JPS5911437A - Data terminal device having radio calling function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain suitable management of a terminal device and the efficient operation of line, by providing a sound coupler to a portable terminal device, equipping a radio calling mechanism and calling out the terminal device in radio as required for transmitting information. CONSTITUTION:A main body 1 contains a data input device 11 in a storage section 5 and is formed into an attache case, is of portable type and used for the individual sales activities such as home visit. Further, in case of the sale to a credit card possessor and the payment of service charge, a cover 2 of the main body 1 is opened, a data input device 11 is extracted from the containing section 5, and the operation of a part of information preset on the credit card and the data keying through key operation is performed. Couplers 6, 7 of a sound coupler section 3 are coupled with a handset 71 of a telephone set 70 and the data exchange is performed between the main body 1 and the telephone set 70 via the sound coupler section 3 ahead the keying, and the transmission/ reception of information is attained between the main body 1 and a computer center 75.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a data terminal device that is portable, has a built-in acoustic coupler means, and is capable of transmitting and receiving information over a public line, and in particular, is capable of transmitting information by providing a wireless paging function. The present invention relates to a data terminal device having a radio paging function that can transmit and receive data at appropriate times.

In recent years, the distribution and sales industry has expanded in size and become a chain, and sales performance and quantity have increased.

It is difficult to handle tasks such as purchasing and manufacturing orders unless you quickly tally items and understand the distribution and sales status. For this reason, aggregation systems have been developed that connect registers and other computers online to aggregate sales information in real time. This system can handle cash sales at supermarkets and mass retailers, but the register and host computer must be connected via a dedicated line, and the register cannot be moved from a specific location. This had the disadvantage that the scope of use was limited.

For this reason, a portable data terminal device has also been proposed in which the portable terminal device is provided with an acoustic coupler means, and the acoustic coupler means can transmit and receive signals to and from a host computer via a public telephone line. This data terminal device can be used in locations where public lines can be used, such as home telephones,
It is possible to communicate with the host computer at any location where a public telephone is installed, and allows the host computer to call up and retrieve information stored in the host computer, and to store new information from the terminal device. It has the advantage of being able to be used in a very wide range of applications. However, when this terminal device was actually used, it had the following disadvantages.

(b) If a large number of terminal devices are used simultaneously, only a limited number of terminal devices can communicate with the host computer due to the limited number of telephone lines to the host computer and the limitations on the ease with which post computers can be connected. Yes, other terminal devices must wait in line. Furthermore, it is unclear for the terminal device that is on standby when the line will be available for use, so it has to make unnecessary inquiries.

(b) The host computer cannot grasp the status of the terminal device and cannot obtain necessary information when needed. For example, when trying to compile the activity status of day -, if the owner of the terminal device forgets to send information to the host computer, the host computer will not be able to obtain all the information and will not be able to obtain accurate information. It is not possible to obtain a tally.

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention provides a portable terminal device with an acoustic coupler means and a wireless paging mechanism, so that the terminal device can be called wirelessly as needed to transmit information, thereby effectively transmitting information. The present invention provides a data terminal device with a wireless paging function that allows for efficient system operation.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a data terminal device that is an embodiment of the present invention, in which a main body 1 is connected to a lid 2 that can be opened and closed.

The interior of the main body 1 is divided into three parts, in order: an acoustic coupler part 3. Printing/control unit 4
．． It is divided into a storage section 5. The sound coupler section 3 is provided with a pair of four-part couplers 6.7 that allow the transmitting section and the receiving section of the telephone to come into close contact with each other, and the printing/control section 4 houses a power storage device and the like. There is a switch 8 on its surface. Lamp 9. A printer 10 is provided. Storage part 5
A square recess is formed in the housing 5, and a data input device 11 can normally be stored in the storage portion 5, and the data input device 11 and the printing O control section 4 are electrically connected by a curl cord 12. A radio paging section 77 is attached above the storage section 5, which receives ultra-high frequency radio waves and operates only for a specific modulated code to generate a tone from a speaker.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the data input machine 11 mentioned above.
This data input device 11 has the shape of a flat calculator, and is roughly divided into an input section 21, a mode setting section 22, and a mode setting section 22.
9 display section 23. It consists of a reading section 24, and a card insertion groove 25 into which a credit card is inserted is linearly cut into the side surface of the data input device 11. The aforementioned input section 21 serves as a keyboard and is composed of υ, a numeric keypad 26 from 0 to 9, a C key 27 for correction, a = key 28 for instructing the end of calculation, and an operation key 29 for ÷×-10. has been done. The mode setting section 22 consists of seven function keys, a reading key 30. Cancel key 31. Product key 32. Sales key 33. Amount key 34. Verification key 35
．． A transmission key 36 is provided. The display unit 23 is also provided with a display 37 that displays numbers using a Nixie tube, liquid crystal, etc. This display 37 can be used to indicate a password, product code, amount, etc. At the top, display lamps 38 to 42 consisting of six LEDs are provided to indicate the operating status. And data input machine 11
A magnetic head 43 constituting the reading section 24 is provided at a position facing the card insertion groove 25 inside the card insertion groove 25. The contact surface of the magnetic head 43 is located at approximately the same position as the inner wall of the card insertion groove 25, and the credit card This is so that a magnetic stripe 45 provided on the card 44 can be contacted.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the electrical system housed in this embodiment. The output of the magnetic head 43 is sent to a decoder circuit 51. It passes through a format check circuit 52 and is transmitted to a format conversion circuit 53, and the output of the numeric keypad 26 is transmitted to an input control logic circuit 56 via an input buffer circuit 54 and a switching circuit 55. The switching circuit 55 is operated by the verification key 35 mentioned above, and a verification circuit 57 is connected to one switching output, and a part of the output of the format check circuit 52 described above is passed through the password separation circuit 58 to this verification circuit. The output of the verification circuit 57 is transmitted to the input control logic circuit 56 and the character generation circuit 59. Next, the above-mentioned read key 30, cancel key 31 . Product key 32. The sales key 33 and the amount key 34 are both connected to a mode setting circuit 60, and the output of the mode setting circuit 60 is connected to the aforementioned input control logic circuit 56, and part of the output of the input control logic circuit 56 is connected to the mode setting circuit 60. is connected to the character generation circuit 59, and the output of the character generation circuit 59 is connected to the display 37 mentioned above. The output of the input control logic circuit 56 described above is input to the arithmetic buffer circuit 61, and the arithmetic buffer circuit 61 and the arithmetic control circuit 62 are connected to each other. It is connected to an arithmetic buffer circuit 61, and the above-mentioned = key 28 is connected to an arithmetic control circuit 62. The output of the arithmetic control circuit 62 is transmitted to a character generation circuit 59 and a format conversion circuit 53, and a clock circuit 63 that constantly generates a time signal is connected to this format conversion circuit 53. The data is communicated to output gate circuit 64. The output gate circuit 64 is operated by the above-mentioned transmission key 36 and is interconnected with the input/output control circuit 65, which in turn is connected to the demodulation circuit 6.
The post-modulation circuit 66 is interconnected with the aforementioned coupler 6.7. The output of the output gate circuit is transmitted to the character generation circuit 59 and also to the temporary memory circuit 67, and the output of the temporary memory circuit 67 is transmitted to the printer 10 via the print control circuit 68, and then to the print control circuit 68. is when the print key 69 is connected. Further, a code setting circuit 78 is connected to the format conversion circuit 53 for electrically and electrically setting a unique identification code to the data terminal device.

Next, a row of parts in the lower part of FIG. bandpass filter) 81, mixing circuit 82. B
PF84. Intermediate amplifier circuit 85, frequency discrimination circuit 86. L
PF (low pass filter) 87I waveform amplification circuit 88. A decoder 89 and a speaker drive circuit 90 are connected in series, and a speaker 91 is connected to the speaker drive circuit 90. The oscillation output of the oscillator circuit 83 is connected to the mixing circuit 82, and the code setting circuit 98 is connected to the decoder 89.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, an outline of the operation of the data terminal device will be explained with reference to FIG. The main body 1 usually stores the data input device 11 in a storage part 5 and is used as an attache case, and can be carried alone and used for individual sales activities by visiting homes. When paying for sales or services to the owner of a credit card, open the lid 2 of the main body 1, take out the data input device 11 from the storage section 5, and set it on the credit card 44 in advance, as shown in FIG. 1 or 4. It is possible to perform operations such as inputting data using key operations for some of the information. In addition, prior to this, the coupler 6.7 of the acoustic coupler section 3 is connected to the handset 71 of the telephone 70.
are fitted to each other, thereby allowing the main body 1 and the telephone set 70 to exchange data via the acoustic coupler section 3. The telephone set 70 is connected to a telephone office 73 by a telephone line 72, and the telephone office 73 is connected to a calculation center 75 where a host computer is installed by a cable 74.
It is also possible to retrieve information regarding a stored credit card from the calculation center 75 by calling the
It is also possible to send the sales results from the main body 1 to the calculation center 75. By connecting the main body 1 and the calculation center 75 through this public telephone line, it is possible to perform tasks such as verifying the credit status of credit cards, totaling up the amounts of sales items, and making bank account withdrawals. In addition, an antenna 76 for outputting ultra-high frequency radio waves is installed on the roof of the center 75. This antenna 76 modulates and outputs a preset code to enable wireless communication of specific data terminal equipment. The calling unit 77 can be activated to call the data terminal device.

Each operation and its operation will be explained in detail for each mode below with reference to the block diagram in FIG.

[Call data terminal equipment] When the data acquisition capacity of the host computer installed in the center 75 becomes available, when the telephone line becomes available, or when data of all sales for one day is collected. When it is necessary to specify a data terminal device to which data has not yet been transmitted for the purpose of transmitting the data, the center 7
5 modulates and outputs a code preset in the data terminal device from an antenna 76. This modulated radio wave is received by the antenna 79, and the high frequency amplification circuit 8
0 and passes through the BPF 81 to the mixing circuit 82.
can be conveyed to. The mixing circuit 82 mixes the input signal and the oscillation wave from the oscillation circuit 83 to form an intermediate frequency, and this intermediate frequency is transmitted to the frequency discrimination circuit 86 via the BPF 84° intermediate frequency amplification circuit 85, where it is detected. The signal is converted into a code signal, passed through the LPF 87 and transmitted to the waveform shaping circuit 88. The waveform shaping circuit 88 modifies the waveform of the code signal and transmits it to the decoder 89. The decoder 89 compares the input code signal with a specific code set in advance from the code setting circuit 78, and if the two codes match. The signal is transmitted to the speaker drive circuit 90, and the speaker drive circuit 90 makes a speaker 91 sound to notify that the center 75 is calling the data terminal device.

For this purpose, the owner of the data terminal device turns on the power of the data terminal device, calls the center 75 using the telephone set 70, and fits the handset 71 into the acoustic coupler section 3. In this way, the data terminal device is connected to the center 75 by a telephone line, and the following operations become possible.

"Read mode" This mode is started when the card holder purchases a product or pays for a service. When the card holder presses the read key 30, the lamp 38 lights up and the data input machine 11 starts data input operation. It begins. The operator (for example, a salesman) who received the credit card 44 from the card holder uses the data input machine 11
Hold the credit card 44 in your left hand and the credit card 44 in your right hand and hold it in the state shown in FIG. The head 43 is made to pass through contact 2. The magnetic head 43 reads the information recorded in the magnetic stripe 45, converts the signal in a decoder circuit 52, then checks it in a format check circuit 52, and sends the information to a format conversion circuit 53. It is transmitted to the password separation circuit 58.

The password separation circuit 58 separates only the password information from the information recorded on the magnetic stripe 45 and sends it to the verification circuit 5.
7.

"Password Verification" To determine whether the holder of the credit card 44 is an authorized person, the password must match.

For this purpose, the card holder is asked to enter a personal identification number (for example, a 4-digit number) and verification is performed. When you press the code key 35, the lamp 3
9 lights up, and the changeover switch 55 connects the input buffer circuit and the collation circuit 57. Thereafter, the operator hands over the data input device 11 to the card holder, and the card holder inputs his or her own personal identification number using the numeric keypad 26. The password is numeric keypad 26. Input buffer circuit 54. Switching circuit 55
The verification circuit 57 compares the information with the information from the PIN separation circuit 58, and if the two match, it determines that the card holder is the holder, and the character generation circuit 59 rENTEROKJ on display 37
character and simultaneously instructs the input control logic circuit 56 to proceed to the next mode. If the password entered with the numeric keypad 26 and the information recorded on the magnetic stripe 45 do not match, the characters K rERRORJ will be displayed on the display 37, and the user will have to enter the password again.

``Credit Balance Verification'' When selling by credit card 44, if you do not know how much credit the card holder still has left, you will end up overdrawn, so check the card holder's balance before selling products or paying for services. You must know your credit balance. For this reason, personal information recorded in the calculation center 75 can be called up in time, the maximum amount of money that can be lent can be confirmed on the display 37, and the credit balance can be confirmed by printing it on paper using the printer 10. Send key 36
When the output gate circuit 64 is pressed, the output gate circuit 64 opens, and the personal registration number from the magnetic stripe 45 stored in the format conversion circuit 53 is transmitted to the coupler 6.7 via the input/output control circuit 65 and the demodulation circuit 66. .7, the credit is made to the calculation center 75 via a public telephone line. The responses from the calculation center 75 are input to the output gate circuit 64 in reverse order, and a portion is displayed on the display 37 via the character generation circuit 59. A part of the credit information is stored in a temporary storage circuit 67.
When the user presses the print key 69, the print control circuit 68 transmits the credit personal information to the printer 10, and the personal information is printed on the paper.

By reading this printed credit balance, it is possible to confirm the amount of products to be sold and the limit of service consideration.

``Enter sales revenue'' Next, it is necessary to input sales information data for selling products and paying for services, and inputting this data requires ``product code'' and ``amount.''

``Quantity'' etc. can be entered using the keyboard. First, when the sales key 33 is pressed, the mode setting circuit 60 sets the sales mode, and the input control circuit 60 performs operations corresponding to sales. First, when you press the product key 32, the lamp 4
0 lights up and waits for the input of the product code, so when a code unique to the type of product or service to be sold is entered using the numeric keypad 26, that code is passed through the input buffer circuit 54 and the switching circuit 55. The signal is transmitted to the input control circuit 56. The input control circuit 56 displays the input product code on the display 37 for confirmation, and also sends the code to the arithmetic buffer circuit 61. The product code is transmitted to the format conversion circuit 53 via the arithmetic control circuit 62.

Next, when the amount key 34 is pressed to input the amount of the product or service, the lamp 41 lights up and the wait time is entered for inputting the amount of the product or service.Input the amount corresponding to the product or service using the numeric keypad 26 and enter the quantity.

For calculations such as discounts, use the calculation key 29. C key 27. = key 2
8, and the amount is displayed on the display 37 and transmitted to the format conversion circuit 53. By alternately operating the product key 32 and the amount key 34, data regarding the types and amounts of all products or services can be entered, and if there is a mistake in input, it can be corrected by using the cancel key 31.

"Printing of sales" As mentioned above, the magnetic stripe 45 of the credit card 44
By reading the personal registration information, by inputting the sales data, information on the product and price, by the clock circuit 63, the time information at the time of the operation, and by the code setting circuit 78, information unique to the data terminal device. Each code number is input to a format conversion circuit 53, and the format conversion circuit 53 organizes the data order of this information and transmits it to an output gate circuit 64. When all sales data has been input, press the send key 36. All input data is sent to the input/output control circuit 65, demodulation circuit 66,
The coupler 6.7 outputs the modulated data to the outside of the main unit 1, and the modulated data is transmitted to the host computer in the calculation center 75 via the telephone 70° public telephone line, where settlement operations are performed and invoices are issued to the account 9. You will be responsible for making withdrawals, etc. Furthermore, since all the data is simultaneously stored in the temporary storage circuit 67, pressing the print key 69 activates the print control circuit 68 and causes the printer 10 to print the necessary information. Figure 5 shows paper 7 printed by printer 10.
6, and the year, month, date, hour, and minute A are shown in order from the top of the paper 76.
, the slip number B for that day, the membership number C of the credit card 44, the unique code number on the main body 1, the code number E of the product, the amount F of the product, the total sales amount G, and the total amount H are printed. ing. This form 76 is given to the card holder as a record of sales.

Note that FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations in this embodiment.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, when data is required at the center side or when the time when the line can be used is limited, the present invention can grasp the movement range and easily call the data terminal device that is moving. , necessary data can be exchanged, terminal devices can be properly managed, and lines can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a data terminal device that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the same data rickshaw, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical system. , FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing actual usage conditions, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing printed paper, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations. 1...Main body, 3...Acoustic coupler section, 11...
・Data input machine, 77... Wireless paging unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input means that can input specific information, an arithmetic control means that can analyze and calculate information from the input means, and an acoustic coupler that transmits information from the arithmetic control means to a telephone line as a signal. 1. A data terminal device having a radio paging function, characterized in that the data terminal device is provided with a radio paging mechanism that generates a ring tone in response to a preset specific code among codes mixed in radio waves.