JPH03116399A - Pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten waiting time for a slave machine and a customer by providing first and second communication lines, which respectively independently double connecting plural electronic cash registers and first second masters, and effectively utilizing the function of a backup master. CONSTITUTION:Communication between plural electronic cash registers 30-3n and a first master 20 and communication between the plural electronic cash registers 30-3n and a second master 21 are parallelly executed through communication lines 4 and 5 and data processed by the first master 20 are transmitted to the second master 21 at real time. Then, data processed by the second master 21 are transmitted to the first master 20 at real time. Thus, since the second master can communicate with the other electronic cash register and process the data while the first master communicates with a certain electronic cash register, the function of the second master is always effectively utilized, the waiting time of the electronic cash register can be shortened and a check-out processing is accelerated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention applies to a plurality of electronic cash registers (hereinafter referred to as EC
These ECs are connected by communication lines (referred to as R).
P OS (P
aint-Or-5ales: point of sale information management)
Regarding the system.

``Conventional technology'' Traditionally, in many retail stores such as supermarkets, there are multiple ECRs (receiver units) that perform arithmetic processing such as registering customer purchased products and making payments, and display the results of the calculations. A so-called parent-child type (master-slave type) POS in which a single management device (master unit) that manages data is connected via a communication line.
system is used.

However, these parent-child POS systems have a main unit (
If the function of the master device stops for some reason, all slave devices connected to it will stop functioning.

Therefore, conventionally, one of the slave units was given a function to back up the data of the base unit, that is, a function as a backup master, and when the function of the base unit stopped,
This backup master operates in place of the parent device.

"Problem to be solved by the invention" By the way, in the conventional PoS system mentioned above,
The backup master has the same functions as the base unit, but the drawback is that the functions are only used when the base unit stops functioning, and the functions are usually not fully utilized. there were.

Another disadvantage is that as the number of slave units increases, the waiting time for communication between the slave units and the base unit increases.

By the way, in order to provide versatility in a conventional PoS system, several types of handsets with various functions (for example, an ECR that can be used for payment with a credit card or a prepaid card) are connected to the system. Also,
Communication between these slave units and the master unit is performed equally for all models.

Payment by credit card or prepaid card means that the sender does not need change and can manage the customer, and the customer can receive various benefits such as discounts and premiums. Recently, it has become rapidly popular as it has benefits for both the sender and the customer. However, in order to make payments using credit cards or prepaid cards, a new ECR is required that is equipped with dedicated functions (for example, a magnetic card reader, a PIN input device, etc.).

Naturally, this type of ECR is more expensive than an ECH that does not have these functions. Therefore, even in stores that have introduced payment systems using credit cards or prepaid cards, all previous ECRs can be replaced with new ECRs.
Rather than replacing the old ECR with a new ECR, or replacing the old ECR with a new ECR,
In many cases, the solution is to add several new ECRs to R.

For this reason, the reality is that in most stores, the number of ECRs that allow payment by credit card or prepaid card is limited.

Therefore, when this type of ECR is flooded with customers, there are problems such as long waiting times, complaints, and troubles caused by store clerks making mistakes in registration operations in a rush to complete payment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a PoS system that can shorten the waiting time of slave devices and customers and improve efficiency by effectively utilizing the functions of the backup master. The purpose is

"Means for Solving the Problem" A PoS system according to the first invention includes a plurality of electronic cash registers, and, in addition to the same functions as the plurality of electronic cash registers, data used in the plurality of electronic cash registers. first and second masters each having a function of managing the electronic cash registers, the plurality of electronic cash registers, and the first and second masters doubly and independently connected to each other; A communication line is provided, and communication between the plurality of electronic cash registers and the first master and communication between the plurality of electronic cash registers and the second master are performed in parallel; The data processed by one master is transmitted to the second master in real time, and the data processed by the second master is transmitted to the first master in real time. There is.

Further, in the POS system according to a second invention, in the first invention, at least one of the plurality of electronic cash registers communicates with the second master in parallel with communication with the first master. The feature is that a selection means/means for selecting whether or not is provided is provided.

"Operation" According to the first invention, the communication between the plurality of electronic cash registers and the first master and the communication between the plurality of electronic cash registers and the second master are performed in parallel, and the communication between the plurality of electronic cash registers and the second master is performed in parallel. Data processed by one master is sent to a second master in real time, and data processed by the second master is sent to the first master in real time.

Further, according to the second invention, at least one of the plurality of electronic cash registers selects, by the selection means, whether or not to communicate with the second master in parallel with the communication with the first master. do.

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this diagram, 1a and 1b are a master and a backup master, respectively, and data is aggregated online and in real time from each part of the system. Tally section 2゜ and 2, and EC
R3° and 3. , is composed of.

Furthermore, ECRs 14 and 5 of slave units 31 to 311-1 are communication lines connecting the master 1a, backup master 1b, and ECRs 3+ to 3n-1 in a loop, respectively. The data transferred via the communication line 4 is managed by the data aggregation unit 2° using a polling/selecting method, and the data transferred via the communication line 5 is managed by the data aggregation unit 21 using the polling/selecting method.
Manage by selection method.

The reason why the communication lines 4 and 5 are formed into a loop as shown in FIG.
Even if the communication line 4 is cut at a point, the ECR3
, and 3. can communicate in the m direction, and E CR
This is because communication with ECR3E1 is possible in the Q direction.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the electrical configuration of master la. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. Note that the backup master 1b has the same configuration as the master la,
The ECRs 3 and 37-1 of the slave units have the same configuration as the ECR 3°, so a description thereof will be omitted. In the data aggregation unit 2° in FIG. 2, 6 is a CPU (central processing unit) that controls each part of the device in the data aggregation unit 2°, 7 is a communication interface, and the CPU 6 performs polling via this communication interface 7. and exchange data with the data aggregation unit 2 and the ECRs 3° to 3o.

Further, 8 is a ROM in which a control program used in the CPU 6 is stored, and 9 is a RAM.As shown in FIG.
It is composed of a preset data file 9a that stores preset data such as unit prices and cost prices, and a total data file 9b that stores total data of sales quantities and sales amounts according to product codes.

Further, in the ECR3°, IO is a CPU that controls each part of the device in the ECR3°, 11 is a display unit that displays the product name, price, total amount, various messages, etc.;
is an operation section, which is composed of four function keys, a numeric keypad, and a preset key.

In addition, 13 is a printing unit for printing receipts and journals, and 14 is a scanner unit, which reads code data corresponding to the barcode from the barcode printed portion of the product.

15 stores the control program used in the CPU10, and the ROM 116 in which it is stored is the R memory for storing data.
It is AM. This RAM 16 is provided with a display register area, a print register area, a total register area, a working area, and the like.

Further, 17 is a communication interface, and CPUl0
exchanges data with the data aggregation unit 2° or 21 via this communication interface 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes selection means such as a dip switch for selecting whether or not to communicate with the backup master 1b in parallel with communication with the master 1a.

In addition, the ECR3° is also provided with a magnetic card league, a password input device, etc. as necessary.

In such a configuration, first, a certain customer uses ECR3,
The processing of the CPU 10 and the store clerk when purchasing a product will be explained based on the processing diagram of FIG. 4.

In addition, before starting the following process, the preset data file 9a and the total data file 9b of the RAM 9 of the data totaling section 21 are stored in the preset data file 9a and the total data file 9b of the RAM 9 of the data totaling section 2. The same data as the preset data and total data respectively stored in 9b is stored. For example, when starting up the system shown in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned data stored in the preset data file 9a and total data file 9b of the RAM 9 of the data totaling unit 2° is transferred from the master 1a to the backup master 1b all at once. This is done by transferring the information.

The clerk is in ECR3? When tJt is input, CPU10
First, initialize each part of the device. This allows ECR
31 enters a registration standby state.

It is assumed that the selection means 18 of the ECR 3 is set to communicate with the backup master 1b in parallel with communication with the master 1a.

Therefore, when a customer brings a plurality of products and requests payment, the store clerk proceeds to step SAI and performs product registration processing. In other words, the product is received and picked up at a location facing the customer,
The scanner section 14 is made to read the barcode of the product. When the scanner 14 reads the barcode, it causes the CPU 10 to take in product code data corresponding to the barcode. From this point, CPU10 proceeds to step SA2 and master
When requesting product data (preset data) from A and the backup master 1b, that is, receiving a polling designation, a communication request signal is output to the communication line 4 or 5 designated for polling. Then, the process advances to step SA3.

In step SA3, it is determined whether or not product data has been received. If the result of this judgment is "NO", the same judgment is repeated. Then, the judgment result in step SA3 is rYE.
When sJ is reached, the process advances to step SA4.

In this case, master 1a and backup master t
Since B is polling in parallel using communication lines 4 and 5, respectively, ECR3, requests the product data mentioned above, and then first polls this ECR3+.
One of the communication lines 4 and 5 is used to communicate with the master la or the backup master 1b which specifies polling. Now, assume that communication is to be performed with master 1a.

Furthermore, if the selection means 18 of the ECR 3 is set not to communicate with the backup master 1b in parallel with the communication with the master 1a, the ECR 3I will poll using the communication line 5 by the backup master 1b. When specified, outputs a signal to that effect.

In step SΔ4, the CPU 1'O stores the received product data (product name, unit price, etc.) in the working area of the RAM 16, displays the product name and price of the purchased product on the display section 11, and also displays the product data on the printing section 13. It is driven to print on receipt paper and journal paper. and,
Proceed to step SA5.

In step SA5, after calculating the total purchase price, the process proceeds to step SA6.

In step SA6, cputo determines whether the [Subtotal] key, which is one of the function keys of the operation unit 12, is pressed. If the result of this determination is "No", the process returns to step SAI and the above-described product registration process is repeated.

Then, when all product registration is completed and the clerk presses the [subtotal] key, the judgment result in step SA6 becomes [YESj], and the process proceeds to step SA7.

In step SAT, the CPUIQ and the store clerk perform payment processing. That is, the CPU 10 reads out the total purchase amount data stored in the total register area and displays it on the display section 1.
1 and drives the printing unit l3 to print on the receipt paper and journal paper. Thereby, the clerk receives the deposited amount from the customer, enters the deposited amount manually using the numeric keys in the operation section 12, and then presses the [Deposit/Cash Total] key. As a result, CPUl0
calculates and displays change. That is, the calculation shown in the following equation is performed, and the amount of change is displayed on the display section 11.

Deposit amount - purchase amount = change...0 Next, CPU10 drives the printing unit 13 to print the deposit amount and the calculated change on the receipt paper and journal paper, and cuts the receipt.

Therefore, the store clerk completes the series of operations after handing the receipt and change to the customer.

Next, the process by which the CPU 6 of the master 1a communicates with the data aggregation section 21 and the ECRs 3, .about.3.degree. will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, when power is turned on to the master 1a, the CPU 6
The process proceeds to step SB1, where variables N40 corresponding to the data aggregation unit 2I and ECRs 30 to 3o, which are the bowling partners, are substituted, and then the process proceeds to step SB2.

In step SB2, polling is performed on the ECR3 specified in the process of step SBI, in this case ECR3°, that is, ECR3o provided in the master 1a, and then the process advances to step SB3.

In step SB3, it is determined whether there is a request for communication, that is,
Determine whether a communication request signal has been received. If the result of this determination is rY E S J, the process advances to step SB4.

In step SB4, communication with ECR3° is performed. In this case, if the content of the communication request is to register a purchased product, R
The requested product data is read from the preset data file 9a of AM9 and transmitted to ECR3. Also, at this time, the data in the total data file 9b, that is, the number of sold items, is updated by one, and the unit price for one item is added to the sales amount. In addition, if the same product is purchased multiple times, each E
Since CR3 also sends data regarding the number of pieces, the total data is updated accordingly. And step SB
Proceed to step 5.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step SB3 is "NO", the process advances to step SB7.

In step SB5, it is determined whether the preset data and total data have been updated. In this case, ECR3,
Even if the ECR 3 is in the training mode, the ECR 3 only requests preset data and does not update the preset data and total data. Also, ECR3°~3
Each of n has functions such as setting, changing, and deleting preset data. If the determination result at step SB5 is rY E S J, the process advances to step SB6.

In step SB6, a communication request signal is output to the data aggregation unit 2I of the backup master lb, and this updated data is transmitted to the backup master 1b. Then, the process advances to step SB7.

In this way, when the preset data file 9a and the total data file 9b are updated, the master 1a immediately sends the updated data to the backup master lb.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step SB5 is rNOJ, that is, if the clerk is practicing registration processing (training mode), etc., the process advances to step SB7.

In step SB7, it is determined whether or not there is a communication request from the data aggregation unit 21 of the backup master 1b. If the determination result is rY E S j, that is, if the communication request signal has been received, the process advances to step S88.

In step S88, the update data transmitted from the data aggregation unit 21 of the backup master 1b is received, and the RA
After updating the preset data file 9a and total data file 9b of M9, the process advances to step SB8.

On the other hand, if the determination result at step SB7 is rNOJ, the process advances to step SB9.

In step SB9, the variable N is set to the data aggregation section 2.2 installed in this POS system. and the number C of ECR3
Determine whether it is equal to or not. This judgment result is rY E
In the case of SJ, the process returns to step SB1.

On the other hand, if the determination result at step SB9 is rNOJ, the process advances to step 5BIO.

In step 5BIO, after assigning N+1 to variable N,
Return to step SB2.

Next, the process by which the CPU 6 of the backup master tb communicates with the data aggregation unit 2° and the ECRs 3, - 3n will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the backup master tb is powered on,
The CPU 6 proceeds to the process of step S01, and the master 1a
Determine whether the function has stopped. If the result of this determination is rY E S J, the process advances to step S02.

In step SC2, backup processing is performed.

That is, the communication line 4 is used to perform the same processing as the master 1a (steps S81 to SB4 in FIG. 5) instead of the master 1a.
, steps SB9 and 5BIO) are executed until the master 1a is restored.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step SCI is "NO", the process advances to step SC3.

In step SC3, after assigning 0 to the variable N, the process proceeds to step SC4.

In step SC4, the ECR3 designated in the process of step SC3, in this case, ECR3°, is polled, and then the process advances to step S05.

In step SC5, it is determined whether communication is permitted. If this judgment result is rYEsJ, that is, EC
If the R3° selection means 18 is turned on, the process advances to step SC6.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step SC5 is "NO", the process advances to step 5cto.

Note that the processing from step S06 to step 5C13 is performed in the fifth step.
Since the process is similar to the process shown in the figure, its explanation will be omitted.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, when the function of the master 1a stops, the backup master 1b backs up using the communication line 4 that was previously managed by the master la. The communication line 5 may be used for backup.

However, in this case, it is necessary to force the slave device ECRa, which is normally selected by the selection means 18 not to communicate with the backup master lb, to communicate with it.

Further, in the embodiment described above, an example was shown in which data was exchanged using a polling/selecting method, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other communication methods may be used.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the type of data to be communicated is not limited to the data shown in the above-described embodiment.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the first invention, while the first master is communicating with a certain electronic cash register, the second master is communicating with another electronic cash register. Since data can be processed, the functions of the second master are always utilized, which has the effect of shortening the waiting time of the electronic cash register.

Therefore, the checkout process is faster and customer waiting time is reduced.

Furthermore, even if the first master stops functioning, the second master can prevent the system from stopping, as in the past.

In addition, according to the second invention, by selecting with the selection means, only electronic cash registers visited by many customers can be enabled to communicate with the second master,
This has the effect of being able to average the progress of checkout processing at each electronic cash register. In other words, it is possible to prevent customers from lining up only at specific electronic cash registers.

Therefore, there is an effect that the customer's waiting time can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the master 1a, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the RAM 9, and FIG. The figure is a processing diagram showing the processing of CPU10 and the store clerk when a certain customer purchases a product at ECR3,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing data processing by the CPU 6 of the data aggregation unit 2° of the master 1a. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing data processing by the CPU 6 of the data aggregation unit 2I of the backup master lb. la...master, 1b...ba tough up master, 2,. 2.・・・・・・Data aggregation department, 3
゜~3n...ECR. 4.5... Communication line, 18... Selection means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of electronic cash registers, and a first and second master having the same functions as the plurality of electronic cash registers and a function of managing data used in the plurality of electronic cash registers. and first and second communication lines that independently connect the plurality of electronic cash registers and the first and second masters in a doubly manner, and the plurality of electronic cash registers and Communication with the first master and communication between the plurality of electronic cash registers and the second master are performed in parallel, and data processed by the first master is transmitted to the second master in real time. A POS system, characterized in that data processed by the second master is transmitted to the first master in real time. (2) At least one of the plurality of electronic cash registers is provided with selection means for selecting whether or not to communicate with the second master in parallel with communication with the first master. POS according to claim 1, characterized in that:
system.