JP3235292B2 - Transaction processing system and network controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a network controller in which a plurality of transaction processing apparatus such as a POS terminal device to two network controllers are applied to the connected transaction processing system and the transaction processing system in data communication line concerning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional transaction processing system, a plurality of POS terminal devices for performing transaction processing are connected to a network controller via a data communication line. The PLU file for all commodities storing the PLU records is provided on the hard disk, and the specific commodities PLU file including a part of the PLU records extracted from the PLU files for all commodities is stored in the RAM which can be accessed at high speed. The POS terminal also has P for all products.
It had a local file extracted from the LU file based on the product traded at the POS terminal.

When a product identification code of a product is input to a POS terminal device and the product is registered, the transaction processing system searches for a PLU record corresponding to the product and reads the price of the product. The search for the PLU record of the registered product is performed by the local file and the specific product P.
The corresponding PLU record is searched in the order of the LU file and the PLU file for all the products, and when the PLU record of the corresponding product is detected, the price of the product is read and the processing is terminated. Therefore, by storing the PLU record of the product having a large transaction quantity in the local file or the specific product file, the time required for reading the price of the product can be reduced, and the processing speed of the POS business can be improved.

[0004] Further, two network controllers are provided, and P for all products of the two network controllers.
When the same data is stored in all files such as LU files, one network controller is used as an operation device, the other network controller is used as a standby device, and when it is detected that one network controller has failed. There is also a transaction processing system in which the other network controller is switched to an operation machine and the network controller is duplicated so as not to interrupt the POS business.

[0005]

When maintenance such as updating the PLU files for all products provided in the network controller during the operation of the store due to a change in the price of the product or the like, the load on the network controller increases, and the POS is increased. Usually, it is performed at night after the store is closed because the processing speed of business is reduced. In addition, P for all products
After updating the LU file, the specific product PLU file, the local file, and the like are also updated.

[0006]

However , in a transaction processing system in which network controllers are duplicated, maintenance such as updating of PLU files for all products stored in the network controller is performed at the same time. Data is destroyed and it takes time to recover the data.
Was.

An object of the present invention is to provide a network control
Update of PLU files for all products stored in the
When a failure occurs during maintenance and data is destroyed
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transaction processing system capable of easily restoring data and a network controller applied to the transaction processing system.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of transaction processors for registering goods for each transaction, and two networks connected to the transaction processor via a data communication line. > comprising network controller, wherein the two networks
Network controller via a data communication line.
One of the plurality of transaction processors
Device to manage the device, the other network controller
The one network controller has failed
In a transaction processing system in which a standby machine is sometimes switched to an operation machine , one network controller
PLU Recorder that associates product price data with identification codes
PLU file that stores a PLU file that stores multiple
File storage means, and a PLU for updating the PLU file
File updating means, wherein the PLU file is updated.
The means is the other network controller which is a standby machine
Update the PLU file after disconnecting the connection with
After the update of the PLU file is completed, the standby
Connection with the other network controller
Copy the updated PLU file to the other network
It is a means to copy to Troller.

[0010] Further, the other network controller
Has failed on one of the network controllers.
Equipped with fault detection means for detecting whether
The one network connection is provided by the failure detection means.
When it detects that a failure has occurred in the
Switch.

Further, the present invention provides a merchandise registration process for each transaction.
Via a data communication line to multiple transaction processors
Each product in the connected network controller
Product price data is associated with product identification code for
Stores a PLU file that stores multiple PLU records
PLU file storage means for updating the PLU file.
A new and PLU file updating means for, the, the PLU
The file updating means is connected via a data communication line.
Disconnected from another network controller
After updating the PLU file, the PLU file is updated.
Said another network controller after the update of the file
And restore the updated PLU file to another
This is a means for copying to the network controller.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

In the transaction processing system of the present invention, the network
Two network controllers and one network
An operation machine where the controller manages the transaction processor at normal times
Function as the other network controller
One network controller has failed
It functions as a standby unit that switches to the operation unit when it is done.
After the network controller is an operational machine, when performing such as updating of the PLU file, which was away off the connection to the network controller is a standby machine, the PLU file
After the update is completed , the connection with the network controller serving as the standby unit is restored, and all the updated data is copied to the network controller serving as the standby unit .
You . In addition, the other network controller that is a standby machine
Is sent to one of the network controllers
Detects whether a failure has occurred and indicates that a failure has occurred
Is detected, it switches to the operation device.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transaction processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transaction processing system includes a plurality of POS terminal devices 1 (1-1 to 1-1) that perform processing such as registration of commodities at the time of transaction processing and perform POS operations such as inquiry of commodity prices and output of generated transaction data. -n) and the P
A network controller 2 that is an operation device that stores sales data output by the OS terminal device 1 and searches and responds to a PLU record of the product in response to a product price inquiry.
A network controller 3 that is a standby unit that detects a failure state of the network controller 2 and switches to an operation unit when the failure is detected, and the network controller 2 that is the operation unit or the network controller 3 that is a standby unit And a store computer 4 that collectively manages sales and the like by fetching and processing sales data stored in the storage computer 4. PO
The S terminal device 1 is connected to a network controller 2 as an operation device and a network controller 3 as a standby device via a data communication line 5, and the network controller 2 as an operation device, the network controller 3 as a standby device, and the store computer 4 Are connected by a data communication line 6. The POS terminal device 1 is managed by being divided into groups for each sales section in which the POS terminal is installed. For example, the POS terminal device of Group A is a grocery group, the POS terminal device of Group B is a daily necessities group, and the POS terminal device of Group C is a clothing group.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a file configuration of the network controller and the POS terminal. The network controller 2, which is an operation device, has a CPU 11
And a ROM 1 in which an operation program and the like are written in advance
2 and all products PL consisting of PLU records of all products
A hard disk 13 for storing a U file or the like, and a RAM for storing a specific product PLU file or the like comprising a partial PLU record extracted from the PLU file for all the products
14 is provided.

The hard disk 13 has PLUs of all products.
A PLU file 21 for all products, a maintenance data file 22 for storing update information such as a price change for a part of the PLU file 21 for the PLU file, and a POS terminal from the PLU file 21 for all products. A local file 23 (23-1 to 23-m) composed of PLU records extracted based on the type of product for which transaction processing is performed for each group of the device 1; The POS terminal 1 includes a specific product PLU file 24 including PLU records of listed products and the like, and a terminal management table 25 for storing terminal management information for each POS terminal device 1. The terminal management information includes handled product data indicating a product type traded by the POS terminal device 1. The POS terminal device 1 has an area on the RAM for taking in and storing the corresponding local file 23 stored in the network controller 2. The network controller 3 serving as a standby unit includes a PLU file 21 for all products, a specific product PLU file 22, a local file 23, a specific product PLU file 24, and a terminal management table 25, similarly to the network controller 2 serving as an operation device. The contents of all the files are the same as those of the network controller 2 as the operation device.

With the above configuration, when the product identification code of the product is input, the POS terminal device 1 searches the local file 23 stored in the RAM for the PLU record of the product, and stores the PLU record of the product in the local file 23. Upon detection, the price is read and the registration process is completed. If the PLU record of the product cannot be detected, the price is queried by attaching the product identification code to the network controller 3 as the operation device via the data communication line 5, and the inquiry result is waited.
The network controller 3 serving as an operation device has a RAM 1
4 is searched for the PLU record of the corresponding product by searching the specific product PLU file 24, and when the PLU record is detected, the price is read and the POS terminal device 1 is read.
Send to If the PLU record cannot be detected in the specific product PLU file 24, the PLU file 21 for all the products stored on the hard disk 13 is searched, the price is read from the corresponding PLU record, and transmitted to the POS terminal device 1. As described above, the POS terminal device 1 checks the price of the registered product and performs the transaction process.
The POS terminal device 1 transmits all the products registered for each transaction, the transaction quantity for each product, the transaction amount, and the like as transaction data to the network controller 2 as an operation device via the data communication line 5 and stores the computer. 4 takes this transaction data from the network controller 2 and processes it. In this way, the store computer 4 fetches the transaction data of the transactions performed in all the POS terminal devices 1 and manages the sales of the stores in a lump.

The network controller 3 serving as the standby unit calls the network controller 2 serving as the operation unit at regular time intervals, and checks whether there is a normal response to this call. 2 is detected. When the failure of the network controller 2 as the operation device is detected, the network controller 3 as the standby device is switched to the operation device to prevent interruption of the POS operation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of maintenance processing such as updating of a PLU file for all commodities in the transaction processing system. In the store computer 4, when update information for a PLU record of a product having a price change or the like is input by the operator, the update information is transmitted to the network controller 2 via the data communication line 6.

The network controller 2 stores the transmitted update information in the maintenance data file 22.
And copies it to the maintenance data file 22 of the network controller 3 which is a standby unit. The network controller 2, which is the operating device,
When the data transmitted from the S terminal device 1 or the store computer 4 is fetched and stored, the data is copied to the network controller 3 which is a standby device, and all the data stored in the two network controllers 2 and 3 are stored. Are operating so that the same data is used.

Network controller 2 as operation unit
Is stored in the maintenance data file 22 when a maintenance start signal is input from the store computer 4 via the data communication line 6 (n1) (maintenance processing is often performed at night after the store is closed.) It is checked whether or not there is update information such as a change in the commodity price stored in the storage unit (n2). If there is no update information in this check, the network controller 2, which is the operating device, determines that there is no change in all data, and completes the maintenance processing. When the update information is stored in the maintenance data file 22, the file of the network controller 3 as the standby machine is disconnected (n3), the PLU records stored in the PLU file 21 for all products are checked in ascending order, and all products are checked. The minute PLU file 21 is maintained (n4). The PLU record with the change is updated based on the update information stored in the maintenance data file 22, the PLU file 21 for all products is updated (n5), and the specific product PLU file is created (n).
6).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a method of creating a specific product PLU file from all product PLU files. The all-commodity PLU file 21 has PLU records of all the commodities handled. The PLU records include a PLU code storage area 31, a commodity identification code storage area 32, a commodity price storage area 33, and an extraction flag storage. An area 34 is provided. Further, the network controller 2 includes, in advance, a key sales product file 41 in which key sales products registered for sale at a discount on the next business day from the store computer 4 are registered, and an advertisement insertion in which the advertisement insertion products registered in the advertisement are registered. Commodity file 42 and merchandise file 4 which stores commodities with a large transaction volume
3 are transmitted, and these files are stored in the maintenance data file 22. In the priority sale product file 41, the advertisement listing product file 42, and the selling line product file 43, a plurality of records each including a PLU code and a product identification code are stored for every corresponding product.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of creating a specific product PLU file. Network controller 2
Sets all data in the extraction flag storage area 34 of all PLU records of all the product PLU files 21 to 0 (n
21), variable C for counting the PLU records to be extracted
Is set to 0 (n22). Priorities are set in advance in the network controller 2 for PLU record extraction conditions. For example, if the priority order is set in the order of the priority sales product, the advertisement publication product, and the selling streak product, the network controller 2 first checks the priority sales product file 41 and places the priority sales product file 41 at the top. 1 is written into the extraction flag storage area 34 of the PLU record of the PLU file 21 for all products corresponding to the PLU code of the stored record (n23), and the variable C
Is incremented by 1 (n24), and this C is compared with the maximum number Max of PLU records that can be stored in the specific product PLU file 24 (n25). At this time, if C is less than Max, the extraction flag storage area 34 of the PLU record of the PLU file 21 for all products corresponding to the PLU code of the record stored second in the priority sales product file 41
Is written to (n23). In the same manner, the processes from n23 to n25 are repeated, and 1 is written in the extraction flag storage area 34 of the PLU record of the PLU file 21 for all products corresponding to the PLU codes of all the records stored in the bargain product file. When the insertion is completed, the advertisement insertion product file 42 and the selling streak product file 43 are sequentially checked, and the extraction flag storage area 3 of the PLU record is similarly checked.
Write 1 to 4. By the way, in n25, the count number C is the maximum number Ma that can be stored in the specific product PLU file 24.
x, or when all the checks of the sales-sell product file 43 are completed (n26), the network controller 2 writes the P in the PLU file 21 for all the products for which 1 has been written in the extraction flag storage area 34 in the above-described processing.
The LU record is extracted (n27), and a file including all the extracted PLU records is stored in the RAM 13 as the specific product PLU file 24 (n28).

Next, the network controller 2
A local file 23 to be stored in the S terminal device 1 is created (n7). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the flow of the local file creation process. The POS terminal device 1 is divided into a plurality of groups for each sales floor (for each product to be handled), and the network controller 2 creates a local file 23 for each group. The network controller 2 manages which group each POS terminal device 1 belongs to in the terminal management table 25. The network controller 2 confirms with all the POS terminal devices 1 whether the POS terminal device 1 is in accordance with the terminal management information managed in the terminal management table 25 (n31). This is to confirm whether the installation location has changed and whether there is a POS terminal device 1 whose group has changed. At this time, the POS terminal device different from the terminal management information managed in the terminal management table 25 is used. If there is, the terminal management information of the POS terminal device 1 is updated and managed by the terminal management table 25.

The network controller 2 writes 0 (n32) in the extraction flag storage area 34 of all the PLU records of the PLU files for all the commodities, and then extracts the PL to be extracted.
Set variable C for counting U records to 0 (n3
3). As in the specific product PLU file 24, if the priority order of the extraction conditions of the PLU record is set in the order of the priority sales product, the advertisement publication product, and the selling streak product, the network controller 2 first starts the priority sales product file 41.
Is checked to determine whether the record stored at the top of the priority sales product file 41 is a product handled by the POS group (n34). If the record is a handled product, all products corresponding to the PLU code are determined. 1 is stored in the PLU record extraction flag storage area 34 of the minute PLU file 21.
Is written (n35), 1 is added to the variable C (n36),
This C is compared with the maximum number Max of PLU records that can be stored in the local file 23 (n37). At this time, if C is less than Max, the processing from n34 on is repeated for the second stored record. If it is determined in step n34 that the product is not a handled product, the processes in and after step n34 are performed on the second stored record. That is,
1 is written to the extraction flag storage area 34 of the PLU record of the product corresponding to the PLU code stored in the priority sales product file 41 and handled by the POS group. In the same manner, the processes from n34 to n37 are repeated, and when all the records stored in the priority sales product file 41 have been checked, the advertisement insertion product file 42 and the sales streak product file 43 are sequentially checked and similarly. PLU record extraction flag storage area 34
Write 1 to. By the way, when the count number C becomes equal to or more than the maximum number Max that can be stored in the local file 23 at n36, or when all the checks of the selling streak product file 43 are completed (n38), the network controller 2 sets the extraction flag in the above-described processing. 1 in storage area 34
The PLU records of the PLU file 21 for all the products in which are written are written (n39), and all the extracted PLU records are stored as the local file 23 of the POS group handling the product (n40). Similarly, a local file 23 of a POS group handling other types of commodities is created and stored.

When the creation of the local files 23 for all the POS groups is completed in this way, the connection with the network controller 3 as a standby unit is restored (n8), and all the data stored in the network controller 2 are restored. Is copied (n9) to restore the duplex system.

The network controller 2 controls each POS
The corresponding local file 23 is transmitted to the terminal device 1 (n10), and the maintenance is completed.

By doing as described above, the PL of the priority sales products to be sold at a discounted price and the advertisement-placed products and the like posted in the advertisement so that the transaction volume increases on the next business day.
The U record can be included in the specific product file or the local file, and it is possible to prevent a reduction in the processing speed of the POS business on that day. Further, in the duplex system, the network controller serving as a standby unit is separated when performing data update processing for maintenance. Therefore, even if a failure occurs at this time, the data before the network controller serving as the standby unit enters the update operation is deleted. Because it is maintained, data can be easily recovered.

In the above embodiment, all POS
It is assumed that the terminal device has an area for storing local files, but in a transaction processing system in which POS terminal devices do not have an area for storing local files, in the terminal management table, a local file is stored for each POS terminal device in the terminal management table. It is also possible to manage whether or not there is an area for storing the file, so that a local file is not created for a POS group consisting only of POS terminal devices that do not have the area.

In the above embodiment, the transaction processing system in which the network controller is duplicated has been described. However, as shown in FIG. Similar effects can be obtained except for the recovery at the time of updating.

Further, in the above embodiment, the specific product PLU file and the local file are created with reference to the priority sale product file, the advertisement publication product file, and the like. It is also possible to provide an area for storing a flag for determining whether or not the item is an advertisement-published product, and to refer to this flag.

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

[0038]

As it is evident from the foregoing description, according to the present invention, since the update processing of the P LU file disconnect the network controller is the standby machine for maintenance, trouble in the update occurs, all Even if the data is destroyed, the data before the update is maintained in the network controller as the standby machine . Therefore, data recovery processing can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transaction processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a file configuration of a network controller and a POS terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a maintenance process such as updating of all product PLU files.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a process of creating a specific product file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a process of creating a specific product file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of a local file creation process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of another transaction processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 (1-1 to 1-n) -POS terminal device 2, 3-Network controller 21-PLU file for all products 22-Maintenance data file 23-Local file 24-Specific product PLU file 25-Terminal management table

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-41598 (JP, A) JP-A-63-249292 (JP, A) JP-A-4-247597 (JP, A) JP-A-4-126423 (JP) JP-A-1-230662 (JP, A) JP-A-1-112366 (JP, A) JP-A-55-33217 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB G06F 17/60 G07G 1/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] Comprising a plurality of transaction processing apparatus 1. A performs registration processing of the product for each transaction, and a two network controllers connected via a data communication line to the transaction processor, the two networks Controller to data communication line
And connect one network controller to the front
An operation machine that manages multiple transaction processors, and the other network
Work controller is connected to the network controller
A standby unit that switches to the operation unit when a failure occurs in the
In the transaction processing system, to one of the network controller, the product identification code
Store multiple PLU records associated with product price data
File storage means for storing a modified PLU file
If, PLU file update means for updating the PLU file
And the PLU file updating means includes the other unit serving as a standby unit.
After disconnecting the connection with the network controller,
Update the PLU file and complete the PLU file update.
The other network controller, which is the standby machine,
Restores the PLU file and restores the updated PLU file
Transaction processing system, which is means for copying to the other network controller . 2. The other network controller
Indicates that one of the network controllers has failed
Failure detection means for detecting whether or not the one of the network
When an error is detected in the controller
The transaction processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the transaction processing system is switched to: 3. A method for registering products for each transaction.
Network connected to a data processing device via a data communication line
In the work controller, the product price data corresponds to the product identification code for each product
A PLU file that stores multiple attached PLU records
PLU file storage means for storing, and PLU file updating means for updating the PLU file
And the PLU file updating means is provided via a data communication line.
Connection with another network controller
After disconnecting the connection, update the PLU file,
After the PLU file has been updated, the other network
Controller connection and restores the updated PLU file.
To copy files to another network controller
Is a network controller.