JPH0844955A - In-line system for electronic cash register - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily check the operation state of the system and obtain an inexpensive monitoring function by providing a main station with a storage means which stores data for communication management together with communication data sent from a slave station. CONSTITUTION:One electronic cash register(ECR) serves as the master station and other ECRs, i.e., satellite stations 1 and 2 are connected to the master station through an in-line cable. The master station has a logging memory, where communication data transferred from the satellite stations 1 and 2 are stored, in a RAM. The logging memory occupies a specific area in the RAM and stores the communication data by the satellite stations. To output the communication data of the respective satellite stations which are stored on the master station side, the master station is placed in registration mode and then the data for management are also outputted together with the communication data. Namely, the master station stores the communication data and data for management data from the satellite stations at all times and can print their contents out at need.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-line system for electronic money registration in which a plurality of electronic money register machines are connected by a communication line, and more particularly, to an in-line electronic money register for centrally managing communication management data. Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an in-line system that centrally manages sales information and order data of products, a plurality of electronic cash registers (ECR) are connected through a private line or a public line such as ISDN, and various data are stored. Is transferred.

Among the various data to be transferred, there is also data that conveys the operating status and failure status of the inline system, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-11839 discloses an ordinary data transfer without affecting it. It is described that a monitoring device is separately provided in order to process the data necessary for these monitoring.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-69361 discloses a POS system in which a sub station is provided to constantly take in and monitor data flowing on a communication line and to act on behalf of the main station if the main station fails. Has been described.

[0005]

However, these conventional in-line systems only have a function of monitoring the data to be communicated, and it is necessary to use dedicated monitoring hardware or ECR.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and it is an electronic device capable of easily checking the operating status of a system by storing communication management data and further analyzing and outputting the data. The purpose is to provide an in-line system for cash registration.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in an electronic money registration inline system in which one master station and a plurality of slave stations are connected by a communication line, the master station has a storage means and a control means. An in-line system for electronic cash registration, characterized in that the control means stores communication data sent to the master station in response to a request from a slave station and communication management data thereof in the storage means. is there.

Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises an analyzing means for analyzing the communication management data stored in the storage means, and an output means for outputting the communication management data and the analysis result.

Here, the storage means is a RAM (Read
Only Memory) is most preferable, but an external storage device such as a hard disk or a floppy disk may be used instead.

A CPU (central control unit) is usually used as the control means and analysis means, but RAM, R
It is preferable to use a microcomputer including peripheral circuits such as an OM, an I / O interface, and a timer to store a program for controlling the operation of the document processing apparatus in the ROM or RAM. A page printer, a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, or the like may be used as the output means.

[0011]

According to the present invention, since the master station is provided with the storage means for storing the communication data sent from the slave station and the data for communication management, it is possible to easily check the operating status of the inline system. In addition, it is possible to configure an in-line system having a monitoring function that is possible and inexpensive. Further, since the communication management data analysis unit and the output unit are provided, it is possible to easily provide necessary information to the user.

[0012]

1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic cash register (ECR) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a CPU that controls the entire ECR, and 2 is a CPU.
Is a ROM storing a control program and fixed data,
3 is a RAM storing various data to be communicated, 4 is a
The keyboard and 5 for inputting data and settings are
A mode switch 6 for setting an ECR operation mode such as registration is a printer 7 for printing data, setting contents, and the like.
Is a display device such as a CRT or LCD for displaying data and setting contents, 8 is a drawer for storing cash handled, and 9 is a drawer.
Is an in-line unit that controls to communicate with another ECR.

Here, the RAM 3 stores the setting data and the sales data, as well as other ECs as will be described later.
The logging data transferred from R is stored.

FIG. 2 shows an ECR keyboard 4 of the present invention.
FIG. On this keyboard 4, there are a numeric key 21 for inputting an amount of money, a department key 22 for registering a product, a GLU key 23 for registering a GLU, and a JA.
JAN key 24 for N registration, signature of the person in charge
There are provided a person key 25 for enabling on / off operation, a tightening key 26 for registering a customer's payment, and other various function keys.

A mode switch 27 is provided on the keyboard 4. This mode switch 27
It is a rotary switch that can be switched to setting mode, registration mode, power off mode, and checkout mode.

The CPU 1 executes the operation corresponding to each of these modes in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 2. Further, the CPU 1 is provided with a register used for registering numbers and calculations, and is also provided with a control section and a calculation section, and executes input processing, department registration processing, closing registration processing, display processing and printing processing.

For example, in the setting mode, the RAM 3
Set a predetermined reference amount and so on. In the registration mode, the department sales amount and quantity are input, and the cumulative total is calculated. In addition, in the registration mode and the checkout payment mode,
A printing process for printing the sales data and the total sales data on the receipt and the journal printing paper is performed, and after this process is finished, a process for opening the drawer 8 for storing the handled cash is performed. Further, in the registration mode, processing for displaying sales data and processing for storing communication data transferred from another ECR in the RAM 3 are also performed.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of an inline system in which a plurality of ECRs are connected. In the figure, one ECR
Becomes a master station and stores communication data transferred from other ECRs. The other ECR, that is, the satellite station 1 and the satellite station 2 are connected to the master station via an in-line cable, for example, a private line or a public line such as an ISDN line / subscribed telephone line.

The master station also has a logging memory in the RAM 3 for storing communication data transferred from another ECR. The logging memory is RAM3
3 occupies a predetermined area inside, and stores communication data for each satellite station, as shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 4, the total of 110 communication circuits is
This is the total number of times the satellite station has communicated with the master station. The total communication data of 111 is the total amount of data communicated by the satellite station to the master station. 112
The number of times of GLU communication of
This is the total number of times communication has been performed. Here, GLU is
It is a function to store sales details for each customer.

The total GLU data amount of 113 is the total amount of data transmitted by the satellite station to the master station GLU. The LOOKUP communication count of 114 is the total number of times the satellite station has performed JAN communication with the master station.
Here, LOOKUP is a function of performing registration using a preset of item data (JAN data) stored in advance in the ECR memory. Also, JA
N means a barcode attached to the product.

The LOOKUP data amount total of 115 is the total data amount of the satellite station performing JAN communication with the master station. The logging data 116 stores the type of communication (GLU or LOOKUP), date, and data amount.

Next, an outline of the operation of the inline system shown in FIG. 3 will be shown. First, at satellite station 1, GL
The GLU is registered by pressing the U key 23.
At this time, the CPU of the satellite station 1 makes a GLU registration request to the master station. This GLU registration request is made by transferring data of a predetermined format from the satellite station 1 to the master station through an inline cable.

The master station stores the transferred GLU registration request data in the logging memory on the RAM 3. In addition, when you want to output the logging data of each satellite station stored on the master station side, use the mode switch 27
To the “Inspection / Payment 1” mode. At this time, in addition to the transferred logging data, as will be described later,
Data for communication management such as communication line rate and communication volume rate are also output to the printer 6. An example of this output is shown in FIG.

Next, an example of a procedure for storing communication data of the master station will be described. FIG. 6 shows this flowchart. Step 1) The master station receives the data sent from the satellite station via the in-line cable. Step 2) The received contents are checked to determine whether or not it is a response to inspection / settlement (x / z) of sales data. Of the received data, the value of “CODE” shown in FIG. 3 is x
If it is a response to / z, nothing is done and the process ends.

Step 3) Check the received contents,
It is determined whether or not the response is to the download (D / L) of the setting data from the master station to the satellite station. If the value of "CODE" in the received data is a response to (D / L), nothing is done and the process is terminated. Step 4) Of the received data, "TERM" shown in FIG.
"INAL NUMBER" is checked to recognize from which satellite station the received data is transferred, and the position in the logging memory where the received data should be stored is determined.

Step 5) Check the received contents and check G
Among the received data, it is determined whether the LU communication is “C”.
Judge by ODE ”, and if it is not GLU communication, step 1
Proceed to 1). Step 6) In the case of GLU communication, as shown in FIG. 4, 1 is added to the communication count 110 at the position where the data of the satellite station determined in step 4) should be stored.

Step 7) The received communication data amount is added to the communication DATA amount 111 of FIG. Step 8) GLU of FIG. 4 corresponding to the satellite station
1 is added to the communication count 112. Step 9) The amount of data regarding the received GLU is shown in FIG.
The GLUDATA amount is added to the total 113.

Step 10) the received logging data,
That is, the type of logging data, date, and DATA
Store the quantity. This post-process is ended. Step 11) Check the received contents and LOOKUP
Whether it is communication or not
If it is judged as "E" and it is not LOOKUP communication, the process is terminated.

Step 12) In the case of LOOKUP communication, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of communication times at the position where the data of the satellite station determined in step 4) should be stored 11
Add 1 to 0. Step 13) The received communication data amount is calculated as communication D in FIG.
It is added to the ATA amount 111. Step 14) The LO of FIG. 4 corresponding to the satellite station
1 is added to the OKUP communication count 114.

Step 15) The total amount of LOOKUPDATA in FIG.
Add to 15. Step 16) Store the received logging data, that is, the type, date, and DATA amount of logging data.
This post-process is ended. As described above, the master station stores the received data transferred from the satellite station in the logging memory in the RAM.

Next, regarding the flow chart for reading the data stored in the logging memory and printing it on the printer,
This will be described with reference to FIG. Although FIG. 5 shows an example of the print contents for the satellite station 1, similar data is printed for all satellite stations connected to the master station.

Step 21) Printing is started from the satellite station 1. (Step 22) The satellite station 1 is printed (41). Step 23) G from the 112 area of satellite station 1
The LU communication count is read and printed (42). Step 24) From area 113 of satellite station 1 to G
The amount of LU data is read and printed (43). Step 25) L from area 114 of satellite station 1
READ the OOKUP communication count and print. (44)

Step 26) READ the LOOKUP data amount from the area 115 of the satellite station 1 and print it. (45) Step 27) READ and print the total number of times of communication from the area 110 of the satellite station 1. (46) Step 28) READ and print the total communication data from the area 111 of the satellite station 1. (47) Step 29) READ and print logging data from the area 116 of the satellite station 1. (48) Step 30) When the processing of all satellite stations is completed, the process proceeds to step 31).

Step 31) The usage rate of the satellite station 1 for all systems is calculated and printed. (Figs. 4, 49, 5
0) Here, the usage rate is the communication frequency rate and the communication volume rate. These are calculated by the following method using the data collected by logging. Communication frequency rate = (total number of satellite station 1 communication / total total number of satellite communication) x 100 Communication volume rate = (total satellite station 1 communication data volume / total satellite communication data volume) x 100

Step 32) When the printing of the usage rates of all satellite stations is completed, the process is terminated.

In FIG. 5, 41 is the satellite station name, 4
2 indicates that the GLU communication number of the satellite station 1 has occurred 10 times in total. 43 indicates that the communication data amount of the GLU of the satellite station 1 is 1000 bytes in total.
Reference numeral 44 indicates that the LOOKUP communication count of the satellite station 1 has occurred 20 times in total.

Reference numeral 45 indicates that the LOOKUP communication data amount of the satellite station 1 was 2000 bytes in total.
46 indicates that the total number of communication times of the GLU and LOOKUP is 3
It indicates that it was 0 times. 47 is GLU and LOOKU
This indicates that the total communication data amount of P was 3000 bytes.

The reference numeral 48 designates an A.48 from the satellite station 1 to the master station. M. There was GLU communication at 9:00,
A. M. There was LOOKUP communication of JAN data at 9:20, and A. M. It indicates that there was GLU communication at 9:25.

In this 9:00 GLU communication, the GLU CODE is 0001 and the data amount is 5
This indicates that it was 00 bytes, and in the JAN data LOOKUP communication, the JAN CODE is 000.
1, the amount of data is 300 bytes, 9:25 GLU
In communication, the GLU CODE is 0002 and the data amount is 2
This indicates that it was 00 bytes.

49 indicates that the satellite station 1 has a communication frequency ratio of 1
0 is 50%, and 50 indicates that the communication rate of the satellite station 1 is 20%.
%. Here, as the communication management data, the above-described communication frequency ratio and communication volume ratio have been described as an example, but the communication management data is not limited to this.
You may make it output the data required for analysis of communication or failure from the received data, such as the rate of occurrence of OKUP data by time zone and the rate of occurrence by satellite. Further, the analysis result of communication or failure, for example, a histogram of failure occurrence may be output.

As described above, in the in-line system of the present invention, the master station always stores the communication data and the communication management data transferred from the satellite station in the RAM and prints the contents when necessary. Therefore, it is possible to easily check the operating status of the inline system, and to construct an inline system having an inexpensive monitoring function.

[0043]

According to the present invention, since the master station is provided with the storage means for storing the communication data sent from the slave station and the data for communication management, it is possible to easily check the operating status of the inline system. In addition, it is possible to configure an in-line system having an inexpensive monitoring function. Further, since the communication management data analysis unit and the output unit are provided, it is possible to easily provide necessary information to the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electronic cash register (EC
It is a system configuration block diagram of R).

FIG. 2 is an electronic cash register (ECR) according to the present invention.
3 is a plan view of the keyboard of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an inline system in which a plurality of ECRs according to the present invention are connected.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of data stored in a logging memory according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an output example of data in a logging memory according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a communication data storage procedure of the master station in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a print process of the master station according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 keyboard 5 mode switch (SW) 6 printer 7 display device 8 drawer 9 in-line unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electronic money registration in-line system in which one master station and a plurality of slave stations are connected by a communication line, wherein the master station includes a storage means and a control means, and the control means is a slave station. The electronic money registration inline system is characterized in that the communication data and the communication management data sent to the main station in response to the request are stored in the storage means. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an analysis unit for analyzing the communication management data stored in the storage unit, and an output unit for outputting the communication management data and the analysis result thereof. In-line system for electronic cash registration.