JP2647569B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for processing information while mutually exchanging information using a POS terminal and a plurality of handy terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a basic configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus. One optical adapter 2 is connected to one POS (abbreviation of “point of sale information management system”) terminal 1. The handy terminal 3 is connected to the optical adapter 2. The POS terminal 1 and the optical adapter 2 are connected by an RS-232C transmission line 4, and the optical transmission line 5 is connected between the optical adapter 2 and the handy terminal 3. RS-232C transmission line 4
According to standard interface standards such as OS terminal 1 and office computer, it can be easily connected. The handy terminal 3 is used for carrying information to be carried in a store or a warehouse, and sending the collected information to the POS terminal 1 or the like for processing. Therefore, it is desirable to be small and lightweight, and it is necessary to reduce power consumption. Therefore, Handy Terminal 3
The optical adapter 2 exchanges information using the optical transmission line 5. By making the distance of the optical transmission line 5 as short as possible with the optical adapter 2 and the handy terminal 3 close to each other, information can be exchanged with less power consumption and less susceptible to noise or the like. If the handy terminal 3 is provided with an interface conforming to the RS-232C standard, the POS terminal 1 can be directly connected without using the optical adapter 2.
Although it is possible to exchange information with the portable terminal 3, the power consumption of the handy terminal 3 is increased, the size is increased, and the weight is increased in order to electrically satisfy the RS-232C standard.

In a conventional information processing apparatus, the number of handy terminals 3 capable of exchanging information with one POS terminal is one RS-232C transmission line 4.
Is limited to one. When connecting one POS terminal 1 and a plurality of (n) handy terminals 3, it is necessary to prepare and connect the plurality of RS-232C transmission lines. Generally, RS-23 which can be used in POS terminal 1 or office computer, etc.
The number of 2C transmission lines 4 is limited, and a plurality of RS-232
It is difficult to use the C transmission path 4. In addition, PO
On the S terminal 1 side, a plurality of RS-232C transmission lines 4
Need to be handled separately. Therefore, RS-232
It is necessary to prepare programs for the number of combinations of the connection between the C transmission line 4 and the handy terminal 3 and perform communication. If you select the wrong program, POS Terminal 1
Communication with the handy terminal 3 cannot be performed accurately.

Since it is difficult to simultaneously connect a plurality of handy terminals 3 to the POS system 1 as described above, one handy terminal 3 is connected to one RS-232C transmission line 4 while replacing the handy terminal 3. It is possible. According to such a human action, it takes time and troubles such as an incorrect setting of the handy terminal 3 are likely to occur.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to connect a plurality of optical interface devices to a main processing device such as a single POS terminal to easily exchange information with a plurality of handy terminals. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that can perform the information processing.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a main signal processing apparatus, a plurality of optical interface apparatuses, a main signal processing apparatus and a single optical interface apparatus are connected so that information can be exchanged, and a first signal transmission is performed. A first transmission line conforming to the standard and an optical interface device are connected to each other so that information can be exchanged, and a second transmission line conforming to a second signal transmission standard is included. Each optical interface device has individual identification information set in advance. Setting means, an optical interface means capable of exchanging information via an optical signal, a detecting means for detecting whether or not the main processing unit is connected via the first transmission line, and a response to an output from the detecting means. A switching unit for switching to a master mode when connected to the main processing device and a slave mode when not connected to the main processing device. Force one select optical interface device, when selecting the self, through the optical interface means and the first transmission line connects the main processor,
When another optical interface device is selected, the selected optical interface device and the main processing device are switched to be connected via the second transmission line and the first transmission line,
When operating in the slave mode, when the identification information transferred via the second transmission path matches the identification information set in the setting means, switching is performed to connect the optical interface means to the second transmission path. And an information processing apparatus.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the main processing unit and one of the plurality of optical interface units are connected so as to be able to exchange information through a first transmission line conforming to a first signal transmission standard. Between the optical interface devices, a second signal transmission standard
Information is exchanged via a transmission line. If a standard generally provided in the main processing device is selected as the first signal transmission standard, the connection between the main processing device and the optical interface device is easy. Since the optical interface devices are connected according to the second signal transmission standard, by selecting a standard suitable for the operation of the optical interface device,
Reliable information exchange can be performed between the optical interface devices.

Each of the optical interface devices includes setting means,
It has optical interface means, detection means, and switching means. The optical interface means can exchange information with, for example, a handy terminal or the like via an optical signal.
The detecting means determines whether or not each optical interface device itself is connected to the main processing device via the first transmission line. The switching means responds to the output from the detecting means and, when connected to the main processing device, enters a master mode and sets one of the plurality of optical interface devices to the setting means. Select according to identification information. The switching means is connected to the selected optical interface device via the first transmission line when the self-selection is performed, and via the first and second transmission lines when the other optical interface device in the slave mode is selected. And the main processing unit so that the information can be exchanged. Therefore, even when any one of the plurality of optical interface devices is selected, the main processing device can exchange information similarly.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The POS terminal 10, which is one main processing device, is connected to optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m, which are a plurality of optical interface devices. One handy terminal 31, 3n, 3m is connected to each optical adapter 21, 2, n, 2m. The POS terminal 10 and one optical adapter 2n are connected by an RS-232C transmission line 40 as a first transmission line. The optical adapters 21, 2n, and 2m are mutually connected by an RS-485 transmission line 41 that is a second transmission line. Optical adapters 21,2n, 2m and handy terminals 31,3n,
3m are connected by optical transmission lines 51, 5n, and 5m, respectively. With this connection, the optical adapter 2n connected to the POS terminal 10 and the RS-232C transmission line 40 becomes a master device, and the other optical adapters 21 and
m is a slave unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the optical adapters 21, 2n, and 2m. Optical adapter 21,2
The operations of n and 2m are performed by a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “CPU”) 60. In the CPU 60,
The setting circuit 61 is connected. In the setting circuit 61, an address number and the like for mutually identifying the optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m are set. The operation of the CPU 60 is performed in accordance with a program code stored in a read-only memory (hereinafter, abbreviated as “ROM”) 62 and is a readable / writable memory (random access memory; hereinafter, “RA”).
M ”. ) 63 is used as a work area or the like. The optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m include an I / F 64 for RS-232C and an I / F 64 for RS-485 as an interface circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as "I / F") with the outside.
An F65 and a light I / F 66 are provided. The RS-232C transmission path 40 is connected to the RS-232C I / F. The I / F65 for RS-485 has
The RS-485 transmission path 41 is connected. I / F66 for light
, Handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m are connected via optical transmission lines 51, 5n, 5m. These I /
F64, 65 and 66 are connected to the CPU 6 via the switching circuit 67.
Connected to 0.

The first signal transmission standard, RS-232
C stands for the International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee ("CCITT")
Abbreviated. Recommendation V.) 24, V .; A standard by which the Electronic Industries Association of America (hereinafter abbreviated as "EIA") has determined interface conditions between a data terminal device (abbreviated as "DTE") and a line termination device (abbreviated as "DCE") in accordance with No. 28. And the Japanese Industrial Standards (abbreviated as "JIS")
Is defined as JISX5101. Although 25 signal lines are defined in this standard, in this embodiment, transmission data of pin number 2 ("SD" in JIS abbreviation) and reception data of pin number 3 ("RD" in JIS abbreviation) , A pin # 6 data set ready (JIS abbreviation "DR") and a pin number 20 data terminal ready (JIS abbreviation "ER"). Data transmission is performed in an asynchronous system.

The second signal transmission standard RS-485
Is a transmission line of a balanced operation capable of transmitting a signal of a maximum of 1200 m according to the EIA standard, and up to 32 input / output devices can be connected as a bus configuration. That is, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the RS-485 transmission line 41 includes a pair of balanced lines 42 and 43, and a terminating resistor 4
4, 45 are connected to form a bus circuit. This RS-
The 485 transmission line 41 includes receivers 71, 7 included in the RS-485 I / F 65 of the optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m.
n, 7m and drivers 81, 8n, 8m are commonly connected. The drivers 81, 8n, 8m are in a high impedance state when not activated, and do not hinder the operation of the activated drivers 81, 8n, 8m. Since the RS-485 transmission line 41 is of such a balanced type, it is hardly affected by noise mixed in from outside as a so-called common mode, and the distance over which signals can be transmitted can be increased. One of the control lines included in the RS-485 transmission line 41 is used for the SEL signal.

Optical transmission lines 51, 5 are provided between the optical adapters 21, 2, n, 2m and the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m.
n, 5m are connected to the handy terminals 31, 3
n, 3m power consumption, handy terminal 3
This is because 1, 3n, and 3m are small and lightweight. The optical transmission lines 51, 5n, and 5m are
The optical transmission lines 51, 5n, 5m are formed with the n, 2m and the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m almost in contact with each other. Since the distances of the optical transmission lines 51, 5n, and 5m are short,
The intensity of light from the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m may be small, and power consumption can be reduced.

The switching between the I / Fs 64, 65, and 66 and the connection with the CPU 60 as described above are performed by a switching circuit 67 shown in FIG. As an initial state, the switching circuit 67 switches the RS-232C I / F 64 to the CPU 60.
Connect to. The switching circuit 67 includes the I / Fs 64, 6
Level conversion and mode conversion between 5, 66 are also performed.

The connection between the optical adapters 21,2n, 2m and the handy terminals 31,3n, 3m is performed by the optical adapter 2
1,2n, 2m and Handy terminal 31,3n, 3m
Are substantially in contact with each other, and the light transmission paths 51, 5n, and 5m are performed in a small range. Thus, the output of light from the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m may be small, so that the power consumption of the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m can be reduced. For this reason, the handy terminals 31, 3n, and 3m can be operated with a small storage battery, and the rechargeable battery can be charged when exchanging information with the optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m. Such control of charging and the like is performed by the control circuit 68.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the optical adapters 21, 2n, and 2m in the embodiment shown in FIG. The operation starts from step a1, and in step a2, it is determined whether the data terminal ready signal ER of the RS-232C transmission line 40 is at a high level. The data terminal ready signal ER is
When n and 2m are not connected to the POS terminal, the level becomes low, and the slave mode is set in step a3. When the data terminal ready signal ER is at a high level, the master mode is set to operate as a master unit. Next, in step a4, the switching circuit 67 is switched,
The SEL signal of the RS-485 for connecting the RS-485 I / F 65 to the CPU 60 is set to a high level. Next, in step a5, an address for identifying the other optical adapter 21 or 2m is transmitted via the RS-485 transmission line 41. Next, in step a6, RS-48
It is determined whether there is an acknowledgment via the transmission line 41. When there is no positive response, in step a7,
The select address is increased by one and the next optical adapter 2
The process returns to step a5 by selecting 1, 2m.

If there is an affirmative response in step a6, the process proceeds to step a8. In step a8, the RS-232C data set ready signal DR
To a high level to notify the POS terminal 10 that the preparation of the optical adapters 21, 2, n, 2m has been completed. Next, in step a9, the optical adapter 2n that has become the master device sets the SEL signal of the RS-485 to the low level, and switches the switching circuit 67 between the RS-485 transmission line 41 and the RS-232C transmission line 40. By
The connection is established in step a10, and the process ends in step a11.

When the optical adapter 2n selects itself,
The optical transmission line 5n and the RS-232C transmission line 40 are connected by switching the switching circuit 67.

FIG. 5 shows an optical adapter 2 serving as a slave unit.
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 1 and 2m. The process proceeds from step a3 to step b1 in FIG. 4, and in step b2, it is determined whether the SEL signal of RS-485 is at a high level. In step a4 of FIG.
When the L signal is at the high level, step b3
Then, the select address transmitted in step a5 of FIG. 4 is received. At step b4, it is determined whether or not the select address matches the address set in the setting circuit 61. If the select addresses match (OK), the process proceeds to step b5, where RS-485 is set.
An acknowledgment is made via the transmission line 41. This response is received by the master unit 2n, and steps a6 to a8 in FIG.
And the processing of step a9 is performed, and the RS-485 S
The EL signal goes low. In step b6, the process waits until the SEL signal goes low. Next, in step b7, the switching circuit 67 is controlled to connect the optical I / F 66 to the RS-485 I / F 65. In step b2, when the SEL signal is not at the high level, when the select addresses do not match in step b4, when the connection in step b7 is terminated, the operation in the slave mode is terminated in step b8.

As described above, the optical I / Fs 6 of the optical adapters 21, 2n, and 2m selected by the select address.
6 is connected via an RS-485 transmission line 41 or directly to an RS-232C transmission line 40 so that information can be exchanged. The POS terminal 10 includes optical adapters 21 and
When the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m are connected to n, 2m so that information can be exchanged, information is exchanged. When the handy terminals 31, 3n, 3m are not connected, no information exchange is performed. POS terminal 10
Indicates that the information exchange with the handy terminal 31, 3n, 3m has been completed, or
When 3n and 3m are not connected, the operation from step a1 in FIG. 4 is repeated. In this way, the plurality of optical adapters 21,2n, 2m are sequentially selected, and the POS terminal 10 and the plurality of handy terminals 31,3n,
Information exchange between 3m is performed.

In each of the above embodiments, the RS-232C transmission line 40 is used as the first transmission line, and the RS-232C transmission line is used as the second transmission line.
Although the -485 transmission line 41 is used, it is needless to say that other standards may be used. The optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m have handy terminals 31, 3,
Although n and 3m are connected, other devices such as a barcode reader and a measuring device may be connected.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, one of the plurality of optical interfaces is connected to the main processing device, and the optical interface device connected to the main processing device is one of the plurality of optical interface devices. Is switched to be connected to the main processing device so that information can be exchanged, so that the main processing device is connected to the plurality of optical interface devices in the same manner as when one optical interface device is connected. Can exchange information. by this,
Information exchange between a single POS terminal or office computer and a handy terminal via multiple optical interface devices can be performed without human intervention, reducing troubles such as setting mistakes and reducing time. The effect of can be obtained.

Also, by selecting a standard generally provided in the main processor such as RS-232C as the first signal transmission standard, the optical interface device can be easily connected to the main processor. it can. Since the plurality of optical interface devices are connected in accordance with the second signal transmission standard, the second signal transmission standard is different from the first signal transmission standard, for example, the first signal transmission standard such as RS-485. By using a more improved transmission path, it is easy to increase the distance between the optical interface devices and to ensure the operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the optical adapters 21, 2n, and 2m shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration related to an RS-485 transmission line 41 illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the optical adapters 21, 2, n, and 2m shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a conventional information processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 POS terminal 21,2n, 2m Optical adapter 31,3n, 3m Handy terminal 40 RS-232C transmission line 41 RS-485 transmission line 60 CPU 61 Setting circuit 62 ROM 63 RAM 64 RS / 232C I / F 65 RS-485 I / F 66 Light I / F 67 Switching circuit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main processing unit, a plurality of optical interface units, a first transmission line that connects the main processing unit and one optical interface unit so that information can be exchanged, and conforms to a first signal transmission standard; Connect the optical interface devices so that information can be exchanged,
A second transmission line conforming to a second signal transmission standard, wherein each optical interface device comprises: setting means in which individual identification information is set in advance; optical interface means capable of exchanging information via an optical signal; Detecting means for detecting whether or not the processing device is connected to the first transmission path; and responding to an output from the detecting means, and when connected to the main processing device, a master mode is set; Switching means for switching to a slave mode when not operating, and when operating as a master mode, selecting one of the plurality of optical interface devices from among the plurality of optical interface devices; When another optical interface device is selected by connecting the main interface to the main processing device, a second transmission path is connected between the selected optical interface device and the main processing device. And switching to connect via the first transmission line. When operating as a slave mode, when the identification information transferred via the second transmission line matches the identification information set in the setting means, the optical interface An information processing apparatus having switching means for switching the means and the second transmission path to be connected.