JP3961418B2 - Network system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network system such as a POS (Point Of Sales) system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a chain store such as a supermarket, a convenience store, a drug store, or a family restaurant that controls a plurality of stores at its headquarters, a POS terminal and a store controller are generally installed in each store and connected via a LAN (Local Area Network). A host computer is installed at the headquarters and connected to each store's POS terminal and store controller via a WAN (Wide Area Network). Maintenance of the POS terminal and store controller at each store is concentrated remotely using the host computer at the headquarters. A network system, so-called POS system, has been built that can be carried out automatically. By constructing such a network system, for example, it is possible to exchange programs for POS terminals or store controllers from the headquarters all at once.
[0003]
By the way, when a program exchange of an electronic device such as a POS terminal or a store controller is performed, the device needs to be turned on / off after the program exchange and restarted. Therefore, the program exchange control command distributed from the host computer to the program exchange target device of each store through the WAN includes a reboot command command for instructing execution of power off / on. Later, the power was automatically turned off / on and restarted. However, for example, there is a possibility that the device does not start up normally even if the power is turned off / on because there is a bug in the replaced program.
[0004]
Therefore, for example, when program exchange of POS terminals is carried out at the same time in all stores, the start-up status of the program exchange target device is confirmed from the headquarters (maintenance base) to each store using a telephone or the like, and the convenience store When there are a large number of stores such as, etc., enormous labor costs and communication costs were spent.
[0005]
For example, in a conventional network system of this type, the following maintenance technique is known as a technique for automatically notifying a maintenance base of a failure that has occurred in a POS terminal. That is, the POS terminal in which the failure has occurred records the failure information as failure log information in the failure log file. When the store controller constantly or periodically monitors the failure log file and detects the failure log information of the POS terminal, the store controller transmits failure call information related to the content of the failure to the host device at the maintenance base (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-269643 (FIG. 2)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this conventional maintenance technique, unless the device in which the failure has occurred records the failure log information in the failure log file, the failure is not notified to the host device. For this reason, a device whose power is turned off / on by automatic reboot but does not start up normally cannot record the abnormality in the failure log file, and thus cannot notify the host device of this type of abnormality.
[0008]
The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to promptly notify a host device of an abnormality of a device that has not been normally started up due to power off / on by automatic reboot. A network system is to be provided.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The network system of the present invention connects a first device and a second device via a first network (for example, a LAN), and also includes a host device, a first device, and a second device of the first and second devices. The devices are connected to each other by a second network (for example, WAN). Then, the first device and the second device are selectively rebooted by remote control of the host device. In this device, when the first device receives a reboot command from the host device through the second network, it sends a power-off notification message to the other device connected through the first network through the first network. An off notification means for transmitting, a reboot means for turning off / on the power after transmitting a power-off notification message by the off-notification means, and a power supply for the other device when the power is turned off / on by the reboot means An on-notification means for transmitting an on-notification message through the first network, and the second device receives a monitoring timer and receives a power-off notification message from the other device through the first network. Monitoring when a timer activation means for starting and a power-on notification message from the other device are received through the first network Timer stop means for stopping the timer, and an abnormality in which a startup abnormality notification message of the other device is transmitted to the upper device via the second network when the time measured by the monitoring timer reaches a preset abnormality detection time Notification means.
[0010]
With such a configuration, when a reboot command is given from the host device to the first device through the second network, the first device sends a power-off notification message to the second device in the first manner. After sending through the network, turn the power off / on. When the second device receives the power-off notification message from the first device through the first network, the second device starts a monitoring timer. Here, when the first device starts up normally due to power-off / on, the first device transmits a power-on notification message to the second device via the first network. As a result, the second device stops the monitoring timer. However, since the power-on notification message is not transmitted to the second device when the first device does not start up normally with respect to power-off / on, the second device uses the monitoring timer. The timekeeping time reaches a preset abnormality detection time. Then, the second device transmits a startup abnormality notification message of the first device to the upper device through the second network. Therefore, an abnormality of a device that has not been started up normally due to power off / on by automatic reboot is immediately notified to the host device.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a POS system constructed in a chain store that governs a plurality of stores at its headquarters.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a POS system according to the present embodiment. This system includes a store system 1 constructed in each store and a host computer 2 installed in the headquarters.
[0013]
The store system 1 includes a plurality of POS terminals (TM) 11, a store controller 12 (SC), and a line termination unit (DSU) 13. Each POS terminal 11 is connected to the store controller 12 via a wired or wireless LAN 14 so as to be capable of two-way communication. Further, each POS terminal 11 and the store controller 12 are connected to the line terminating device 13 by a home wiring cable 15, respectively.
[0014]
The line terminator 13 of each store is connected to an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) 3 that is a wide area network. The host computer 2 is also connected to the ISDN 3. The host computer 2 performs program exchange of the POS terminal 11 and the store controller 12 as a host device of the store system 1.
[0015]
Here, the LAN 14 is a first network that connects a first device (for example, the store controller 12) and a second device (for example, the POS terminal 11), and the ISDN 3 is a first and second device. This is a second network that connects the higher-level device (host computer 2), the first device, and the second device to each other. Note that the second network is not limited to ISDN 3 and may be a telephone network, the Internet, or the like. Further, the first network is not limited to the LAN 14.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the store controller 12 and the POS terminal 11 of the store system 1. The store controller 12 is a nonvolatile memory such as a main control unit 41, a program storage unit 42, a data storage unit 43, a communication control unit 44, a LAN interface 45, a power supply control unit 46, a clock unit 47, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The memory 48 or the like. Each POS terminal 11 includes a main control unit 51, a program storage unit 52, a data storage unit 53, a communication control unit 54, a LAN interface 55, a power supply control unit 56, a clock unit 57, and various input / output devices (for example, a keyboard, a display, The printer 58) and the like.
[0017]
The communication control units 44 and 54 are respectively connected to the in-home wiring cable 15 and control data communication with the host computer 2 connected via the ISDN 3. The LAN interfaces 45 and 55 control data communication with other devices connected via the LAN 14. Each power control unit 46 controls power on / off of the own device. The clock unit 47 keeps time (hours, minutes, seconds).
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the data storage unit 43 of the store controller 12 stores a monitoring timer value Tx (for each terminal number that is a serial number uniquely set in advance for each POS terminal 11 connected via the LAN 14. 1 ≦ x ≦ N: N is a monitoring timer table 61 for storing N (the number of POS terminals 11 connected via the LAN 14). In the data storage unit 53 of each POS terminal 11, a monitoring timer memory 62 for storing the monitoring timer value T0 is formed.
[0019]
The program storage unit 42 of the store controller 12 includes a main program for realizing various operations such as merchandise management, sales management, inventory management, ordering, etc. performed by the store controller 12 as well as an SC reboot program 71 and TM startup described later. A monitoring program 72 is stored. In the program storage unit 52 of each POS terminal 11, in addition to a main program for realizing various operations such as sales registration, return registration, and disposal registration performed by the POS terminal 11, a TM reboot program 73 and SC startup monitoring described later are performed. A program 74 is stored.
[0020]
In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the main program of each POS terminal 11 in each store system 1 can be exchanged simultaneously or selectively under the control of the host computer 2. Here, the program exchange control command distributed from the host computer 2 to each POS terminal 11 through the ISDN 3 includes a reboot command command for instructing execution of power off / on, and the POS terminal that has received this command. 11 main controller 51 starts the TM reboot program 73 after exchanging the main program, and executes the TM reboot process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0021]
First, the main control unit 51 transmits a predetermined power-off notification message via the LAN 14 to the store controller 12 as ST (step) 1 (off notification means).
[0022]
Next, when the main control unit 51 waits for a response from the store controller 12 as ST2 and receives an ACK response message indicating normal reception, the main control unit 51 controls the power supply control unit 56 as ST3 to supply power to the POS terminal 11. Is turned off / on (reboot means). If the power supply is normally started by this power off / on, the main control unit 51 transmits a predetermined power-on notification message to the store controller 12 via the LAN 14 as ST4 (on notification means).
[0023]
If the ACK response message cannot be received from the store controller 12 after transmitting the power-off notification message to the store controller 12, the main control unit 51 turns the power off / on as ST5. Even if it starts up normally, the power-on notification message is not transmitted.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the main controller 41 of the store controller 12 receives the power-off notification message from any of the POS terminals connected to the LAN 14 (referred to as the POS terminal 11x of the terminal number x), the TM start-up monitoring program 72 And the TM start-up monitoring process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed.
[0025]
First, the main control unit 41 transmits an ACK response message to the POS terminal 11x that is the power-off notification message transmission source as ST11, and also as a monitoring timer table 61 corresponding to the terminal number x of the POS terminal 11x as ST12. The monitoring timer value Tx is reset to “0” (timer starting means).
[0026]
Next, the main control unit 41 counts up the monitoring timer value Tx by 1 every time the clock unit 47 measures time 1 as ST13, and a warning value in which the monitoring timer value Tx is set in advance as ST14. It is determined whether or not K1 has been reached. If the monitoring timer value Tx has not reached the warning value K1, it is determined in ST15 whether a power-on notification message has been received from the POS terminal 11x. If the power-on notification message has not been received, the process returns to ST13. On the other hand, when a power-on notification message is received, this processing is terminated at that time (timer stopping means).
[0027]
On the other hand, when the monitoring timer value Tx reaches the warning value K1 in ST4, the main control unit 41 transmits a startup abnormality notification message of the POS terminal 11x to the host computer 2 through ISDN 3 (abnormal) (ST6). Notification means), this process is terminated.
[0028]
Here, as the warning value K1, a time longer than the longest time required for startup when the POS terminal 11 is rebooted is set in advance. Therefore, when the POS terminal 11x for which automatic reboot is instructed by remote control from the host computer 2 starts up normally, the POS terminal 11x corresponding to the POS terminal 11x is informed before the POS terminal 11x reaches the warning value K1. Since the power-on notification message is transmitted from the terminal 11x and the timing operation of the monitoring timer value Tx is stopped, the startup abnormality notification message of the POS terminal 11x is not transmitted to the host computer 2. On the contrary, if the POS terminal 11x does not start up normally, the monitoring timer value Tx eventually reaches the warning value K1, so that a startup abnormality notification message of the POS terminal 11x is transmitted to the host computer 2.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the main program of the store controller 12 in each store system 1 can be exchanged simultaneously or selectively under the control of the host computer 2. Here, the program exchange control command distributed from the host computer 2 to each store controller 12 through the ISDN 3 includes a reboot command for instructing execution of power off / on, and the store controller that has received this command. After exchanging the main program, the main control unit 41 of 12 starts the SC reboot program 71 and executes the SC reboot process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0030]
First, the main control unit 41 once resets the count value n of the number counter to “0” as ST21, and then increments this counter by “1” as ST22. If it is confirmed in ST23 that the count value n of the number counter does not exceed the number N of POS terminals 11 connected via the LAN 14, the main control unit 41 determines that the terminal number n (n is A power-off notification message is transmitted to the POS terminal 11n that matches the count value of the number counter (off notification means).
[0031]
Next, when the main control unit 41 waits for a response from the POS terminal 11n as ST25 and receives an ACK response message indicating normal reception, the main control unit 41 writes the count value n of the number counter into the nonvolatile memory 48 as ST26. After that, as ST27, the power controller 46 is controlled to turn the store controller 12 off / on (reboot means). If the power supply is normally started up by this power off / on, the main control unit 41 reads the count value n of the number counter from the nonvolatile memory 48 as ST28, and stores the terminal number n specified from the count value n. A predetermined power-on notification message is transmitted to the POS terminal 11n via the LAN 14 (ON notification means).
[0032]
If the ACK response message cannot be received from the POS terminal 11n after transmitting the power-off notification message to the POS terminal 11n, the main control unit 41 returns to ST22 and counts the number counter. n is further increased by one. Then, a power-off notification message is transmitted to the POS terminal 11n with TM number n. If an ACK response message is received from the POS terminal 11n, the processes of ST26, 27, and 28 are executed. On the other hand, when the power-off notification message is transmitted to all the POS terminals 11 in the order of the terminal numbers, but no ACK response message is received, the main control unit 41 turns the power off / on as ST29. The power-on notification message is not transmitted even if the system starts up normally.
[0033]
On the other hand, when the main control unit 51 of each POS terminal 11 receives the power-off notification message from the store controller 12 connected via the LAN 14, it starts the SC start-up monitoring program 74 and the SC shown in the flowchart of FIG. Execute the start-up monitoring process.
[0034]
First, the main control unit 51 transmits an ACK response message to the store controller 12 as ST31, and resets the monitoring timer value T0 to “0” as ST32 (timer starting means).
[0035]
Next, the main control unit 51 increments the monitoring timer value T0 by 1 each time the time 47 is counted by the clock unit 47 as ST33, and a warning value in which the monitoring timer value T0 is preset as ST34. It is determined whether or not K2 has been reached. If the monitoring timer value T0 has not reached the warning value K2, it is determined in ST35 whether a power-on notification message has been received from the store controller 12. If no power-on notification message has been received, the process returns to ST33. On the other hand, when a power-on notification message is received, this processing is terminated at that time (timer stopping means).
[0036]
On the other hand, when the monitoring timer value T0 reaches the warning value K2 in ST34, a startup abnormality notification message of the store controller 12 is transmitted to the host computer 2 through ISDN 3 in ST36, and this process is terminated (abnormality). Notification means).
[0037]
Here, as the warning value K2, a time longer than the longest time required for startup when the store controller 12 is rebooted is set in advance. Therefore, when the store controller 12 to which automatic reboot is instructed by remote control from the host computer 2 starts up normally, the store controller 12 sends a power-on notification message before the monitoring timer value T0 reaches the warning value K2. Is transmitted and the time counting operation of the monitoring timer value T0 is stopped, so that the startup abnormality notification message of the store controller 12 is not transmitted to the host computer 2. On the other hand, if the store controller 12 does not start up normally, the monitoring timer value T0 eventually reaches the warning value K2, and therefore the startup abnormality notification message of the store controller 12 is transmitted to the host computer 2.
[0038]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the store controller 12 does not start up normally due to power off / on by automatic reboot, the host computer 2 is connected to the POS terminal 11 connected to the store controller 12 via the LAN 14. Therefore, when the store controller 12 is remotely exchanged, for example, it is necessary to manually check whether the store controller 12 has started up normally. Disappear. Similarly, if the POS terminal 11 does not start up normally due to power-off / on by automatic reboot, the store controller 12 connected to the POS terminal 11 via the LAN 14 sends an error in starting the POS terminal 11 to the host computer 2. Is immediately notified, for example, when the program exchange of the POS terminal 11 is performed from a remote location, it is not necessary to manually confirm whether the POS terminal 11 has started up normally. This effect is greater when the number of stores is large, such as a convenience store.
[0039]
Note that the SC reboot program 71 and the TM reboot program 73 are not only activated by a reboot instruction command at the time of program exchange, but are periodically implemented, for example, once every six months for the purpose of maintaining the store controller 12. It is also activated when re-starting up.
[0040]
In addition, the present invention is not limited to the POS system, and the first device and the second device are connected via the first network, and the host device and the first device of the first and second devices. And a second device connected to each other via a second network, and can be applied to all network systems in which the first device and the second device are selectively rebooted by remote control of the host device.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention as described in detail above, it can be promptly notify the host device of the abnormality of the device that did not rise to normal by power off / on by automatic reboot in accordance with the reboot instruction command from the host device Network system can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a store controller and a POS terminal in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a monitoring timer table shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main part of a TM reboot process executed by a main control unit of the POS terminal according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the main part of the TM start-up monitoring process executed by the main controller of the store controller in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of SC reboot processing executed by the main controller of the store controller according to the embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main part of SC start-up monitoring processing executed by the main control unit of the POS terminal according to the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Store system, 2 ... Host computer, 3 ... ISDN, 11 ... POS terminal, 12 ... Store controller, 14 ... LAN, 41, 51 ... Main control part, 46, 56 ... Power supply control part, 47, 57 ... Clock part 48 ... Non-volatile memory 61 ... Monitoring timer table 62 ... Monitoring timer memory 71 ... SC reboot program 72 ... TM startup monitoring program 73 ... TM rebooting program 74 ... SC startup monitoring program

Claims (2)

The first device and the second device are connected via a first network, and the host device of the first and second devices and the first device and the second device are connected to each other via a second network. In a network system for connecting and rebooting the first device by remote control of the host device,
When the first device receives a reboot command command from the host device through the second network, the first device transmits a power-off notification message to the second device through the first network; Reboot means for turning off / on the power after transmitting the power-off notice message by the off-notification means, and power-on notice message to the second device upon startup by power off / on by the reboot means On-notification means for transmitting through the first network,
The second device includes a monitoring timer, timer activation means for starting the monitoring timer when the power-off notification message is received from the first device through the first network, and the first device from the first device. When the power-on notification message is received through the first network, timer stop means for stopping the monitoring timer, and when the time measured by the monitoring timer reaches a preset abnormality detection time, the upper device is A network system comprising: an abnormality notification means for transmitting a startup abnormality notification message of one device through the second network. A first device and a plurality of second devices are connected via a first network, and a host device of the first and second devices, the first device and each second device are connected to a second network. In a network system for connecting to each other via a network and rebooting the first device by remote control of the host device,
When the first device receives a reboot command command from the higher-level device through the second network, the first device transmits a power-off notification message to any one of the second devices through the first network. And when there is no permission response from the second device that has transmitted the power-off notification message by the off-notification device, the power-off notification message is transmitted to another second device through the first network. Re-off notification means, reboot means for turning off / on power when there is a permission response from the second device that has transmitted the power-off notification message, and permission when the power is turned off / on by the reboot means An on-notification means for transmitting a power-on notification message to the second device that has responded through the first network;
The second device returns a permission response when receiving the power-off notification message from the first device through the first network, and starts a monitoring timer, and starts the monitoring timer. Timer stop means for stopping the monitoring timer when the power-on notification message is received from the first device through the first network, and the host device when the time measured by the monitoring timer reaches a preset abnormality detection time A network system, comprising: an abnormality notification means for transmitting a startup abnormality notification message of the first device through the second network.

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