JPS62115948A - Data communicating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To equalize the operation and the communication of the software vending machine by outputting the transmitting request to the host computer by a software vending machine when the request is executed and the dubbing processing of the software is not executed and transmitting the prescribed data in accordance with the request by the host computer. CONSTITUTION:The data are transmitted and received which constitute the data and/or the software concerning the software sold between a software vending machine S to dub and sell the software stored before hand to the external memory media in accordance with the operation of the user and a host computer HC connected through the communicating line to plural software vending machines S. The software vending machine S, when the request to receive the data is executed and the processing concerning the dubbing of the software is not executed, outputs the transmitting request of the data to the host computer HC by the prescribed timing, and the host computer HC transmits the prescribed data to the software vending machine S in accordance with the transmitting request. Thus, the communicating line and the host computer side facilities can be made suitable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a data communication method, and more particularly to a data communication method for exchanging data between a software vending machine and a host computer.

[Background Art 1] In recent years, with the popularity of personal computers and game machines using them, vending machines that sell software have been put into practical use. These software vending machines may be used alone, but they are connected to a host computer via a communication line to form a network, and can send sales information etc. from each software vending machine to the host computer/computer. Devices that operate by performing data communication such as receiving distribution of new sales software from a computer are known.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]? ! If I number of software vending machines are connected to a host computer to form a network, as the number of software vending machines connected to the Potos computer increases, there will be a limit to the communication line and processing power of the host computer. Therefore, there was a problem in that data communication with the software computer had to be adjusted.

Therefore, the present invention was made with the object of proposing a suitable data communication method between a software vending machine and a host computer that solves these problems.

Column 11 [Means for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration as a means for solving the problem. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a software vending machine that sells pre-stored software by dubbing it to an external storage medium according to the user's operation is connected to a plurality of the above-mentioned software vending machines via a communication line. In a data communication method for exchanging data regarding software to be sold and/or data constituting the software with a host computer to be sold, the software vending machine has a request to receive data (step R1). In addition, when the software dubbing process is not being performed (step R2), the data transmission request is output to the host computer at a predetermined timing (step R4), and the host computer responds to the transmission request. (Step A
This is a data communication method characterized by: 1) transmitting predetermined data to the software vending machine (step A2>).

[Operation] The data communication method of the present invention having the above configuration is based on a function system in which a data transmission request is output from the software vending machine side, and the software vending machine converts this data transmission request into a request to receive data. When there is a process for dubbing software to be sold (step R1) and no processing related to dubbing of the software to be sold is being performed (step R2), the data is outputted to the host computer at a predetermined timing (step R3) (step R4). On the other hand, in response to the above-mentioned transmission request from the software vending machine (step A1), the host computer transmits data related to the software to be sold and/or data constituting the software to the software vending machine that issued the transmission request (step A1). 2). As a result, a plurality of software vending machines issue requests for data transmission in a time-sharing manner, communication congestion is avoided, and data communication between each software vending machine and the host computer becomes equal.

[Example] In order to further clarify the combination of the present invention described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described next.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a plurality of software vending machines S and a host computer HC to which the data communication method of this embodiment is applied. As shown in the figure, a plurality of software sales IS (approximately 2000 units) are connected to one host computer HC via a communication line TL. As mentioned above, software sales Is involves dubbing and selling data constituting software onto various external storage media, such as floppy disks, magnetic recording tapes, or ROM cartridges. The software for sale is sent from the host computer HC via the communication line TL, and is temporarily stored in the hard disk built in the software vending machine S, and called up in response to the user's operation for dubbing. The host computer HC is operated via a terminal Tm.

As shown in Fig. 2, the software vending machine S also includes a CRT display 1, a keyboard panel 3, a package ejector 5 for taking out a package 4 containing an external storage medium, and a device for managing money, change, etc. A host computer 7 for depositing and withdrawing money; a computer 70 for dubbing software;
Tupid disk device lt9 and cassette tape writing device 1
1. The apparatus further includes a printer 17 for printing/outputting information regarding the software to be dubbed.

Next, software sales IaS and host computer H
The configuration with C and its function will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of one of the software vending machines S and the host computer HC. As shown in the figure, each of the above-mentioned devices of the software vending machine S is electronic! II @ It is centrally managed and controlled by the device 20. This electronic control w device 20 is a well-known (7) CPU.
21. ROM22. A divine interface that exchanges data with each device, centered around the RAM 23, that is, a serial input/output port (S■○) 27. Terminal interface 29, hard disk interface 31. Input boat 33. It is configured as a logic operation circuit in which an output port 35, a write control interface 37, etc. are interconnected by a bus 39.

81027 is an interface for transmitting information via a communication line with the host computer HC,
The CPU 21 exchanges data with the host computer HC via the 31027 when registering new software with a software vendor or transmitting information regarding sales. The terminal interface 29 is connected to the CRT device, the display 1, and the keyboard panel 3, and inputs the status of the six key switches provided on the keyboard panel 3, and also controls software that can be dubbed according to the input keys. This is an interface that sends screen data to be displayed, including names, etc., to the CRT display 1 in response to instructions from the CPLJ 21.

The hard disk interface 31 is an interface that transfers a large amount of data to the RAM 23 by DMA transfer between the hard disk 45 as a storage means built in the software vending machine, and the software selected by operating each key on the keyboard panel 3. It is used to take out constituent data from the hard disk 45 and prepare it for layering onto a floppy disk or the like, which will be described later.

The input port 33 is connected to the deposit/withdrawal host computer 7, and the data on the deposited amount is sent from the deposit/withdrawal host computer 7 to the CP via this input port 33.
It is input to U21.

The output port 35 is connected to the deposit/withdrawal host computer 7, the package extractor 5, and the printer 17 via connectors, and the CPU 21 causes the deposit/withdrawal pipe embedded H7 to output change through the output port 35, Processes such as causing the package unloader 5 to output the package 4 containing the external storage medium and outputting simple information (quick reference) regarding the software to be dubbed to the printer 17 are performed.

Further, the write control interface 37 is connected to the floppy disk device 9 and the cassette tape writing device 11, and the CPIJ 21 inputs and outputs data to and from both 819.11 via this write control interface 37, and writes the package. The data constituting the software for sale, that is, the program and its accompanying data, are written onto an external storage medium (70 disc or cassette tape) taken out from the device 9.4 and set in either of the two devices 9.11.

On the other hand, like the software vending machine S, the post computer HC has a well-known CPU 51. ROM52, RAM5
Various interfaces, mainly 3, here 5IO57
, a terminal interface 59, a hard disk interface 61, etc. are interconnected by a bus 63. 51057 is multiple software vending machines
On the other hand, the terminal interface 59 is an interface for exchanging data with the terminal Tm, and the hard disk interface 61 is an interface for exchanging data with the hard disk 65, and their functions are similar to those of the software vending machine S.

Next, using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), a description will be given of the $ control performed by the Raftou 1A Sales 1S and its host computer HC and the communication method between the two in this embodiment.

In the software sales vaS, after the electronic control device 20 is powered on and performs a predetermined initialization process,
The control routine shown in > is repeatedly executed together with other processing routines. First, in step 100, it is determined whether or not there is any operation by the user (software purchaser). That is, when the user operates the keyboard panel 3 to select sales software for dubbing, the process proceeds to step 110 to perform software sales processing by dubbing, that is, the hard disk 45
A series of processes are performed, such as copying the sales software selected from among the plurality of software stored in the package 4 onto a floppy disk or cassette tape that has been taken out and set in the package 4, and printing out necessary information using the printer 17. It will be done.

On the other hand, when there is no operation by the user, the determination at step 100 is rNOJ, and the process proceeds to step 120, where a demonstration process is executed. The demonstration process is a process of displaying on the CRT display 1 a list of software that can be sold by the software vending machine S, a list of best-selling software, or an introduction to new software.

This demonstration consisted of a part that explained the functions of the software vending machine using a video, and a part that displayed a list of best sellers of the software vending machine S as a still image.The electronic control unit was operated by the user. Continue displaying each part of the demonstration until repeated.

Therefore, in step 130 following step 120, the CPLI 21 determines whether there is a data distribution request, and in step 140, determines whether a predetermined interval has elapsed. The software vending machine S has received the content of data distribution from that day to the day (hereinafter referred to as an entry) during communication with the host computer HC that is compulsorily performed when the software vending machine S is started up. During the demonstration, data distributed from the host computer HC is sequentially received and received, so a request for data distribution is made until all of the above-mentioned entries are completed. Further, the predetermined interval refers to the timing at which the time when the data constituting the image is the smallest (normally when displaying a still image) is repeated in the demonstration process for displaying an image on the CRT display 1, and in this embodiment, the interval is about 1 minute. This is the timing of every two demonstrations held at the event.

If the judgment in step 130 or 140 is rNOJ, it is judged that there is no need for data communication or the timing is not right, and the process is proceeded to ``rNEX-D'' and after completing the water control routine, repeat step 100. Do this more. Therefore, unless there is a user operation, the demonstration step 120> is repeated. On the other hand, if there is a distribution request and at a predetermined interval, here the still image display timing, the process proceeds to step 150, where a process is performed to output the distribution request to the host computer HC via the 5IO27. The distribution request includes the distribution message type and its entry number, and if the host computer HC accepts the request (step 160), the process proceeds to step 170, where data is received. . If the communication line 11TL or the host computer HC is congested and the distribution request cannot be accepted, no processing will be performed and the rNEX will be sent.
can be handled. In this case, normal control is executed as is, and a transmission request is output at predetermined intervals until the host computer HC accepts the distribution request. Note that the type of distribution message refers to data on updated sales software, data associated with software sales, and the like.

In addition to the content of the distribution, the entry number here also includes
It also includes information on how many times the data is transmitted in several parts.

On the other hand, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, (B), the host computer HC detects whether or not there is a delivery request (step 200), and if there is a delivery request, it checks the delivery message type and entry number. (including how many times) a predetermined amount of data is distributed to the software vending machine S (step 210). Data distribution is performed via 5IO57 and communication line TL, but since the amount of data that the software sales vAS can receive in one data communication is limited, the host computer HC distributes the amount of data according to this limit. That's what I do.

Note that while receiving data distribution, the software vending machine S does not accept user operations.

According to the data communication method of this embodiment configured as described above, a request for data communication is made when the software vending machine S is not performing an operation related to dubbing of the software vending machine for sale and there is a distribution request. , is issued at predetermined intervals for still image display, and the host computer distributes a predetermined amount of data in response to this request. Therefore, even if a large number of software vending machines S are connected to a host computer, requests for data distribution from the software vending machines S are distributed, and the load on the host computer HC becomes temporarily excessive or the communication line TL becomes congested. There is no such thing as being cautious. As a result, there is no need for excessive equipment to simultaneously distribute data to 2,000 software vending machines, and the host computer
It is possible to reduce equipment and operating costs on the C side. In addition, since the software sales 1MS performs data communication when displaying still images, that is, when the software is not being dubbed and when the load on the CPU 21 is small, there is no problem with software sales operations. Communication speed can be increased.

Furthermore, according to the data communication method of this embodiment, the software vending machine S outputs a request for data distribution at predetermined intervals, and the host computer HC distributes a predetermined amount of data each time. Therefore, many software vending machines S
is outputting a distribution request, the specific software sales l! S does not monopolize communication with the host computer HC, and data can be gradually distributed (entries are digested) throughout the software vending machine S.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. It goes without saying that the invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

As described in detail above, according to the data communication method of the present invention, the load on the host computer to which a plurality of software vending machines are connected can be distributed, and the load on the communication line and host computer side equipment can be distributed. Qin has a soaking effect that can be optimized.

As a result, the operation and communication of the software vending machine can also be equalized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the basic combination of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a relationship between a host computer HC to which a data communication method as an embodiment of the present invention is applied and a plurality of software vending machines S connected thereto. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host computer HC and one software vending machine S connected thereto, and FIG. 4 (A> is a flowchart showing the control routine in the software vending machine S. , FIG. 4(B) is a flowchart showing a control routine in the host computer HC. HC...Host computer S...Software vending machine T...Communication line Tm...Terminal 1... CRT display 3...Keyboard panel 20...Electronic control unit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A software vending machine that copies pre-stored software onto an external storage medium and sells it according to a user's operation, and a host computer connected to a plurality of the software vending machines via a communication line. In a data communication method for exchanging data related to software to be sold and/or data constituting the software between When the data is not being transmitted, the data transmission request is output to the host computer at a predetermined timing, and the host computer transmits the predetermined data to the software vending machine in response to the transmission request. Communication method. 2. A patent claim in which the predetermined timing at which the software vending machine outputs the transmission request is when the data constituting the image is the smallest in a demonstration in which the software vending machine repeatedly displays a predetermined image on the display unit. The data communication method according to item 1.