JP6032092B2 - Network system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system that manages a plurality of terminals using a server.

  Conventionally, as a technique related to a network system that manages a plurality of terminals using a server, a network system as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known. This network system includes a relay server that relays communication between the center apparatus and each terminal, and this relay server is configured to forward a request message from each settlement terminal to the settlement center. The relay server temporarily stores the received request message when the current number of simultaneous connections has reached the threshold, and stores the request message stored when the number of simultaneous connections falls below the threshold after that. To the settlement center.

JP 2010-219979 A

  By the way, for example, in a payment system in which a plurality of payment terminals are managed by a server, each payment terminal individually acquires data such as security information from the server at the time of activation or the like. For this reason, since each terminal communicates with a server and receives data, communication traffic increases as the amount of data and the frequency thereof increase, and access to the server is concentrated. In such a system, it is not only costly to prepare a server that can handle the increased communication traffic, but it is also necessary to add a connection line for connecting each terminal and the server so that they can communicate. It costs money.

  In particular, since a public line network is used between the server and each payment terminal, when using a line network with a relatively small line capacity such as ISDN, communication is performed when access from each payment terminal to the server is concentrated. A decrease in speed occurs. In addition, since each payment terminal communicates using a network with a relatively small capacity (slow communication speed), not only communication processing takes time, but also waiting time required for using the payment terminal. It will increase.

  In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the relay server is employed to limit the number of simultaneous connections of each terminal to the server, thereby suppressing communication traffic and reducing the concentration of access to the server. . However, it is necessary to prepare a relay server configured as described above, and there is a problem that not only the operation cost of the relay server is separately required, but also communication control of the entire system becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network system capable of suppressing concentration of access to a server with a simple configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a network system (10) in which a plurality of terminals (20a to 20e) are connected to a server (11) via a network (12) to perform communication. The terminal includes first communication means (25) for communicating with the server, second communication means (25) for communicating with other terminals, the first communication means, and the second communication means. The communication information control means (21) for controlling information communicated with the server or other terminal using any one of the above, and the own apparatus is in a state capable of communicating with the server using the first communication means. And a notification means (21) for notifying the plurality of terminals excluding its own device when the other terminal has not notified the external communication possible state, wherein the communication information control means Other terminal by means On the other hand, when notifying the external communicable state, if the common information used in common by the plurality of terminals is acquired from the server using the first communication means, the common information is When the second communication means transmits to the terminal and the notification means of another terminal notifies the external communication possible state, the common information is notified of the external communication ready state. Receiving from the other terminal via the second communication means , the terminal comprising storage means for storing at least part of information to be transmitted to the server as transmission information, the communication information control means When the notification means of another terminal notifies the external communication possible state, the transmission information stored in the storage means is stored in the external communication ready state at a predetermined terminal transmission timing. Is notified When the second communication means is used for transmission to the other terminal, and the notification means notifies the other terminal of the external communication possible state, the second terminal sends the second communication means to the second terminal. The transmission information received using the communication means is stored in the storage means, and the transmission information of the own device and other terminals stored in the storage means is stored in the server at a predetermined server transmission timing. On the other hand, transmission is performed using the first communication means .
In addition, the code | symbol in each said parenthesis shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in each embodiment mentioned later.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the notification unit is not notified by another terminal of the external communicable state indicating that the own unit can communicate with the server using the first communication unit. It is notified to a plurality of terminals except for. When the communication information control unit acquires the common information from the server using the first communication unit when the notification unit notifies the other terminal of the external communication possible state, the common information is It is transmitted to the other terminal using the second communication means. Further, when the external communication enabled state is notified by the notification means of the other terminal, the common information is received from the other terminal that notifies the external communication enabled state via the second communication means by the communication information control means. Is done.

As a result, the terminal communicating with the server is limited to the terminal notifying that the external communication is possible (hereinafter also referred to as a server access terminal), and other terminals do not access the server. Can do. In particular, since other terminals can acquire common information from the server access terminal without accessing the server, communication traffic increases compared to the case where each terminal accesses the server and acquires the common information. It is suppressed. Therefore, concentration of access to the server can be suppressed with a simple configuration without employing a relay server or the like.
In particular, when the notification means of another terminal notifies the external communication possible state, the transmission information stored in the storage means can be externally communicated by the communication information control means at a predetermined terminal transmission timing. It transmits using the 2nd communication means with respect to the other terminal to which a state is notified. When the notification means notifies the other terminal of the external communication possible state, the communication information control means sends the transmission information received from the other terminal using the second communication means to the storage means. The transmission information of the own device and other terminals stored and stored in the storage means is transmitted to the server using the first communication means at a predetermined server transmission timing.
Accordingly, since a terminal that is not a server access terminal only transmits transmission information to the server access terminal and does not access the server, concentration of access can be suppressed even when transmission information is transmitted. In particular, the server access terminal can transmit the transmission information of its own device and other terminals stored in the storage means to the server at a predetermined server transmission timing, so that the transmission information is individually transmitted. Compared with, transmission efficiency can be improved.

  In the invention of claim 2, the communication information control means provides common information that requires authentication, for example, common information related to payment, when the notification means notifies the other terminal of the external communication possible state. The second communication means is used for transmission to other terminals that have been mutually authenticated by the authentication means. As a result, since terminals that are not mutually authenticated cannot acquire common information, it is possible to reliably prevent unauthorized acquisition of common information by terminals connected to the server access terminal for unauthorized purposes.

  In the invention of claim 3, the notification means sets the external communication possible state at a timing when the common information is acquired from the server using the first communication means when the other terminal has not notified the external communication ready state. Notify multiple terminals except for your device. In this way, by notifying the external communication possible state at the timing of acquiring the common information from the server, it is possible to determine the server access terminal at the timing at which the common information is acquired from the server earliest among each terminal. it can.

  In the invention of claim 4, the notifying means notifies the external communication possible state to a plurality of terminals other than its own device at the time of start-up when the other terminal does not notify the external communicable state. In this way, by notifying the external communication possible state at the time of activation, the server access terminal can be determined at the activation timing of the terminal that has been activated earliest among the terminals.

In the invention of claim 5 , when the notification means detects that the state in which the external communication possible state has been notified by another terminal has been released, the notification means sends the external communication ready state to a plurality of terminals other than its own device. To notify. As a result, even if the server access terminal is removed from the network due to repair or replacement, the terminal that detects the cancellation of the notification of the external communication enabled state becomes a new server access terminal. It is possible to continue the state in which is suppressed.

In the invention of claim 6 , the notification means cancels the notification of the external communicable state when the start / stop operation is performed on the own device in a state of notifying the external communicable state to the other terminal, When it is detected that the state in which the external communication enabled state is notified by another terminal is released, the external communication enabled state is notified to a plurality of terminals other than its own device. Then, if the notification means of the other terminal notifies the external communication possible state when the start / stop operation is performed, the communication information control means notifies the other terminal that has notified the external communication possible state. On the other hand, the transmission information stored in the storage means is transmitted using the second communication means. Further, the communication information control means, when the start / stop operation is performed on all of the plurality of terminals except the own device when the start / stop operation is performed, the transmission information stored in the storage means for the server. The credit information is transmitted using the first communication means.

  Therefore, when a start / stop operation is performed on a terminal that is not a server access terminal, the terminal transmits transmission information to the server access terminal, and when a start / stop operation is performed on the server access terminal, The other terminal becomes a server access terminal and receives transmission information from the old server access terminal on which the start / stop operation has been performed. That is, the terminal that has not been activated and stopped until the end of each terminal becomes a server access terminal that stores information for transmission at all terminals in the storage means, and the activation and deactivation operation is performed on the server access terminal. And the information for transmission in all the terminals memorize | stored in a memory | storage means is transmitted to a server using a 1st communication means.

  Even in this case, the server access terminal can transmit the transmission information of its own device and other terminals stored in the storage means to the server at the time of the start / stop operation, and therefore transmits the transmission information individually. Compared to the case, the transmission efficiency can be improved. In particular, since the start / stop processing is performed without transmitting the transmission information to the server in the terminal that is started and stopped first, the time until the start / stop can be shortened.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the payment system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the payment terminal in FIG. 1. It is a part of flowchart which illustrates the flow of the communication process for payment implemented in the payment terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a part of flowchart which illustrates the flow of the communication process for payment implemented in the payment terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the communication state of the common information via company LAN. It is a part of flowchart which illustrates the flow of the communication process for payment implemented in the payment terminal in 2nd Embodiment. It is a part of flowchart which illustrates the flow of the communication process for payment implemented in the payment terminal in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the communication state of the information for transmission via company LAN.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which a network system of the present invention is applied to a settlement system will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the payment system 10 according to the first embodiment.
The network system according to the present embodiment is a system in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network for communication. In particular, in this embodiment, the network system is configured as a payment system 10, and a network in which a plurality of payment terminals 20 a to 20 e arranged in one store are constructed outside a dedicated router 13 and the Internet. 12 is connected to a settlement server 11 via a communication terminal 12. The payment terminals 20a to 20e are connected to each other via the in-house LAN 14 so as to communicate with each other.

  In this embodiment, five payment terminals 20a to 20e are adopted as a plurality of payment terminals. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two to four payment terminals may be adopted. More than one payment terminal may be employed. Each payment terminal is not limited to be placed in one store, but can communicate with the server 11 via the network 12 and can communicate with other payment terminals via the in-house LAN 14. It may be arranged at any of a plurality of stores.

  The server 11 is configured as a computer, for example, a control unit including a CPU or the like, a display unit configured as a liquid crystal monitor or the like, a storage unit including ROM, RAM, HDD, or the like, an operation unit configured as a mouse or a keyboard, communication A communication unit configured as an interface is provided. The server 11 manages the payment terminals 20a to 20e and the like, transmits information requested from the payment terminals 20a to 20e and the like via the network 12, and transmits the information from the payment terminals 20a to 20e and the like via the network 12. Received information is managed in a database.

  Next, the configuration of each of the payment terminals 20a to 20e will be described with reference to FIG. Here, since each payment terminal 20a-20e is the same structure, it demonstrates on behalf of the payment terminal 20a. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the payment terminals 20a (20b to 20e) in FIG.

  The settlement terminal 20a is configured as a stationary terminal having a function of wirelessly communicating settlement information and the like with a settlement recording medium such as an IC card (hereinafter simply referred to as a settlement medium) held over the holding face. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, a control unit 21 that controls the entire payment terminal is provided in the housing of the payment terminal 20a. The control unit 21 is composed mainly of a microcomputer, has a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, etc., and can constitute an information processing apparatus together with the memory 22 and has an information processing function. ing. The control unit 21 is mainly connected with a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, a communication interface 25, a wireless communication unit 26, and the like. The memory 22 may correspond to an example of “storage means”.

  The display unit 23 is, for example, a liquid crystal display and has a configuration in which the display content is controlled by the control unit 21, and operates in response to a command related to display processing and the like from the control unit 21. . The operation unit 24 includes a plurality of keys and the like, and is configured to input information corresponding to the key operation to the control unit 21.

  The communication interface 25 is configured as an interface for performing data communication with the server 11 via the router 13 and the network 12 and data communication with other settlement terminals via the in-house LAN 14. The communication processing is performed in cooperation with the control unit 21.

  In the communication interface 25 configured in this way, the function for realizing communication with the server 11 via the router 13 and the network 12 corresponds to an example of “first communication means”. A function for realizing communication with a payment terminal may correspond to an example of “second communication means”. Therefore, the control unit 21 functions as a “communication information control unit” that controls information communicated with the server 11 or another settlement terminal using either one of the “first communication unit” and the “second communication unit”. To do. Note that both functions of the “first communication means” and the “second communication means” are provided in the communication interface 25, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a communication interface may be separately provided according to each function.

  The wireless communication unit 26 detects non-contact communication (wireless communication) using electromagnetic waves with the settlement medium held over the holding surface via the antenna 27, thereby detecting that the payment medium is held over the holding surface. It functions to read and write payment related information related to payment such as card numbers stored in the payment medium. 2 illustrates a state in which the IC card C is held over the holding surface as a settlement medium.

Next, the communication process for payment performed at each of the payment terminals 20a to 20e, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described.
In the present embodiment, in order to suppress the concentration of access to the server 11 by the settlement terminals 20a to 20e, information commonly used by the settlement terminals 20a to 20e among the information received from the server 11 (hereinafter simply referred to as “ Common information) is received by any one of the settlement terminals 20a to 20e. The payment terminal (hereinafter also referred to as a server access terminal) that has received this common information sets the external communication enabled state indicating that the self-machine is in a state where it can communicate with the server 11 using the communication interface 25 to other payments. The terminal can be notified. Then, another settlement terminal different from the server access terminal receives the common information from the server access terminal via the in-house LAN 14.

  In this way, by limiting the number of payment terminals that communicate with the server 11 with respect to the common information to one, the increase in communication traffic is suppressed, and the communication speed decreases even when a relatively small capacity network is adopted. Therefore, the cost for communication with the server 11 via the network 12 can be reduced. The common information includes, for example, data such as security information including negative data updated every day by the server 11.

  Hereinafter, the settlement communication process described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of payment communication processing performed at the payment terminal 20a (20b to 20e). FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a communication state of common information via the in-house LAN 14, and FIG. 5A shows a state where the payment terminal 20b functions as a server access terminal. B) shows a state in which the payment terminal 20a functions as a server access terminal.

  First, when the payment terminal 20a is activated, a first packet transmission process shown in step S101 of FIG. 3 is performed. In this process, the first packet is transmitted to all the payment terminals different from the own device in order to determine whether or not the payment terminal different from the own device notifies the external communication possible state.

  Subsequently, a determination process shown in step S103 is performed, and it is determined whether or not an external communication enabled state is notified by another settlement terminal based on the information received in response to the transmission of the first packet. Here, based on the received information, if it is determined that one of the other settlement terminals has already functioned as a server access terminal and has notified the external communication possible state (Yes in S103), step The common information acquisition process shown in S105 is performed. In this process, common information from the server access terminal is received and acquired via the in-house LAN 14 and stored in the memory 22. As a result, the payment terminal 20a becomes ready for payment processing.

  For example, when the payment terminal 20b has already notified the external communication possible state as a server access terminal, the payment terminal 20b receives a request from the payment terminal 20a as illustrated in FIG. The common information is transmitted to the settlement terminal 20a via the in-house LAN 14.

  When it is detected that the payment medium is held over the holding surface (Yes in S107), the payment process shown in step S109 is performed, and the process corresponding to the payment content is performed on the payment medium or the like. In addition, data communication regarding individual payment information corresponding to the payment contents is performed between the server 11 and the router 13 and the network 12. Then, the processing from step S107 is performed until the activation stop operation is performed on the settlement terminal 20a (No in S111). In addition, since the data communication regarding the individual payment information is different from the common information acquired at the same time at the time of activation, the communication timing is different from the data communication in the other payment terminals, so that access to the server 11 is not concentrated.

  On the other hand, when there is no settlement terminal functioning as a server access terminal at the time of startup and no settlement terminal is notified of the external communication possible state (No in S103), the process is shown in step S113 of FIG. Common information request processing is performed. In this process, request information for requesting the common information is transmitted to the server 11. Then, the common information acquisition process shown in step S115 is performed. In this process, the common information transmitted by the server 11 that has received the request information is received and acquired by the payment terminal 20 a via the network 12 and the router 13 and stored in the memory 22. Thereby, the payment terminal 20a becomes a state in which payment processing is possible while functioning as a server access terminal.

  Subsequently, a notification process shown in step S117 is performed, and a state in which external communication is possible is notified to other payment terminals. The control unit 21 that performs the notification process may correspond to an example of a “notification unit”.

  Thereafter, when it is detected that the payment medium is held over the holding surface (Yes in S119), the payment process shown in step S121 is performed, and the process corresponding to the payment content is performed on the payment medium or the like. In addition, data communication related to individual information corresponding to the contents of the settlement is performed between the server 11 and the router 13 and the network 12. Then, the process from step S117 is repeated until the activation stop operation is performed on the settlement terminal 20a (No in S127).

  Then, when the first packet is received from another payment terminal during the repetition process (Yes in S123), the common information transmission process shown in step S125 is performed. In this process, the common information acquired in the common information acquisition process is transmitted via the in-house LAN 14 to the payment terminal that has transmitted the first packet.

  For example, when the payment terminal 20a notifies the external communication possible state as a server access terminal and the payment terminal 20a receives the first packet from the payment terminal 20c, it is illustrated in FIG. 5B. Moreover, the payment terminal 20a transmits the common information to the payment terminal 20c via the in-house LAN 14.

  As described above, in the settlement system 10 according to the present embodiment, the external communication possible state indicating that the own device is communicable with the server 11 using the communication interface 25, the network 12, and the like is another settlement. When not notified by the terminal, it is notified to a plurality of settlement terminals excluding the own device. If the common information is acquired from the server 11 via the network 12 or the like using the communication interface 25 when the external communication enabled state is notified to another payment terminal, the common information Transmission to the payment terminal is possible via the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25. Further, when the external communication available state is notified by another payment terminal, the common information can be received via the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25 from the other payment terminal notifying the external communication available state. Become.

  As a result, the settlement terminal that communicates with the server 11 is limited to the server access terminal that notifies the external communication possible state, and other settlement terminals do not access the server 11, so that concentration of access can be suppressed. In particular, since other payment terminals can acquire common information from the server access terminal without accessing the server 11, communication can be performed as compared with the case where each payment terminal accesses the server 11 and acquires common information. Increase in traffic is suppressed. Therefore, concentration of access to the server 11 can be suppressed with a simple configuration without employing a relay server or the like.

  In particular, when the other communication terminals do not notify the external communication enabled state, the external communication enabled state is notified to a plurality of payment terminals other than the own device at the time of activation. Thus, by notifying the external communication possible state at the time of activation, the server access terminal can be determined at the activation timing of the payment terminal that has been activated earliest among the payment terminals.

  Note that the common information is not limited to security information required at the time of startup, but may be information to be acquired at an arbitrary time after startup, for example, information related to version upgrade of application software. . In this case, each payment terminal 20a to 20e acquires the common information from the server 11 via the network 12 using the communication interface 25 when other payment terminals do not notify the external communication possible state. The external communication possible state is notified to a plurality of terminals excluding the own device.

  In this way, by notifying the external communication possible state at the timing when the common information is acquired from the server 11, the server access terminal is determined at the timing when the common information is acquired from the server 11 earliest among the payment terminals. can do.

  As a modification of the first embodiment, when the common information is highly confidential information that requires authentication, each payment terminal 20a to 20e is authenticated for mutual authentication with other payment terminals. Means may be provided to mutually authenticate each other. In this case, the authentication means is realized by an authentication process performed by the control unit 21. Specifically, the server access terminal transmits the common information requiring authentication via the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25 in response to a request from another settlement terminal that has been mutually authenticated by the authentication means. To do.

  Thereby, common information cannot be acquired in the payment terminal which is not mutually authenticated. For this reason, even if a predetermined terminal is communicably connected to the server access terminal via the in-house LAN 14 or the like for illegal purposes, it is possible to reliably prevent the common information from being illegally acquired by the predetermined terminal.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment in which the network system of the present invention is applied to a payment system will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of payment communication processing performed by the payment terminals 20a to 20e. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the communication state of the transmission information via the in-house LAN, and FIG. 8A shows a case where the start / stop operation is performed on the settlement terminal 20a which is not the server access terminal. The communication state is shown, and the communication state when the activation / stop operation is performed on the settlement terminal 20c functioning as the server access terminal is shown.

  In the settlement system 10 according to the second embodiment, in order to further suppress the concentration of access to the server 11, information to be transmitted to the server 11 after the start / stop operation (hereinafter, also referred to as transmission information) is collected into one settlement. The point of transmission to the server 11 at the terminal is mainly different from the settlement system according to the first embodiment.

  Here, the information for transmission is, for example, at least a part of information related to payment processed on that day, and is generated individually at a timing such as after a start / stop operation at each payment terminal.

Hereinafter, the settlement communication process performed in each of the settlement terminals 20a to 20e will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
Since the external communication enabled state has been notified by the other settlement terminal at the time of activation, if it is determined Yes in step S103 in FIG. 6, the processing after step S107 is repeated until the activation stop operation is performed. Then, when a start / stop operation is performed without receiving a second packet described later (Yes in S111), a first transmission process shown in step S203 is performed. In this process, the transmission information generated in response to the start / stop operation as described above is transmitted to the server access terminal via the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25. Then, the settlement communication process ends.

  For example, when the start / stop operation is performed on the payment terminal 20a which is the payment terminal 20b and is not the server access terminal, the transmission generated by the payment terminal 20a is performed as shown in FIG. The credit information is transmitted to the settlement terminal 20b via the in-house LAN 14.

  On the other hand, when there is no payment terminal functioning as a server access terminal at the time of startup and no payment terminal is notified of the external communication enabled state (No in S103), a common information request process (FIG. 7). After step S113) and the common information acquisition process (S115) are performed, the processes after step S117 are repeated until a start / stop operation is performed.

  When the transmission information is received via the in-house LAN 14 from the other settlement terminal that has undergone the first transmission process during the repetition process (Yes in S205), the transmission information storage process shown in step S207 is performed. In this process, the received transmission information is stored in the memory 22 together with identification information that identifies another destination payment terminal.

  Thereafter, the processing from step S117 is repeated until the start / stop operation is performed, and when the transmission information is received from another settlement terminal (Yes in S205), the received transmission information is stored in the memory 22 together with the specific information. Stored (S207). For this reason, when all the payment terminals except the own device functioning as the server access terminal are stopped, the transmission information of all the payment terminals except the own device is stored in the memory 22 of the own device. It will be.

  In this way, when the start / stop operation is performed in a state where the transmission information of all the payment terminals except the own device is stored in the memory 22 (Yes in S127), the other payment terminals are not activated (No in S209). ), The second process shown in step S211 is performed. In this process, the transmission information and specific information generated by the server access terminal in response to the start / stop operation, the transmission information and identification of all payment terminals except for the own device stored in the memory 22 Information is collectively transmitted to the server 11 via the router 13 and the network 12 using the communication interface 25. Then, the settlement communication process ends.

  For example, when the payment terminal 20c, which is a server access terminal, is last activated and stopped, as shown in FIG. 8B, the transmission information of the other payment terminals 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20e The information is already stored in the memory 22 together with the specific information, and all transmission information and specific information are collectively transmitted to the server 11 from the settlement terminal 20c.

  On the other hand, when an activation stop operation is performed on the server access terminal (Yes in S127), if another payment terminal is activated (Yes in S209), a notification cancellation process shown in step S213 is performed. Notification of external communication enabled status is canceled. Subsequently, the second packet transmission process shown in step S215 is performed. In this process, in order to determine whether any of the activated payment terminals different from the own machine can function as a server access terminal, for all of the activated payment terminals different from the own machine, A second packet is transmitted.

  Subsequently, the third transmission process shown in step S217 is performed, and the transmission information generated by the server access terminal in response to the start / stop operation for the settlement terminal responding to the transmission of the second packet. The specific information, the information for transmission of other payment terminals stored in the memory 22 and the specific information are transmitted via the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25. Then, the settlement communication process ends.

  On the other hand, in the payment terminal that is not the server access terminal, the second packet is received during the repetitive processing from step S107 (Yes in S201), and the state in which the external communication enabled state is notified in another payment terminal is in the state. When the release is detected and a response is made, the notification process shown in step S117 is performed. As a result, the payment terminal functions as a server access terminal and notifies an external communication enabled state to other active payment terminals. When the transmission information is received in response to the response (Yes in S205), the transmission information storage process shown in step S207 is performed, and the received transmission information is stored in the memory together with the information specifying the other settlement terminal of the transmission destination. 22 is stored.

  As described above, in the payment system 10 according to the present embodiment, when the payment terminal performs a start / stop operation on its own device in a state where the external communication enabled state is notified to the other payment terminals, Cancel notification of external communication enabled status. In addition, when the payment terminal detects that the state in which the external communication enabled state is notified by another payment terminal has been released, the payment terminal can notify the external communication enabled state to a plurality of terminals other than its own device. . Then, when the other payment terminal notifies the external communication possible state when the activation stop operation is performed, the payment terminal stores the memory to the other payment terminal that notifies the external communication possible state. The transmission information stored in the network 22 is transmitted through the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25. In addition, when the start / stop operation is performed on all of the plurality of settlement terminals other than the settlement terminal when the start / stop operation is performed, the settlement terminal stores the transmission terminal stored in the memory 22 with respect to the server 11. The credit information is transmitted via the network 12 or the like using the communication interface 25.

  For this reason, when an activation stop operation is performed on a payment terminal that is not a server access terminal, the payment terminal transmits transmission information to the server access terminal, and an activation stop operation is performed on the server access terminal. Then, the other settlement terminal becomes the server access terminal, and the transmission information is received from the old server access terminal that has been activated and stopped. That is, among the payment terminals, the payment terminal that has not been activated and stopped until the end becomes a server access terminal in which the information for transmission at all the payment terminals is stored in the memory 22 and is activated and stopped for the server access terminal. When operated, information for transmission at all terminals stored in the memory 22 is collectively transmitted to the server 11 via the router 13 and the network 12 using the communication interface 25.

  As a result, the server access terminal can transmit the transmission information of its own device and other terminals stored in the memory 22 to the server 11 at the time of the start / stop operation. In comparison, transmission efficiency can be improved. In particular, since the start / stop processing is performed without transmitting the transmission information to the server 11 in the terminal that is started and stopped first, the time until the start / stop can be shortened.

  As a modification of the second embodiment, the transmission information described above is not limited to information generated at the time of the start / stop operation, but may be information generated at a predetermined timing. That is, each payment terminal can be configured such that the following processing is performed in the payment communication processing.

  When the other payment terminal (server access terminal) has notified the external communication possible state, the payment terminal sends the transmission information stored in the memory 22 to the server access terminal at a predetermined terminal transmission timing. Is transmitted via the in-house LAN 14 using the communication interface 25. Further, when the payment terminal functions as a server access terminal and notifies the other payment terminal of the external communication possible state, the transmission information received from the other payment terminal via the in-house LAN 14 Is stored in the memory 22. Then, the settlement terminal sends the transmission information of the own device and other terminals stored in the memory 22 at a predetermined server transmission timing to the server 11 using the communication interface 25 and the router 13 and the network 12. Send them all together.

  Thereby, since the payment terminal that is not the server access terminal transmits the transmission information to the server access terminal and does not access the server 11, the concentration of access can be suppressed even when the transmission information is transmitted. In particular, since the server access terminal can transmit the transmission information of its own device and other settlement terminals stored in the memory 22 to the server at a predetermined server transmission timing, it transmits the transmission information individually. Compared to the case, the transmission efficiency can be improved.

  In the above modification, when the payment terminal detects that the state in which the external communication enabled state has been notified by another terminal terminal has been released, the external communication enabled state is set to a plurality of payment terminals other than its own device. Can be configured to be notified. As a result, even when the server access terminal is removed from the network due to repair or replacement, the payment terminal that detects the release of the notification of the external communication enabled state becomes a new server access terminal. The state where access concentration is suppressed can be continued.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment and modification, For example, you may actualize as follows.
(1) The network system according to the present invention is not limited to being applied to the above-described payment system, but may be applied to a system that communicates information via a predetermined network. For example, the network system according to the present invention can be applied to a communication system that acquires product data common to each terminal from a server via a predetermined network.

(2) The terminal managed in the network system according to the present invention is not limited to being configured as one of a plurality of terminals connected in parallel under one router 13 as described above. It may be configured as one of a plurality of terminals managed hierarchically via a router. In this case, each terminal can be arranged in any of a plurality of stores connected by the in-house LAN 14.

(3) The terminal managed by the network system according to the present invention is not limited to the stationary type, and may be configured as a portable type.

10 ... Payment system (network system)
11 ... Server 12 ... Network 14 ... In-house LAN
20a to 20e ... settlement terminal 21 ... control unit (communication information control means, notification means, authentication means)
22 ... Memory (storage means)
25. Communication interface (first communication means, second communication means)

Claims (6)

A network system in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network for communication,
The terminal
First communication means for communicating with the server;
A second communication means for communicating with another terminal;
Communication information control means for controlling information communicated with the server or other terminal using either one of the first communication means and the second communication means;
When the other terminal is not informing the external communication possible state indicating that the own apparatus is in a state capable of communicating with the server using the first communication unit, the plurality of terminals excluding the own apparatus are excluded. A notification means for notification;
With
The communication information control means includes
When notifying the external communication possible state to another terminal by the notifying means, the common information used in common by the plurality of terminals is acquired from the server using the first communication means. , Transmitting the common information to the other terminal using the second communication means,
When said notifying means other terminal is notified of the external communication state is to receive the common information via the second communication means from said another terminal, wherein the external communication state is notified ,
The terminal
Comprising storage means for storing at least a part of information to be transmitted to the server as transmission information;
The communication information control means includes
When the notification means of another terminal notifies the external communication possible state, the external communication ready state notifies the transmission information stored in the storage means at a predetermined terminal transmission timing. To the other terminal to be transmitted using the second communication means,
When notifying the external communication possible state to the other terminal by the notification means, the information for transmission received from the other terminal using the second communication means is stored in the storage means, A network system , wherein the transmission information of the own device and other terminals stored in the storage means is transmitted to the server using the first communication means at a predetermined server transmission timing. . The common information is information that requires authentication,
The terminal includes an authentication unit for mutual authentication with another terminal,
The communication information control means sends the common information to other terminals that are mutually authenticated by the authentication means when the notification means notifies the other terminal of the external communication possible state. The network system according to claim 1, wherein transmission is performed using the second communication unit.   The notification means, when other terminal has not notified the external communication possible state, at the timing to acquire the common information from the server using the first communication means, the external communication possible state, The network system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein notification is made to the plurality of terminals excluding the own device.   The notifying unit notifies the plurality of terminals excluding the own device of the external communication possible state at the time of start-up when the other terminal does not notify the external communication possible state. The network system according to claim 1 or 2. When the notification means detects that the state in which the external communicable state has been notified by another terminal has been released, the notifying unit notifies the external communicable state to the plurality of terminals other than its own device. The network system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The notification means includes
When start-stop operation for the own device in a state where for the other terminals reporting the said external communication enabled state is made to release the notification of the external communication enabled state,
When detecting that the state in which the external communication enabled state is notified in another terminal is released, the external communication enabled state is notified to the plurality of terminals other than the own device,
The communication information control means, when the start / stop operation is performed,
When the notifying means of another terminal notifies the external communication possible state, the transmission information stored in the storage means is stored in the other terminal that has notified the external communication possible state. Transmitting using the second communication means,
When the start / stop operation is performed on all of the plurality of terminals except the own device, the transmission information stored in the storage unit is stored in the storage unit with respect to the server using the first communication unit. network system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to transmit.

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