generated by the data processing unit 206, the command conversion unit 207 executes a command conversion process (step S6). As described above, since the print data is expressed by a command depending on the output destination printer 3, if the command of the original data and the command of the determined output destination printer 3 are different, the output destination Convert to a suitable command. In this embodiment, since the original data is expressed by a command for the printer 3A, when the output destination is changed to the printer 3B (model is different from the printer 3A), the command conversion process is executed. The processed data is delivered to the port handler 204. If command conversion is not required, the print data transferred from the data processing unit 206 is delivered to the port handler 204.

  Next, the port handler 204 outputs the transferred post-processing print data to the determined communication port 209 (step S7). In this embodiment, the data is output to the communication port 209A and / or the communication port 209B.

  Thereafter, the print data is transmitted from the communication port 209 to the connected printer 3, and printing by the print data is executed in the printer 3, and a printed matter such as a receipt is output (step S8). For example, a monochrome printed matter can be obtained if output from the printer 3A, and a color printed matter can be obtained if output from the printer 3B.

  The output destination distribution process in the POS terminal device 2 is executed according to the procedure described above. A specific example of the output destination distribution process will be described below.

  First, a specific example of the division process described above will be described. For example, it is assumed that the POS system is installed in a restaurant, the kitchens are in different places depending on the contents of the dish, and the printer 3 is provided in each kitchen. In this case, if the original data for outputting the order form is issued from the POS application 201 and the data includes items to be cooked in a plurality of kitchens, the division processing is performed and the dishes are cooked in each kitchen. An order form indicating only the item to be printed is output from the printer 3 provided in the kitchen. In this processing, the data analysis unit 205 refers to the data stored in the data storage unit 208 described above, uses the character string of the item included in the original data as a keyword, and selects the kitchen (printer 3) associated with the item. Determine as output destination. The data processing unit 206 divides the content of the original data into each kitchen based on the determination for each item, and generates order form data for each kitchen. Thereafter, after necessary conversion processing is performed in the command conversion unit 207, the print data of each order form is output from the port handler 204 to each output destination.

  Also, in the same example, when the original data is for receipt output, the print data for receipt output is output as it is, and the product information is divided into each kitchen in the form of an order form and output. May be.

  Next, as an example of the above-described duplication processing, there is a case where a copy of the printed matter to be output is output at the same time (when a copy and a copy are desired), and a plurality of coupons are output quickly. In such print data processing, when the data analysis unit 205 detects a predetermined keyword included in the original data, for example, when it detects a character string indicating a predetermined coupon, it determines to perform the duplication processing. The data processing unit 206 generates print data to be output to each printer 3 according to the determination with the same print contents. Thereafter, after necessary conversion processing is performed in the command conversion unit 207, each print data is output from the port handler 204 to each output destination.

  Further, as an example of the above-described distribution process, there is a case where an output destination is determined so that printing is performed by an appropriate printer 3 according to the type of printed matter to be output. For example, when the printed material is a receipt, processing is performed so as to be output from the monochrome printer 3A, and when the printed material is a coupon, processing is performed so as to be output from the color printer 3B. In addition, when the printed material is a guarantee, it is possible to determine an output destination so that the color is not output and is output from the SIDM printer. Further, when it is desired to change the quality of the printing paper depending on the printed matter, the same processing can be realized if the printer 3 is provided with different printing paper.

  In such distribution processing, the data analysis unit 205 detects a predetermined keyword included in the original data, grasps the type of the printed matter, and determines the printer 3 corresponding to the type. The data processing unit 206 generates print data to be output to the printer 3 according to the determination. Thereafter, after necessary conversion processing is performed in the command conversion unit 207, the print data is output from the port handler 204 to the output destination.

  In the case where the display 5 and the printer 3B are connected to the POS terminal device 2, the display data for the display 5 and the print data for the printer 3B output from the POS application 201 to the same communication port 209A are used. In this case, a process of distributing (distributing) to a predetermined output destination is performed. As described above, since the POS application 201 is provided in the conventional apparatus, the conventional apparatus includes only one communication port for serial communication, from which the printer and the display are serially connected. This is because the printer 3 data and the display 5 data are output from the POS application 201 to the same communication port.

  Specifically, as in the case of all print data described with reference to FIG. 3, one of the data is acquired by the virtual port 203 and the data is passed to the data analysis unit 205 via the port handler 204. It is. The data analysis unit 205 analyzes whether the data type is print data or display data, and determines an output destination device and a communication port 209 to which the device is connected according to the result. Thereafter, predetermined processing corresponding to the output destination is performed by the data processing unit 206 and the command conversion unit 207, and the processed data is output to the determined communication port 209 via the port handler 204. If it is print data, it is output from the printer 3B, and if it is display data, it is displayed on the display 5.

  When a device switching signal is output from the POS application 201, the data analysis unit 205 can determine the output destination communication port 209 by detecting the signal. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the configuration in which one display 5 and one printer 3B are connected, the switching destination is determined by outputting the device switching signal. The port 209 can be determined.

  As described above, the POS terminal apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment can execute the output destination distribution process for the data output from the POS application 201. Then, the POS terminal device and the POS system that do not perform the processing can be improved to the POS terminal device 2 and the POS system including the POS terminal device 2 by a relatively easy method.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the improvement. This figure is the same functional configuration diagram as FIG. 2, and the solid line portion shows the POS terminal device and POS system before improvement described above. That is, the system before improvement is configured such that data output directly from the POS application 201 or via the printer driver 202 is received by the communication port 209A and output from the printer 3A or the display 5. And it is possible to make this POS terminal device 2 and the POS system containing it by adding the part shown with a broken line with respect to the system of such a structure.

  That is, without changing the existing POS application 201, the functions of the existing POS system can be expanded by adding the above-described data processing program, data stored in the data storage unit 208, and a new printer 3B. This improvement (addition) can be performed by the operation of installing a new printer 3B and installing the printer driver software including the data processing program and data. In addition, the printer 3A and the display 5 may be newly installed, and the computer constituting the POS terminal device 2 may be changed to a new one without changing the program of the existing POS application 201.

  As described above, by using the distributed processing program according to the present embodiment, it is possible to extend the function of the POS system by the distributed processing of various output destinations by an easy method without changing the existing POS application program. Will be able to. In addition, since the main processing for realizing it is configured to be performed in the application layer of the computer, it is possible to easily develop a program that executes various processing.

  Further, by applying the program, the output can be executed with contents more suitable for the user, so that the user convenience can be improved.

  In addition, since the output is distributed by applying the program, the output can be quickly performed in a predetermined case. In addition, the output can be made faster by changing the computer and the communication form to a new one.

  In the present embodiment, the POS server 1 is a system connected to a plurality of POS terminal devices 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and an environment in which a POS terminal device and a printer are connected. Can be applied.

  In the present embodiment, an example of a POS system is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to a POS system, but a predetermined application including output of printed matter from a printer, such as a system used in a hospital or a transportation company. The present invention can be applied to a provided system, and is particularly effective when it is difficult to modify an existing application program.

  In the present embodiment, the POS application program and the program for distributed processing are stored in the ROM. However, these programs are not limited to the ROM, but are stored in a storage medium such as a RAM or HDD. May be. These programs may be stored in separate storage media.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  1 POS server, 2 POS terminal device (distributed processing device), 3 printer, 4 network, 5 display, 21 POS terminal body, 23 keyboard, 24 barcode reader, 25 card reader, 201 POS application, 202 driver for printer 3A, 203 virtual port, 204 port handler, 205 data analysis unit, 206 data processing unit, 207 command conversion unit, 208 data storage unit, 209 communication port, 220 application layer, 230 OS kernel layer, 240 physical layer

Claims (5)

Distributed processing for causing a computer having two or more communication ports to execute distributed processing of data for devices output from the application, which is operated by an operating system of the OS kernel layer and executes predetermined processing by an application provided in the application layer A program,
A data acquisition step of acquiring data for the device output to a predetermined one of the communication ports at the OS kernel layer before the communication port receives the data;
The application layer analyzes the data for the device acquired in the data acquisition step, determines a device that outputs the data for the device based on the result of the analysis, and a communication port to which the determined device is connected A distributed processing program that causes the computer to execute a data processing step of outputting device-oriented data to the computer. In claim 1,
The connected devices are a printing device and a display device,
The device-oriented data output from the application is data for a printing apparatus or data for a display apparatus. In claim 1 or 2,
When the number of connected devices is 2 and a device switching signal is included in the device-oriented data output from the application, the device to be output is determined based on the switching signal. Distributed processing program. It is composed of a computer having two or more communication ports that operates by an operating system of the OS kernel layer and executes predetermined processing by an application provided in the application layer, and executes distributed processing of data for devices output from the application A distributed processing device,
A data acquisition unit for acquiring data for the device to be output to a predetermined one of the communication ports by the OS kernel layer before the communication port receives the data;
The application layer analyzes the data for the device acquired by the data acquisition unit, determines a device that outputs the data for the device based on the result of the analysis, and the communication port to which the determined device is connected And a data processing unit for outputting device-oriented data. Distributed processing that executes distributed processing of data for devices output from the application in a computer having two or more communication ports that operates by an operating system of the OS kernel layer and executes predetermined processing by an application provided in the application layer A method,
A data acquisition step in which the computer acquires data for the device output to a predetermined one of the communication ports at the OS kernel layer before the communication port receives the data;
The computer analyzes data for the device acquired in the data acquisition step in the application layer, determines a device that outputs the data for the device based on the result of the analysis, and the determined device is connected And a data processing step of outputting data for the device to the communication port.

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