JPH09282381A - Pot in-line communication management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly perform communication with a POT(portable order termi nal) by judging automatically the contents of the communication with POT based on a parameter file. SOLUTION: A parameter analysis function part 1-3 reads a parameter file 1-5 and automatically decides the contents of communication that is carried out with a POT 2. A POT decision function part 1-2 transfers a POT control file 2-1 to a POT control file 1-7 contained in a computer 1 of a higher order type from the POT 2 via communication processing function part 1-4, Then, the part 1-2 decides an actual communication instruction to the POT 2 in response to the analysis result of the part 1-3, a control file 1-6 and the file 1-7. Furthermore, a communication application 1-1 of a higher order type actually transfers and deletes the files via the part 1-2 and writes the transferred contents, etc., into the file 1-7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a POT communication system for performing communication between a portable order terminal (portable terminal: POT) and a host device (for example, a host model communication application), and is particularly used in the retail business. The present invention relates to a POT communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a retail business or the like, when a POT communicates with a host device, an operator of a computer of a host model determines how the POT communicates.
Or the operator selects communication on the POT side to perform communication.

Further, even when the operator does not have to select the communication, the contents such as the file name to be communicated are fixedly described in the program source in the higher model communication application, so that the contents of the communication with the POT are the same. When changes occur, communication applications need to be reprogrammed. If such a correction is made, the number of man-hours for program manufacturing and testing increases, and it takes time to release the program.

Here, the conventional POT communication system will be outlined with reference to FIG.

The high-end model computer 3 and the POT 4 are
For example, it is connected by a wireless line, and the upper model computer 3 has a higher model communication application 3-1.
Is provided. Higher model communication application 3-
1 is a POT determination function unit 3-2 and a communication processing function unit 3-
3 is provided.

When performing communication, the POT determination function unit 3-2 transfers the POT control file 4-1 from the POT 4 to the POT control file 3-5 in the higher-level computer 3 via the communication processing function unit 3-3. After that, the actual communication command is determined for the POT 4 according to the control file 3-4 and the POT control file 3-5.

[0007] Further, the higher model communication application 3
In -1, the POT determination function unit 3-2 performs the actual file transfer and file deletion processing on the POT 4 via the communication processing function unit 1-4, and the contents etc. actually transferred to the POT 4 are displayed. POT control file 3
After writing to -5, P via the communication processing function unit 3-3
Transfer to the POT control file 4-1 in OT4.

Next, the upper model communication application 3-
In No. 1, the communication processing function unit 3-3 issues an instruction to upload the POT control file 4-1 in the POT 4 and transfers it to the POT control file 3-5 in the high-order model computer 3.

Then, the higher-level model communication application 3
-1, the transferred POT control file 3-
5 and the control file 3-4 are read, and the actual contents of communication are determined by the POT determination function unit 3-2.

As described above, the communication processing function unit 3-3 uploads the XXX file 4-2 in the POT 4 and transfers it to the XXX file 3-6 in the higher-level computer 1 according to the determined contents. Alternatively, the YYY file 3-7 in the high-order model computer 3 is downloaded to the YYY file 4-3 in the portable order terminal 2.

The contents of the actual processing are changed to the POT control file 3-5 in the high-order model computer 3, and the POT 4 P is transferred via the communication processing function unit 3-3.
Download to OT control file 4-1.

[0012]

As described above, the conventional P
In the OT communication, when the PTO communicates with the higher-level model communication application, the operator needs to determine what kind of communication is performed, that is, the operator needs to select the communication content, and the POT communication can be performed quickly. There is a problem that it is difficult to do.

In addition, in the conventional POT communication, it is necessary to modify the program of the communication application when there is a change in the contents of communication between the higher model communication application and the POT. Then, when the program of the communication application is modified, not only there is a possibility that the degradation may occur, but also it takes a lot of man-hours to manufacture and test the program and it takes a long time to release the program.

An object of the present invention is to provide a POT in-line communication management system capable of promptly communicating with POT.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a POT in-line communication management system capable of easily changing communication contents.

[0016]

In the POT in-line communication management system according to the present invention, the function of converting the communication contents into a parameter file, the function of automatically judging the communication contents with the POT from the parameter file, the parameter file and the control. A high-end model communication application having a function of determining the actual communication content for the POT by a file and a function of performing communication processing according to this determination is provided.

As described above, according to the present invention, the higher-level model communication application automatically determines the content of communication with the POT from the parameter file. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to select the contents to be communicated.

When the communication content is changed, it is only necessary to modify the content of the parameter file, which eliminates the need to modify the program of the communication application.

As described above, by converting the contents to be communicated with the POT into a parameter file, when the communication contents are changed, the number of man-hours for manufacturing and testing the program is significantly reduced, and the program modification of the communication application is eliminated, so that it is degraded. There is no possibility of doing. Therefore, the reliability is improved.

Since the communication content can be changed only by modifying the parameter file, maintainability can be simplified. In addition, the operability is improved because the communication content is automatically determined.

[0021]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable order terminal 2 is connected to the host computer 1 by, for example, a wireless line. High-end model computer 1
Is equipped with a high-end model communication application 1-1, and the high-end model communication application 1-1 is a POT.
The judgment function unit 1-2, the parameter analysis function unit 1-3, and the communication processing function unit 1-4 are provided. The upper model communication application 1-1 has a function of parameterizing the contents of communication with the POT 2 and generating a parameter file.

The parameter analysis function unit 1-3 reads the parameter file 1-5 and automatically determines what kind of content should be communicated with the POT 2. POT
The determination function unit 1-2 uses the communication processing function unit 1-4 to execute the P
POT control file 2-1 from OT2 to POT control file 2-1 in high-end computer 1
Then, the actual communication command is determined for the POT 2 according to the analysis result of the parameter analysis function unit 1-3 and the control file 1-6 and the POT control file 1-7.

Further, the higher model communication application 1
-1, the POT determination function unit 1-2 performs actual file transfer and file deletion processing on the POT2 via the communication processing function unit 1-4, and displays the contents actually transferred to the POT2. POT control file 1
After writing to -7, P via the communication processing function unit 1-4
Transfer to the POT control file 2-1 in OT2.

In this way, in the higher-level model communication application 1-1, the parameter file 1-5 is read, and the parameter analysis function unit 1-3 is used to determine what to do with each file (what action to take). Therefore, analyze.

Next, the higher model communication application 1-
In step 1, a command for uploading the POT control file 2-1 in the POT 2 is issued from the communication processing function unit 1-4, and the command is transferred to the POT control file 1-7 in the host computer 1.

Then, the higher model communication application 1
-1, the transferred POT control file 1-
7 and the control file 1-6 are read, and the actual contents of communication are determined by the POT determination function unit 1-2.

As described above, the communication processing function unit 1-4 uploads the XXX file 2-3 in the POT 2 and transfers it to the XXX file 1-8 in the host computer 1 according to the determined contents. Alternatively, the YYY file 1-9 in the host computer 1 is downloaded to the YYY file 2-2 in the POT 2.

The contents of the actual processing are changed to the POT control file 1-7 in the host computer 1, and the POT control file 2-1 of the portable order terminal 2 is passed through the communication processing function 1-4.
Download to

Referring to FIG. 2 in more detail, when the communication application 1-1 is started, the communication application 1-1 reads the parameter file 1-5 (step S1), and the read parameter file The contents of 1-5 are analyzed (step S2).

Next, the POT control file 2-1
Is uploaded from POT2 (step S3), and the uploaded POT control file 1-7 and control file 1-6 are read (step S3).
4).

Then, it is determined whether the file to be processed is an upload file or a download file. If it is a download file, the process proceeds to step S7, and if it is an upload file, the process proceeds to step S6 (step S5).

In step S6, if the upload instruction flag is "1", "B" or "C", the uploaded P
After determining whether the number of uploaded files is zero (ZERO) from the contents of the OT control file, if the number of uploaded files is ZERO, proceed to step S7, and if not ZERO, proceed to step S15 and perform the upload process. (In step 15, the information necessary for upload is acquired from the upload file details from the same table number as the table number of the upload instruction flag, and the upload process is performed from POT), and the process proceeds to step 7S.

In step S7, if the upload instruction flag is "B" or "D", or if the download instruction flag is "D", the process proceeds to step S16, and the corresponding file in the POT is deleted (in step 16, the upload instruction flag Obtain the information required for deletion from the upload file details from the same table number as the table number, and POT
Perform the file deletion process in).

In step S8, if the upload instruction flag is "A", the process proceeds to step 17 to secure the area of the corresponding file in the POT (in step 17, the table number same as the table number of the upload instruction flag indicates the area of the uploaded file). Acquire information necessary for securing and perform file area securing processing in POT).

If the upload instruction flag is "C" in step S9, the process proceeds to step S18.
After clearing the corresponding file in the POT (step 18
Then, the information necessary for clearing is acquired from the upload file details from the same table number as the upload instruction flag table number, and the file clearing process in the POT is performed), and the process proceeds to step S10.

In step S10, if the download instruction flag is "A", the process proceeds to step S19 and POT.
The area of the relevant file is secured (in step 19, the information necessary for securing the area is acquired from the download file specification from the same table number as the table number of the download instruction flag, and the area securing process of the file is performed in the POT).

Then, in step S11, if the download instruction flag is "C", the process proceeds to step S20 to clear the corresponding file in the POT (in step 20, from the same table number as the download instruction flag table number, from the download file details). Obtain the information necessary for clearing and perform the file clearing process in POT).

If the download instruction flag is "1" in step S12, the process unconditionally advances to step S21.
After the file is downloaded to the OT (in step 21, the information necessary for the download is acquired from the details of the download file from the same table number as the download instruction flag table number, and the download process is performed to the POT), and the process proceeds to step S13. In addition, the download instruction flag is "2" and the P
The creation date and time of the OT control file and the control file are compared, and if they are different, the process proceeds to step S21, and the file is downloaded to the POT. If they are the same, nothing is done and the process proceeds to step 13.

At step 13, the number of files uploaded to the POT control file in the high-order model computer is changed to ZERO, and the creation date and time of the control file is transferred to the downloaded file to rewrite the contents.

Then, in step 14, the POT control file in the changed host computer is downloaded to the POT.

Referring to FIG. 3, the content of the parameter file used in the present invention is shown in FIG. 3, and each instruction record shows what kind of communication content should be performed. There is.

Further, in each detail record, information about each file is shown. As a result, it becomes possible to automatically judge the communication content and communicate with the POT, and even when the communication content changes, the content of the parameter file can be changed without modifying the program of the communication application. Only possible.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the contents of the control file used in the present invention are shown in FIG. 4A, and the information for the download file is written therein. As a result, the download process can be automatically performed when the POT side is an old file.

Referring to FIG. 4 (B), the contents of the POT control file used in the present invention are shown in FIG. 4 (B), in which the download file information and the upload file in the POT are shown. Information is written. As a result, the status of each file in the POT can be known at the time of communication, and it becomes possible to judge whether the download / upload processing should be performed.

Next, a second example of the POT inline communication management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this example is characterized in that the number of files to be communicated is increased to 20 each. This allows you to communicate many files at once. However, the number of files does not have to be 20 (here,
For convenience of explanation, the number is 20).

Since each record corresponds to the upload file table having the same table number as the table number of the upload instruction flag table, information such as a file name can be acquired. Similarly, the download instruction flag table number corresponds to the download file table number.

First, when the communication application is started in step S22, the parameter file is read and the process proceeds to step S23. Then, step S23
At, the contents of the parameter file are analyzed.

In step S24, the POT control file is uploaded from POT2. Step S
At 25, the uploaded POT control file and control file are read.

In step S26, it is determined whether the file to be processed is an upload file or a download file. If it is a download file here, step S26
7, the process proceeds to step S27 if the file is an upload file.

In step S27, if the upload instruction flag is "1", "B" or "C", the uploaded P
It is determined from the contents of the OT control file whether the number of uploaded files is ZERO, and if the number of uploaded files is ZERO, do nothing and step S28.
If it is not ZERO, the process proceeds to step S37 to perform the upload process (in step S37, the information necessary for upload is acquired from the upload file details from the same table number as the upload instruction flag table number, and the upload process is performed from the POT. Do),
Proceed to step S28.

In step S28, if the upload instruction flag is "B" or "D", or if the download instruction flag is "D", the process proceeds to step S38 and the corresponding file in the POT is deleted (in step S38, the upload instruction flag is deleted. Acquire the information necessary for deletion from the upload file details from the same table number as
Perform file deletion processing in OT).

In step S29, if the upload instruction flag is "A", the process proceeds to step S39 to secure the area of the corresponding file in the POT (in step 39, the upload file details from the same table number as the upload instruction flag table number). The information necessary for allocating the area is acquired from the POT and the area allocation of the file is performed in the POT).

In step S30, if the upload instruction flag is "C", the flow advances to step S40 to clear the corresponding file in the POT (in step 40, the upload file details are cleared from the same table number as the upload instruction flag table number). Obtain necessary information and perform file clear processing in POT), step S
Go to 31.

In step S31, if the download instruction flag is "A", the process proceeds to step S41 and POT
The area for the corresponding file in the POT is secured (in step S41, the information necessary for securing the area is acquired from the download file specification from the same table number as the table number of the download instruction flag, and the file area securing process is performed in the POT).

If the download instruction flag is "C" in step S32, the flow advances to step S42 to clear the corresponding file in the POT (in step S42, the download file details are cleared from the same table number as the download instruction flag table number). Acquire necessary information and perform file clear processing in POT).

In step S33, if the download instruction flag is "1", the operation proceeds unconditionally to step S43 and POT.
After downloading the file to (Step 4
In step 3, information necessary for downloading is acquired from the download file details from the same table number as the table number of the download instruction flag, and the download process is performed on the POT), and the process proceeds to step S34. In addition, if the download instruction flag is "2" and the P
When the created date and time of the OT control file and the control file are compared and if they are different, the process proceeds to step S43, the file is downloaded to the POT, and if they are the same, the process proceeds to step S34 without doing anything.

In step 34, it is determined whether 20 upload instruction flags and 20 download instruction flags have been processed. If not, the process proceeds to step S26.
If it is completed, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step 35, the number of files is changed to ZERO for the file uploaded to the POT control file in the host computer, and the created file time and date of the control file is transferred to the downloaded file to rewrite the contents.

In step 36, the POT control file in the changed high-order model computer is set to PO.
Download processing is performed on T.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, all the communication contents can be described in the parameter file. Therefore, when the communication contents with the POT are changed, the contents of the parameter file can be simply modified. Since it is sufficient, there is an effect that the communication content can be easily changed.

Further, in the present invention, since the communication contents are all described in the parameter file, the communication processing can be automatically performed. As a result, when communicating with the POT, the communication is performed without the operator selecting the communication type. The effect is that you can do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a POT inline communication management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram for explaining the operation of the POT inline communication management system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a record layout diagram showing an example of a parameter file used in the POT inline communication management system shown in FIG.

4A is a record layout diagram showing an example of a control file used in the POT inline communication management system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a POT control used in the POT inline communication management system shown in FIG. It is a record layout diagram showing an example of a file.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram for explaining the operation of another example of the POT inline communication management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a record layout diagram showing an example of a parameter file used in the POT inline communication management method described in FIG.

7A is a record layout diagram showing an example of a control file used in the POT inline communication management system described in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7B is used in the POT inline communication management system described in FIG. It is a record layout diagram which shows an example of a POT control file.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a conventional POT communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,3 Upper model computer 1-1,3-1 Communication application 1-2,3-2 POT judgment function section 1-3 Parameter analysis function section 1-4,3-3 Communication processing function section 1-5 Parameter file 1 -6, 3-4 Control file 1-7, 2-1, 3-5, 4-1 POT control file 2, 4 Portable order terminal (POT) 1-8, 2-2, 3-6, 4-2 XXX file 1-9, 2-3, 3-7, 4-3 YYY file

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A POT in-line communication system having a portable order terminal and a host device for communicating with the portable order terminal, wherein a parameter file is generated in the host device by parameterizing the contents of communication with the portable order terminal. And a second means for judging the contents of communication with the portable order terminal according to the parameter file.
The POT inline communication management system is characterized by being provided. 2. The POT inline communication management system according to claim 1, wherein the second means is a portable order terminal according to a parameter file, and a parameter analysis means for analyzing communication contents and generating an analysis result. A POT in-line communication management system comprising: a determination unit that receives the analysis result and determines communication with the portable order terminal according to the analysis result. 3. The POT inline communication management system according to claim 2, further comprising a communication unit that executes communication with the portable order terminal based on the determination made by the determination unit. Management method.