JP2748489B2 - Transaction processing terminal group management device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a POS (Point-Of-Sales) terminal group management device, and in particular, a POS terminal group having a PLU (Price Look Up) file. Regarding the management device.

[Prior Art] A POS terminal group management device uses a communication line (L
It has many functions to connect multiple POS terminal devices via AN and control the whole system including each POS terminal. One function of the POS terminal group management device is PLU file management and PLU processing.

A conventional POS terminal group management device manages a PLU file included in the device as follows.

As a PLU file, a high-speed, small-capacity PLU file that can read and write data in the file at a high speed but has a small data capacity, and a low-speed and small-capacity PLU file that has a large data capacity in the file but a slow data read / write process Large capacity
It had two types of PLU files. These two types of P
In LU files, PLU data of products that sell well, such as food, is frequently accessed, so it is registered in a high-speed, small-capacity PLU file. Conversely, PLU data that is infrequently accessed is registered in a low-speed, large-capacity PLU file. As a result, the average PLU processing time for reading and writing data in a file has been shortened. In addition, high-speed, small-capacity PLU files are configured in IC memory, and low-speed, large-capacity PLU files are configured in a hard disk drive. .

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the PLU file provided in the conventional POS terminal group management device has two types: a high-speed / small-capacity PLU file and a low-speed / large-capacity PLU file. Have been sorted and registered to one of the two types of PLU files depending on the access frequency. However, since the distribution of the PLU data was fixed, it was not possible to sufficiently respond to changes in daily sales volume of each product due to seasons, annual events, special sales, etc. Average P before processing PLU data
There is a problem that there is a large variation in LU processing time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide high-speed, small-capacity PLU data for each product in response to changes in daily sales volume by product.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transaction processing terminal group management device that can automatically distribute an LU file and a low-speed / large-capacity PLU file and always achieve the minimum average PLU processing time.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A transaction processing terminal group management device according to the present invention is a transaction processing terminal group management device connected to a plurality of transaction processing terminals and managing the transaction processing terminals in a group, It has the following features. That is, first storage means for storing in advance data relating to a product including sales volume data of the product on that day, and data relating to the product including sales volume data of the product for that day in advance, which are larger than the first storage device. With capacity
And a second storage means which can be accessed at a lower speed than the first storage means, a third storage means for storing temporal data relating to a sale time of the product, and the first and second storage means. Classifying means for reading the data, classifying the read data on the basis of the sales quantity data of the day and the temporal data stored in the third storage means, in a descending order of priority; And a distribution unit configured to store the data on the products classified in order in the first storage unit in that order and to store the rest in the second storage unit.

[Operation] In the transaction processing terminal group management device according to the present invention, the classification unit has a high priority every day based on the sales quantity data in the transaction process on that day and the temporal data stored in advance in the third storage unit. The data on the commodities classified in order is then stored in the first storage means by the sorting means in the order of higher priority, and the rest is stored in the second storage means. It is optimally allocated to the first and second storage means so that the processing time is always minimized.

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the system includes a POS terminal group management device 1 for controlling and monitoring the entire system including a plurality of POS terminals, and a POS terminal (connected to the POS terminal group management device 1 for performing transaction processing with a customer). 2) and a communication line (not particularly described) 3 for performing data transmission between the plurality of POS terminals 2 and the POS terminal group management device 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of the POS terminal group management device 1 shown in FIG. The POS terminal group management device 1 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) 10 for controlling and managing the entire device, a program memory 30 for storing a processing program and the like according to the present invention, The memory capacity of the IC memory 20 is small, the data capacity is large but the data access is low speed, the hard disk device 40, the flexible disk 60 for storing the data on the bargain products which are regularly determined, and the input / output processing of the flexible disk 60 are performed. A flexible disk driver 50, a calendar clock 70 used for judging timing such as a special sale date, a communication control unit 80 controlling data input / output between the POS terminal group management device 1 and each POS terminal 2 via the communication line 3, a CPU 10 I / O devices 20 to 5
A channel 90 for performing input / output control of 0 is provided. Further, the IC memory 20 includes a high-speed, small-capacity PLU file 20a for storing PLU data required for high-speed access, and the hard disk device 40 has a work area 40a, which is an area mainly used for data processing, and data access. It includes a low-speed, large-capacity PLU file 40b that stores a large amount of PLU data that is low-speed, and a seasonal / special sale item file 40c that stores data on seasonal items and bargain items.

FIG. 4 shows the PLU file shown in FIG.
An outline of the configuration of the LU file 20a and the low-speed / large-capacity PLU file 40b) is shown. FIG. 5 shows an outline of the configuration of the seasonal / sale product file 40c shown in FIG. Next, the configuration of each file will be described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG.

Both PLU files 20a and 40b shown in FIG. 4 store PLU data 21 in the same format for each product. Further, the PLU data 21 of each product includes a PLU code 21a corresponding to the product on a one-to-one basis, a product name 21b, a unit price 21c of the product,
Stores the sales quantity 21d of the product on the day (one day).

The seasonal product / sale product file 40c shown in FIG. 5 stores the PLU code 21a of the corresponding product, the season start date 41a and the season end date 41b indicating the sales period if the product is a seasonal product. For example, a special sale start date 41c and a special sale end date 41d indicating a special sale period are stored. The data on the special sale product stored in the special sale product file input flexible disk 60 shown in FIG. 3 is the same as the PLU code 21a, the special sale start date 41c, and the special sale end date 41d as shown in FIG. It has a configuration. Also, the data on the seasonal product and the bargain product are stored in one file as a seasonal / bargain product file because the formats of both configurations match.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the PLU data optimum distribution process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, the processing operation of the optimal distribution of PLU data will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that various programs related to data processing are all stored in the program memory 30.

The optimum distribution process of the PLU data 21 into the high-speed / small-capacity PLU file and the low-speed / large-capacity PLU file is performed every day after the transaction. First, in the transaction processing with a normal customer during the transaction time, step S1 (referred to as S1 in the figure)
Then, information on the transaction of each product is transmitted from each POS terminal 2 to the POS terminal group management device 1 via the communication line 3. The CPU 10 of the POS terminal group management device 1 obtains information on the transaction of each product via the communication control unit 80, and performs a process of updating the sales volume 21d of the product on the day. During the transaction process, many other processes are performed in parallel, but no particular description is given.

Next, a description will be given of the optimal distribution process of the PLU data 21 after the transaction time is completed in the POS terminal group management device 1 after step S2.

The optimal distribution processing of the PLU data 21 after the end of the transaction time is automatically performed every day at a fixed time. That is, in step S2, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the time measured by the calendar clock 70 is a predetermined optimal distribution processing start time. The determination in step S2 continues until the time counted by the calendar clock 70 reaches the start time, but if it is determined that the processing start time is reached, the process proceeds to the next step S3. In step S3, the CPU 10 executes the processing in step S1 based on a program related to a file operation in the program memory 30.
A high-speed / small-capacity PLU file 20a and a low-speed / large-capacity PLU file 40b having the same-day sales quantity 21d updated during the transaction processing of the same day on the work area 40a in the hard disk device 40
To load. At this time, the low-speed, small-capacity PLU file 20a
Is loaded from the IC memory 20 to the work area 40a in the hard disk device 40 via the channel 90. Thereafter, both PLUs
The file is processed in the work area 40a. In the next step S4, based on the program related to sorting in the program memory 30, the CPU 10 passes through both the PLU files loaded in the work area 40a in the step S3 and sorts the day's sales volume in descending order of the day's sales volume 21d. Sort. Next, in step S5, the flexible disk
It is determined whether or not new data relating to the 60 bargain products has been read into the work area 40a via the flexible disk driver 50. If new data has been read, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the CPU 10 updates the content of the data on the bargain product in the seasonal / bargain product file 40c to the content of the new data based on the file operation program in the program memory 30. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7. Step S5
If there is no new input relating to the bargain product in the judgment process of, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the CPU 10 executes the data 4 indicating the sales period of the seasonal / sale product file 40c processed in steps S5 and S6 based on the file operation program in the program memory 30.
Refer to the date of 1a to 41d and calendar clock 70,
PL for seasonal and bargain items that include the next day's date within the sales period
Extract the U code 21a. Next, in step S8, the CPU 10
Is a PLU code 21a extracted in step S7 based on a program related to file search in the program memory 30.
The high-speed / small capacity P in the work area 40a sorted in the
Search the LU file 20a. At the time of this search, the PLUs relating to the seasonal and bargain items of the next day extracted in step S7 above
It is determined whether or not all the data 21 is included in the high-speed / small-capacity PLU file 20a sorted in the descending order of the sales volume on the day. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that no PLU data 21 relating to the next day's seasonal and bargain products is stored in the sorted high-speed / small-capacity PLU file 20a, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the step
PLU code 2 of the special sale product or seasonal product of the next day that it was found in S8 that it was not stored in the high-speed, small-capacity PLU file 20a
Based on 1a, a low-speed / large-capacity PLU file 40b in the work area 40a sorted in step S4 is searched in the same manner as in step S8. As a result of the search, the PLU data 21 of the special sale item or the seasonal item on the next day is extracted from the low speed / large capacity PLU file 40b. Next, low-speed, large-capacity PLU file 40b
PLU data 21 and high-speed, small-capacity PLU file 20 extracted from
In P, the PLU data 21 of the product whose sales volume is small on the day is sequentially replaced. As a result, PLUs related to high-volume, seasonal and bargain items that require high-speed access
All data 21 are high-speed, small-capacity PLU that can be accessed at high speed
It will be stored in the file 20a. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S10. In the processing of the step S8, the PLU data 21 relating to the special sale product or the seasonal product of the next day is all sorted in the descending order of the sales volume.
If the data is stored in the U file 20a, the data is not replaced with the low speed / large capacity PLU file 40b, and the process proceeds to step S10.

The processes in steps S4 to S9 are performed on both PLU files loaded in the work area 40a in the process in step S3. As described above, PLU data on high-volume products, seasonal products, and special-selling products on the day are high-speed, small-capacity PLU files 20a that can be accessed at high speed.
, And the rest can be stored in the low-speed / large-capacity PLU file 40b. Next, in step S10, the CPU 10
Restores both PLU files for which PLU data has been optimally allocated in the work area 40a, based on a file operation program in the program memory 30. That is, the high speed and small capacity P in the work area 40a
LU file 20a from hard disk drive 40 to channel 90
To the IC memory 20 via. On the other hand, the low-speed / large-capacity PLU file 40b in the work area 40a is returned to the low-speed / large-capacity PLU file 40b in the same hard disk device 40.

Through the processing in steps S2 to S10, the PLU data can be optimally allocated in preparation for the next day's transaction processing. Finally, in step S11, each P
It clears (initializes) all data on the day's sales volume 21d in the LU file to prepare for the next day's transaction processing.

In the above embodiment, the sorting method or the searching method of both PLU files is not specified, but it is desirable that the processing speed is high, and the file operation and the data clear (initialization) operation are involved. Each file may be backed up in advance in preparation for data destruction. The control method between the input / output devices is a channel control method, but is not specified. Furthermore, external data is input via a flexible disk, but PLU data managed by the POS terminal group management device is displayed on a display, and various input devices (keyboard, mouse, light pen, tablet, touch sensor Data may be directly input from outside via a panel or the like.

According to this embodiment, two types of PLU files, high-speed / small-capacity / low-speed / large-capacity, are prepared, and at a fixed time after the end of daily trading, sales volume data for each product on the day and seasonal products / special sales for the next day Since the optimal distribution of PLU data is automatically performed according to the product data, the average PLU processing time can always be minimized by quickly responding to changes in sales volume by product due to seasonal / sale sales. .

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the transaction processing terminal group management device according to the present invention, each day, the sales quantity data in the transaction processing on that day and the temporal data previously stored in the third storage means are converted. First and second so that the data on the product based on the transaction always minimizes the average PLU processing time in the transaction processing
(1) The average PLU processing time can always be minimized in response to changes in sales volume due to, for example, seasons / special sales, and changes in daily sales volume for each product, and (2) The function improvement of (1) can be realized without adding hardware of the transaction processing terminal group management apparatus, so that cost performance is improved. (3) PLU data accessed from the outside can be obtained at the required access speed. According to the above, the two types of PLU files are distributed, so that the memory can be effectively used. (4) Since the above-mentioned distribution processing only needs to be completed by the start of the next day, the processing should be performed at midnight. (5) If the processing is performed at midnight, the CPU can be occupied, so that the processing speed can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the PLU data optimum distribution process according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
It is the schematic which shows the hardware constitutions of the POS terminal group management device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PLU file.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a seasonal product / sale product file. In the figure, 1 is a POS terminal group management device, 20a is a high-speed, small-capacity PLU
File, 40b is a low-speed / large-capacity PLU file, 40c is a seasonal / sale product file, 60 is a flexible disk,
70 indicates a calendar clock, 21 indicates PLU data, 21a indicates a PLU code, and 21d indicates sales volume on the day. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transaction processing terminal group management device connected to a plurality of transaction processing terminals and managing the transaction processing terminals in a group, wherein data relating to a product including sales volume data of the product is stored in advance. A first storage unit, which stores in advance data relating to a product including sales volume data of the product on that day, and has a larger capacity than the first storage unit;
A second storage unit that can be accessed at a lower speed than the first storage unit; a third storage unit that stores temporal data on a sale time of a product; and a storage unit that is stored in the first and second storage units. Classifying means for reading the read data, and classifying the read data based on the sales quantity data of the day and the temporal data stored in the third storage means in descending order of priority; A transaction processing terminal group comprising: distribution means for storing data relating to commodities classified in descending order of priority in the first storage means and distributing the rest in the second storage means. Management device.