JPH07123062A - Radio data processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the job efficiency of system setup by diagnosing automatically a radio communication state between a radio base station and plural radio slave stations so as to easily discriminate an optimum radio communication channel in a short time. CONSTITUTION:A host computer 2 conducts data transmission reception with each terminal equipment via each radio base station having plural radio slave stations respectively. A program for a host device of a radio POS system, a radio communication state diagnostic output program P1, and a radio communication channel discrimination notice program P2 are stored in a ROM 22 of the host computer 2, and a radio communication state diagnosis/notice/setting program is stored in ROM of each POS terminal equipment. In the case of system setup, a CPU 21 of the computer 2 sends diagnostic pattern data to each terminal equipment and a CPU of each terminal equipment compares received data with preset diagnostic pattern data. As a result, the communication state of the radio communication channel between the radio base station and the radio slave station is automatically diagnosed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless data processing device such as a wireless POS (point of sale information management) system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional general wireless POS system. Wireless POS shown in this figure
The system wire-connects two wireless base stations 3a, 3b to a host computer 2 as a host device for controlling six POS terminals 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f for product sales data registration. Together with each POS terminal 1a
~ 1f to wireless slave stations 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4 respectively
e and 4f are provided and wireless communication is performed between the wireless base stations 3a and 3b and the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f.
This enables data transmission / reception between the S terminals 1a to 1f and the host computer 2.

Incidentally, the respective POS terminals 1a to 1f are distributed and installed in respective sales floors on one floor of a store, and the respective wireless slave stations 4a to 4f are attached in the vicinity of the corresponding POS terminals 1a to 1f. Has been. On the other hand, the host computer 2 is installed in a store office,
As it is, wireless communication with each of the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f cannot be performed. Therefore, two wireless base stations 3a and 3b are connected to each PO.
By installing the S terminals 1a to 1f on the ceiling of the floor on which the S terminals are installed at intervals, it is possible to perform wireless communication over the entire floor.

Here, the POS terminals 1a to 1a are placed within the range of the radio wave propagation distance where one of the radio base stations 3a can stably communicate.
c is installed, and within the range of the radio wave propagation distance where the other radio base station 3b can communicate stably, the POS terminal 1d
1 to 1f are installed, each POS terminal 1a to 1c normally communicates wirelessly with one wireless base station 3a, and the remaining POS terminals 1d to 1f have the other wireless base station 3a.
b, wireless parameters such as a wireless channel and an identifier of a communication partner are set so as to perform wireless communication with the wireless base stations 3a and 3b.
And the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f are set in advance to set up the system.

However, in general, in wireless communication, there is an obstacle between the base station and the slave station that obstructs radio wave propagation (shadow wing), and radio path difference (multipath) affects the communication stably. The transmission quality may be improved even in a slave station that is not within the range of the possible radio wave propagation distance. For example, in FIG. 11, although the wireless slave station 4c of the POS terminal 1c is installed in the area of one wireless base station 3a, the transmission quality may be improved with the other wireless base station 3b. possible.

For this reason, conventionally, the system is set up in the form as shown in FIG. 11 theoretically and empirically.
Correspondence between the base station and the slave station with communication failure at the time of confirming the occurrence of wireless communication failure such as a large number of communication retries or easy data loss after actually performing wireless communication. Was reconsidering.

[0007] In particular, the wireless POS system is advantageous when used in a store where the layout of the sales floor is frequently changed.
Since ~ 1f also moves, the radio base stations 3a and 3b are changed each time.
However, there has been a need to reconsider the correspondence between the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide at least two wireless base stations and wireless terminals provided in a plurality of terminals, respectively. Automatically diagnose the wireless communication state with the station for each, and to be able to obtain the diagnosis result, so that the optimum wireless communication path that suits the actual environment can be easily determined in a short time, An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless data processing device that improves the work efficiency of system setup.

Further, the optimum wireless communication path can be automatically determined based on the diagnosis result of each wireless communication state and the wireless parameter can be set in each wireless slave station, so that the work efficiency at the time of system setup can be further improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless data processing device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, at least two radio base stations are provided in a host device for controlling a plurality of terminals, and each terminal is provided with a radio slave station. A wireless data processing device capable of transmitting and receiving data between each terminal and a higher-level device by performing wireless communication between the devices takes the following means.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 is, in the host device, base station parameter storing means for storing beforehand the identifiers of the respective wireless base stations, and slave station parameter storing means for storing the respective identifiers of the respective wireless slave stations. When the diagnostic mode of the radio communication state is designated, the base station identifiers stored by the base station parameter storage means are selected one by one, and each time the selection is made, the radio base station corresponding to the selected base station identifier is selected. Diagnostic channel setting means for setting a preset diagnostic channel, and each slave station identifier stored in the slave station parameter storage means every time the diagnostic channel is set in one radio base station by this setting means. Wireless communication status between the slave station corresponding to the selected slave station identifier and the wireless base station to which the diagnostic channel is set. A radio communication condition diagnosis means for diagnosing,
A diagnostic result storage unit for storing all the diagnostic results by the diagnostic unit and a diagnostic result output unit for outputting the stored contents by the storage unit are provided, which correspond to each terminal when the diagnostic mode of the wireless communication state is designated. A diagnostic channel setting means for setting a diagnostic channel in the slave station and a wireless communication diagnostic notifying means for diagnosing the wireless communication status in cooperation with the wireless communication status diagnostic means on the host device side and notifying the result to the host device. Be prepared.

The invention according to claim 2 provides a higher-level device,
The wireless channel used by the wireless base station together with the identifier of each wireless base station is stored in advance as the base station parameter storage means, and the slave station parameter storage means, diagnostic channel setting means, wireless communication state diagnostic means and diagnostic result storage Means, a wireless communication path determination means for determining a good wireless communication path for each wireless slave station based on the storage content of this storage means, and the stored content of the base station parameter storage means according to the determination result by this determination means. And wireless parameter notifying means for notifying each wireless slave station of an identifier and a wireless channel of a wireless base station on a good wireless communication path, and to each terminal, the identifier of the wireless base station and the wireless channel of the wireless base station from the upper device side. When a parameter is received, wireless parameter setting means is provided to set the received parameter to the corresponding slave station. One in which the.

[0013]

According to the present invention having such a structure, the following operation is achieved.

That is, in the invention according to claim 1, when the diagnostic mode of the wireless communication state is designated for the host device and each terminal, each terminal sets the diagnostic channel to the corresponding slave station. The host device is
One of the base station identifiers stored by the base station parameter storage means is selected, and the diagnostic channel is set in the radio base station corresponding to the selected base station identifier.
As a result, the wireless base station can perform data communication with the wireless slave station of each terminal.

In this state, the host device sequentially selects each slave station identifier stored in the slave station parameter storage means, and each time it selects, a slave station and a diagnostic channel corresponding to the selected slave station identifier. The wireless communication state with the wireless base station to which is set is diagnosed, and the diagnostic result is stored in the diagnostic result storage means.

In this way, when the wireless communication state between the wireless base station in which the diagnostic channel is set and each wireless slave station is sequentially diagnosed and the diagnostic result is stored in the diagnostic result storage means, the host device is The next base station identifier stored by the station parameter storage means is selected, and the diagnostic channel is set in the radio base station corresponding to the selected base station identifier. Then, similarly to the above, the wireless communication state between the wireless base station and each wireless slave station is sequentially diagnosed, and the diagnostic result is stored in the diagnostic result storage means.

In this way, when the above-described diagnostic processing is completed for all the wireless base stations whose base station identifiers are stored by the base station parameter storage means, it is established between each wireless base station and each wireless slave station. The obtained wireless communication state diagnosis results of all wireless communication paths are stored in the diagnosis result storage means.
The stored contents of the diagnostic result storage means can be output by the diagnostic result output means. Therefore, by referring to the stored contents of the diagnosis result storage means, the optimum wireless communication path suitable for the actual environment can be known.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, based on the diagnosis result of the wireless communication state between each wireless base station and each wireless slave station stored by the diagnostic result storage means, it is preferable for each wireless slave station. The wireless communication path is determined. Then, according to the determination result, the stored contents of the base station parameter storage means are referred to, and each wireless slave station is notified and set of the identifier and wireless channel of the wireless base station on the favorable wireless communication path. Therefore, each terminal and the host device are automatically connected and set up through the optimum wireless communication path.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The wireless POS shown in FIG.
System (two wireless base stations 3a and 3b, terminals 1a to 1)
f and the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f, each of which is applied to a system including six units) will be described with reference to the drawings.

The radio communication specifications in this embodiment are: type = specific low power radio, frequency band = 1.2 GHz band,
Output = 10 mW, frequency channel = 10 waves (ch1 to ch1
0), communication method = simplex, channel access method = polling / selection method, modulation method = frequency modulation method (MSK), communication speed = 16 kbps.

A bit error rate (BE) is used as a method for diagnosing a communication state of a wireless communication path that can be established between each wireless base station 3a, 3b and each wireless slave station 4a-4f.
The method of measuring R) is used. In addition, bidirectional communication between the base station and the slave station is diagnosed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the host computer 2.
Is a CPU (central processing unit) 2 that constitutes the main body of the control unit.
1. ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 for storing fixed data such as program data executed by the CPU 21, RAM 23 for storing variable data, and communication interface 24 to which both wireless base stations 3a and 3b are connected by wire. , A keyboard interface 25 for inputting a key signal from the keyboard 25a, a display device interface 26 for sending display data to a CRT display device 26a, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the POS terminal 1a. The POS terminal 1a is a CPU 1
1, ROM 12, RAM 13, communication interface 14 to which the corresponding wireless slave station 4a is connected by wire, keyboard 1
5a, a keyboard interface 15 to which a key signal is input, a peripheral device interface 16 to which peripheral devices 16a such as a receipt / journal printer, a display, and a scanner are connected. In addition, other POS terminal 1
Since b to 1f also have the same configuration as that in FIG. 2, description will be given using the same reference numerals for common portions.

Then, the ROM of the host computer 2
In addition to a program for operating as a higher-level device of a normal wireless POS system, a wireless communication state diagnosis / output program P1 and a wireless communication path determination / notification program P2 are pre-installed in the unit 22.

On the other hand, the ROM 1 of each POS terminal 1a-1f
2 includes a program for operating as a POS terminal of a normal wireless POS system, and in particular, a wireless communication state diagnosis / notification / setting program P3.

The keyboard 25a of the host computer 2 has, in addition to the character keys, numeral keys, function keys and the like normally used in the host computer 2, a key K1 for instructing execution of a wireless communication state diagnosis mode.
And a key K2 for instructing execution of the wireless communication path determination mode
And are provided.

On the other hand, the keyboard 15a of each of the POS terminals 1a to 1f has a numeric keypad, a department key, a subtotal key, a deposit / cash total key, and the like used in a normal POS terminal, and in particular, a wireless communication status diagnostic mode. A key K3 for instructing execution is provided. In addition, these specific keys K1, K2, K
3 may be a single key, or may be a combination of a plurality of keys already provided.

Further, the RAM 2 of the host computer 2
3, in addition to the memory area (product data setting file, sales data totaling file, etc.) required as a higher-level device of the wireless POS system, a base station parameter setting area 31, a slave station parameter setting, in particular as shown in FIG. Area 3
2, a diagnostic pattern setting area 33, an error counter area 34, and a diagnostic result storage table 35 are provided.

On the other hand, in the RAM 13 of each of the terminals 1a to 1f, in addition to the memory area required for the POS terminal (transaction buffer, total transaction amount area, etc.), especially the diagnostic pattern setting area 41 and error as shown in FIG. And a counter area 42.

The base station parameter setting area 31 is
Identifiers M1 and M2 of two wireless base stations 3a and 3b connected to the host computer 2 and the wireless base station 3
The wireless channels ch01 and ch03 used by a and 3b are stored in advance and constitute a base station parameter storage means.

The slave station parameter setting area 32 is a wireless slave station 4 provided in each of the POS terminals 1a to 1f.
Identifiers a to 4f S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6
Is stored in advance, and constitutes a slave station parameter storage means.

The diagnostic pattern setting areas 33 and 41
Stores 1000-bit-long diagnostic pattern data used for diagnosing a wireless communication state.
The same diagnostic pattern data is preset in 3, 41.

The error counter areas 34 and 42 are
This is an area for counting the number C of bit errors that occur during the diagnosis of the wireless communication state.

The diagnostic result storage table 35 is a result of diagnosing the communication states of all wireless communication paths that can be bidirectionally established between the wireless base stations 3a and 3b and the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f. Bit error rate (CMi-Sj) when wirelessly transmitting diagnostic pattern data from a base station to a slave station
X 10 ⁶ BER) and the bit error rate (CSj-M) when the diagnostic pattern data is wirelessly transmitted from the slave station to the base station.
i × 10 ⁶ BER) and constitutes a diagnosis result storage means.

If the communication status cannot be diagnosed (PO
If there is no response from the S terminal, or if the host computer or POS terminal loses bit data synchronization after demodulation of wireless data reception during bit error counting of received data) Is stored.

Next, the operation for diagnosing the wireless communication state at the time of setting up the wireless POS system of the present embodiment having the above-described structure will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the main part of the wireless communication status diagnosis / output program P1 provided in the host computer 2, and FIG. 6 is the wireless communication status diagnosis provided in each of the POS terminals 1a-1f. A flow chart showing a main part of the notification / setting program P3, FIG. 7 is a flow chart specifically showing the wireless communication diagnosis processing in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a flow chart specifically showing the wireless communication diagnosis processing in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main part of a wireless communication path determination / notification program P2 provided in the host computer 2.

First, the operator operates the key K3 on each of the POS terminals 1a to 1f and also operates the key K1 on the host computer 2 to instruct each of them to execute the wireless communication state diagnosis mode. To do. Then, the CPU 21 of the host computer 2 starts the program processing shown in FIG. 5, and the CPU 11 of each of the POS terminals 1a to 1f starts the program processing shown in FIG.

That is, the CPU of the host computer 2
21 loads the first base station identifier M1 from the base station identifier setting area 31 in ST1 and ST2 of FIG. 5, and sets the diagnostic channel ch10 preset in the radio base station 3a corresponding to this identifier M1. Next, in ST3, the first slave station identifier S1 is loaded from the slave station identifier setting area 32, and a diagnosis start command is transmitted to the terminal 1a of the wireless slave station 4a corresponding to this slave station identifier S1 via the wireless base station 3a. .

On the other hand, the CPU 1 of each POS terminal 1a-1f
1 corresponds to the wireless slave stations 4a to 4a in ST1 of FIG.
After setting the diagnostic channel ch10 to 4f, ST2
Is waiting for a command from the host computer 2.

Therefore, the diagnostic start command transmitted from the host computer 2 via the wireless base station 3a is
It can be received by the wireless slave station 4a of the terminal 1a. And
The CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1a uses ST2 and ST3 shown in FIG.
When the reception of the diagnosis start command is detected at, the count value data C in the error counter area 42 is initialized to "0" at ST4, and an affirmative response ACK is wirelessly transmitted to the host computer 2 at ST5.

The acknowledgment ACK is received by the wireless base station 3a via the wireless slave station 4a. As a result, when the CPU 21 of the host computer 2 detects the reception of the affirmative response ACK in ST4 of FIG. 5, ST5 and ST6
Then, the communication diagnosis process of the bidirectional wireless communication path established between the wireless base station 3a and the wireless slave station 4a is executed. on the other hand,
The CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1a that has transmitted the positive response ACK
Also, in conjunction with the wireless communication diagnosis process on the side of the host computer 2, wireless communication diagnosis of a bidirectional wireless communication path established between the wireless base station 3a and the wireless slave station 4a in ST6 and ST7 of FIG. Execute the process.

That is, the CPU of the host computer 2
21 reads out the diagnostic pattern data of 1000-bit length preset in the diagnostic pattern setting area 33 in ST51 and ST52 of FIG. 7, and passes this diagnostic pattern data to the terminal 1a of the wireless slave station 4a via the wireless base station 3a. Then 1
Wirelessly transmitted repeatedly 000 times.

Then, the CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1a
Compares the data received via the wireless slave station 4a in ST61 and 62 of FIG. 8 with the diagnostic pattern data preset in the diagnostic pattern setting area 41 bit by bit,
When a bit error is detected in ST63, the count value data C in the error counter area 42 is incremented by +1 in ST64. If it is detected in ST65 that the comparison of 10 ⁶ bits corresponding to the data when 1000 bits of data is repeatedly transmitted 1000 times is detected,
In ST66, the reception of the count value request command is awaited.

On the other hand, the CPU 21 of the host computer 2
After repeatedly transmitting the diagnostic pattern data 1000 times, in ST53, a count value request command is transmitted to the terminal 1a of the wireless slave station 4a via the wireless base station 3a after a certain time has elapsed.

As a result, the CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1a
When the reception of the count value request command is detected in ST66 of FIG. 8, the count value data C in the error counter area 42 is read out in ST67 and the count value data C is wirelessly transmitted.

The count value data C is received by the wireless base station 3a via the wireless slave station 4a. As a result, when the CPU 21 of the host computer 2 detects the reception of the count value data C in ST54 of FIG. 7, the count value data C is transferred from the wireless base station 3a having the base station identifier M1 to the wireless slave station 4a having the slave station identifier S1. Since this corresponds to the number of bit errors when 10 ^6- bit data is transmitted, the count value data C is set in the corresponding area CM1-S1 of the diagnostic result storage table 35 in ST55.

Next, the CPU 21 of the host computer 2
After initializing the count value data C of the error counter area 34 to “0” in ST61 of FIG. 7, the wireless terminal of the wireless base station 4a corresponding to the local station identifier S1 transmits to the POS terminal 1a of the wireless slave station 4a of the base station identifier M1. The diagnostic pattern request command is transmitted via the base station 3a.

On the other hand, the CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1a wirelessly transmits the count value data C in ST67 of FIG.
At 71, the reception of a diagnostic pattern request command is awaited. When the reception of the diagnostic pattern request command is detected, the diagnostic pattern setting area 4 is set in ST72 and ST73.
The diagnostic pattern data having a 1000-bit length preset to 1 is read, and this diagnostic pattern data is wirelessly transmitted to the host computer 2 repeatedly 1000 times via the wireless slave station 4a.

As a result, the CP of the host computer 2
The U21 compares the data received via the radio base station 3a with the diagnostic pattern data preset in the diagnostic pattern setting area 33 in ST63 and ST64 of FIG. 7 bit by bit, and detects a bit error in ST65. If you do, S
At T66, the count value data C in the error counter area 34 is incremented by +1. When the completion of comparison for 10 ⁶ bits is detected in ST67, the count value data C in the error counter area 34 is transferred from the wireless slave station 4a having the slave station identifier S1 to the wireless base station 3a having the base station identifier M1 by 10 ⁶ bits. Since it corresponds to the number of bit errors when the data is transmitted, the count value data C is set in the corresponding area CS1-M1 of the diagnostic result storage table 35 in ST68.

Note that ST51 to ST55 in FIG. 7 are specific processes of ST5 in FIG. 5, and ST61 to ST68.
Is a specific process of ST6 in FIG. Also, FIG.
ST61 to ST67 are specific processes of ST6 in FIG. 6, and ST71 to 73 are specific processes of ST7 in FIG.

Thus, when the communication state diagnosis processing of the bidirectional wireless communication path which can be established between the wireless base station 3a and the wireless slave station 4a is completed, the CPU 1 of the POS terminal 1a is completed.
1 returns to the command standby state of ST2 in FIG.

On the other hand, the CPU 21 of the host computer 2
Is a slave station identifier setting area 3 in ST7 and ST3 of FIG.
2, the next slave station identifier S2 is loaded, and the wireless base station 3 is added to the terminal 1b of the wireless slave station 4b corresponding to this slave station identifier S2.
The diagnostic start command is transmitted via a.

As a result, if the diagnosis start command is received by the wireless slave station 4b, the bidirectional wireless communication state diagnostic process between the wireless base station 3a and the wireless slave station 4b is executed in the same manner as described above. To be done.

Thereafter, similarly, the slave station identifier setting area 3
The slave station identifiers S3, S4, S5, S6 are loaded in order from 2, and the corresponding wireless slave stations 4c, 4d, 4e,
The diagnosis start command is transmitted to the terminals 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f of 4f via the wireless base station 3a, and the diagnosis processing of the wireless communication state is executed with the terminal that has received this diagnosis start command.

The CPU 21 of the host computer 2
When the reception of the positive acknowledgment ACK is not detected in ST4 of FIG. 5, that is, when the line with the terminal of the other party who has transmitted the diagnosis start command is not connected, ST
In ST8 and ST9, data indicating that diagnosis is impossible is set in the corresponding areas CMi-Sj and CSj-Mi of the diagnosis result storage table 35.

Thus, the CPU of the host computer 2
If ST21 of FIG. 5 detects the completion of the wireless communication state diagnosis between the wireless base station 3a for which the diagnostic channel ch10 is set and each of the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f in ST10 of FIG. The next base station identifier M2 is loaded from the setting area 31, the diagnostic channel ch10 is set in the radio base station 3b corresponding to this identifier M2, and the same processing as above is repeated.

The CPU 2 of the host computer 2
If ST1 of FIG. 5 detects completion of communication state diagnosis of all wireless communication paths that can be established between all wireless base stations 3a and 3b and wireless slave stations 4a to 4f, ST1 returns to ST1.
In 3, the contents of the diagnostic result storage table 35 are displayed and output to the CPU display device 26a, and this program processing is terminated.

Here, the host computer 2 shown in FIG.
Side program processing, ST1, ST2 and ST
The processing of 11 constitutes a diagnostic channel setting means, and ST
The processing of 3 to ST9 constitutes a wireless communication state diagnosis means, and S
The process of T13 constitutes a diagnostic result output means.

In the program processing on the side of the POS terminals 1a to 1f shown in FIG. 6, the processing of ST1 constitutes diagnostic channel setting means, and the processing of ST3 to ST7 constitutes radio communication diagnostic notifying means.

Therefore, the worker is required to use the CRT display device 26.
From the content displayed in a, two wireless base stations 3a and 3b
And the wireless communication states of all wireless communication paths that can be established between the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f provided in the six POS terminals 1a to 1f, respectively. As a result, the optimum wireless communication path suitable for the actual environment can be easily determined in a short time, and if the system is set up based on the determination result, the setup can be efficiently performed.

By the way, the worker is the CRT display device 26s.
If the diagnosis result is displayed on the screen, it is possible to confirm the end of the diagnosis. Therefore, the operator may input the key K2 on the host computer 2 side to instruct execution of the wireless communication path determination mode. Then, the CPU 21 of the host computer 2 causes the CPU 21 of FIG.
The program processing shown in is executed.

That is, the CPU 21 uses ST1, S in FIG.
At T2, the diagnosis result data CM1-S1, CS1-M1, CM2 including the first slave station identifier S1 from the diagnosis result storage table 35.
-Read S1 and CS1-M2. This data is a slave station identifier S1
This is the bit error rate of the two-way wireless communication path that can be established by the wireless slave station 4a of both the wireless base stations 3a and 3b.

Then, next, at ST3, this slave station identifier S1
A good wireless communication route is determined in the wireless slave station 4a. Specifically, when one of the wireless communication paths cannot be diagnosed, the other wireless communication path is selected. Further, if neither of the wireless communication paths can be diagnosed, the wireless communication path with the smaller bit error rate is selected.

The radio base station 3a and the radio base station 3
When the bidirectional bit error rate is exactly the same as that of the via b, for example, the via of the wireless base station 3a is determined as a good wireless communication path. If both wireless communication paths cannot be diagnosed, wireless communication cannot be performed between the terminal 1a provided with the wireless slave station 4a having the slave station identifier S1 and the host computer 2, so that the CRT display device 26a is displayed. A message indicating an error of communication failure is displayed to notify the operator.

Thereafter, in ST4 and ST2, the diagnostic result data CM1-S2, CS2-M1, including the next slave station identifier S2,
When CM2-S2 and CS2-M2 are read, a good wireless communication path is determined in the wireless slave station 4b having the slave station identifier S2 in the same manner as above.

In this way, a wireless communication path having a good communication state is discriminated for each of the wireless slave stations 4a to 4f based on the stored contents of the diagnosis result storage table 35, and if the discrimination end is confirmed in ST5, it is discriminated in ST6. According to the result, the base station parameter setting area 31 is referred to and the base station identifier and the radio channel of the corresponding wireless base station are notified to the respective wireless slave stations 4a to 4f. In ST7, both radio base stations 3
The sub-station identifiers of the radio sub-stations to be connected to the radio channels corresponding to a and 3b are set, and this processing ends.

On the other hand, the CPU 1 of each POS terminal 1a-1f
When receiving the command in the command waiting state of ST2 of FIG. 6 and confirming the reception of the setting notification command in ST8, 1 sets the wireless channel and the wireless base station identifier received in ST9 to the corresponding wireless slave station.

Here, the host computer 2 shown in FIG.
In the program processing on the side, the processing of ST1 to ST4 constitutes a wireless communication path determining means, and the processing of ST6 constitutes a wireless parameter notifying means.

Further, in the program processing on the POS terminal 1 side shown in FIG. 6, the processing of ST9 constitutes wireless parameter setting means.

For example, if the execution of the wireless communication path determination mode is instructed after the data shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the diagnosis result table 35 as a result of the diagnosis of the wireless communication state, the wireless slave station 4a and the wireless slave station 4a will be instructed. A route via one wireless base station 3a is automatically selected for the slave station 4b, and a route via the other wireless base station 3b is automatically selected for the other wireless slave stations 4c to 4f. It

As a result, the wireless channels ch01 and the base station identifier M1 are notified and set to the wireless slave stations 4a and 4b, and the wireless channel ch03 and the base station identifier M2 are notified and set to the wireless slave stations 4c to 4f. Further, the wireless base station 3a is set with the slave station identifiers S1 and S2 of the wireless slave stations 4a and 4b connected to the wireless channel ch01, and the wireless base station 3b is connected to the wireless channel ch03. 4f slave station identifiers S3 to S6 are set.

As a result, the POS terminals 1a and 1b automatically operate the system so that data communication with the host computer 2 is performed via the wireless base station 3a, and the POS terminals 1c to 1f are performed via the wireless base station 3b. Can set up,
The work efficiency during system setup can be further improved.

In the above embodiment, the method of measuring the bit error rate (BER) is used as the method of diagnosing the wireless communication state. However, the method is not limited to this. For example, the error rate of each packet is measured. Method,
A method of measuring and diagnosing the received electric field strength can be applied in the same manner as this embodiment. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the diagnosis is performed bidirectionally, but the diagnosis may be performed in only one direction.

Further, CR is used as means for outputting the diagnosis result.
Although the screen display on the T display device is used, a printer may be externally connected to the host computer to print out on a recording sheet.

Besides, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention, such as applying the present invention to a system having three or more radio base stations or a system having a number of terminals different from the present embodiment. Of course there are.

[0077]

As described above in detail, according to the invention according to claim 1, the wireless communication states between at least two wireless base stations and wireless slave stations respectively provided in a plurality of terminals are set. Since wireless diagnosis can be performed automatically and the diagnosis result can be easily obtained, it is possible to easily determine the optimum wireless communication path that matches the actual environment in a short time, and improve the work efficiency of system setup. A data processing device can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the optimum wireless communication path can be automatically determined based on the diagnosis result of each wireless communication state, and the wireless parameters can be set in each wireless slave station. It is possible to provide a wireless data processing device capable of further improving the work efficiency at the time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a host computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the POS terminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main memory area of the host computer side RAM.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main memory area of the POS terminal side RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main part of a wireless communication state diagnosis / output program executed by the CPU of the host computer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main part of a wireless communication state diagnosis / notification / setting program executed by the POS terminal side CPU.

7 is a flowchart specifically showing the wireless communication diagnostic process in FIG.

8 is a flowchart specifically showing the wireless communication diagnostic process in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a main part of a wireless communication path determination / notification program executed by the CPU of the host computer.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of data in a diagnostic result storage table in the same embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an overall view of a general wireless POS system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a-1f ... POS terminal 2 ... Host computer (upper device) 3a, 3b ... Wireless base station 4a-4f ... Wireless slave station 31 ... Base station parameter setting area 32 ... Slave station parameter setting area 35 ... Diagnostic result storage table P1 ... Wireless communication status diagnosis / output program P2 ... Wireless communication path determination / notification program P3 ... Wireless communication status diagnosis / notification / setting program

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A host device for controlling a plurality of terminals is provided with at least two wireless base stations, and each terminal is provided with a wireless slave station, and wireless communication is performed between the wireless base station and the wireless slave station. In the wireless data processing device capable of transmitting and receiving data between each terminal and the host device by performing the above, the host device is a base station parameter storage unit that stores the identifier of each radio base station in advance. , A slave station parameter storing means for storing the identifiers of the respective wireless slave stations in advance, and a base station identifier stored in the base station parameter storing means is selected one by one when a diagnostic mode of a wireless communication state is designated. , And a diagnostic channel setting means for setting a diagnostic channel preset in the radio base station corresponding to the selected base station identifier each time selection is made; Each time a diagnostic channel is set in one radio base station by the determining means, each slave station identifier stored in the slave station parameter storage means is selected in turn, and the selected slave station identifier is assigned to each selected slave station identifier. Wireless communication status diagnostic means for diagnosing a wireless communication status between a corresponding slave station and a wireless base station in which the diagnostic channel is set; diagnostic result storage means for storing all diagnostic results by the diagnostic means; Diagnostic result output means for outputting the stored contents by the storage means, wherein each terminal sets the diagnostic channel to the corresponding slave station when the diagnostic mode of the wireless communication state is designated. And wireless communication diagnosis notifying means for diagnosing the wireless communication status in cooperation with the wireless communication status diagnosing means on the side of the host device and notifying the result to the host device. Wireless data processing device according to claim. 2. A host device for controlling a plurality of terminals is provided with at least two radio base stations, each terminal is provided with a radio slave station, and radio communication is performed between the radio base station and the radio slave station. In the wireless data processing device capable of transmitting and receiving data between each terminal and the host device by performing the above, the host device is an identifier of each wireless base station and a wireless channel used by the wireless base station. Is stored in advance, a slave station parameter storage unit that stores in advance the identifiers of the wireless slave stations, and a wireless communication state diagnostic mode is stored by the base station parameter storage unit when specified. The base station identifiers are selected one by one, and each time the selection is made, the diagnostic channel preset in the radio base station corresponding to the selected base station identifier is selected. Diagnostic channel setting means to be set, and each time a diagnostic channel is set to one radio base station by this setting means, each slave station identifier stored in the slave station parameter storage means is selected in order and selected. Wireless communication status diagnostic means for diagnosing the wireless communication status between the slave station corresponding to the selected slave station identifier and the wireless base station in which the diagnostic channel is set each time, and the diagnostic result by this diagnostic means. All diagnostic result storage means, wireless communication path determination means for determining a good wireless communication path for each wireless slave station based on the content stored by this storage means, and the base station parameter storage according to the determination result by this determination means. A wireless parameter for notifying each wireless slave station of the identifier and wireless channel of a wireless base station on a good wireless communication path by referring to the stored contents of the means. Each of the terminals includes a diagnostic channel setting unit that sets the diagnostic channel to a corresponding slave station when a diagnostic mode of a wireless communication state is designated, and wireless communication on the upper device side. Wireless communication diagnostic notifying means for diagnosing the wireless communication state in cooperation with the status diagnosing means and notifying the result to the upper device, and a reception parameter when the identifier of the wireless base station and the parameter of the wireless channel are received from the upper device And a wireless parameter setting means for setting the same to a corresponding slave station.