JPH04184599A - File management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily analyze the cause of the fault of a file management device so as to more efficiently remedy the faulty device by automatically switching the transmission line to a standby system and, at the same time, automatically performing the process to be performed when a fault occurs on the faulty file management device. CONSTITUTION:When a fault detection circuit 9a detects a fault in the file management device 3a of the currently used system, the line switching control circuit 10 and line switching circuit 11 of a line switching device are driven and the transmission line is switched to the file management device 3b of a standby system. Then the device control circuit 12 of the line switching device sends a control signal to the faulty device 3a. The operation of the device 3a is stopped by means of an operation stopping circuit 6 and the protective circuit 7 of the storing section incorporated in the device 3a disconnects the storing section from the device 3a and informs the line switching device that the process to be performed when a fault occurs is normally completed. Therefore, the cause analysis of the fault of the file management device becomes easier and the efficiency of the remedying work to the device can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a POS system in which a file management device for product information connected to a plurality of POS terminals is duplicated, and in particular, refile management is performed using a line switching device. This invention relates to improving the reliability and maintainability of POS systems by monitoring and controlling equipment failures.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a file management device and a line switching device of a conventional POS system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-226271.
c), (ld) are POS for inputting and outputting product information
Terminal, (2a).

(2b) is a transmission line connecting a POS terminal and a file management device, (3a) and (3b) are an active file management device and a standby file management device each equipped with a storage unit storing product information, and (4) ) is a line switching device that switches the line to the current file management device or the backup file management device.

The line switching device includes (9a) and (9b) a failure detection circuit that detects a failure in the file management device, (11) a line switching circuit that switches lines, (12) a switching control circuit, and (13) an automatic switching device. and a switch circuit for selecting a switching function such as manual.

Next, the operation will be explained.

The active file management device (3a) sets the functions of each POS terminal (1) via the transmission line (2). Next, when product information such as a product code is input from the POS terminal, the information is sent to the file management device via the transmission line. The file management device processes and edits the information, and outputs the product unit price, product name, etc. as a result.
It is sent to the OS terminal and stored in the built-in storage unit. The failure detection circuit (9) of the line switching device monitors the sending signal to the transmission line of the file management device, and if there is no sending signal for a certain period of time or an abnormal sending signal, a failure of the file management device is detected. regarded as. When a failure is detected in the failure detection circuit, the line switching control circuit (12) and line switching circuit (11) are activated to switch the line to the backup file management device (3a). Incidentally, in the event of a failure of the file management device, the selection of whether to perform line switching automatically or manually is made by operating the switch circuit (13).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The file management device and line switching device of a conventional POS system are configured as described above, so if the file management device fails, the information up to the point of failure is stored in the built-in storage unit. This information is necessary to recover from a failure, but the device will be left in a failed state until it is recovered, and the contents of the memory unit may be destroyed or abnormal operation may occur. In order to protect the contents of the unit, it was necessary to manually disconnect the power input.

Further, by cutting off the power supply input, the cause of the failure of the file management device becomes unknown, resulting in problems such as it takes time to restore the device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, this invention, when a line switching device detects a failure in the file management device, switches the line to a backup file management device and at the same time stops the operation of the file management device. The built-in storage section can be electrically or mechanically separated to prevent destruction of the contents, and the power to the file management device can be turned off.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a file management device and a line switching device that can perform self-diagnosis of the file management device depending on the degree of failure and display the results on the line switching device.

[Means to solve the problem]

The file management device according to the present invention includes a circuit that sends a failure detection signal, an operation stop circuit that can be controlled from a line switching device, a power input cutoff circuit, a storage section screening circuit, etc., and when a failure occurs, file management is performed. The state of the failure detection signal sent out from the device changes, and the control signal sent out from the control circuit of the line switching device can be input.
The control signal is used to stop the operation of the file management device, cut off power input, protect the built-in storage section, self-diagnose, and so on.

Further, the line switching device according to the present invention has a failure detection circuit for the file management device and a control circuit for the file management device, and when a failure occurs in the file management device, detects the failure and simultaneously switches the line to a backup system. The control circuit outputs a control signal to the file management device, and further outputs a control signal for operating a protection circuit of the built-in storage unit and cutting off power input to the file management device.

[Effect]

According to the file management device and line switching device of the present invention, when the line switching device detects a failure in the file management device, it automatically switches the line to a backup system and controls the failed file management device, By automatically performing failure processing such as stopping the operation of the file management device, cutting off power input, and protecting the built-in storage, the possibility of destruction of the contents of the built-in storage or abnormal operation is reduced. This makes it possible to easily analyze the cause of failure of the file management device and improve the efficiency of device maintenance work.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
In the figure, (1a), (lb), (1
c), (ld) is a PO that inputs and outputs product information
S terminal, (2a) and (2b) are transmission lines connecting the POS terminal and file management device, (3a)
) and (3b) are an active file management device and a backup file management device, respectively, and (4) is a line switching device that switches the line to the active file management device or the backup file management device.

The file management device includes (5a) and (5b) a failure signal sending circuit that sends out its own failure detection signal;
), (6b) are operation stop circuits that stop the operation of the file management device, (6a), (6b) are storage unit protection circuits that protect the built-in storage unit, and (7a), (7b) are t-source input disconnection circuits. Equipped with

The line switching device includes (8a) and (8b) a failure detection circuit that detects a failure in the file management device, (11) a line switching circuit that switches the line, and (10) a switching control circuit.
It includes a device control circuit (13) for controlling the failed file management device, a switch circuit (13) for selecting the function of the line switching device, and a display circuit (14) for displaying the status of each circuit.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained. The file management device (3) sets the functions of the POS terminal (1) via the transmission line (2).

Next, when product information such as a product code is input from the POS terminal, the information is sent to the file management device via the transmission line. The file management device processes the information and sends the product unit price, product name, etc. to the POS terminal and stores it in the built-in storage unit.

When the file management device is normal, the failure signal output path (5) sends a certain signal to the failure detection circuit of the line switching device.

In the failure detection circuit (9) of the line switching device, if the failure detection signal described above is not received for a certain period of time, if there is an abnormal sending signal, or if normal data is not sent to the POS terminal, the file The management device assumes that it cannot normally access its own fault signal sending circuit or that it is abnormal and does not send out a fault signal, and determines that the file management device is faulty.

When the failure detection circuit (9a) detects a failure in the active file management device (3a), the line switching control circuit (10) and line switching circuit (11) of the line switching device are activated to switch the transmission line. Switch to the backup file management device (3b).

Next, a control signal is sent from the device control circuit (12) of the line switching device to the failed file management device.

The malfunctioning file management device stops its operation by the operation stop circuit (6), and the built-in storage section protection circuit (7) electrically or mechanically disconnects the built-in storage section from the file management device, so that the processing at the time of failure can be carried out. Notify the line switching device that the process has ended normally. If the processing at the time of failure does not end normally, the device control circuit of the line switching device transmits a power-off request signal to the failed file management device,
The power input is cut off by the IIi source input cutoff circuit (8) of the file management device.

In addition, without stopping the operation of the file management device, instead of disconnecting the storage unit, a storage unit for failure diagnosis is connected, the failure diagnosis program in that storage unit is executed, and the execution results are used for failure diagnosis. Store it in the storage unit, display it on its own display circuit, or transmit it to the line switching device,
It can also be displayed on the display circuit (14) of the line switching device.

In the above embodiment, a loop-shaped transmission line has been described, but a star-shaped transmission line or other transmission line may be used, and the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when a failure occurs in a file management device, accident handling for the failed file management device is automatically performed, which facilitates analysis of the cause of the failure of the file management device, and can improve the efficiency of recovery work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a file management device and a line switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file management device and a line switching device according to another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram showing a conventional file management device. In the figure, 1. la, lb, lc, ld are POS terminals; 2, 2a, 2b are transmission lines; 3. 3a, 2b are file management devices; 4. is line switching device, 5.5a, 5
b is a failure signal sending circuit, 6.6a and 6b are operation stop circuits, 7.7a and 7b are storage protection circuits, 8, 8a and 8b are power input cutoff circuits, 9.9a and 9b are failure detection circuits, 1
0° is the line switching circuit, 11. 12° is a switching control circuit, 12° is a device control circuit, 13. switch circuit, 14. is a display circuit. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A file management device for product information management that is commonly connected to a plurality of POS terminals related to product registration work and these POS terminals via a transmission line, and includes a working system and a standby system file management device of the file management device. ,
In a POS system having a line switching device that switches the transmission path to a backup file management device when the active file management device fails, the failure state is transmitted to the line switching device and the failure is controlled by control from the line switching device. A file management device characterized by having a processing function.