JPH0484319A - Load module transfer mechanism for pos device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely perform a maintenance work by automatically transferring the content of a lode module library for controller provided on a POS controller side. CONSTITUTION:The latest load module is stored in a load module library DK2 provided on a POS controller side. When a load module library transferring request is made from one of POS terminals (12-1)-(12-n), the content of the load module library DK2 on the POS controller side is automatically transferred to the load module library DK4 of the POS terminal and the content of the library DK4 is updated to the latest load module. Therefore, the need of a system maintenance personnel to successively visit all POS terminals for maintenance work is eliminated and the maintenance work of the POS terminals is facilitated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is directed to a plurality of POS (Point of 5al
es) Regarding a POS device composed of a terminal and a POS controller that controls these, and in particular regarding a load module transfer mechanism suitable for maintaining the load module library on the POS terminal side with the latest contents [Prior art] Current In stores in the distribution industry where multiple POS terminals are installed, multiple POS terminals are often controlled by one POS controller.

However, since it is the POS terminal installed in the sales floor that has the function of inputting sales information and issuing receipts or slips,
It must be avoided that all POS terminals stop functioning due to a failure of the POS controller. Also,
It is necessary to prevent a failure of one POS terminal from affecting the other POS terminals. From this perspective, with the aim of improving the reliability of POS devices and shortening recovery time, each POS terminal itself has a load module library, and this library stores system programs such as the operating system used by that terminal. It is often done to save load modules containing files, user data, etc.

In POS devices where each POS terminal has a load module library, maintenance related to changing, adding, or deleting load modules naturally targets the load module library that exists in all POS terminals. Become.

Therefore, in the past, during maintenance, system maintenance personnel or store clerks under their instructions visited all POS terminals in the store and performed maintenance work on each load module library, that is, using newly created load modules. I was working on things like rewriting the contents of the load module library.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the method in which a system maintenance person or a store clerk instructed by the system maintenance person visits all POS terminals and performs maintenance work on each load module library, it is difficult to complete the maintenance work until the maintenance work is completed. requires a lot of time and effort. Furthermore, since everything is done manually, work errors are likely to occur, and situations such as some POS terminals being left unmaintained and some load modules remaining unmaintained are likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable easy and reliable maintenance work to maintain the load module library on the POS terminal side with the latest content.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention develops a load module library for each terminal and provides a plurality of POs that operate according to the load modules stored in the library.
In a POS device including an S terminal and a POS controller that controls a plurality of these POS terminals, the POS controller side includes a controller load module library, a revision of this controller load module library side, and a load module for each of the terminals. A management file for managing revisions on the library side; a load module input means for updating the controller load module library with a load module for a POS terminal stored in a storage medium; and receiving a load module library transfer request from the POS terminal. POS terminal management means that compares the revision on the controller load module library side managed by the management file with the revision on the POS terminal side that sent the request, and issues a load module library transfer instruction if they do not match; , load module sending means for sending the contents of the controller load module library to the POS terminal that sent the request when a load module library transfer instruction is issued from the POS terminal management means, each of the POS terminals side a control means for sending a load module library transfer request to the POS controller, a load module receiving means for receiving the load module sent from the POS controller, and a load module received by the load module receiving means to be sent to the own POS. and load module output means for outputting to a terminal load module library of the terminal.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the PO
The control means on the S terminal side is configured to send out the load module library transfer request when the own POS terminal is powered on, and furthermore, the load module sending unit on the POS controller side transfers the contents of the controller load module library. It has a configuration that physically sends the file to the POS terminal from the beginning of the file without being aware of the file format.

[Effect]

In the present invention, a controller load module library provided on the POS controller side is used for each POS controller.
In addition to holding the current latest load module to be stored in the terminal load module library of the terminal, the management file manages the revision of the controller load module library side and the visitor number of each terminal load module library side. When maintaining the terminal load module library of each POS terminal,
A load module input means provided on the POS controller side inputs the latest load module for the POS terminal created by a POS load module development device or the like and stored in a storage medium to update the load module library for the controller. .

After that, when an order is placed such as when the power of the POS terminal is turned on, the control means of the POS terminal sends a load module library transfer request to the POS controller.
The OS terminal management means compares the revision on the controller load module library side managed by the management file and the revision on the POS terminal side that sent the request, and if they do not match, issues a load module library transfer instruction and performs the load. In response, the module sending means physically transfers the contents of the controller load module library from the beginning of the file, without being aware of the file format, to the POS terminal that sent the request, and the POS terminal does not load the content. The module receiving means receives the load module sent from the POS controller, and the load module output means outputs the received load module to the terminal load module library of its own POS terminal and rewrites it to the latest content. As a result, maintenance of the load module library of the POS terminal is completed, and maintenance of other POS terminals is performed in the same manner.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a POS device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The POS device shown in the figure includes a plurality of POS terminals 121 to 12-n and a POS controller 11 communicably connected to them via communication paths L1 to Ln.

The POS controller 11, as in the past, controls multiple POS
In addition to having a function to control the terminals 12-1 to 12-n, the POS load module library DK2.
POS terminal management file DK3. Load module input section 111. It includes a POS terminal management section 112 and a load module sending section 113. A keyboard KB is connected to the POS controller 11, and a floppy disk medium DKI is set in a floppy disk drive (not shown) during maintenance. On the other hand, each of the POS terminals 12-1 to 12-n has the function of inputting sales and issuing receipts or slips in the same manner as before, and also has the function of inputting sales and issuing receipts or slips, as well as POS load module library DK4.
Load module receiving section 121. It includes a load module output section 122 and a control section 123.

The POS load module library DK2 of the POS controller 11 is the latest released revision of the POS load module library DK2.
This is a library that holds load modules for S terminals.

The POS terminal management file DK3 is a file that manages the revisions of the POS load module library DK2 on the POS controller 11 side and the revisions of the P○S load module library DK4 and the like on each POS terminal side. This POS terminal management file DK3 is stored in each POS terminal 12-1 as shown in the upper or lower part of FIG.
The release revision (
2,01, etc.) and release date (89,0B, 20, etc.)
and release time (time; 09:00, etc.).

The floppy disk medium DKI is a medium that stores load module files etc. created by the POS load module development device.
Such a floppy disk medium is provided for the installation of an OS device. Figure 3 shows Fronbi disk media DKI.
An example of the contents is shown, and includes release information (R2, 02) 31 and a POS o -F module file 32.

The load module input unit 111 inputs the P stored in the floppy disk medium DKI provided to the POS device.
OS load module file 32, keyboard KB
Release information 31 that is output to the POS load module library DK2 and stored in the floppy disk medium DKI according to instructions for addition or update from etc.
This is means for performing processing such as updating the release revision corresponding to the controller ID in the POS@ terminal management file DKa.

The POS terminal management unit 112 manages the POS terminals 121 to 12-
When a load module library transfer request 41 including a POS terminal ID as shown in FIG.
The release revision corresponding to the POS terminal ID included in the file is compared, and if they are not equal, the load module sending unit 113 is instructed to transfer the load module library by specifying the POS terminal ID, and if they are equal, the current load This means does not accept the module library transfer request, and performs an operation such as notifying the requesting POS terminal of this fact.

Furthermore, when output completion information is sent from a POS terminal, it also has a function of updating the release revision, etc. corresponding to that POS terminal in the POS terminal management file DKa.

Load module sending unit] 13 is the POS terminal management unit 1
12 issues a load module library transfer instruction, the POS load module library DK
This is a means of physically sending the contents of 2 to a designated POS terminal from the beginning of the file without being aware of the file format.

On the other hand, the POS load module library DK4 provided in the POS terminal 12-1 is a library for holding and managing load modules in the POS terminal 12-1 itself, and the POS terminal 12-1 is stored in this library. It operates according to the loaded module.

When the power switch SW is turned on to power on the POSa terminal 12-1 and the system starts up, the control unit 123 immediately sends the ID of the own terminal 12-1 to the POS controller 11 via the communication path L1. 4th including
This means has functions such as sending out a load module library transfer request 41 as shown in the figure, and then, upon receiving output completion information from the load module output section 122, transmitting it to the POS controller 11 via the communication path L1.

The load module receiving unit 121 is a means for receiving the load module sent from the POS controller 11 via the communication path L1.

The load module output unit 122 is a means for outputting the load module received by the load module receiving unit 121 to the POS low F module library DK4, and transmits output completion information to the control unit 123 when the output is completed.

Other POS terminals 12n, etc. other than POS terminal 12-1 are also connected to P.
It has the same configuration as the OS terminal 12-1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

When it is necessary to update a load module for a POS terminal, such as adding, modifying or deleting it, a load module with such updates is created using the POS load module development device and stored on a floppy disk medium along with its release information. . Then, such a floppy disk medium is distributed to the installed light of each POS device as the floppy disk medium DKI shown in FIG.

In the distribution destination POS device, set the distributed floppy disk medium DKI in the floppy disk drive device (not shown) of the POS controller 11, and operate the keyboard KB to load the POS load module library D.
Instructs to update K2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the contents of the floppy disk medium DKI just distributed include release information 31 including release revision 2.02 and a POS load module file 32, and includes the P of the POS controller 11.
Assuming that the contents of the OS terminal management file Jl/DK3 are as shown in the upper part of FIG. At the same time, the release revision corresponding to controller-71D of the POS terminal management file DK3 is output (2,
02) and the release date and time (89.08.19.19:00 in the example in the figure).

Now, after that, turn on the power switch SW of POS terminal 12-1.
is turned on and the power is turned on to the POS terminal 12-1, the control unit 123 sends a load module library transfer request to the POS controller 11 via the communication path L1 as shown in FIG. 4, including the ID (POSNa001) of the own terminal. 41 is sent.

This load module library transfer request 41 is a POS
The information is transmitted to the POS terminal management unit 112 of the controller 11, and the POS terminal management unit 112 refers to the POS terminal management file DK3, and in the lower state of FIG. Since the revision is (2,01) and the release revision of the POS controller 11 is (2,02), the load module library transfer request 41 is accepted and the load module library is transferred specifying the rD of the POS terminal 12-1. The instruction is given to the load module sending unit 113.

In response, the load module sending unit 113 sends the PO
The contents of the S load module library DK2 are physically sent to the POS terminal 12-1 without being aware of the file format.

POS load module library DK sent above
The contents of 2 are received by the load module receiving section 121 of the POS terminal 12-1 and passed to the load module output section 122, and this load module output section 122 outputs the POS
It is output to a predetermined location in the S load module library DK4. As a result, the contents of the POS load module library DK4 are changed to the release revision (2,01
) has been rewritten to the content corresponding to (2,02).

When the load module output unit 122 completes the output, it transmits the output completion information to the control unit 123, and the control unit 123 adds the ID of its own terminal to this and sends it to the POS via the communication path L1.
It is sent to the controller 11.

This output completion information is sent to the POS controller 11f71PO.
The information is transmitted to the S terminal management unit 112 and the POS terminal management unit 11
2 is POS terminal management file DK317) Pos' end 1
2-1(7) Store the release revision corresponding to ID (POSk001) in the POS load module library D.
Update to the same (2,02) as K2, and update the release date and release time at the same time. As a result, the contents of the POS terminal management file DK3 change from the state shown at the bottom of FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG. 5, for example. That is, (POSN(LOOI
), the POS terminal 12-1 is managed as having a load module with the same release revision as the release revision of the POS controller 11 example.

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 5, if the power of the POS terminals 12-1 is turned on again, for example, the next day,
The load module library transfer request 41 is sent from the POS terminal 12-1 in the same manner as described above. However, at this time, since the release revision of the POS terminal 12-1 and the release revision of the POS controller 11 example are equal in the POS terminal management file DK3 of the POS controller 11, the POS terminal management section 11
2 does not accept the load module library transfer request 41, so the load module is not transferred. At this time, the POS terminal management unit 112 sends a load module library transfer request to the requesting POS@terminal 12-1. Upon receiving the notification, the control unit 123 of the POS terminal 12-1 promptly starts normal operation.

The above operation is for the POS terminal 12-1, but other POS terminals 12-n etc. also apply to the POS terminal 12-1.
It operates in the same way.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, if the latest load module is stored in the load module library provided on the POS controller side, then when a load module library transfer request is issued from each POS terminal, the POS controller The contents of the side load module library are automatically transferred to the load module library of each POS terminal side, and the contents of each library are updated to the latest load module, so system maintenance personnel etc. can visit all POS terminals. There is no need to perform maintenance work sequentially, which simplifies maintenance work.

Furthermore, since the entire load module library is automatically updated, it is possible to prevent a situation in which some load modules remain unmaintained.

Furthermore, by issuing the load module library transfer request when the power of the POS terminal is turned on, maintenance failures can be completely eliminated.

Furthermore, the POS controller side manages revisions and the P that issues the load module library transfer request.
By transferring the load module library only when the revision on the OS terminal side is not the latest revision, it is less wasteful than the method of transferring the load module library unconditionally at power-on, etc. without revisit management. Transfer operation can be eliminated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the ss end management file DK3 and its transition; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the floppy disk medium DKI; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the load module transfer request 4I; It is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the POS terminal management file DK3 after POS terminal ■2-1 maintenance. In the figure, 11... POS controller III... Load module input section 112... POS terminal management section 113... Load module sending section KB... Keyboard DKI... Floppy disk medium DK2... POS Load module library DK3
...POS terminal management file 12-1~] 2-n-POS terminal 121...Load module receiving unit 122...Load module output unit 123...Control unit DK4...POS load module library SW・
...Power switches L1 to Ln...Communication path patent applicant: 1 person other than NEC Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a POS device including a plurality of POS terminals each having a load module library for terminals and operating according to load modules stored in the library, and a POS controller controlling the plurality of POS terminals, the POS controller side a load module library for the controller, a management file that manages the revisions of the load module library for the controller and the revisions of the load module library for each terminal, and the load module for the POS terminal stored in the storage medium. load module input means for updating a load module library for a controller; and a POS that sent the request and the revision of the load module library for the controller managed in the management file by receiving a load module library transfer request from a POS terminal; POS terminal management means that compares the revision with the revision on the terminal side and issues a load module library transfer instruction if they do not match; and the POS terminal management means issues a load module library transfer instruction, thereby updating the load module library for the controller load module sending means for sending the content to the POS terminal that sent the request; control means for sending a load module library transfer request to the POS controller on each of the POS terminal sides; A POS device comprising: load module receiving means for receiving a load module received by the load module receiving means; and load module output means for outputting the load module received by the load module receiving means to a terminal load module library of its own POS terminal. Load module transfer mechanism. (2) The load module transfer mechanism in a POS device according to claim 1, wherein the control means on each POS terminal side is configured to send out the load module library transfer request when the power of the own POS terminal is turned on. (3) The load module sending unit on the POS controller side is configured to physically send the contents of the controller load module library to the POS terminal from the beginning of the file without being aware of the file format. A load module transfer mechanism in a POS device.