JP5642128B2 - Information processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus and a program.

  Conventionally, a POS terminal used in a store such as a supermarket has various peripheral devices such as a printer and a code scanner as local resources. Recently, a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer) is used as a POS terminal. In this case, a POS function related to a POS service is realized by introducing a program (POS application).

  By the way, in the POS terminal using the above-described computer, in addition to the POS application, other programs are generally introduced. In addition, local resources such as devices connected to the POS terminal can be used by programs other than the POS application. However, if a local resource used in the POS service is used by another program during execution of the POS service, there is a possibility that a conflicting state such as a lock may occur, which hinders the POS service. It was.

The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment is an information processing apparatus having one or more resources, and includes a switching unit and a dedicated unit. The switching means executes a switchable first application dedicated to a specific resource and a second application not requiring the specific resource. The exclusive means, when the switching means is switched between the first application and the second application, the specific means based on the exclusive setting information defining the specific resource exclusive to the first application Perform exclusive control of other resources.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a POS terminal according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the electrical system of the POS terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the exclusive setting information illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the POS terminal according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operator related to switching of operation modes displayed on the main display. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operator related to switching of operation modes displayed on the main display. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation mode switching process performed by the POS terminal.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a POS terminal as an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The POS terminal 1 is placed on a drawer 2 for storing cash or the like, and controls opening and closing of a drawer 2a of the drawer 2.

  The POS terminal 1 is provided with a keyboard 3 on the front side for an operator to input a deposit amount. The keyboard 3 is provided with a mode switch 4 in addition to a numeric key and a current key (not shown). The mode switch 4 is a switch for selecting various business modes such as “registration”, “inspection”, “settlement”, “setting”, and is operated with a key.

  Also, an operator main display 5 is connected to the front side of the POS terminal 1, and a customer sub-display 6 is connected to the back side. The main display 5 and the sub display 6 are composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and display the product name and price of a product registered for sale, the total amount of a transaction, the amount of change, and the like. In addition, it is good also as a form which receives the input from a user in cooperation with the display screen displayed on each display by making the main display 5 and the sub display 6 into a touch-panel structure.

  The POS terminal 1 has a built-in printer 7 for printing receipts and journals, and a receipt printed by the printer 7 is issued from a receipt issuing port 8 formed on the front side of the POS terminal 1.

  The POS terminal 1 is connected with a code scanner 9 for reading a barcode printed on a product label at the time of product sales registration. The code scanner 9 reads data including product codes such as JAN (Japanese Article Number), EAN (European Article Number), UPC (Universal Product Code), etc. from the barcode attached to the product, and the read data is POS. Output to the terminal 1.

  The above-described electrical system of the POS terminal 1 is configured as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the electrical system of the POS terminal 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the POS terminal 1 includes a control unit 11 having a computer configuration including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. By using the communication interface 13 connected to each other, online communication can be performed with a store computer (not shown).

  The drawer 11, the keyboard 3, the main display 5, the sub display 6, the printer 7, and the code scanner 9 are connected to the control unit 11 via the bus 12 and the I / O device control unit 14. Yes. The drawer 2, the keyboard 3, the main display 5, the sub display 6, the printer 7, and the code scanner 9 are connected using a general-purpose interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The control unit 11 is connected to a storage unit 15 including a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) via the bus 12 and the I / O device control unit 14. Yes. The storage unit 15 stores various files related to the operation of the POS terminal 1.

  For example, the storage unit 15 stores a journal file 151 for storing electronic journal data as a file related to product sales registration, and sales data registered by the POS terminal 1 for each product department. A total file 152 for accumulating processing for each item such as time zone and cashier is stored.

  In addition, the storage unit 15 stores exclusive setting information 153 that defines local resources to be subjected to exclusive processing when the POS terminal 1 operates in a POS mode to be described later.

  Here, FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the exclusive setting information 153. As shown in the figure, in the exclusion setting information 153, devices and files are defined as local resources that are subject to exclusion processing during operation in the POS mode. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a drawer 2, a sub display 6, a printer 7, and a code scanner 9 that are mainly used during POS operations are defined as devices to be subjected to exclusive processing when the POS function is valid. In addition, an example is shown in which the above-described journal file 151 and total file 152 are defined as files to be subjected to exclusive processing during operation in the POS mode.

  Note that the setting content of the exclusive setting information 153 is not limited to the example of FIG. 3, and any local resource that the POS terminal 1 has can be set as an exclusive processing target. For example, all local resources of the POS terminal 1 may be set as exclusion processing targets, or some local resources different from the setting contents of FIG. 3 may be set as exclusion processing targets.

  The storage unit 15 stores in advance various control programs for causing the POS terminal 1 to realize predetermined functions in cooperation with the control unit 11. For example, the storage unit 15 causes the POS terminal 1 to realize a program (hereinafter referred to as a POS application) for realizing a POS function related to a POS service, a function related to a business other than the POS service, or the like. A program (hereinafter referred to as a non-POS application) is stored.

  Here, in the POS mode in which the POS function is activated by the POS application, the control unit 11 reads the product code by the code scanner 9 while the mode switch 4 of the keyboard 3 is set to the settlement mode, When there is an input of a product with a numeric key, an input of a sales quantity with a numeric key, etc., sales registration processing for that product is started.

  In the sales registration process, the control unit 11 stores the product code input by the code scanner 9 in the work area of the RAM. Moreover, the control part 11 memorize | stores the transaction classification input with the keyboard 3 in the work area of RAM. Here, examples of the transaction type include normal transactions, discount transactions, card payments, and the like.

  And the control part 11 acquires sales price, a product name, etc. by searching the goods master table stored in the store computer which is not illustrated based on the information memorize | stored in the work area, These goods codes, sales Sales data based on the number, product name, sales price, etc. is generated. In the product master table, the product type, product name, unit price, etc. of the product are registered in advance in association with the product code of each product.

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 calculates the total sales amount each time the product code is input, and repeats this until the current key is pressed. When the current total key is pressed, the control unit 11 registers this sales data in the store sales table of the store computer together with a transaction number for identifying this transaction. Further, the control unit 11 registers journal data related to sales registration in the journal file 151 and registers sales data in the total file 152.

  On the other hand, in the non-POS mode in which the non-POS function by the non-POS application is activated, the control unit 11 performs other functions (non-POS function) other than the POS function such as transmission / reception of e-mail and browsing of web contents. POS terminal 1 is realized. The POS mode and the non-POS mode may be configured to operate under a common OS (operating system).

  The storage unit 15 stores a control program (hereinafter referred to as an exclusive processing program) related to switching between the POS mode and the non-POS mode.

  Here, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the POS terminal 1 realized by the cooperation of the control unit 11 and the exclusive processing program. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the POS terminal 1 includes an operation mode switching unit 111 and an exclusive processing unit 112 as functional units.

  The operation mode switching unit 111 activates one of the operation modes by switching the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 to the POS mode or the non-POS mode in accordance with an instruction from the user. Here, the activation of the operation mode means that a function in the operation mode is made available to the user. In addition, the operation modes other than the activated operation mode are deactivated when the application is paused or terminated.

  The operation mode switching instruction method is not particularly limited. For example, the operation mode may be switched according to an operation of a predetermined key provided on the keyboard 3. Further, an operation button such as an operation button for switching the operation mode or an icon image may be displayed on the main display 5 and the operation mode may be switched according to an operation on the operation element.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation element related to switching of operation modes displayed on the main display 5. FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen displayed on the main display 5 in the POS mode. In the figure, the area A11 is provided with various buttons related to sales registration of products in addition to the current date and time (2012/01/27 (Friday) 13:57).

  In FIG. 5, a PC switching button B11 is an operator for instructing switching from the POS mode to the non-POS mode. When the PC switching button B11 is operated, the operation mode switching unit 111 switches the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 from the current POS mode to the non-POS mode, and displays the screen shown in FIG. In the area A12, various kinds of information related to the POS business (product name and price, total amount of a transaction, change amount, etc.) are displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen displayed on the main display 5 in the non-POS mode. In the figure, a POS icon B21 is an operator for instructing switching from the non-POS mode to the POS mode. When the POS icon B21 is operated, the operation mode switching unit 111 switches the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 from the non-POS mode to the POS mode, and displays the screen of FIG. In the area A21, for example, an OS desktop screen or the like is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the exclusion processing unit 112 performs exclusion processing of the device and file set in the exclusion setting information 153 in accordance with the switching of the operation mode by the operation mode switching unit 111.

  Specifically, when the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 is switched from the non-POS mode to the POS mode, the exclusive processing unit 112 performs an exclusive process on the local resources (device and file) set in the exclusive setting information 153. Then, the local resource is set to the exclusive state of the POS function. In addition, when the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 is switched from the POS mode to the non-POS mode, the exclusive processing unit 112 stops the exclusive processing for the local resource set in the exclusive setting information 153, so that the local resource Is released (released) from the exclusive state.

  For example, when the setting contents of the exclusive setting information 153 shown in FIG. 3 are used, the exclusive processing unit 112 causes each device of the drawer 2, the sub display 6, the printer 7, and the code scanner 9 in accordance with switching to the POS mode. And exclusive processing is performed on each of the journal file 151 and the total file 152 to make the POS function exclusive. In addition, the exclusive processing unit 112 changes the devices of the drawer 2, the sub display 6, the printer 7, and the code scanner 9, the journal file 151, and the total file 152 that are in the exclusive state in response to switching to the non-POS mode. Free with each file.

  Under the control of the exclusive processing unit 112, while the POS terminal 1 is operating in the POS mode, local resources that are in the exclusive state of the POS function cannot be used from the non-POS mode. As described above, the exclusive processing unit 112 occupies a local resource mainly used in the POS mode in the POS mode. This prevents local resource contention between the POS application (POS function) and the non-POS application (non-POS function), and the file is inadvertently operated from the non-POS mode. Therefore, the POS business can be smoothly advanced.

  When switching from the non-POS mode to the POS mode, if the local resource is in use (busy state) by the non-POS function, the mode of waiting for switching to the POS mode is waited until the busy state ends. Alternatively, after the non-POS application is forcibly terminated, the mode may be switched to the POS mode. When the latter form is adopted, a screen for confirming to the user whether or not to forcibly terminate the non-POS application may be displayed on the main display 5.

  Also, when switching from the POS mode to the non-POS mode, if the local resource is in use (busy state) by the POS function, the switch to the non-POS mode is waited until the busy state ends. Alternatively, the mode may be switched to the non-POS mode after the POS application is forcibly terminated. When the latter form is adopted, a screen for confirming to the user whether or not to forcibly terminate the POS application may be displayed on the main display 5.

  Next, an operation mode switching process performed by the POS terminal 1 configured as described above will be described. Here, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the operation mode switching process executed by the POS terminal 1.

  First, the operation mode switching unit 111 waits until an instruction to switch the operation mode is given (step S11; No). When it is determined that switching to the operation mode is instructed (step S11; Yes), the operation mode switching unit 111 determines whether the operation mode instructed to switch is a POS mode or a non-POS mode (step S12).

  If it is determined in step S12 that switching to the POS mode is instructed (step S12; Yes), the operation mode switching unit 111 switches the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 from the non-POS mode to the POS mode (step S13). .

  Subsequently, the exclusive processing unit 112 performs exclusive processing on the local resource set in the exclusive setting information 153 to shift the local resource to the exclusive state of the POS function (step S14), and returns to step S11 again. As a result, the POS function becomes active, and the above-described sales registration processing and the like can be executed using the resources provided in the POS terminal 1 together with the local resources (devices and files) in the exclusive state.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S12 that switching to the non-POS mode is instructed (step S12; No), the operation mode switching unit 111 switches the operation mode of the POS terminal 1 from the POS mode to the non-POS mode ( Step S15).

  Subsequently, the exclusive processing unit 112 releases (releases) the exclusive state of the POS mode by stopping the exclusive processing for the local resource set in the exclusive setting information 153 (step S16), and returns to step S11 again. As a result, the non-POS function becomes active, and the resources provided in the POS terminal 1 can be used together with the resources (devices and files) released from the exclusive state.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the POS application is executed (in the POS mode), the local resources mainly used for the POS business can be occupied, so that the POS application and the non-POS application It is possible to prevent competition between them and to facilitate the POS operation.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the said embodiment was shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, additions, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the said embodiment and its deformation | transformation are included in the range of the invention, the summary, and the invention described in the claim, and its equal range.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the device and file related to the POS job are registered in the exclusive setting information 153. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a device and file related to another job may be registered.

  In addition, the program executed by the POS terminal 1 of the above embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a storage medium (ROM or storage unit 15) provided in the POS terminal 1, but is not limited to this and can be installed. Alternatively, an executable file may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). . Furthermore, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a storage medium that downloads and stores or temporarily stores a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like.

  Further, the program executed in the POS terminal 1 of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. It may be configured to be provided or distributed via.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 POS terminal 2 Drawer 3 Keyboard 4 Mode switch 5 Main display 6 Sub display 7 Printer 8 Receipt issue port 9 Code scanner 11 Control unit 12 Bus 13 Communication interface 14 I / O device control unit 15 Storage unit 111 Operation mode switching unit 112 Exclusive processing unit 151 Journal file 152 Total file 153 Exclusive setting information

JP 2004-171065 A

Claims (6)

An information processing apparatus having one or more resources,
A switching means for switchingly executing a first application that occupies a specific resource and a second application that does not require occupancy of the specific resource ;
When switching between the first application and the second application is performed by the switching means, the exclusion of the specific resource is performed based on the exclusive setting information defining the specific resource dedicated to the first application. A proprietary means of controlling ,
An information processing apparatus comprising: The specific resource is a specific device that the own apparatus has,
The said exclusive means makes the said specific device the exclusive state of the said 1st application based on the said exclusive setting information, when the switch to the said 1st application is performed by the said switching means. Information processing device. The specific resource is a specific file stored in the device ,
3. The exclusive device sets the specific file to the exclusive state of the first application based on the exclusive setting information when the switching device switches to the first application. The information processing apparatus described in 1. The switching means displays an interface for instructing switching from the second application to the first application in the operation screen of the second application, and according to an instruction from the user via the interface, The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein switching to the first application is performed. The switching means confirms with the user whether or not to end the one application when switching to the other application during execution of either the first application or the second application, The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the termination is instructed, the other application is executed after the one application is terminated. A computer of an information processing apparatus having one or more resources,
A switching means for switchingly executing a first application that occupies a specific resource and a second application that does not require occupancy of the specific resource ;
When switching between the first application and the second application is performed by the switching means, the exclusion of the specific resource is performed based on the exclusive setting information defining the specific resource dedicated to the first application. A proprietary means of controlling ,
Program to make it function.

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