JPH06309560A - Electronic cash register and pos system using this register - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the electronic cash register and the POS system using this register of which centralized management of execution history data can be performed in a host device. CONSTITUTION:An electronic cash register 10 is provided with a transmission control part 9 which controls transmission of execution history data, which is detected by an abnormality detecting part 8 and is recorded in a non-volatile memory 3, in accordance with a request from the host device, and a store data processor 11 is provided with a transmission request part 12 which sends the transmission request of execution history data to the electronic cash register 10 and a data analysis part 13 which analyzes execution history data returned in accordance with the transmission request, and a host computer is provided with the data analysis part 13 which analyzes execution history data gathered through the store data processor 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic cash register used in a POS system, and a POS for collecting and analyzing execution history data recorded in the electronic cash register by a store data processor and a host computer connected to a higher level. It is about the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electronic cash register used in a conventional POS system. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an input unit for inputting data when the product is sold. Reference numeral 2 denotes a control processing unit that performs product registration processing and transaction processing of the data input from the input unit 1, for example, in a central processing unit (CPU) that executes those processing by an application and an operating system (OS). It is realized by software.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a non-volatile memory such as a battery-backed C-MOS memory for storing the data output from the control processing unit 2. 4 is a control processing unit 2
The data output from the control processing unit 2 is displayed on the display unit, and the printing unit 5 prints out the data output from the control processing unit 2. Reference numeral 6 is a transmission unit for transmitting the data output from the control processing unit 2 to a higher-level device via a line.
Is the drawer of this electronic cash register. 8 is provided in the control processing unit 2, and when the processing result of the control processing unit 2 becomes abnormal, or when an abnormality occurs in the display unit 4, the printing unit 5, the transmission unit 6, etc., the abnormality Is an abnormality detection unit that detects

Next, the operation will be described. At the time of sale of the product, the clerk inputs the input data such as the product name and the product code of the product purchased by the customer from the input unit 1. The control processing unit 2 receives the input data from the input unit 1, executes the merchandise registration process and the transaction process, sends the data of the processing result to the display unit 4 for display, and sends it to the printing unit 5 for receipt or receipt. Make the journal etc. printed. In addition, this control processing unit 2
The data of the processing result of (1) is also sent to the transmitting unit 6, and is transmitted from the transmitting unit 6 to the store data processor (not shown) of the store, which is a higher-level device, via the inline line. In the process of a series of data processing operations in such a POS system, if the result of the processing by the control processing unit 2 becomes abnormal, or if the display unit 4, the printing unit 5, the transmission unit 6, etc. have a hardware abnormality. When an error occurs, the error detector 8 detects it and records the error content and the time of occurrence in the memory 3 as execution history data. This memory 3 is backed up by a battery, and its execution history data will not be lost even if the electronic cash register is powered off after the store is closed. This execution history data is output as a report from the printing unit 5 at the time of periodic inspection and used for investigating the cause of the abnormality.

[0004] Documents which describe such a conventional electronic cash register and a technique related to a POS system using the electronic cash register include, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-3461.
No. 95 publication is available.

[0005]

Since the conventional electronic cash register is constructed as described above, the execution history data must be output by each electronic cash register as a single unit. There is a problem that it is necessary to visit each electronic cash register installation location and output the execution history data as a report.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an electronic cash register and a POS using the electronic cash register, which enable the execution history data to be centrally managed by a host device. Aim to get the system.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an electronic cash register stores execution history data detected by an abnormality detection unit and recorded in a non-volatile memory in accordance with a request from a host device. A transmission control unit for controlling transmission is provided.

Further, the POS according to the invention of claim 2
The system consists of a transmission request unit that sends a request to send execution history data to an electronic cash register to a store data processor to which such an electronic cash register is connected by an inline line, and execution history data that is returned according to the transmission request. It is provided with a data analysis section for performing analysis of.

The POS according to the invention of claim 3
The system is such that a host computer to which such a store data processor is connected by an online line is provided with a data analysis unit for analyzing execution history data collected via the store data processor.

[0010]

The transmission control unit in the invention described in claim 1 is
By receiving the transmission request from the upper device, the abnormality detection unit controls the transmission of the execution history data detected and recorded in the nonvolatile memory to the upper device.

Further, the store data processor according to the second aspect of the present invention analyzes the execution history data returned by the electronic cash register in response to the transmitted transmission request, thereby determining the status of the electronic cash register in the store. Figure out.

The host computer according to the third aspect of the present invention collects the execution history data of each electronic cash register via the store data processor and analyzes the data to analyze the execution history data, and thereby the electronic cash register of the entire POS system. Understand the situation of.

[0013]

【Example】

Example 1. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic cash register according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an input unit, 2 is a control processing unit, 3 is a non-volatile memory, 4 is a display unit, 5 is a printing unit, 6 is a transmitting unit, 7 is a drawer, and 8 is an abnormality detecting unit. Since they are the same as or equivalent to those of the conventional one denoted by the same reference numeral, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, when receiving the execution history data transmission request sent from the upper apparatus, the reference numeral 9 reads the execution history data recorded in the memory 3 and sends it to the transmission unit 6 to transmit the execution history data to the upper apparatus. Is a transmission control unit for controlling the.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a POS system according to the first embodiment of the present invention using such an electronic cash register. In the figure, 10 is a plurality of electronic cash registers in a store, and 11 is a store data processor to which each of these electronic cash registers 10 is connected by an in-line line. Further, in the store data processor 11, reference numeral 12 is a transmission request unit for sequentially transmitting a transmission request of execution history data to each electronic cash register 10, and 13 is returned from each electronic cash register 10 according to the transmission request. It is a data analysis unit that analyzes the received execution history data.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, FIG.
Is a flow chart showing the flow of processing in the store data processor 11, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing in each electronic cash register 10. The operation of the normal POS system is similar to that of the conventional case, and in the course of the series of operations, the processing result of the control processing unit 2 is abnormal, or the display unit 4, the printing unit 5, the transmission unit 6, etc. When the abnormality detector 8 detects the occurrence of a hardware abnormality, the details of the abnormality and the time of occurrence are recorded in the battery-backed memory 3 as execution history data.

When collecting the execution history data recorded in the memory 3 of each electronic cash register 10 in this way, the store data processor 11 first confirms how many electronic cash registers 10 are connected to itself. Yes (step ST11). Next, the transmission request unit 12 creates a concentration request message for requesting the transmission of the execution history data, and transmits it to one of the connected electronic cash registers 10 (step ST12). The transmission control unit 9 of the electronic cash register 10 that has received this collection request message,
The execution history data recorded in the memory 3 is read and edited, an execution history message is generated and sent to the transmission unit 6 (step ST21). The transmission unit 6 transmits the execution history message generated by the transmission control unit 9 to the store data processor 11 via the inline line (step ST22). When the store data processor 11 receives the execution history message (step ST13), it sends it to the data analysis section 13 for analysis (step ST14). That is, the data analysis unit 1
If the content of the execution history indicates a fatal abnormality, 3 displays a warning message prohibiting the use of the electronic cash register 10, and it is not a fatal abnormality but requires inspection. If so, the contents are displayed. Next, it is determined whether or not the collection of the execution history data from all the electronic cash registers 10 is completed (step ST15), and if completed, the series of processes is ended, and if not completed, the step is completed. The process returns to ST11 and the above processing is repeated.

As a result, it becomes possible to confirm in advance the failure location of the electronic cash register 10 and the priority inspection item in the regular inspection at the store, and it is possible to perform an efficient regular inspection.

Example 2. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows P according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an OS system, corresponding parts are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2, and description thereof is omitted. In the figure, 14 is a host computer which is grounded to the head office and in which the store data processor 10 of each store is installed by an online line, and 15 is in this host computer 14 and through each store data processor 10. The data analysis unit analyzes the collected execution history data of each electronic cash register 10.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, FIG.
[Fig. 6] is a sequence diagram showing data exchange between devices. After confirming that the business of the store has been completed, the host computer 14 of the headquarters sends an instruction to start the collection of execution history data to one of the store data processors 11 installed in each store as shown in the figure. Via online line. Upon receiving this instruction, the store data processor 11 collects the execution history data of each electronic cash register 10 connected thereto according to the procedure described in the first embodiment. When the collection of the execution history data from all the connected electronic cash registers 10 is completed, the store data processor 11 transmits the collected execution history data to the host computer 14. The host computer 14 analyzes the sent execution history data, and if the content indicates a fatal abnormality, displays a warning message prohibiting the use of the corresponding electronic cash register 10 and is not fatal. If the item requires inspection, display its contents. The host computer 14 sequentially executes such processing to the store data processor 11 installed in each store.

As a result, it becomes possible to confirm in advance the faulty part of the electronic cash register 11 and the priority inspection item at each store, and the store can be operated without having to deal with the work of the next day.

[0021]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the execution history data detected by the abnormality detection unit and recorded in the non-volatile memory is recorded in accordance with the transmission request from the host device. Since it is configured to be transmitted to the host device, there is an effect that an electronic cash register suitable for use in a POS system in which execution history data is centrally managed by the host device can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the store data processor issues a request to send execution history data to the transmission request unit, and the electronic cash register returns the execution request in response to the request. Since it is configured to have a data analysis unit for analyzing history data, it becomes possible to centrally manage the execution history data recorded in the electronic cash register in the store by the store data processor, The effect is that periodic inspections of cash registers can be carried out efficiently in a short time.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the host computer collects the execution history data of each electronic cash register via the store data processor,
Since it is configured to have a data analysis unit that analyzes it, the execution history data recorded in all electronic cash registers can be centrally managed by the host computer of the headquarters, and the electronic cash register It has the effect of being able to perform periodic inspections efficiently and reduce the disruption of work due to breakdowns.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic cash register according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a POS system according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a store data processor in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an electronic cash register in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a POS system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing data transmission / reception between devices in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional electronic cash register.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input Section 2 Control Processing Section 3 Memory 4 Display Section 5 Printing Section 6 Transmission Section 8 Abnormality Detection Section 9 Transmission Control Section 10 Electronic Cash Register 11 Store Data Processor 12 Transmission Request Section 13 Data Analysis Section 14 Host Computer 15 Data Analysis Section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting data at the time of sale of a product, and a control processing unit for processing the data input from the input unit to execute a product registration process and a transaction process.
A transmission unit that sends the data output from the control processing unit to a higher-level device, a display unit that displays the data output from the control processing unit, and a print that prints out the data output from the control processing unit. Section and the processing result of the control processing section becomes abnormal, or when an abnormality occurs in the transmission section, the display section and the printing section, the abnormality detection section for detecting the abnormality, and the abnormality detection section A non-volatile memory that records the content of the detected abnormality together with the occurrence time information as execution history data, and a transmission control that controls the transmission of the execution history data recorded in the memory according to a request from the host device. And an electronic cash register having a section. 2. A PO in which the electronic cash register is connected to a store data processor by an inline line.
In the S system, the store data processor
The electronic cash register is provided with a transmission requesting unit for sending out the execution history data transmission request, and a data analysis unit for analyzing the execution history data sent from the electronic cash register according to the transmission request. Characteristic POS system. 3. In a POS system in which the store data processor is connected to a host computer by an online line, the host computer has a data analysis section for analyzing execution history data collected via the store data processor. P characterized by
OS system.