JP4480694B2 - POS system and input / output control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of Sales) system installed in a store or the like, and more particularly to an input / output process of a POS system including a plurality of input devices such as a numeric keypad and a card reader.

  Conventionally, a POS system that performs sales management in a store or the like is known. Generally, a POS system includes an input device such as a numeric keypad, a barcode reader, or a card reader, an output device such as a display and a printer, and a control device that executes information processing related to data input / output from the input device and the output device. With.

  Examples of conventional techniques related to the POS system include those described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described later. The technique described in Patent Document 1 includes a unit that performs parallel-serial conversion between an input / output unit that handles serial data and a processing unit that handles parallel data, so that an integrated POS system and a separate POS system are provided. It is to share.

The technique described in Patent Document 2 includes a multitask management unit in a central control unit of a POS system including a plurality of POS input / output devices, and this multitask management unit turns on the power of each POS input / output device. In response to this, the corresponding task is activated and the task is terminated when the apparatus is turned off.
JP-A 63-305456 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-230393

  In a conventional POS system, processing for controlling an input device and processing for data input from the device are handled as a series of processing. Therefore, when inputting data with a plurality of input devices, it is necessary to set a specific input order. For example, in the checkout process at a cashier counter, after reading the price barcode of a product in order to calculate the total price, read additional information such as a point card prior to deposit processing, and finally enter the payment amount Alternatively, the order of reading the cash card is defined.

  However, when a specific input order is specified in this way, for example, when the input operation is not performed in the specified order, such as when the point card is read last in the above example, the input is not accepted, and as a result, the operation There is an inconvenience that redoing occurs. Therefore, a user of the POS system, such as a store employee, has to master a complicated operation procedure accurately as prescribed.

  In addition, for example, when the control method of the input device is changed or when some of the input devices are replaced, there is a problem that correction work on software becomes complicated. The reason is that the operation control of the input device and the information processing of the input data are handled integrally, and therefore, even for a partial change, the change target extends to the entire system.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for simplifying the handling of input / output devices in a POS system.

A POS system according to the present invention includes a plurality of input devices that input data relating to sales, and a control device that is connected to the plurality of input devices and performs information processing on input data input from the plurality of input devices. A POS system comprising:
In the control device, an input / output unit that performs input control on input data from the plurality of input devices and a processing execution unit that executes information processing are separately provided, and the input / output unit includes the plurality of inputs. An input conversion table storing information that associates input data from a device with an input device that has input the data and a function ID that indicates a processing type, and data is received from any one of the plurality of input devices; If input, the input conversion table is searched based on the input data to generate a message having a function ID indicating a processing type corresponding to the input data. And a function table storing information associating the process to be executed. When the message is sent from the input / output unit, the function table is searched. And executes the processing corresponding to the function ID of the serial message.

  According to the present invention, since the control of the plurality of input devices and the information processing regarding the data input from them are separately processed, it is possible to provide operational restrictions such as prescribing the input order in advance. It becomes unnecessary. Thereby, the operation in the POS system is simplified, and as a result, the business can be smoothly performed. Further, even if there is a change such as replacement of the input device, it is possible to prevent the software correction range accompanying the change from reaching the entire system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The POS system 100 of this embodiment includes an input device group 10 and an output device group 20, and a control device 50 connected thereto.

  The input device group 10 includes a plurality of input means 10_1 to 10_n such as a bar code reader, a magnetic card reader, and a function keyboard for inputting data required for sales management. The output device group 20 includes a plurality of output units 20_1 to 20_m including a printer and a display that output data necessary for sales management.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 50 exchanges messages regarding input / output data with the input device group 10 and the output device group 20 and messages regarding the input / output data with the input / output unit 30. And a processing execution unit 40. The input / output unit 30 and the process execution unit 40 have a functional configuration realized by a CPU (not shown) executing a program stored in a storage device (not shown) of the control device 50.

  The input / output unit 30 includes an input control unit 31 that processes data from the input device group 10 and an output control unit 33 that outputs data to the output device group 20. The process execution unit 40 includes an input / output engine 41 that executes a process corresponding to the message of the input control unit 31 from the processes of the main process 42 and supplies data to be output to the output control unit 33 in accordance with the process. .

  The input control unit 31 includes a communication function for controlling the operations of the input units 10_1 to 10_n of the input device group 10. Further, the input control unit 31 searches a later-described input conversion table 32 based on input data obtained by individual communication with the input device group 10 and specifies a function corresponding to the input data. Further, a message representing the function is created and notified to the process execution unit 40.

  The output control unit 33 supplies data to be output to the corresponding output means 20_1 to 20_n based on a message notified from the process execution unit 40 regarding the output process.

  The input / output engine 41 searches a later-described function table 43 based on the message received from the input control unit 31, and specifies a process corresponding to the function represented by the message. Then, the specified process is notified to the main process 42 and is executed. Further, the input / output engine 41 creates a message for data to be displayed on the output device group 200 in accordance with the processing executed by the main processing 42, and supplies it to the output control unit 33.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the input conversion table 32 referred to by the input control unit 31. The input conversion table 32 represents the relationship between the input data from the input device group 10, the input device that has input the data, and the data type.

  The example shown in FIG. 2 is an input conversion table 32 relating to input data in the “sales registration” mode. For example, when there is data input from a “barcode reader” which is one of the input means (10_1 to 10_n) in the “waiting for input in charge” state, the input control unit 31 sets the “in charge code input” " In this case, the input control unit 31 creates a message describing a predetermined “delivery data” in order to notify the input / output engine 41 of the “function ID” of “person in charge code input”, and outputs the message to the input / output engine. 41 is supplied.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the function table 43 referred to by the input / output engine 41. The function table 43 associates the “function ID” represented by the message from the input control unit 31 with the process to be executed by the main process 42. According to the illustrated table, for example, when the “function ID” is “input person in charge code”, “TANTO_IN” is set as a process to be executed. In this case, the input / output engine 41 instructs the main process 42 to execute “TANTO_IN”. As a result, the main process 42 executes “TANTO_IN”.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the output conversion table 34 referred to by the output control unit 33. The output conversion table 34 associates the “function ID” described in the message from the input / output engine 41 with the output process to be performed by the output device group 20. According to the illustrated table, for example, when the received “function ID” is “sales transaction end”, the output control unit 33 instructs the “receipt printer” as the output means to execute “sales receipt output”. Will do.

  The processing procedure of the input control unit 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when an input operation such as barcode reading occurs in the input device group 10, the input control unit 31 receives the input data (step A1).

  The input control unit 31 searches the input conversion table 32 based on the received data (step A2). At this time, if there is no corresponding information in the input conversion table 32 (step A3: No), that is, if the target data is not defined in the table in advance, the next data input is waited without receiving the input data.

  When the target data is defined in the input conversion table 32 (step A3: Yes), the input control unit 31 creates a message including the function ID obtained by the search (step A4). Then, the created message is transmitted to the input / output engine 41 (step A5).

  The input control unit 31 repeats the above procedure (steps A2 to A5) every time data input from the input device group 10 is received.

  The processing procedure of the input / output engine 41 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the input / output engine 41 receives the message from the input control unit 31 (step B1), the input / output engine 41 reads the function ID from the message and searches the function table 43 based on the read function ID (step B2). If there is no corresponding information in the function table 43 (step B3: No), it is determined that the function ID is not defined in advance, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the target function ID is defined (step B3: Yes), the input / output engine 41 recognizes the type of the process associated with the defined function ID, and executes the process as the main process 42. (Step B4). Further, the input / output engine 41 creates a message including data to be output to the output device group 20 and the function ID of the output process in accordance with the execution of the process in the main process 42 (step B5). Then, the created message is transmitted to the output control unit 33 (step B6).

  The input / output engine 41 repeats the above procedure (steps B2 to B6) every time a function ID message is received from the input control unit 31.

  The processing procedure of the output control unit 33 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the output control unit 33 receives a message from the input / output engine 41 regarding the output process (step C1), the output control unit 33 searches the output conversion table 34 based on the function ID described in the message (step C2). If there is no corresponding information in the output conversion table 34 (step C3: No), it is determined that the function ID is not defined in advance, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the target function ID is defined (step C3: Yes), the output control unit 33 causes the output unit (20_1 to 20_m) associated with the defined function ID to be executed by the output unit. A process is specified (step C4). Then, the specified output means is supplied with data to be output and instructed to output it (step C5).

  According to the embodiment described above, since the operation control for the input / output device (10/20) and the information processing of the input / output data are handled separately by the input / output unit 30 and the process execution unit 40, It is not necessary to provide operational restrictions such as defining the input order. Thereby, the operation in the POS system is simplified, and as a result, the business can be smoothly performed.

  In addition, it is possible to avoid a wide range of software correction due to device changes. The reason is that the processes related to the input / output devices are concentrated in the input / output unit 30. That is, for example, with respect to input data, since the input data from each input device (10) is converted into certain interface information such as “function ID”, each table (31/43) is changed when the input device is changed. It is only necessary to correct the target part of).

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration of an example of the above embodiment. This embodiment presents a more specific configuration regarding the POS system 100 of FIG. The POS system 100A of this embodiment is a system in which a portable small-sized POS terminal 200 is configured as the input / output unit 30 described above, and a personal computer 210 is configured as the processing execution unit 40.

  The small-sized POS terminal 200 is a portable information terminal including a bar code reader or card reader as the input unit 206 and a small display or receipt printer as the output unit 207. The small POS terminal 200 includes an input conversion table 32 and an output conversion table 34 in FIG. 1, an input conversion table 203 and an output conversion table 205 that perform the same functions as the input control unit 31 and the output control unit 33, and An input control unit 201 and an output control unit 202 are included.

  The personal computer 210 includes an input / output engine 212, a main process 213, a function table 214, master information 215, and sales information 216, which perform functions similar to those corresponding to FIG.

  The small-sized POS terminal 200 and the personal computer 210 communicate the above-described message relating to input / output processing by a wired LAN or wireless LAN communication function (204/211).

  According to this embodiment, since the main information processing related to the input / output data of the POS system is performed by the personal computer 210, the small POS terminal 200 includes the input / output device (206/207). Then, the present invention can be implemented with a relatively simple portable information terminal.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the input conversion table of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing regarding the function table of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing regarding the output conversion table of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the input control part of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the execution engine of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the output control part of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of one Example of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 POS system 10 Input device group 10_1-10_n Input means 20 Output device group 20_1-20_m Output means 30 Input / output part 31 Input conversion table 32 Input control part 33 Output control part 40 Process execution part 41 Input / output engine 42 Main process 43 Function Table 44 Master information 45 Sales information 50 Control device

Claims (4)

A plurality of input devices for inputting data relating to sales;
A control device connected to the plurality of input devices and executing information processing on input data input from the plurality of input devices;
A POS system having
In the control device, an input / output unit that performs input control on input data from the plurality of input devices and a process execution unit that executes information processing are separately provided,
The input / output unit includes an input conversion table storing information associating input data from the plurality of input devices, an input device that inputs the data, and a function ID indicating a processing type, and the plurality of input devices When data is input from any of the input devices, the input conversion table is searched based on the input data, and a message having a function ID indicating a processing type corresponding to the input data is generated. ,
The process execution unit has a function table storing information that associates the function ID with a process to be executed. When the message is sent from the input / output unit, the process execution unit searches the function table. A POS system that performs information processing corresponding to the function ID of the message . Furthermore, it has a plurality of output devices that output data relating to sales connected to the control device, and the input / output unit performs output control on the plurality of output devices, and the data processed by the processing execution unit The POS system according to claim 1 , wherein the POS system outputs to a corresponding output device . A plurality of input devices for inputting data relating to sales ;
A control device connected to the plurality of input devices and executing information processing on input data input from the plurality of input devices;
An input / output control method for a POS system having
In the control device, an input / output unit that performs input control on input data from the plurality of input devices and a process execution unit that executes information processing are separately provided,
The input / output unit includes an input conversion table storing information that associates input data from the plurality of input devices, an input device that inputs the data, and a function ID that indicates a processing type, and the processing execution unit includes: A function table storing information associating the function ID with a process to be executed;
When the input / output unit inputs data from any one of the plurality of input devices, the input conversion table is searched based on the input data to indicate a processing type corresponding to the input data. Generate a message with a function ID;
An input / output control method , wherein the processing execution unit searches the function table when the message is sent from the input / output unit, and executes information processing corresponding to the function ID of the message . Furthermore, it has a plurality of output devices that output data relating to sales connected to the control device, and the input / output unit performs output control on the plurality of output devices, and the data processed by the processing execution unit 4. The input / output control method according to claim 3 , wherein output is performed to a corresponding output device .

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