JPH04363791A - Processor for product sales data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid the unrevealing of data by back-up data collection from a POS terminal at the time of being under the control of one of file controllers normally operating when it becomes down. CONSTITUTION:The respective file controllers are constituted by respectively connecting CPU 11 constituting a control mainbody with ROM 13 where program data, etc., is stored in, RAM 14 where various kinds of memory areas necessary for processing data is formed, a hard disk driver 15, a transmission control circuit 16 controlling data transmission and reception with a store controller, the other file controllers and the transmission control circuit 17 controlling data transmission and reception with the respective POS terminals, etc., with a busline 12. Data is collected by permitting the POS terminal under the control of an equipment becoming down to be under the control of the file controller itself when the down of another controller is detected and collected data is transmitted to the returned file controller after the return of down.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product sales data processing device called a POS (point of sale) system used in large supermarkets and the like.

0002

[Prior Art] In large-scale supermarkets with multiple sales floors, each sales floor is equipped with one or more terminals for registering product sales data called POS terminals, and a file controller is installed corresponding to each sales floor. We installed multiple data collection devices called A PO that is connected to a host computer called a store controller via a transmission line.
S system is used. In this POS system, product sales data registered for sale at the product sales data registration terminal in each sales floor is collected and saved by the corresponding data collection device, and is saved in each data collection device by the host computer as needed. The sales data for each product is aggregated and processed into data used for sales analysis of the store as a whole.

[0003] By the way, in such a POS system, even if one of the data collection devices goes down, the function of the system does not stop; This results in the inconvenience that it becomes impossible to collect product sales data, making it impossible to perform accurate sales analysis.

[0004] Therefore, as a countermeasure in case a data collection device goes down, conventionally, a backup device is prepared for each data collection device, and the backup device is periodically used to back up the corresponding data collection device. It has been considered to monitor the status and configure a backup device to collect product sales data from terminals in place of the down device when the data collection device goes down. (Refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1981-199193, etc.)

00
05]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, if each data collection device is provided with a backup device, it is necessary to prepare backup devices for the number of data collection devices that have the same functions as the data collection devices. This resulted in a significant increase in equipment costs and the problem of having to secure installation space for backup equipment.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need to use dedicated backup equipment for each of the data collection equipment that is always in operation, and instead allows the data collection equipment to be managed under the control of the data collection equipment when one of the data collection equipment goes down. A product sales data processing device that can back up the data collected from a product sales data registration terminal, has low equipment costs, does not require extra space, and can prevent data loss due to the failure of data collection equipment. This is what we are trying to provide.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides at least two
A data collection device and a plurality of product sales data registration terminals are connected via a transmission line, and each data collection device has one or more product sales data registration terminals assigned to it. In a product sales data processing device that collects sales data for each product registered for sale on a terminal device via a transmission line and saves it in a file, each data collection device detects abnormal conditions of other data collection devices. an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal state of another data collection device; and when this detection means detects an abnormal state of another data collection device, one or more product sales data registration terminals assigned to the data collection device in the abnormal state are activated. An abnormality detection processing means that collects product sales data under its own management, and a product sales data registration terminal that is assigned to the data collection device that was in an abnormal state when it returns to a normal state. and recovery confirmation processing means for removing the product from its own management and transferring the product sales data collected from the corresponding product sales data registration terminal by the abnormality detection processing means to the returned data collection device.

[0008]

[Operation] With the present invention having such a configuration, when any data collection device goes down, it is detected that another data collection device goes down. Then, the data collection device that has detected the down state brings under its own control all product sales data registration terminals assigned to the down data collection device. Then, in the same way as with the product sales data registration terminal assigned to the user in advance, product sales data is collected from the terminal that is newly placed under the user's control. After that, when the data collection device that was down returns to normal state, the data collection device that detected the down state removes the product sales data registration terminal assigned to the data collection device that has returned to normal from its control. At the same time, the data collected from the product sales data registration terminal under the control of the data collection device that has returned to normal and has been saved in a file is transferred to the file of the data collection device that has returned to normal.

[0009] Therefore, the product sales data generated while the product sales data registration terminal assigned to the data collection device that is down is down will not be collected and lost by the data collection device that detected the down state. do not have. At this time, the data collection device that detected the down state collects data from the product sales data registration terminal assigned to it as usual.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a POS system shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a store controller (SC) as a host computer, 2a and 2b are file controllers (FC) as data collection equipment, and 3
A, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, and 3f are POS terminals (TM) as terminals for registering product sales data. The store controller 1 and the two file controllers 2a and 2b are electrically connected via a transmission line 4. Each of the file controllers 2a, 2b and the six POS terminals 3a to 3f are connected via a transmission line 5. A hard disk 6 is attached to each of the file controllers 2a and 2b, and a file for saving data collected from POS terminals under its own management has been created in the hard disk 6 in advance.

[0012] Therefore, each POS terminal 3a to 3f
For example, the files are divided into two groups based on the sales floor situation, one of which is under the control of one file controller 2a, and the remaining group is under the control of the other file controller 2b. In normal times, the file controllers 2a and 2b collect sales data of sales registered products from the POS terminals 3a to 3f under their own management via the transmission line 5, save it in a file on the hard disk 6, and store the data on the store controller. 1 to each file controller 2a, via the transmission line 4 in a timely manner.
The data collected in 2b is aggregated and processed to be used for sales analysis of the entire store.

FIG. 2 shows the file controllers 2a, 2
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of file controllers 2a and 2b, in which program data and the like are stored in a CPU (central processing unit) 11 that constitutes a control unit main body via a bus line 12. ROM (read only memory) 13, RAM (random access memory) where various memory areas necessary for data processing are formed.
memory) 14, a hard disk driver 15 that writes and reads data to and from the hard disk 6, a transmission control circuit 16 that controls data transmission and reception performed with the store controller 1 via the transmission line 4, and the transmission line 5. via the other file controller 2a, 2
POS terminals 3a to 3f, and a transmission control circuit 17 for controlling data transmission and reception between the terminals 3a and 3f.

In the RAM 14, a terminal management table 20 having a configuration particularly shown in FIG. 3 is formed. This terminal management table 20 is for each POS terminal 3.
Corresponding to the terminal numbers set in a to 3f, a status is stored that distinguishes whether or not the corresponding terminal is under its own management. Here, in this embodiment, the terminal number is POS terminal 3.
a → "TM1", POS terminal 3b → "TM2",
POS terminal 3c → "TM3", POS terminal 3d → "TM4", POS terminal 3e → "TM5"
, POS terminal 3f → "TM6". Also, if the status is under your own control in advance, "10"
, "00" if the file controller is not under its own management, and "01" if it is brought under its own management due to the other file controller going down.

The CPU 11 is programmed to periodically perform the control shown in FIG. 4 after the power is turned on. That is, when control is started, first it is checked whether the other file controller 2a or 2b is down. The confirmation method is to send a predetermined command to the other file controller via the transmission line 5,
If there is no normal response within a certain period of time, it is determined that the device is down. (Abnormality Detection Means) If it is confirmed that the other file controller is down, the RAM 14
Examine the down confirmation flag that is formed. and,
If the flag is reset (0), it means that the other file controller has just gone down, so the down confirmation flag is set (1). Also, all the statuses “00” in the terminal management table 20 are changed to “
01'' to bring the POS terminal under the control of the other file controller under its own control. moreover,
A file is additionally created on the hard disk 6 to save data collected from the POS terminal under the control of the other file controller. Thereafter, when the terminal management table 20 is referred to and a data collection request is sent to the POS terminal whose status is "10" or "01" via the transmission line 5, this process is terminated. (Abnormality Detection Processing Means) Note that when it is confirmed that the other file controller is down, if the down confirmation flag has already been set, the process due to the down has already been completed, so the status is simply changed. "10"
Alternatively, a data collection request is sent to the POS terminal "01" via the transmission line 5.

On the other hand, even when it is confirmed that the other file controller is not down, the down confirmation flag is also checked. If the flag is set (1), the other file controller has just returned from the down state, so the down confirmation flag is reset (0). Also, all the statuses "01" in the terminal management table 20 are set to "00", and the POS terminal that was under its own management is returned to the management of the other file controller. Furthermore, the contents of the file for saving collected data from the POS terminal under the control of the other file controller, which has been additionally created on the hard disk 6, is transferred to the other file controller via the transmission line 5. (Return Confirmation Processing Means) After that, if a data collection request is sent to the POS terminal whose status is "10" via the transmission line 5, this process is terminated.

[0017] If the other file controller is not down and the down confirmation flag is reset, each file controller is in a normal state in which it is operating normally, so it is simply a P with a status of "10".
A data collection request will be sent to the OS terminal via the transmission line 5.

In this way, the file controllers 2a, 2
Upon receiving the data collection request sent from b, each PO
The S terminals 3a to 3f transmit the sales data of the registered products via the transmission line 5 to the file controller that made the request.

[0019] Then, via the transmission control circuit 17, the POS
When product sales data is received from the terminal, the CPU
11 is programmed to execute the control shown in FIG. That is, first, terminal management table 2
0 to check the status of the source POS terminal of the received data. If the status is "10", the P
Since the data is from the OS terminal, hard disk 6
The collected data is stored in a save file on the self-managed terminal.

On the other hand, if the status is "01", the data is from the POS terminal that was under the control of the other file controller that is down, so the collection of the terminal under the control of the other file controller that was additionally created on the hard disk 6 is not possible. Store in data save file.

Note that if the status is "00", the data is from a POS terminal that is not under its own management, so the received data is discarded.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. For convenience of explanation, the file controller 2a is equipped with POS terminals 3a, 3b,
3c is assigned, and P is assigned to the file controller 2b.
It is assumed that OS terminals 3d, 3e, and 3f are assigned.

Now, assuming that both file controllers 2a and 2b are in a normal state, as shown in FIG.
, 3c, the file controller 2b periodically outputs a data collection request (31 in the figure) to the POS terminal 3d,
A data collection request (32 in the figure) is periodically output to 3e and 3f. As a result, POS terminals 3a, 3b, 3
Product sales data (33 in the figure) is sent from file controller 2a from c to file controller 2a.
A stores the collected product sales data in the collected data save file A of the self-managed terminal on the hard disk 6. In addition, product sales data (
34) in the figure is transmitted, and the file controller 2b stores the collected product sales data in the collected data save file B of the self-managed terminal on the hard disk 6. Note that each of the file controllers 2a and 2b checks the status of the other file controller (35 in the figure) at the timing of outputting a data collection request.

[0024] Then, one file controller 2a
When the file controller 2b goes down, the other file controller 2b periodically checks the status of the other party (41 in the figure), as shown in FIG.
Detects the down state by
The POS terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c under the control of a are all brought under its own control. Additionally, a file A' for saving the collected data of the terminal under the control of the other file controller is additionally created on the hard disk 6. The file controller 2b is the POS terminal 3a, 3b, 3c.
, 3d, 3e, and 3f (4 in the figure).
2) is output. As a result, each POS terminal 3a
~3f transmits product sales data (43 in the figure) to the file controller 2b. The file controller 2b is the POS terminal 3d, 3e, 3f.
The product sales data collected from the POS terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c are stored in the file B of the hard disk 6, and the product sales data collected from the POS terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c are stored in the file A' of the hard disk 6.

When the file controller 2a that has been down returns, the other file controller 2b detects the return state by periodically checking the status of the other party (51 in the figure), as shown in FIG. POS terminals 3a, 3b, 3 under the control of 2a
Return all c from under your control. Also, the contents of file A' on the hard disk 6 are transferred to file A on the hard disk 6 of the file controller 2a (52 in the figure).
. After that, the file controller 2a becomes POS as usual.
A data collection request (53 in the figure) is periodically output to the terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c, and the file controller 2b
A data collection request (54 in the figure) is periodically output to the OS terminals 3d, 3e, and 3f. And P.O.
Product sales data (55 in the figure) is sent from the S terminals 3a, 3b, and 3c to the file controller 2a, and the file controller 2a saves the collected product sales data to a collected data save file on the self-managed terminal on the hard disk 6. Store in A. Also, from POS terminals 3d, 3e, and 3f, file controller 2
The product sales data (56 in the figure) is transmitted to the file controller 2b, and the file controller 2b stores the collected product sales data in the collected data save file B of the self-managed terminal on the hard disk 6.

As described above, in this embodiment, in a system having two file controllers 2a and 2b of the same level that each control several POS terminals, if one of the file controllers goes down, collects product sales data from a POS terminal under the control of the file controller in which the other file controller is down. When the file controller that went down returns, the POS terminal under its control is returned to the other terminal, and the product sales data collected from the POS terminal is transferred to the file of the restored file controller.

[0027] Therefore, product sales data from POS terminals under the control of a down file controller can be reliably collected without using a dedicated backup device, and loss of data can be prevented. As a result, the equipment cost can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional method that uses a dedicated backup device, and the space required to install the backup device is also eliminated, allowing effective use of space.

[0028] In the above embodiment, a system including two file controllers 2a and 2b as data collection equipment was exemplified, but the number of file controllers is not limited to two, and three or more can be used. The present invention can be applied even to a system that is operated all the time. However, in this case, it is necessary to determine in advance the file controller that will perform abnormality detection processing when a certain file controller goes down.

[0029]

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of data collection devices that are always in operation detect that another data collection device is down, the device is placed under the control of the down device. We have set up a function that collects data from the product sales data registration terminal under its own control, and after the downtime returns, the collected data is transferred to the recovered data collection device, and the terminal is returned to normal management, so it is always operational. Without using a dedicated backup device for each data collection device, if any data collection device goes down, you can restore data from the product sales data registration terminal under the control of that data collection device. To provide a product sales data processing device capable of backing up data collection and preventing loss of data due to failure of data collection equipment at low equipment cost and without requiring extra space.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file controller in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a terminal management table provided in the file controller in the same embodiment.

[Figure 4] CP of the file controller in the same embodiment
The flowchart which shows the control which U performs periodically.

[Figure 5] CP of the file controller in the same embodiment
2 is a flowchart showing control performed by U in response to data reception from each POS terminal.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of data in the normal state of the main parts of the system in the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of data when one of the file controllers of the main parts of the system goes down in the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of data when one of the file controllers of the main parts of the system in the same embodiment returns from a down state.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Store controller, 2a, 2b... File controller (data collection equipment), 3a to 3f... POS terminal (product sales data registration terminal), 4, 5... Transmission line, 6... Hard disk, 20... Terminal management table .

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: At least two data collection devices and a plurality of product sales data registration terminals are connected via a transmission line, and each data collection device has one or more terminals assigned to it. In a product sales data processing device that collects sales data of each product registered for sale at one product sales data registration terminal via the transmission line and saves it in a file, each of the data collection devices has a an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal state of another data collection device; and when the detection means detects an abnormal state of another data collection device, one or more devices are assigned to the data collection device in the abnormal state; An abnormality detection processing means that collects product sales data by placing the product sales data registration terminal under its own control, and when the data collection device that was in an abnormal state returns to a normal state, Return confirmation processing that removes the assigned product sales data registration terminal from its control and transfers the product sales data collected from the corresponding product sales data registration terminal by the abnormality detection processing means to the restored data collection device. A product sales data processing device characterized by comprising means.