JPS62154198A - Host collation processing system for pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Table of Contents] Overview Industrial Application Fields Conventional Technology Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems (Fig. 1) Working Examples (al-Configuration of Examples) Explanation (Figures 2 and 3) (b)
Explanation of the overall operation of one embodiment (Figures 4 and 5) (Explanation of C1 inquiry relay processing (Figures 6 and 7) fdl
Description of other embodiments Effects of the invention [Summary] In a POS system in which a slave POS is connected to a master POS, by configuring the master POS to execute product registration processing and inquiry relay processing in a time-sharing manner, the slave POS The master POS relays the host inquiry message from the POS so that the message can be sent to the host computer.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a host inquiry processing method for a POS system in which a slave POS makes an inquiry to a host computer via the master POS in a master-slave POS system in which a slave POS is connected to a master POS.

As a sales information processing system, POS (P.

int or 5ales) P using terminal
An OS system is used.

Various types of POS systems are used depending on the size of the store, from large-scale systems directly connected to a host computer to small-scale systems not directly connected to the host computer.

Master slave POS as this small system
There is a system.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 8(A), the master-slave POS system is configured by connecting a plurality of slave POS 12 to 1n to a master POS 2 via an inline line 1. In this system, both master POS2 and slave POS1a to 1n have their original P.O.
In addition to performing product registration processing, which is an OS function, the master POS 2 is provided with a data collection function, and the sales data of each slave POS 1a to 1n is collected (logged) in the memory MEM via an inline line l, and in the master POS 52, It was possible to grasp the sales data of each slave POS 1a to 1n.

This type of system is also called an inline system, and can be used without a dedicated controller for the POS system.
Just by adding data collection function to master POS2,
Master POS 2 allows you to grasp the sales status, the system can be constructed at low cost, and it is an extremely easy system to introduce.

However, in such an inline system, 1
Although it is possible to collect data within a store, in order to collect and analyze data from multiple stores using a host computer, it is necessary to separately transmit the data collected by the master POS 2 to the host computer.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8(C), the master POS2
In addition to the product registration function 2a and data collection function, a host transmission function 2b is added to the master POS 2 in Figure 8 (B
), the slave POS is connected to the host computer 3 via the public line T2, and the slave POS collected by the master POS 2 is
The logging data of 18-In was sent all at once to the host computer 3 after the completion of product registration at the time of store closing.

Therefore, the master-slave POS system is configured such that only the master POS 2 can communicate with the host computer 3 when product registration is completed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

On the other hand, in recent years, specialty stores with sales outlets all over the country,
Each POS for customer management, inventory management, and credit inquiries
There is a demand for instantaneous inquiries from the terminal to the host computer.

For example, for credit inquiries, credit information centrally managed on the host computer is sent to the POS.
There is a desire to make inquiries from a terminal to determine whether credit sales are possible, or to centrally manage customer preferences and sales status on a host computer, and make inquiries from a POS terminal.

Such inquiries to the host computer are realized in large-scale POS systems that have a dedicated controller, but in the aforementioned master-slave POS system that does not have a dedicated controller, the slave POs 51a to 1n are connected to the host computer. Since it is not possible to communicate with the computer 3, there is a problem in that such a host inquiry cannot be realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a host inquiry processing method for a POS system that adds a relay function to a master POS system and enables inquiries to the host even in master/slave POS systems.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, the same parts as those shown in Fig. 8 are indicated by the same symbols, and 2C is an inquiry relay processing function, which is provided in the master POS 2 and relays inquiry messages from slave P○Sla~In. This is for making inquiries to the host computer 3.

Therefore, the mask-POS 2 executes the product registration process 2a and the inquiry relay process 2c, and also executes the product registration process 2a and the inquiry relay process 2c.
), it is configured to be executed by time-sharing processing.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the master POS 2 has an inquiry relay processing function 2c.
is provided, so slave POS1 is connected to master PO5.
2, the host computer 3 can be inquired about information such as credit, inventory, customer management, etc.

In addition, since the master POS 2 executes the product registration process 2a and the inquiry relay process 2c in a time-sharing manner, the slave P
In response to inquiries from the OSs 12 to 1n, inquiry relay can be executed without canceling the product registration process 2a.

That is, the master POS 2 can execute the inquiry relay process while performing the product registration process, and even if the master POS 2 performs the relay process, the master POS 2 can execute the product registration process.

〔Example〕

+al-Explanation of the configuration of the embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the same parts as those shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 1 are indicated by the same symbols, and 10 is the main control section of the POS terminal, which is composed of a microcomputer and performs product registration processing and message creation. Those that perform processing, message analysis processing, etc., 1
0a is a memory, main control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 1
In addition to storing the programs necessary for processing 0, it also has product registration files for products registered through product registration processing.

11 is a keyboard, which includes a product input key, a numeric keypad, an inquiry operation key, various function keys, etc.;
12 is a printer that prints on a receipt/journal and issues a receipt; 13 is a scanner that scans barcodes attached to products and inputs data; 14 is a line control unit. , which is provided for communicating with the master POS 2 via line l; 15 is a cash drawer for storing cash, etc.; 16 is a display for displaying input data, processing results, etc. , 17 is a magnetic cart reader;
For reading data on the magnetic stripe of credit cards, bank cards, etc. indicated by customers;
18 is a bus, which includes a CPU 10, a memory 10a, a keyboard 11, a printer 12, a scanner 13, and a line control unit 1.
4. Connects the cash drawer 15, display 16, and magnetic card reader 17.

Therefore, the slave POS 1a uses the keyboard 11, scanner 13, and magnetic card reader 17 as input means.
It has a printer 12 and a display 16 as output means, and the CPU 10 performs product registration processing and message creation processing in accordance with the input from these input means, registers the input product in the product registration file in the memory IOa, and also performs line control. It communicates with the master POS 2 via the section 14.

Although the figure only shows the configuration of the POS terminal 1a, the other POS terminals 1b to 1n also have the same configuration.

20 is the main control unit of the master POS terminal, which is composed of a microcomputer, and performs product registration processing as well as inquiry relay processing by time-sharing processing in the same way as the CPU I O of the slave POS 1a; 21 is a memory; It stores programs necessary for the processing of the main control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 20, and also stores programs for the host 3,
A hardware sofa 21a for transmitting and receiving data to and from the slave POS 1a to 1n, a terminal management table 21b for performing inquiry relay processing, which will be described later in FIG. 3, and a product registration file 21.
C. 22 is a keyboard, which is equipped with a product entry key, a numeric keypad, function keys, etc.; 23 is a printer, which prints on a receipt/journal and issues a receipt; and 24 is a scanner, which is used to attach items to products, etc. 25 is a line control unit provided for communicating with the slave POs 51a to 1n via line 1, and 26 is a cash drawer for storing cash, etc. 27 is a display that displays input data and processing results, and 2 is a magnetic card reader that reads information on the magnetic stripe of credit cards, bank cards, etc. shown by customers. 29 is a modem for reading data, and NCU (Ilil
Control device) Consists of a built-in auto-dialing modem, connects to the host 3 via telephone line TI, and exchanges messages; BUS is a bus; CPU 20, memory 21, keyboard 22, printer 23, - scanner 2
4. It connects the line control section 25, cash drawer 26, display 27, magnetic card reader 28, and modem 29.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the terminal management table in the master POS 2 having the configuration shown in FIG.

The terminal management table 21b has each device address “00
The register No. 1 is registered corresponding to "~'n", and the reception flag indicating whether an inquiry message has been received or not, and the inquiry flag indicating whether an inquiry is being made to the host computer 3 are configured as a correspondence table. ing.

For example, device address “00” is master POS2
, the device address “ol” is the slave POS
Corresponds to 1a.

This inquiry message reception flag is set to "1" when the master POS 2 receives an inquiry message from itself or from the slave POS 1a to 1n, and when all response messages from the corresponding host computer 3 have been sent to the POS 1a to In. Alternatively, it is reset to "0" when the slave POSs 1a to 1n do not return a response to polling from the mask-POS2.

In addition, the flag for HO3 TO3 is set to "1" immediately before sending the inquiry message to the host computer 3, and when the final message of the response has been sent to the slave POS 1a to In or in response to polling from the master POS 2, It is reset to "0" when the slave POS 1a-In does not return a response.

Therefore, the master POS 2 uses a keyboard 22, a scanner 24, and a magnetic card reader 28 as input means.
It has a printer 23 and a display 16 as output means, and the CPU 20 performs product registration processing and message creation processing in response to input from these input means, and registers the input product in the product registration file 21C of the memory 21.

Further, the master POS 2 communicates with the slave POS 1a to 1n through polling control from the line control unit 25, and communicates with the host computer 3 via the telephone line 1M using the modem 29 to perform inquiry relay processing.

(bJ=Explanation of the overall operation of the embodiment FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of time-sharing processing in the master POS,
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of inquiry relay processing.

First, master POS2 and each slave POS1a~1
In the product registration operation of n, the operator inputs the single item code of the sales item using the keyboard 22 or 11 or the scanner 24 or 13, and the CPU I O performs the product registration process, that is, reading the single item code, input editing, and subtotal calculation. conduct. Then, the CPU 10 detects when the operator presses the total key from the keyboard 22 or 11, stores the input product in the product registration file 21c of the memory 21, and issues a receipt from the printer 27 or 12.

As shown in Figure 4, the master POS 2 performs product registration processing in response to the input, and if the processing is completed or there is no processing request,
Moving on to inquiry relay processing, the slave P
When waiting for reception from the O51a to 1n or the host computer 3, the process returns to the product registration process.

On the other hand, when an inquiry is made in the slave POSs 1a-In, the product registration process is stopped until a response is received.

For credit inquiries, this inquiry is performed using the magnetic card reader 1.
7 to read the customer's card or keyboard 1
CP by entering the account (membership) number from 1.
The UI O creates a credit inquiry message, and for inventory inquiry, reads the product number with the scanner 13 or with the keyboard 11.
The CPU 10 creates an inventory inquiry message by inputting it from the scanner 13 or the keyboard 11.
creates a customer inquiry message.

In the inquiry relay process, the CPU 20 of the master POS 2 activates 5-pos line control, checks the inquiry messages of each slave POS 1a to 1n by polling control from the line control unit 25, and sends each slave POS 1a to 1n.
When an inquiry message is received from any of the host computers 3, the 5-pos line 1 is disconnected, the host line Tβ is activated via the modem 29 as shown in FIG. 5(B), and the inquiry message is relayed to the host computer 3.

When a response message arrives from the host computer 3 as shown in FIG. 5(A), the 5-pos line control is started again,
A response message is sent to the slave POS 1a to In that received the inquiry.

Therefore, the CPU 20 of the master POS 2 performs s −'p for the slave POS 1a to 1n in the inquiry relay process.
os line control and host line control for the host computer 3 are executed alternately, and when a reception wait state occurs in each control, the process returns to the product registration process.

(C) Description of Inquiry Relay Processing FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are flowcharts of inquiry relay processing of the master POS.

■The CPU 20 starts the line control unit 25 and
Polling is applied to each slave POS 1a to In from line β.

In response to this polling, each slave POS 1a to 1n sends the inquiry message 5-POS times when there is an inquiry message.
1, the line control unit 25 monitors reception of the inquiry message.

(2) If there is no inquiry message for a certain period of time after polling, the CPU 20 returns to the product registration process (no reception and waits for reception), and when the product registration process is completed, returns to step (2).

■On the other hand, when the line control unit 25 receives the inquiry message, the CP
The U20 transmits the received inquiry message to the pair 5- of the sending/receiving buffer 21a.
Stored in the POS reception buffer and stored in the terminal management table 21b
The reception flag corresponding to the slave PO5 (referred to as S-PO5i) is turned on '1''.

Then, the 5-pos line control of the line control unit 25 is forcibly terminated, and the display 27 displays "inquiring".

0 Next, the CPU 20 selects S of the terminal management table 21b.
Turn on the inquiry flag corresponding to POS+ to "1" and enter host line control. That is, it is checked whether the line to the host is already connected, and if it is not, the host line transmission is started, and the modem 29 automatically dials the public line TI! The host computer 3 is called up and a line connection is established with the host computer 3. Along with this, the transmitting/receiving buffer 21
The inquiry message in the pair 5-pos reception buffer of a is transferred to the host-to-host transmission buffer, and the inquiry message is transmitted to the host computer 3 via the modem 29.

Then, the CPU 20 activates the modem 29 to receive the host line.

(2) The CPU 20 monitors the response from the host computer 3 via the modem 29, and if no response is received for a certain period of time, the CPU 20 waits for a response and returns to the product registration process, and when the product registration process is completed, returns to step (2) again.

(2) On the other hand, when a response message arrives from the host computer 3, the host reception process is terminated and the response message is stored in the host-to-host reception buffer of the transmission/reception buffer 21a.

The CPU 20 examines this stored response message, and if the response message is response data that is not an end code, transfers it to the 5-POS reception area of the transmission/reception buffer 21a, and causes the line control unit 25 to activate the 5-POS line. , applicable 5-P
A 5-POS line response message is sent to 03i.

Next, the line control unit 25 controls the S other than the 5-Posi.
(Slave) - Issues polling to PO5.

(2) The line control unit 25 monitors the presence or absence of an inquiry message for a certain period of time after issuing polling, and reports this to the CPU 20.

In response to this polling, when an inquiry message arrives at the line control unit 25 within a certain period of time, the 5-PO issued by the inquiry message is
The CP tJ 20 turns on the reception flag of the terminal management table 21b for the S (S-POSj), transmits a WACK (wait) message from the line control unit 25 to the 5-P03j, and makes the inquiry relay wait.

Conversely, if no inquiry message arrives from any slave POS in response to this polling, the CPU 20 resets the reception flags other than inquiry 5-P03i in the terminal management table 21b.

(2) Then, the CPU 20 ends the 5-POS line processing, starts the host reception processing again, and returns to step (2).

■On the other hand, if the response message is determined to be an end code in step ■, CPtJ20 determines that the inquiry of 5-P03i is completed,
sp of the terminal management table 21b.

Resets the inquiry flag and reception flag of Si.

Next, the CPU 20 refers to the reception flag column of the terminal management table 21b and checks whether there is a 5-POS waiting for inquiry.

If there is a 5-POS waiting for inquiry, the process returns to step (2) in FIG. 6(A).

On the other hand, if there is no 5-POS waiting for inquiry, the CPU 20 erases the inquiry display on the display 27, instructs the modem 29 to disconnect the host line, and returns to step (2).

In this way, in the master POS2, the 5-p
OS line control and host line control are performed alternately to relay the inquiry message from the slave POS and relay the response message from the host computer 3.

Then, by using the terminal management table 21b, it is possible to understand which slave POS has made the inquiry,
and - while querying slave POS, other slave POS
When there is an inquiry from S, this is left as a reception flag, and after the inquiry of the slave POS being queried is completed, the inquiry is made from the other slave POS without disconnecting the host line. Therefore, if the inquiry is to be continued, the host line is not disconnected and the line usage cost can be reduced. Also, if there is an inquiry from another slave POS while the - slave POS is making an inquiry, it will send a wait message to the other slave POS, making it wait for the inquiry, and the other slave POS will make the inquiry in response to this wait message. This allows them to decide whether or not to cancel the event.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of inquiry processing of the slave POS.

(2) In the slave POS 1a, in order to make an inquiry, the details of the inquiry (credit inquiry, etc.) are input from the keyboard 11, and the product registration process is canceled.

Next, inquiry data (account number, product code, customer number, etc.) is input using the keyboard 11, scanner 13, or magnetic card reader 17.

CPUI O edits the inquiry message based on this.

(2) The line control unit 14 monitors polling from the master PO 52, and upon receiving polling, the CPU 10 sends an inquiry message to sp via the line control unit 14.

S line! Send to.

(2) After this transmission, the CPU 10 enters a state of waiting for reception of the response message, and waits for reception of the response message from the line control unit 14.

(2) When cputo receives a response message from the line control unit 14, it stores it in the memory 10a and analyzes it.

This response message is sent from the host computer 3 to the master PO.
If it is determined that S2 was relayed, cpuio
transfers this response message to the response storage area of the memory 10a.

Then, CPU10 checks whether the response message is the final response by the above-mentioned analysis, and if it is not the final response, returns to step (2).

On the other hand, if the response message is the final response, the CPU 10 retrieves the data from the response storage area of the memory 10a mentioned above, edits the data, sends it to the display 16 for display, prints it, sends it to the printer 12, and sends it to the printer 12 to generate a receipt/ Print it on the journal and end the inquiry process.

(2) Conversely, in the analysis of step (2), when the CPU 10 determines that the response message is a WACK message from the master POS 2, it displays "Please wait" on the display 16.

This allows the operator to recognize that the master POS 2 is in the process of inquiring about other slave POSs, and that its own inquiry process will have to wait.

Therefore, when a customer's product registration is required immediately, this inquiry can be canceled and the product registration process can be performed.

That is, if the product registration process is necessary, the operator presses the cancel key on the keyboard 11, and the CPU I O causes the printer 12 to perform cancel printing, and ends (cancels) the inquiry process.

On the other hand, if the stop key is not pressed even after a certain period of time has elapsed, CP[Jlo returns to the inquiry message sending step of step (2) and sends an inquiry message every time polling is received from the master POS 2.

In this way, when the slave POS receives a WACK message as a response message in response to the transmission of an inquiry message, it can choose to cancel or continue the inquiry, and the product registration process of the customer is not made to wait due to waiting for the inquiry.

In addition, the inquiry can be stopped by not sending an inquiry message in response to polling from the master POS 2, as shown in Figure 6 (B).
), the reception flag of the terminal management table 21b is reset in the master POS, and the master POS 2 can recognize that the inquiry has been discontinued.

(d) Description of other embodiments In the embodiments described above, the master POS performs time-sharing processing by returning to product registration processing every time it waits for reception of relay processing, but the master performs time-sharing processing at regular intervals. Alternatively, other configurations may be used for both the master POS and slave POS.

Although the present invention has been described above using examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, since relay processing is assigned to the master POS that performs product registration processing, it is possible to relay inquiries from the slave POS to the host computer. - An inquiry function can be added to the slave POS system.

In addition, since the master POS performs product registration processing and inquiry relay processing in a time-sharing manner, the inquiry relay can be executed while continuing the master POS product registration processing. This can prevent execution from becoming impossible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of a terminal management table in the configuration shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is time-sharing processing of master POS. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of inquiry relay processing, Figure 6 is a flow diagram of inquiry relay processing of master POS, Figure 7 is a flow diagram of inquiry processing of slave POS, and Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of conventional technology. . In the figure, l a -1n --- slave pos. 2... Master pos. 2a-product registration function, 2c-inquiry relay function, 3-host computer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a POS system in which a slave POS is connected to a master POS and the master POS can communicate with a host computer, the master POS is configured to execute product registration processing and inquiry relay processing by time-sharing processing. configured, transmits an inquiry message from the slave POS to the host computer through inquiry relay processing of the master POS, and sends a response message from the host computer to the master POS.
A host inquiry processing method for a POS system, characterized in that S receives the inquiry message and transmits it to the slave POS that issued the inquiry message through the inquiry relay processing.