JP2552898B2 - POS terminal input control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a POS terminal device, and more particularly to control of input of product information composed of a plurality of code blocks (for example, a plurality of code lines), especially when an error occurs. Input control of.

[Conventional technology]

In addition to the input from the keyboard, the input to the POS terminal device includes the input obtained by reading the product information written on the tag, the label, or the product itself with the scanner. The product information is usually written in a single row (row) or multiple rows using OCR font characters and symbols or a barcode. In the following, when simply referred to as “code”, it is used in the meaning including notation by characters and symbols of OCR font.

Product information for OCR is often written in multiple stages,
The code of each row has one of a predetermined group of characters / symbols called a function code at the beginning (left end) so that each row can be identified (Trade Industry Foundation). Survey meeting, published on July 25, 1984, "Latest version POS system 100 questions 100 answers", pages 151 and 152). On the other hand, in the past, single-level notation was normally used for bar code product information, but recently, multi-level notation has also been used, and even in the JAN code standard, in the case of multiple notation, The top part is used as an identifier.

Conventional scanners are designed to scan and read one-stage codes, and multi-stage codes are input one by one by repeatedly operating such scanners (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-59). -66769). In this way, the scanner that reads one step at a time is used, and since each step can be identified by its head part, conventional POS terminal devices generate an error when an error occurs during the input of a multi-step code. The data of the stage that was normally input before is held as it is, and the state of waiting for the input of the data of the remaining stages is entered.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Recently, a scan scanner that reads a multi-level bar code with one scan scan was announced, but a POS device equipped with this type of scan scanner
The system seems to have not been put to practical use yet. This type of scanyana, multi-stage code data read at once,
Transfer to the POS terminal device one by one. It is clear that the same type of scanana can be produced for OCR scanana.

When this type of scanner is used, the conventional input control mechanism as described above causes inconvenience. That is, if an error occurs during the input of multi-stage code data,
The conventional terminal device holds the data of the stage that has been normally input until then and waits for the data of the remaining stage, and therefore erases this held data before rescanning. Then, a manual operation by the operator is required to set a state in which data of any stage has not yet been input. If you fail to do this, rescan input will be considered an error.

An object of the present invention is to automatically set a state in which re-entry is allowed in response to an error that occurs during the entry of multi-stage code data, so that re-skipping can be performed without the need for manual operation as described above. The purpose is to enable data entry immediately.

[Means for solving the problem]

According to the present invention, the input state indicating means indicating up to which code block (for example, a step) the data is normally input, and the input data from the scanner are stored in the input data storing means, and the input state indicating means at that time is stored. Means for updating the instructions, and means for initializing the input data storage means and the input state indicating means when an error relating to the input processing is detected before the input state indicating means indicates the completion of input of data of all code blocks, It is provided in the POS terminal device.

[Action]

Since each code block (for example, each stage) includes identification information, by checking it, each time the data of each code block is input, the instruction of the input state instructing means is updated to enter which code block. Can always indicate when is complete. When an error relating to input processing is detected, the instruction of the input state instructing means is referred to, and if the input of data of all code blocks is not completed, the data input up to that point is deleted, and,
The input state instruction means is also returned to the initial state. As a result, even if the data of the code block that has been input before is input again by scanning again, it is accepted without being considered as an error.

The present invention is equally applicable to a notation format in which each stage is composed of one code block and a notation format in which one stage is composed of a plurality of code blocks.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a POS terminal device according to the present invention. The input unit 1 is composed of a scanner for reading merchandise information based on bar codes printed in two steps at a time, and a control circuit for converting the scanner output into an internal code and sending it out one step at a time. The control unit 3 includes an error determination unit 31
And controlling the entire apparatus, and in particular, as will be described later in detail, input processing is performed in association with the occurrence of an error, and when an error related to the input processing occurs, the error determination unit 31 is activated. The error determination unit 31 issues a warning by the warning unit 2 and takes measures according to the input state when the error occurs. The control unit 3 may be a suitably programmed microprocessor, in which case the error determination unit 31 is realized by software. Areas 41 to 43 for control information and input data are prepared in the storage unit 4, and details of these areas will be described later. As a modification, instead of preparing such an area in the storage unit 4, each register may be provided in the control unit 3.

In this embodiment, the product information read by the input unit 1 is composed of 13-digit upper code and lower code, and the first two digits of the upper code and lower code are "20" and "21", respectively.
It is predetermined that it should be. The input unit 1 is
The codes of both stages are read at once, the first two digits of them are examined, and the upper code and the lower code are discriminated. The control unit 3
Send a data capture enable signal to the input section 1 at an appropriate time,
In response to this, the input unit 1 first sends the data of the upper code. The control unit 3 processes the received upper code and then sends a data capture enable signal again, and the input unit 1
In response to this, the data of the lower code is sent out this time.

An input code management memory 41, a product data area 42, and a registerable code table 43 are provided in the storage unit 4. The product data area 42 is an area for holding partial data of product information about one product until all the data are collected, and the upper code area 421 and the lower code area 422.
including. The upper code data and the lower code data that are normally input from the input unit 1 are respectively recorded in the upper code area 42.
1 and is temporarily stored in the lower code area 422. The product data area 42 may also include a region for input data from a keyboard (not shown).

The input code management memory 41 holds an input state value which is information for managing the input state of code data. As shown in FIG. 2, the input state value is "0" indicating that neither the upper code data nor the lower code data has been input.
, "1" indicating that only the upper code data is input, "2" indicating that only the lower code data is input, and "2" indicating that both the code data are input Either 3 "can be taken. However, in this embodiment, since the input section 1 always sends the upper code first, the input state value cannot be "2". The updating of the input state value is performed by the control unit 3 as described later.

The registrable code table 43 holds information that defines product codes that the POS terminal device is allowed to handle,
As shown in FIG. 3, each code has a predetermined number of digits, a value that can be taken by the first two digits of the code, and an application value that indicates the application status of each code. The applied value "1" indicates that the code is used as the upper code,
"2" indicates that the code is used as the lower code, and "0" indicates that the code is not used for this POS terminal.

The control unit 3 monitors the occurrence of an error related to input processing. Errors relating to input processing include an error that has occurred in the data from the input unit 1 and another error (for example, a key operation that should be prohibited during the product information input operation). Are collectively referred to as an input error. In this embodiment, the control unit 3 checks the data from the input unit 1. However, the input unit 1 may perform this check and report the result to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 activates the error determination unit 31 when an input error is detected or reported.

FIG. 4 shows the processing performed by the error determination unit 31 activated due to the occurrence of an input error. The error determination unit 31 is
Check the input status value in the input code management memory 41 (S
1) If it may be "0" or "3" (that is, "1" because there cannot be "2" in this embodiment), the input code management memory 41 and the product data area 42 are initialized. (S2), and then a warning is issued by the warning unit 2 (for example,
Emits a buzzer sound (S3). However, the input status value is "0"
Or if it is "3", a warning is issued immediately without initializing. The warning lasts for a predetermined period,
In the meantime, the input data that arrives at the control unit 3 is discarded.
The warning duration is preferably sufficiently longer than the time from the issuance of the first data capture enable signal to the completion of the capture of the lower code.

FIG. 5 shows a process in which the control unit 3 determines whether the data fetched from the input unit 1 is the upper code or the lower code. The control unit 3 collates the number of digits of the fetched data and the value of the first two digits with the contents of the registerable code table 43 (FIG. 3) (S1
1) If there is a code that matches them, further check the applicable value (S12), and if it shows the upper code, it is determined that the upper code has been taken (S14), and it determines the lower code. If it is shown (S13), it is determined that the lower code is fetched (S15). However, if the applied value is neither the upper code nor the lower code, it is determined that an unused code has been fetched (S16).

FIG. 6 shows the entire input control performed by the control unit 3.
The control unit 3 always monitors the occurrence of an input error (S21),
When the acquisition of the code data of the first stage is completed without the occurrence of an input error, it is determined whether the input code is the upper stage code, the lower stage code or the unused code by the procedure shown in FIG. 5 (S22). In the case of the upper code, after initializing the input code management memory 41 and the product data area 42 (S23), the state value of the input code management memory 41 is set to "1".
The input data is stored in the upper code area 421 (S24). In the case of the lower code, the state value of the input code management memory 41 is set to "3", the input data is stored in the lower code area 422 (S26), and the contents of the product code area 42 are shown in the figure. The data is output to a display unit and a printing unit not shown (S27), and further stored in a product data save area not shown (S28). If the input code is an unused code (S22) and if an error in the input code data is detected, or if another error is detected regardless of whether the code data is being input (S21) The error determination unit 31 is activated (S25), and the error processing shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

Next, the processing described above will be described with respect to a specific example of the input sequence. FIG. 7 shows the input event and the state value in the input code management memory 42 at each stage of this input sequence example.

Stage 1: Initialized state. In this state, the state value in the input code management table 41 is the initial value "0", and the product code area 42 including the upper and lower code areas is cleared.

Step 2: If an input error occurs before the upper code data is captured, that is, an error is detected in the upper code data being input, or another input error occurs before and after the start of the upper code data input. Occurs (S2
1) The error determination unit 31 is activated and the error processing shown in FIG. 4 is performed (S25). At this time, since the state value in the input code management memory 41 is "0", a warning is immediately issued (S1, S3), and the process ends.

Step 3: This time, the acquisition of one-stage code data is completed without any input error. Therefore, the control unit 3
Performs the code judgment shown in Fig. 5 (S21, S2
2), determine that it is the upper code (S11, S1
2, S14). Therefore, the control unit 3 controls the input code management memory 4
After initializing 1 and the product data area 42 (S23), the state value in the input code management memory 41 is set to "1" and the input data is stored in the upper code area 421.
(S24).

Step 4: Since the acquisition of the next input code data is completed successfully, the code is judged (S21, S22) and it is judged that it is the lower code (S11-S13, S15). Therefore, the control unit 3 sets the state value in the input code management memory 41 to "3" and stores the input data in the lower code area 422 (S26), and then the product data area 4
The contents of 2 are displayed and printed (S27), and further stored in the product data save area (S28).

Step 5: An input error occurs before the completion of fetching the next code data, and the error determination unit 31 is activated (S21, S22). At this time, the state value in the input code management memory 41 is "3", and accordingly, a warning is immediately issued (S1, S3), and the process ends.

Step 6: The acquisition of the next input code data has been successfully completed,
It is determined that the input code is the upper code (S21, S2
2). As a result, similarly to step 3, the state value in the input code management memory 41 is set to "1" and the input data is stored in the upper code area 421 (S23, S2).
Four).

Step 7: An input error occurs before the completion of capturing the next input code data, and the error determination unit 31 is activated (S21, S2
2). At this time, the state value in the input code management memory 41 is "1". Therefore, after the input code management memory 41 and the product data area 42 are initialized (S2), a warning is issued (S3). This initialization (S
According to 2), the data of the upper row code that has already been taken in is erased, and the state value in the input code management memory 41 is reset to "0", so that the initialization state of stage 1 is restored. If the lower code data is being input, it is discarded. Therefore, it is possible to re-input starting from the upper code.

Step 8: The operator who receives the warning reads the product code again with the scanner of the input unit 1, the input unit 1 reads the product codes of the two stages at once, and first sends the data of the upper code again. No input error is detected until this data is fetched, and therefore, just as in step 3, this input data is stored in the upper code area 421, and the status value in the input code management memory 41 is "1". Is set to ".

Step 9: Next, the data of the lower code sent from the input unit 1 is safely taken in this time. Therefore, just as in step 4, this input data is stored in the lower code area 422, the status value in the input code management memory 41 is set to "3", and then the contents of the product data area 42 are set. Is displayed and printed and stored in the product data save area.

Step 10: The fetching of the next input code data is also completed without encountering an input error, and accordingly, the code determination is performed (S21, S22). However, the top 2 of this data
The digit is neither "20" nor "21". Therefore, this code is determined to be an unused code (S11-S13, S16),
The error determination unit 31 is activated (S25). At this time, the state value in the input code management memory 41 is "3" (S1). Then, a warning is immediately issued (S3), and the process ends.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the order in which the input section 1 sends the upper code data and the lower code data is fixed, but this order may be indefinite. In this case, the input state value in the input code management table 41 can be "2", and in FIG. 6, when the upper code or the lower code is judged in the code judgment (S22), Further, it is necessary to examine the input state value and select the subsequent process according to the value.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, after the warning is issued in response to the occurrence of the input error, the re-input enabled state is automatically returned in a fixed time, but the error state may be released by the key operation. Even with this type of device, the present invention can eliminate the disadvantage of requiring a key operation for initializing the input state in addition to the key operation for releasing the error state.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, even if an input error occurs during input from the scanner for reading product information composed of a plurality of code blocks at once, no special operation is required to initialize the input state. Therefore, the POS terminal device can be made easier to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the input code management memory in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the registerable code table in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example, FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the process performed by the error determination unit in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the code determination process performed by the control unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the overall processing performed by the control unit, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an input processing sequence for explaining the processing shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. 1 ... Input unit for reading a plurality of code stages at once, 3 ... Control unit for managing input state instruction information while controlling input processing, 31 ... Error determination unit for initializing when an error occurs during input , 41 ... A storage area for holding the input state instruction information, 421, 422 ... A storage area for temporarily holding the code data of each stage.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A POS terminal device equipped with an input device for reading out a plurality of code blocks each of which represents product information about individual products and including block identification information at a time, and sequentially sending out data of these code blocks,
Input data storage means for holding the input data part of the product information for each product until all parts are input, and an input state indicating up to which block in the plurality of code blocks has been normally received. Instruction means, means for storing the input data from the input device in the input data storage means and updating the instruction of the input state instruction means at that time, and the input state instruction means for all of the plurality of code blocks. An input control device having the input data storage means and means for initializing the input state instructing means when an error relating to the input processing is detected before indicating the completion of data reception.