JPH0118475B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a portable terminal device that can be carried and operated by an operator at the site, and particularly to a separate type portable terminal device in which an input section and an output section are separated.

[Technology background]

A terminal is required to exchange data with a host computer and perform the desired data processing, and the terminal has an input section for inputting data into the computer and an output section for outputting data from the computer. and a communication control section for exchanging data with the computer.

Generally, such terminals are installed in a fixed location, and the operator goes there to process the desired data.However, as data processing has become more sophisticated and diversified in recent years, the need for data processing has increased. There is a growing need to operate terminals on-site. For example, in banking, users visited banks and other financial institutions to conduct transactions, but on the other hand, bank employees visited their workplaces and operated terminals on the spot. It becomes necessary to perform desired data processing from the standpoint of improving services. Similarly, in normal commercial transactions, salespeople visit the workplace, use computers to check the availability of products requested by users, and place orders in real time, which requires them to operate terminals on site. be.

[Prior art and problems]

In response to such demands, portable terminals have been developed and put into practical use, in which the configuration of the terminal is packed into a portable container such as an attache case. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional portable terminal, which includes a main body 1 such as an attaché case, a data input section 10 such as a keyboard, a control section 11, and a memory 1.
2. Bookkeeping unit 13 and communication control unit 14 such as a printer
The control unit 11 uses the memory 12 to process the data necessary for transactions, etc. inputted in the data input unit 10, transmits the data to the host computer from the communication control unit 14, and the host computer processes the data as desired. After that, the communication control unit 14 receives output data from the host computer, and the control unit 11 causes the bookkeeping unit 13 to output these output data. Since such a portable terminal 1 generally communicates with a host computer using a telephone line, the communication control section 14 has an acoustic coupler, and the bookkeeping section 13 also includes a mechanism such as a printer. The configuration becomes large, especially when output must be made to a passbook, such as in financial operations.

For this reason, the portable terminal 1 itself has a considerable weight, and the structure cannot be made smaller than that of an attache case, making it large and requiring about the space of a desk when in use. Therefore, even if a bank employee brings something into their workplace, it takes up space in each workplace, and it is also necessary to transport a considerable amount of weight between workplaces, which is a huge burden, and it is difficult for individual workplaces ( For example, it is difficult to bring in such terminals to each department in a factory, and it is necessary to have them in one place that represents each workplace and have customers visit from each workplace, which is the key to improving service. In addition to this problem, there was also the problem that the next operation could not be performed until one operation of one portable terminal was completed.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a separate portable terminal device in which the main body part and the input part are separated, so that only the input part can be carried, and there is no need to carry the main body itself to various places.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input unit having at least a data input section, a memory for storing data input from the data input section, and a switch for instructing power on/off;
A main body unit having at least a communication control section for communicating data with the outside, a data output section, a control section, and a housing section for accommodating the input unit, which is provided with a connector for connection with the input unit. The main unit is configured to be portable, and each of the input unit and the main unit is provided with an interface circuit connected to the connection connector, and is configured to be able to be separated and combined with each other, and the input unit is configured to be portable. When the input unit is combined with the main unit, the main unit is configured so that the power is turned on only when the input unit is turned on, and the power is turned on when the input unit and the main unit are combined. In some cases, data stored in the memory is transferred to the main unit, data communication is performed with the outside by the communication control section, and output is performed by the data output section.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
3 and 4 are partial front and side views thereof.

In the figure, 2 is a main body, which is composed of an attachment case and the like, and has a handle 2a and an input unit accommodating portion 2b. 21 is an inserter into which bankbooks, tickets, etc. are inserted, and is provided with a feeding mechanism for introducing and ejecting these into a printer (to be described later); 22 is a printer; This is a data output unit for printing on the paper, and together they constitute a bookkeeping machine. 23 is a magnetic stripe/card reader for reading the contents of the magnetic stripe (account number, branch name, etc.) of a passbook or card; 24 is a magnetic bubble memory that stores data and programs necessary for operation. Something to keep,
Reference numeral 25 is an acoustic coupler, in which a telephone set is set to communicate with an external host computer, etc. via a telephone line, and is used for acoustic coupling with the telephone line. Reference numeral 26 is a connecting part, which is used for connecting an input unit to be described later. The connector 26b is connected to the input unit connector when the input unit is set, and the movable lever 26a is used to move the connector 26b.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an input unit, which is housed and combined in the housing section 2b of the main body 2 (Fig. 2), and when used alone, is removed from the housing section 2b of the main body 2 and used for data input. It is configured as shown in FIG. 30 is a keyboard for manually inputting data such as numbers, characters, symbols, etc.; 31 is a display consisting of a liquid crystal display or the like for displaying input data; 32 is a power supply; 30a is a keyboard printed board for supporting the keyboard 30 and making these connections; 30b is a circuit printed board for external In addition to the connection connector 37, a memory and a processor, which will be described later, are mounted, and 37 is a connector, which corresponds to the connection part 2 in FIG. 2B.
This connector is provided for connection in correspondence with the connector 26b of No. 6.

Next, how to use the configurations shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 will be explained using banking business as an example.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the main body 2 is provided with a lid 2c, and when the portable terminal is normally carried, the input unit 3 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 2b of the main body 2 and the fourth As shown in Figure C, it is covered with a lid 2c and has a handle 2a as an attachment case.
It is carried by holding it. A bank employee takes this to an office in a factory or the like, opens the lid 2c as shown in FIG. 2A, and operates the portable terminal. For this reason, a bank employee or the like takes out the input unit 3 from the main body 2 and visits each workplace in the office with only the input unit 3 in hand.

This input unit 3 has a battery inside and is about the size and weight of a pocket computer, so bank employees and the like can easily carry it around.

When making a transaction at each workplace, a bank employee turns on the power switch 32 of the input unit 3, enters the customer's transaction amount, transaction type, account number if necessary, transaction date, etc. from the keyboard 30, and displays the information on the display 31.
Confirm it with and store it in the internal memory, which will be described later.
Also, if necessary, we will keep the customer's bankbook and card.

In this way, after entering transaction data into the input unit 3 at each workplace, bank employees return to the location where the main body 2 is located, and first, enter the main body 2 in the state shown in FIG. 2B.
Set the input unit 3 in the accommodating part 2b, then operate the movable lever 26a to slide the connector 26b toward the input unit 3 side.
6b is coupled to the connector 37 of the input unit 3 for electrical connection as shown in FIG. 2A. Then, the telephone is connected to the acoustic coupler 25 to call the host computer, and the send key on the keyboard 30 of the input unit 3 is pressed to transmit the input data in the internal memory of the input unit 3 to the host computer via the telephone line. Send to. The host computer receives the transmitted input data, performs predetermined data processing (for example, processing to determine whether a transaction is possible or not, update the balance, etc.), and transmits the balance and transaction data via the telephone line. In this case, it is also possible to have the magnetic stripe/card reader 23 read the magnetic stripe of the bankbook or card, and send the contents including the account number and the like to the host computer.

On the other hand, a bank employee or the like inserts a passbook into the inserter 21 if the bankbook is available, or inserts an entry/exit slip into the inserter 21 if the bankbook is not available. The set passbook and entry/exit slip are sucked into the printer 22, where the transaction data sent from the host computer is printed on the passbook and the entry/exit slip, and then returned to the inserter 21. This completes the processing of one transaction.

When there is input data for multiple transactions in the internal memory of the input unit 3, the end of one transaction is displayed on the display 31 of the input unit 3, so when the bank employee or the like presses the send key on the keyboard 30 again, The input data for the next transaction in the memory is similarly sent to the host computer, and similar transaction processing is performed.

Process the transaction in this way, remove the phone,
After disconnecting the line, the bank employee hands over the customer's printed passbook, deposit/disbursement slip, and cash if necessary to complete the transaction. It is also possible to input transaction data from the keyboard 30 while leaving the input unit 3 set as shown in FIG. 2A, and to perform transaction processing in the same manner.

The above example uses banking business as an example, but the same applies to door-to-door transactions such as catalog sales, where customers' orders are input using the input unit 3 at each workplace.
It is also possible to set the input unit 3 in the main body 2 to communicate with the host computer, send order data, perform order processing, and create order forms and the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
4 shows an internal circuit block diagram of the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG.

In the figure, the same parts as in FIGS. 2 to 4 are indicated by the same symbols, and 21a is a mechanical control section;
2 for controlling the inserter 21, printer 22, and magnetic stripe/card reader 23;
7 is a control unit which is composed of a microprocessor and controls the entire terminal by executing a program; 28 is a memory which constitutes the main memory of the control unit 27; and 24a is a bubble interface. is connected to the bubble memory 24 and is used to control the bubble memory 24 for writing and reading. 25a is a line interface, which is provided for communicating data with the outside, and is connected to the bubble memory 24 via the acoustic coupler 25. and connect it to the telephone line.
29 is an address/data bus for directly connecting to an external data processing device, and includes a main control unit 27, a memory 28, a bubble interface 24a, a line interface 25a, a line interface (connection unit) 26, and Mechanical control section 21
This is for connecting the PC to the PC and exchanging data, etc. Incidentally, these are operated by a battery or a power source (not shown).

On the other hand, in the input unit 3, 33 is a processor, which is composed of a microprocessor.
34 is a memory that stores data and programs necessary for processing by the processor, as well as data input from the keyboard 30; 35 is a line interface; , 36 is an address/data bus for connection with the main body 2, a processor 33, a memory 34, a display 31, a keyboard 30, a line interface 3.
5 to exchange data, etc. Note that these operate by receiving power from a battery (not shown).

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be explained.

First, when the input unit 3 is used alone, data input from the keyboard 30 is sent to the processor 33 via the bus 36, stored in the memory 34, and displayed on the display 31. Of course, when correction or clearing is required, the contents of the memory 34 are corrected or cleared by pressing the correction/clear key on the keyboard 30. In this way, input data is stored in the memory 34 when used alone.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, the input unit 3 is connected to the main body 2.
When the line interface 3 of the input unit 3 is set to
5. The connector 37 is electrically connected to the line interface 26 of the main body 2 and the connector 26b. At this time, the on/off signal of the power switch 32 of the input unit 3 is sent to the line interface 26 of the main body 2 via the line interface 35.
This also controls the power on/off of the main body 2 side. Therefore, input unit 3 is set,
Unless the power switch 32 of the input unit 3 is turned on, the power of the main body 2 will not be turned on either.

Next, the operator, such as a bank employee, calls the host computer using the telephone and connects the telephone to the acoustic coupler 2.
5 and input unit 3 keyboard 30.
When the send key is pressed, the input data in the memory 34 is transferred to the main unit 2 via the bus 36 and line interface 35 under the control of the processor 33.

In the main unit 2, the control section 27 receives this via the line interface 26, and if there is data read by the magnetic stripe/card reader 23,
These are combined and edited into a predetermined transmission format, and transmitted via the bus 29 to the line interface 25a.
from the line interface 25a to the acoustic coupler 25 and then transmitted to the host computer via the telephone line. This transmission may be done one transaction at a time, or may be sent continuously for a plurality of transactions.

The host computer then performs predetermined data processing and transmits transaction data via the telephone line. The main unit 2 receives the signal via the acoustic coupler 25 and the line interface 25a, and sends the signal from the bubble interface 24a to the bubble memory 24 via the bus 29 under the control of the control section 27 for storage. On the other hand, bank employees etc. set their bankbooks or cash in/out slips into the inserter 21 and transfer them to the printer 2.
Let it inhale into 2. The control unit 27 notifies the mechanical control unit 2 from the inserter/printer 21 and 22 that these have been set in the inserter 21 and suction has been completed.
1a, the transaction data in the bubble memory 24 is sent from the bubble interface 24a to the mechanical control unit 21a via the bus 29, and the mechanical control unit 21a thereby receives the transaction data from the printer 2.
2 to print the transaction data on the set passbook or deposit/disbursement slip.

After printing is completed, the passbook or the entry/exit slip is returned to the entrance of the inserter 21, and a bank employee or the like takes it out, and the transaction process is completed.

On the other hand, input data that does not require immediate processing is not sent to the host computer.
For example, the input data of the bubble memory 24 can be transferred from the memory 34 to the bubble memory 24 and stored therein, and when the portable terminal device is brought home, the line interface 25a is directly connected to a terminable controller, etc., and the input data of the bubble memory 24 is transferred to these devices. Data processing can also be performed.

Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, an input unit includes at least a data input section, a memory for storing data input from the data input section, and a switch for instructing power on/off;
A main body unit having at least a communication control section for communicating data with the outside, a data output section, a control section, and a housing section for accommodating the input unit, which is provided with a connector for connection with the input unit. The main unit is configured to be portable, and each of the input unit and the main unit is provided with an interface circuit connected to the connection connector, and is configured to be able to be separated or combined with each other, and the input unit is configured to be portable. When the input unit is combined with the main unit, the power of the main unit is turned on only when the power of the input unit is turned on, and the power is turned on when the input unit and the main unit are combined. In some cases, the data stored in the memory is transferred to the main unit, the communication control section performs data communication with the outside, and the data output section outputs the data. This has the effect that the small input unit can be removed from the main unit of the portable terminal and carried alone for input processing, making it possible to enter any site and perform input processing, thereby improving customer service. In addition, by combining the input unit with the main unit, it is possible to transmit input data to the outside as a portable terminal and to receive and output output data from the outside. Data entered can be processed immediately. Furthermore, multiple input units can be assigned to one main unit, so for example, if multiple bank employees bring one main unit and multiple input units to a factory or office, each employee can input data. Since input can be performed at each site using the unit and instant processing can be performed by communicating with a host computer or the like using one main unit, the effect is that total costs can be reduced. Moreover, since the input unit is housed in the main unit, it is possible to realize the functions with the same size and weight as conventional portable terminals, greatly expanding the scope of use of such portable terminals. , which will greatly contribute to its spread.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional portable terminal, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an input unit in the configuration shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram of the structure shown in FIG. 2. In the figure, 2...main unit, 3...input unit, 22...printer (data output section), 25...
...Acoustic coupler (communication control section), 27...Control section,
30... Keyboard (data input section), 34...
memory.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input unit having at least a data input section, a memory for storing data input from the data input section, and a switch for instructing power on/off, and communication of data with the outside. a main body unit having at least a communication control section for performing a communication control section, a data output section, a control section, and a accommodating section for accommodating the input unit having a connector for connection with the input unit; The input unit and the main unit are configured to be portable, and each of the input unit and the main unit is provided with an interface circuit connected to the connection connector, so that the input unit and the main unit can be separated from each other and combined. In this case, the main unit is configured to be powered on only when the input unit is powered on, and when the input unit and the main unit are combined and the power is on, the memory is A separate portable terminal device, characterized in that stored data is transferred to the main unit, data communication is performed with the outside by the communication control section, and output is performed by the data output section.