JPS63229525A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and accurately grasp the latest edition by securing such a constitution where an output means reads out the number of program edition out of a memory based on an instruction given from an instruction means and prints out or displays the number of program edition after editing. CONSTITUTION:An initial loading part 12c loads a terminal control program into a RAM part 31b via a circuit under the control of a program of a ROM part 21b and stores the RAM edition into a RAM edition memory part 11c to output a loading process end information after the end of the loading process. A RAM edition output part 13c is started by said end information and reads the RAM edition out of the part 11c to output it to a print part 5 after editing for print. A station opening process is carried out under the control of the loaded terminal control program and a data processor is set under an operation state. Then an input operation is performed via a keyboard 6. When the end of tasks is confirmed as the analyzing result of the sequence of the input data, an end process is carried out to close a station. While a total edition output part 13d reads both ROM and RAM editions out of the part 11c and outputs them to the part 5 based on an instruction of an edition output instructing part 12d when the output of editions is instructed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] The version number of a program built into a terminal device or initially loaded from a host device can be printed or displayed automatically or by instruction.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to managing the version number of a program in a data processing device, and particularly to a data processing device that displays or prints out the version number.

In recent years, with the increase in required performance for data processing devices, programs have been moved from the host device to random access memory (Random Acc
ess Memory: Initial Program Loadin (hereinafter referred to as RAM)
(hereinafter referred to as IPL) are becoming popular. In the field, programs are changed and updated by adding functions or correcting design errors as needed, so even if the data processing device is of the same type, different versions of the program may be used depending on the system. There are many. However, when investigating a problem or modifying a program, it is essential to accurately know the version of the current program, and the version at the time of a past device failure is also extremely useful for fault investigation. A data processing device that can be accurately and easily managed is desired.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional example is point of sale information management (Point of 5al)
This will be explained by taking as an example an electronic register which is a terminal device of the system (hereinafter referred to as PO8).

FIG. 5 is a side view of the configuration of a POS system, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic register, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional example. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

As shown in Figure 5, multiple electronic registers IA, IB,
... is connected to the terminal control device 2a, and the terminal control device 2a
The system is configured by connecting to the center computer via a line.

The functions will be explained by taking the electronic register IA as an example with reference to FIG. The electronic register IA includes a display section 4, a printing section 5, a keyboard 6, and a cash drawer 7. The transaction data is input by the operator's operation on the keyboard 6, the transaction data is exchanged with the terminal control device 2a as necessary, the total and change are calculated, and the product name, unit price, total amount, etc. are displayed. It is displayed on the section 4 and printed out on the receipt by the printing section 5.

Prior to the start of business, read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as R) of the electronic register 14 is
Under the control of a bootstrap program stored in the OM), a terminal control program that controls the electronic register IA executes R from the terminal control device 2a or the center computer.
The electronic register IA is configured to perform data processing under the control of the terminal control program.

In FIG. 7, a main control section 9a controls each section to perform the functions of the electronic register IA.

The line control unit 8 communicates with the terminal control device 2a according to the line interface, thereby controlling the electronic register I.
It has a terminal control program that controls A, a function to send and receive transaction data, etc.

The ROM unit 21a is a ROM that stores a bootstrap program that includes functions for controlling the keyboard, printing, and line, which are the minimum requirements for executing IPL processing.

1? The AM unit 31a is a RAM that stores a terminal control program, transaction data input from the keyboard 6, transaction data transmitted from the terminal control device 2a, and the like.

The IPL section 12a has a function of receiving a terminal control program and IPLing it to the RAM section 31a by controlling the line control section 8 and communicating with the terminal control device 2a under the control of the bootstrap program of the ROM section 21a. has.

Therefore, the version number of the bootstrap program stored in the ROM section 21a (hereinafter referred to as ROM version number) and the version number of the terminal control program loaded in the RAM section 31a (hereinafter referred to as RAM version number) are grasped by the terminal device. Electronic register I was not equipped with a means to do so.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, according to the conventional method, the program version number is registered and managed manually in the department responsible for equipment maintenance or system design. Therefore, due to registration errors or delays, the accurate latest version number cannot be grasped in the field. There are also problems in that it is not possible to quickly determine the version number in the event of an emergency such as a device failure.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 indicates a storage unit that stores the version number representing the change history of the program; 12 indicates an instructing means for instructing to output the version number; and 13 indicates a unit for reading version number data from the storage unit 11 based on instructions from the instructing means 12. It is an output means for outputting.

Therefore, it is configured to output the version number stored in the storage unit 11.

[Operation] According to the present invention, the output means 13 reads out the program version number stored in the storage section 11 based on the instruction from the instruction means 12, and outputs it in print or display. You can check the version number.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures. Second
In the figure, parts corresponding to FIG. 1 are surrounded by a dashed line.

FIG. 2 shows an electronic register 1b according to the invention.

In the figure, a main control section 9b controls each section to perform the functions of the electronic register 1b.

The ROM section 21b is the ROM section 2 described in the conventional example.
In addition to the functions of 1a, a ROM version number storage section 11b described later
It is equipped with

The ROM version number storage section 11b is located in a predetermined area on the ROM section 21b and has a function of storing the version number of the bootstrap program.

A power supply control unit (not shown) that controls the power supply to the PRDY generation unit and the external 2b circuit unit, and when the power supply becomes stable, the power supply ready (PowerRe
ady) has the function of generating a signal.

The ROM version number output section 13b is a PRDY generation section outside the generation section 2.
b It has a function of reading the ROM version number from the ROM version number storage section 11b based on the power supply ready signal, editing it into the output format shown in FIG. 4(a), and outputting it to the printing section 5.

The RAM section 31b is the RAM section 3 described in the conventional example.
In addition to the functions of 1a, a RAM version number storage unit 11c, which will be described later,
It is equipped with

The RAM version number storage unit 11c is located in a predetermined area on the RAM unit 3Lb, and has a function of storing the version number (RAM version number) of the terminal control program loaded into the RAM.

The IPL section 12c is the IPL section 1 explained in the conventional example.
In addition to the function 2a, it has a function of storing the RAM version number in the loaded program data in the RAM version number storage section 11c, and outputting a loading completion notification when the last block of the program is loaded.

The RAM version number output unit 13c outputs data from the RAM version number storage unit 11c to the RAM based on the load completion notification from the IPL unit 12c.
It has a function of reading out the version number, editing it into the output format shown in FIG. 4(b), and outputting it to the printing section 5.

The version number output instruction section 12d has a function of instructing the output of all the ROM version numbers and RAM version numbers by analyzing the combination and order sequence of data input from the keyboard 6.

The total version number output section 13d reads the ROM version number and the RAM version number from the ROM version number storage section 11b and the RAM version number storage section 11c, respectively, based on the instruction from the version number output instruction section 12d, It has a function of editing the output format shown in (C) and outputting it to the printing unit 5.

Since it has such a configuration and function, the operation of printing out the program version number will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. 3. (1) The power is turned on by the power-on operation.

(2) When the output power supply becomes stable, the PRDY generator outputs the external 2b source ready signal.

■The ROM version number output unit 13b is activated by the power supply ready signal, reads out the ROM version number from the ROM version number storage unit 11b, edits it, and outputs it to the printing unit 5, thereby printing (Fig. 4(a) )reference).

■The IPL unit 12c loads the terminal control program into the RAM unit 31b via the line under the control of the bootstrap program in the ROM unit 21b, and sets the RAM version number to the RAM unit 31b.
It is stored in the M version storage unit 11c, and when the final program block is completely loaded, a loading completion notification is output.

■The RAM version number output unit 13c is activated by the load completion notification, reads out the RAM version number from the RAM version number storage unit 11c, edits it, and outputs it to the printing unit 5 to perform printing (Fig. 4 (bl) reference).

■Under the control of the loaded terminal control program, the station opening process is performed and the terminal enters the operational state.

■ Keys are manually operated from the keyboard 6.

■As a result of analyzing the sequence of key human data, when the end of the business is instructed, the termination process is performed and the office is closed. ■When the version number output is instructed, based on the instructions from the version number output instruction section 12d. , the total version number output instruction section 13d performs printing by reading the ROM version number and the RAM version number, editing them, and outputting them to the printing section 5 (see FIG. 4(C)), and outputs the [phase] version number. If there is no instruction, other processes such as product registration and payment are performed and the next key human effort is waited for.

Therefore, after the power is turned on, the ROM version number and after IPL, the RA
The M version number is automatically printed out, and after the start of operation, the program version number can be outputted at any time by key operation if necessary.

The version number output can be displayed on the display unit 4 in addition to printing on journals and receipts.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the program version number can be output automatically before the start of operation and at any time by key operation after the start of operation, so it is possible to accurately and easily determine the version number of the program currently in use. By outputting the version number in a journal, it is possible to record the past version number history, which is extremely useful for investigating device failures.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 is an example of the version number output format, Fig. 5 6 is a side view of the configuration of the POS system, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic register, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional example. In the figure, lb, IA, 1B... are electronic registers, 2a is a terminal control device, 4 is a display device, 5 is a printing device, 6 is a keyboard, 8 is a line control section, 11b is a ROM version number storage section, 11c 12 is a RAM version number storage unit, 12 is an instruction means, 12a and 12c are IPL units, 12b is a PRDY generation unit, 12d is a version output instruction unit, 13b is a ROM version output unit, 13c is a RAM version output unit, and 13d is all versions. 21a and 21b are ROM sections, and 31a and 31b are RAM sections. ``Basic Structure'' Moon Consultation Boot 0tsu 2nd Day 1 ■ ■ (d) Shaku 0 VII Class Bush (b) RAM Clothes Number Figure CC) A lot of slave clothes! Output form 2 food voice 4- Mouth PO 5 Jisnam 0 end 1 old glance 5 Mouth A Don't make an example of No. Lujista 6 Mouth

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An apparatus that performs data processing under program control, comprising: a storage unit (11) that stores version number data indicating a program change history; and an instruction means (12) that instructs to output the version number. , Based on the instruction from the instruction means (12), the storage section (11)
A data processing device comprising: an output means (13) for reading and outputting version number data from a data processor, and outputting the version number by printing or displaying it.