JPH04344998A - Pos apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain remote power control(RPC) by allowing each satellite to automatically detect an RPC telegram on a reference local area network(LAN) cable and automatically turn on a power supply. CONSTITUTION:When a master machine 1a in a driven state starts the collecting work of sales data registered in respective satellites 1b to 1d, RPC is commanded and an RPC telegram based upon a prescribed telegram format is formed under the control of an LAN control part 26 and sent to the reference LAN cable 2. In each of the satellites 1b to 1d, the LAN control part 26 is driven by backup power from a battery 29, and at the time of detecting the RPC telegram from the cable 2, a relay ON signal is outputted from an ON signal generating part 25 and a relay switch 32 is closed. Thereby commercial AC power is impressed to a power supply circuit 28 and operation power is supplied to a POS control part 21 and the LAN control part 26 to automatically start up the control parts 21, 26.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention connects a plurality of point-of-sale terminals called POS (point-of-sale terminals) via a transmission line, and records sales, etc. at each terminal. The present invention relates to a point-of-sale information management device that is centrally managed.

0002

[Background Art] In recent years, multiple POs connected to a communication path
One of the S terminals is set as the master machine, and the rest are set as satellite machines, so that the master machine collects and aggregates and manages the sales data of products registered for sale on the satellite machines via the communication channel. point of sale device,
So-called POS systems have been widely introduced in mass retailers such as supermarkets and department stores. There is also a system in which a master machine is connected online to a host computer, and the data compiled by the master machine is processed by the host computer.

[0003] In this POS system, an in-line cable equipped with a remote power control (hereinafter abbreviated as RPC) signal line has conventionally been used as a communication path. Recently, it has been considered to construct a POS system using a standard LAN (Local Area Network) instead of the above-mentioned inline cable.

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, standard LA
Since the wiring configuration of N, etc. is standardized and it is not possible to secure an RPC signal line, there is a drawback that the power-on of each POS terminal set on the satellite machine cannot be remotely controlled by the POS terminal set on the master machine.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides R
Even if a communication path is not equipped with a PC signal line, the power-on of the point-of-sale terminal set on the satellite machine can be remotely controlled by the point-of-sale terminal set on the master machine. The purpose is to provide a point-in-time information management device.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention sets one of a plurality of point-of-sale information management terminals connected via a communication path not equipped with an RPC signal line as a master machine, and the rest is set as a satellite machine, and the master machine has a message creation means that creates a preset RPC message when an RPC to the satellite machine is instructed, and a message creation means that creates an RPC message created by this creation means over a communication channel. The satellite machine is equipped with a communication control section that is powered by a battery and detects a message on the communication path, and a communication control section that detects whether the message detected by the communication control section is an RPC message or not. A message discriminating means for discriminating, and a message discriminating means for discriminating R.
The apparatus is equipped with a power-on control means for turning on the power of the terminal when it is determined that the message is a PC message.

[0007]

[Operation] With the present invention having such a configuration, when remote power control of a satellite machine is instructed in the master machine, a preset remote power control message is created and transmitted to the communication path.

[0008] On the other hand, in each satellite machine, even when the power is off, the communication control unit functions with power backup from the battery. When the communication control unit detects a remote power control message flowing through the communication path, the power of the terminal is automatically turned on.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a POS system,
Multiple POS systems for registering sales items that customers purchase, etc.
Terminals 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are connected by a standard LAN cable 2 without an RPC signal line. One of each POS terminal is set as a master machine (M-TM) 1a, and the rest are set as satellite machines (S-TM) 1b, 1c, and 1d.

[0011] Here, in addition to the function as a satellite machine, the master machine 1a has a function of collecting and aggregating sales data of products registered for sale on each satellite machine 1b, 1c, and 1d, and also has a function of turning on the power of the satellite machine. It is equipped with functions such as remote control.

[0012] Figure 2 shows POS terminals 1a, 1b, 1c.
, 1d is a perspective view showing the appearance of the terminal body 1.
A keyboard 12 is provided on the front surface of the machine for inputting product sales data, etc., and a cashier display 13 and a customer display 14 are provided on the top surface for displaying the price of products registered for sale, the total amount, etc. is installed. Further, a printer 15 for printing receipts and journals is built into the left side of the terminal main body 11, and a drawer 16 for storing cash and the like is installed on the bottom surface.

FIG. 3 shows POS terminals 1a, 1b, 1c.
, 1d is a block diagram functionally showing the control circuit of
The keyboard 12, each display 13, 14, printer 1
5 and the drawer 16, a communication interface 22 connected to the standard LAN cable 2, and a remote power control (RPC) message in a preset message format. An RPC message generating section 23 that generates and sends it to the standard LAN cable 2, an RPC message detecting section 24 that detects the RPC message from the message on the standard LAN cable 2, and an ON signal of a relay switch 32 to be described later. A LAN control section 26 as a communication control section that controls the output ON signal generation section 25 is connected via a bus line 27 .

[0014]The POS control section 21 and the LAN control section 2
6 can execute control operations by being supplied with operating power from the power supply circuit 28. However, the LAN control section 26 is backed up by a battery 29 as an operating power source, and even if the power supply from the power supply circuit 28 is cut off, the control operation can be maintained as long as the battery 29 has sufficient capacity. Note that this battery 29 is charged by supplying operating power from the power supply circuit 28.

A parallel circuit including a manual power switch 31 and the relay switch 32 is interposed between the power supply circuit 28 and a power plug 30 connected to a commercial AC power source. That is, if either the power switch 31 or the relay switch 32 is closed, commercial AC power is applied to the power supply circuit 28, and the POS
Operating power is supplied to the control section 21 and the LAN control section 26, so that they operate as a POS terminal.

[0016] However, the POS set on the master machine
The LAN control unit 26 of the terminal 1a is the POS control unit 2
When remote power control of each satellite machine is instructed from 1, as shown in FIG. ), then operate the communication interface 22 to send the above RPC message to the LAN cable 2.
(message transmission means).

On the other hand, when the LAN control unit 26 of the POS terminals 1b, 1c, and 1d set as satellite machines receives the message on the LAN cable 2 via the communication interface 22, the RPC message detection unit 24 detects the RPC message. Check whether a message is detected (message determining means). Then, if an RPC message is detected,
It is configured to operate the on-signal generator 25 and output an on-signal to the relay switch 32 (power-on control means).

In this embodiment configured as described above, in the master machine 1a which is in operation by turning on the power switch 31, for example, each of the satellite machines 1b, 1c,
When the collection of sales data registered in step 1d starts, remote power control is commanded to each satellite machine. Then, an RPC message in a predetermined message format is created under the control of the LAN control unit 26 in the master device 1a, and the standard LAN cable 2
sent to.

On the other hand, in each satellite machine 1b, 1c, 1d, even if the power switch 31 is not turned on, the L
The AN control unit 26 is operated by the backup power source of the battery 29, and when an RPC message is detected from the standard LAN cable 2, a relay-on signal is output from the on-signal generating unit 25, and the relay switch 32 is closed. As a result, commercial AC power is applied to the power supply circuit 28,
Operating power is supplied to the POS control section 21 and the LAN control section 26, and they are automatically started up. As a result, the master machine 1a can collect, via the standard LAN cable 2, the sales data of the sales products registered in each of the satellite machines 1b, 1c, and 1d.

[0020] In each of the satellite machines 1b, 1c, 1d, the on signal output from the on signal generator 25 is no longer output after a predetermined time (the time required for the master machine 1a to collect data), and the relay switch 32 is opened and the supply of AC power to the power supply circuit 28 is stopped.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of P
Even if a standard LAN cable 2 is used as a communication path for connecting the OS terminals 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, and the RPC signal cannot be provided according to the standard, each satellite device 1b can be controlled by remote power control by the master device 1a.
, 1c, 1d can be automatically turned on. In other words, it is now possible to construct a POS system using a standard LAN as a communication path without losing the remote power control function, which is highly effective.

[0022] In the above embodiment, remote power control for each satellite machine was performed under the control of the master machine, but a host computer is connected to this master machine, and the master machine is controlled by commands from the host computer. The same can be achieved when performing remote power control.

[0023]

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the present invention, even if a communication path not equipped with an RPC signal line, such as a standard LAN, is used, the point-of-sale information management terminal set in the satellite machine can be used. It is possible to provide a point-of-sale information management device in which power-on of a machine can be remotely controlled by a point-of-sale information management terminal set as a master machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a POS system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing master machine processing of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the satellite machine processing of the POS terminal in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a...POS terminal (master machine), 1b, 1c,
1d...POS terminal (satellite machine), 2...Standard L
AN cable, 21...POS control unit, 23...RPC message generation unit, 24...RPC message detection unit, 25...ON signal generation unit, 26...LAN control unit, 28...power supply circuit, 29...battery, 31...power supply Switch, 32...Relay switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] One of the plurality of point-of-sale information management terminals connected via a communication path not equipped with a remote power control signal line is set as a master machine,
The remaining terminals are set as satellite machines, and the terminal set as the master machine includes a message creating means for creating a preset remote power control message when remote power control for the satellite machine is instructed; Message transmitting means for transmitting the remote power control message created by the creating means to the communication path,
Each terminal set as the satellite device includes a communication control unit which is powered by a battery and detects a message on the communication path, and a communication control unit that detects a message on the communication path, and determines whether the message detected by the communication control unit is the remote power control message. A point of sale characterized by comprising a message discriminating means for discriminating a message, and a power-on control means for turning on the power of the terminal when the discriminating means determines that the message is the remote power control message. Information management device.