JPH0619939A - Commodity information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to change operation programs without replacing a ROM storing an operation program. CONSTITUTION:A flash memory 2 is used as a memory (ROM) for storing an operation program, and when an IPL(initial program loading) is started by key operation at the time of turning on a power supply, an operation program is loaded from an FDD 5 or an IC-RAM card 6 to the memory 2. In order to prevent the generation of malfunction during the change of programs, the purport of being under the change of program is displayed on a clerk's display device. Since the replacement of ROMs is made unnecessary and a socket for a ROM is not required, the reliability of this commodity information terminal is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

This invention relates to a central processing unit (CP).
U) relates to a product information terminal that manages product sales and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional product information terminal or electronic cash register,
In the figure, 1 is a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, and 13 is a C
ROM storing the operation program for PU1, 14 is RO
A socket for attaching / detaching M13, 4 is a RAM for recording product sales information and the like of the CPU 1, and 6 is a memory card for recording product sales information and the like of the CPU 1 as well.

Next, the operation will be described. Generally, the product information terminal or electronic cash register is R
The OM13 is included without fail. This ROM13 has C
An operation program in which an operation to be performed by PU1 is described is stored. A wide variety of operation programs are prepared according to customer specifications, and one of them is selected and attached to the socket 14. In addition, as such a product information terminal, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-113665 is used.
There is one disclosed in the publication.

[0004]

Since the conventional product information terminal or the electronic cash register is constructed as described above, when an operation program according to the customer's specification is required, or when the operation program produced is incorrect. If there is, the ROM 13 storing the operation program
Had to be replaced, and there was a cost for replacement. Further, in order to make the ROM 13 replaceable, the ROM
A socket 14 is generally prepared for the device 13, and there is a problem in contact reliability and a malfunction occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a memory (ROM) for storing an operation program for a central processing unit (CPU) is a flash memory (batch electrical erasable). The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a product information terminal that allows the operation program to be replaced without ROM replacement when a customer specification program is required.

[0006]

A commodity information terminal according to the invention of claim 1 uses a flash memory as a memory for storing an operation program for a central processing unit.

Further, the product information terminal according to the invention of claim 2 is such that the progress status of the replacement work is displayed on the staff display during the replacement of the operation program.

[0008]

The flash memory storing the operation program according to the first aspect of the present invention is an important function for the device in which the operation program is stored in the ROM, and can be easily replaced with the operation program according to the customer's specifications. In addition, since the ROM can be fixed without a socket, the reliability can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indicator for a staff member,
Since the progress status during the replacement of the operation programs is displayed, it is possible to know the erroneous operation of the replacement work.

[0010]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the invention of claim 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a C that controls the entire apparatus.
PU (Central Processing Unit), 2 is a flash memory for storing the operation program for CPU 1
M), 3 is an RO as a memory for storing a program for replacing the operation program of the flash memory
M and 4 are RAMs for recording product sales information of the CPU 1,
Reference numeral 6 is a memory card for recording product sales information of the CPU 1, and 5 is F for similarly recording product sales information of the CPU 1.
It is DD. These memory cards 6 or FDD5
Is also used as an external device to supply an operation program to be read into the flash memory 2.

FIG. 2 is a memory map of this apparatus, where 7a and 7b are areas of the flash memory 2 on the memory map, and 8 is an area of the ROM 3 on the memory map. The two areas 7b and 8 are in areas having the same addresses F8000 to FFFFF on the memory map and are selected by switching. Reference numeral 9 is an area of the RAM 4.

Next, the operation will be described. The operation program is stored in the flash memory 2, but the operation program is read from the memory card 6 or the FDD 5 into the flash memory 2 by performing a predetermined operation when the power is turned on, and the operation program is replaced. Also,
When the power is turned on, the area 8 of the ROM 3 on the memory map is inevitably selected, and the program of this area 8 is executed by performing a predetermined operation, and the programs of the flash memory 2 are replaced. When the operation is not performed, the selection is automatically switched from the area 8 of the ROM 3 to the area 7b of the flash memory 2, and the normal operation program stored in the flash memory 2 is executed.

Next, the operation at the time of exchanging programs will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power is turned on in step ST1, the area 8 of the ROM 3 is selected in step ST2. Here, if key input is performed by the operation determined in step ST3,
The program of this area 8 is activated, and the operation program of the flash memory 2 is replaced in step ST4. When no key input is performed by the operation defined in step ST3, the selection is automatically switched from the area of the ROM 8 to the area of the flash memory 2 in step ST6, and the normal memory stored in the flash memory 2 in step ST7 is selected. The operating program is executed. The replacement of the operation program is performed by applying an erase signal to the flash memory 2 and then supplying a new operation program from the memory card 6 or the FDD 5.

Example 2. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention of claim 2. The display by the staff display during the replacement of the operation program will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, numeral 10 is a staff display, which comprises a staff numeric display 10a and a staff character display 10b. Reference numeral 11 is a display of the staff number display 10a, and 12 is a staff character display 1
This is the display of 0b. The product information terminal, or electronic cash register, is usually such an operator display 1
0, which is usually the product name display when the product is sold,
It is used for price display. The clerk display 10 is most commonly composed of a fluorescent display tube. The operation program replacement of the flash memory 2 is executed for several minutes, and during this period, the operator display 10 is used to read the operation program into the operator character display 10b. An external device (FDD in the figure) that reads the
In 0a, the replacement execution status of the operating programs is displayed 11 as a percentage (50% in the figure).

[0015]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, since the memory for storing the operation program for the central processing unit is the flash memory, the operation program according to the customer's specification is required. In addition, if there is an error in the manufactured operation program, the operation program can be replaced without replacing the ROM, and it is possible to easily and inexpensively meet the customer's specification,
Since it is not necessary to provide a socket for replacing M,
It has the effect of increasing reliability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the clerk display indicates that the program is being read and the execution status thereof while the operation program is being replaced, the erroneous operation during the operation program replacement is performed. There is an effect that can prevent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a product information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a memory map diagram of the product information terminal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of replacing a program of the product information terminal.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a display content of a clerk's display when the program of the product information terminal is replaced according to an embodiment of the invention of claim 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional product information terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 Flash Memory 3 ROM (Memory) 5 FDD (External Device) 6 Memory Card (External Device) 10 Indicator for Staff

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A product comprising a flash memory for storing an operation program of a central processing unit, and a memory for storing a program for replacing the operation program stored in the flash memory with an operation program supplied from an external device. Information terminal. 2. A flash memory for storing an operation program of the central processing unit, a memory for storing a program for replacing the operation program stored in the flash memory with an operation program supplied from an external device, and the operation program. A product information terminal equipped with a staff display for displaying the execution status of the replacement of the product.