JP4516896B2 - POS system and its POS control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS (Point Of Sales) system and a POS control system thereof, and more particularly, to control from two types of POS terminals to the same device in a POS system for a gas station (gas station).

  In recent years, at gas stations, refueling customers can operate the outdoor terminal (POS terminal) after entering / stopping the vehicle in the lane prepared for refueling, and can instruct the oil type to be refueled to refuel the meter. The number of self-gas stations that perform refueling work using the refueling nozzles of the weighing machines has increased.

As a POS system used in such a self-gas station, for example, there is a self-fueling system described in Patent Document 1. This system includes a plurality of weighing machines, a plurality of external terminals, and a POS device for connecting the two, and the POS device responds to information on the financial card read by the external terminal and the selected service. After determining whether or not the metering machine can be refueled and confirming whether or not the financial card is legitimate, the processing according to the card type is permitted.
JP 2004-106871 A

  In a POS system used in a conventional self-gas station or the like, an RS485 system control device is used as a general interface used for communication between a POS terminal and a weighing machine.

  In RS485 system control, a polling / selecting system is employed. In this method, a control device (hereinafter referred to as “master station”) that performs control inquires of a control target device (hereinafter referred to as “slave station”) that receives control about the presence or absence of transmission data. Each slave station sends data only when this polling is addressed to itself. When the master station wants to send data to the slave station, the master station sends the data after performing “selecting” asking the slave station whether transmission is possible.

  When such a polling / selecting method is used, when the same device is controlled as a slave station from the master station, there is usually only one master station. For this reason, in a POS system for a gas station, when trying to control the same controlled device (such as a weighing machine) as a slave station from the master station of two POS systems (system 2), the following problems are assumed. Is done.

  6A and 6B show an example of the system configuration of the second system.

In the example of FIG. 6A, two POS terminals A and B ( 110 , 120 ) are provided as main stations (main stations A, B) of a polling / selecting method in a POS system for a gas station. Among these, outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (111 to 113) as slave stations are connected to the POS terminal A ( 110 ) so as to be communicable via a network. Outdoor terminals B1 to B3 (121 to 123 ) as slave stations are connected to the POS terminal B ( 120 ) via a network. Weighing machines 1 to 3 (131 to 133) are connected via a network as slave stations (slave stations 1 to 3) of the same RS485 device shared by the two POS terminals A and B ( 110 , 120 ). Outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (111 to 113), outdoor terminals B1 to B3 (121 to 123), and weighing machines 1 to 3 (131 to 133) are installed for lanes 1 to 3 of the gas station, respectively.

As shown in the example of FIG. 6A, by simply connecting the POS terminals A and B ( 110 , 120 ) and the weighing machines 1 to 3 (131 to 133), a plurality (two in the example shown in the figure). POS terminal serving as the main station) is on the same network. Therefore, in practice, the device configuration as shown in FIG.

Therefore, in the case of a two-system system configuration, as shown in the example of FIG. 6B, it is necessary to take a device configuration in which the weighing machines connected to each POS terminal do not exist on the same network. In the example of FIG. 6 (b), an outdoor terminal to the POS terminal A (110) A1, A2 (111 and 112), the weighing machine 1 (131, 132) is an outdoor to the POS terminal B (120) terminal B3 ( 123) and weighing machine 3 (133) are connected to the network. In this configuration, the refueling customer moves to lanes 1 and 2 when using the outdoor terminals A1 and A2 (111 and 112) as the payment means, and moves to lane 3 when using the outdoor terminal B3 (123). It is considered that there is a higher possibility that this will lead to a decrease in the refueling turnover rate and a loss of sales.

In the example of FIG. 7, in order to enable a two-system system configuration as shown in FIG. 6A, the POS terminals A and B ( 110 , 120 ) and the weighing machines 1 to 3 (131 to 133) An example in which the RS485 data relay device 140 is interposed in the joint portion is shown. An example of a data transmission / reception sequence in this case is shown in FIGS.

In the example of FIG. 7, the POS terminal A, the telegram exchanged in the polling / selecting operation for controlling the weighing machines 1 to 3 (131 to 133) shared by the POS terminals A and B ( 110 , 120 ) are If both control messages from B ( 110 , 120 ) are transmitted to the weighing machines 1 to 3 (131 to 133) fairly, there may be cases where the control message sequence does not hold.

For example, as shown in the data transmission / reception sequence example (1) in FIG. 8A, a control message for refueling permission from the POS terminal A ( 110 ) is transmitted to the weighing machine 1 (131) via the RS485 data relay device 140. (Steps S <b> 101 and S <b> 102) After that, a case where a control message for stopping refueling from the POS terminal B ( 120 ) is transmitted to the weighing machine 1 (131) via the RS485 data relay device 140 is considered (Steps S <b> 103 and S <b> 104). . In this case, the state of the weighing machine 1 (131) held by the POS terminal A ( 110 ) is the refueling permission state, but the weighing machine 1 (131) sends a control message for stopping refueling from the POS terminal B ( 120 ). Since it is in a refueling stop state, a mismatch occurs between the POS terminal A ( 110 ) and the weighing machine 1 (131).

The transmission, contrary to the above, the POS terminal A, B (110, 120) which of the POS terminal A a reply message from the weighing machine 1 to 3 (131 to 133) to be shared, the B (110, 120) Since there is no criterion for determining whether to do so, the POS terminals A and B ( 110 , 120 ) may receive an unintended message, thereby causing inconvenience.

For example, as shown in the data transmission / reception sequence example (2) of FIG. 8A, a control message for refueling permission from the POS terminal A ( 110 ) is transmitted to the weighing machine 1 (131) via the RS485 data relay device 140. (Steps S111 and S112), and then a refueling end message from the weighing machine 1 (131) is transmitted to the POS terminals A and B ( 110 and 120 ) via the RS485 data relay device 140, respectively (Steps S113 to S113). Consider S115). In this case, the POS terminal A ( 110 ) receives an intended message, but the POS terminal B ( 120 ) receives an unintended message, which may cause fraud.

  Therefore, in the example of FIG. 7, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), there is a mismatch between the state managed on the POS terminal side and the state of the weighing machine itself, or the intention on the POS terminal side. There is a problem that inconvenience is caused by receiving a message not to be received.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such conventional circumstances, and in the device control of the polling / selecting method, realizes control from a plurality of POS systems serving as master stations for the same device serving as a slave station. The purpose is to do.

To achieve the above object, a POS system according to the present invention includes a first POS terminal that functions as a main station for polling / selecting operation, and a second POS terminal that functions as a main station for polling / selecting operation; POS control for controlling transmission / reception of telegrams by polling / selecting operation between a control target device functioning as a slave station for polling / selecting operation, the first and second POS terminals, and the control target device The POS control system is communicably connected to the first POS terminal and communicates with the first POS terminal functioning as a slave station of the first POS terminal and the second POS terminal. A second slave station interface connected to the second POS terminal and capable of functioning as a slave station of the second POS terminal; A predetermined connection by the polling / selecting operation between one of the first and second POS terminals and the control target device. When the electronic message is exchanged, the priority system setting means for setting one of the first and second POS terminals as the priority system and the priority system setting means until the predetermined control sequence is completed. Based on the priority system, the electronic message is exclusive between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device via the first and second slave interface and the master station interface. and received by distributing, out of the POS terminal, message to the control target device from the POS terminal that is not set as the priority system having a a message transmission and reception means does not transmit It is characterized in.

  In the present invention, the priority system setting means includes a storage unit that stores priority system setting data corresponding to one of the first and second POS terminals, and condition data for setting the priority system. A condition table to be registered; data of a received message received via the first slave station interface, the second slave station interface, or the master station interface; and the current priority system stored in the storage unit Means for determining the priority system based on setting data and condition data registered in the condition table; and means for setting the determined priority system in the storage unit as the priority system setting data. You may have.

  In the present invention, the apparatus further includes a first outdoor terminal that functions as a slave station of the first POS terminal, and a second outdoor terminal that functions as a slave station of the second POS terminal. May be an RS485 device. The RS485 device may have a meter for a gas station. The predetermined control sequence may be a control sequence from the start of refueling to the end of refueling by the weighing machine.

A POS control system according to the present invention includes a first POS terminal that functions as a main station for polling / selecting operation, a second POS terminal that functions as a main station for polling / selecting operation, and a polling / selecting operation. The POS system is used in a POS system having a control target device functioning as a slave station of the mobile station, and controls transmission / reception of messages by polling / selecting operations between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device. A control system communicably connected to the first POS terminal, connected to the first POS terminal functioning as a slave station of the first POS terminal, and communicatively connected to the second POS terminal; A second slave interface that functions as a slave station of the second POS terminal and a communicable connection to the control target device A predetermined telegram is exchanged by the polling / selecting operation between the main station interface functioning as the main station of the control target device and one of the first and second POS terminals and the control target device. In this case, based on the priority system set by the priority system setting means and the priority system setting means for setting one of the first and second POS terminals as the priority system until the predetermined control sequence is completed. Thus, the telegrams are exclusively distributed between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device via the first and second slave interface and the master station interface. and, among the POS terminals, message to the control target device from the POS terminal that is not set as the priority system and characterized by having a message transmission and reception means does not transmit That.

  According to the present invention, in the polling / selecting device control, it is possible to realize control from a plurality of POS systems serving as master stations for the same device serving as a slave station.

  Next, a best mode for carrying out a POS control system according to the present invention and a POS system for a gas station using the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, in the RS485 system device control used as a general interface in a POS system for a gas station, two types of POS systems are used for RS485 devices (such as weighing machines) which are the same control target devices. The control from is realized. In the following description, the configuration of the two types of POS systems is referred to as “system 2”.

  FIG. 1 explains the outline of a POS system for a gas station according to the present embodiment.

  The POS system for a gas station shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a self-gas station where a refueling customer refuels himself. As a two-point POS system for RS485 system control, the main station of the polling / selecting system Two POS terminals A and B (10, 20) constituting A and B and a plurality (three in the example in the figure) of outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 11) constituting slave stations of the POS terminal A (10) 13) and a plurality of (three in the example in the figure) outdoor terminals B1 to B3 (21 to 23) constituting the slave stations of the POS terminal B (20). As control target devices controlled by these two POS systems, weighers 1 to 3 (31 to 33), which are RS485 devices, are provided.

  The POS terminal A (10) and the outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13) are connected to each other via a POS-outdoor terminal system network cable 14 so as to be able to exchange messages by polling / selecting operation. Similarly, the POS terminal B (20) and the outdoor terminals B1 to B3 (21 to 23) are connected to each other via a POS-outdoor terminal system network cable 24 so as to be able to exchange messages by polling / selecting operation.

  The two POS terminals A and B (10, 20) are arranged in a gas station store, the outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13), the outdoor terminals B1 to B3 (21 to 23), and the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) are allocated and arranged for each of a plurality of lanes (three lanes 1 to 3 in the example in the figure) serving as a vehicle approach path and a stopping place for refueling a gas station.

  In this configuration, in the present embodiment, each POS terminal A, B (10, 20) is connected between the two POS terminals A, B (10, 20) and the weighing machines 1-3 (31-33). A device 40 (hereinafter referred to as a “two-system control system”) that mediates a control telegram by the polling / selecting operation is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, POS terminals A and B (10, 20) are identical by sharing weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33), which are a plurality of RS485 devices, via a two-system control system 40. The outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13) and B1 to B3 (21 to 23) connected to the respective POS terminals A and B (10, 20) are installed in the lane, and both the outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 13) and B1 to B3 (21 to 23) to control the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33). In the example of FIG. 1, a weighing machine which is a typical RS485 device in a gas station is taken as an example. Hereinafter, the weighing machine shown in the figure represents an RS485 device.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the two-system control system 40. In the notation in the figure, an RS485 network interface described later is referred to as an “interface” for convenience.

  In FIG. 2, the two-system control system 40 includes a slave RS485 network interface (first slave interface) 44 that functions as a slave station of the POS terminal A (10) and a slave RS485 network that functions as a slave station of the POS terminal B (20). An interface (second slave station interface) 45, a master station RS485 network interface (master station interface) 46 functioning as a master station of the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33), and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) serving as a control center 47, a main storage device 48 and a memory 49 as storage means for storing various control programs and control data executed by the CPU 47, and these elements 44 to 49 are electrically connected via a bus. Yes.

  The slave RS485 network interface 44 is communicably connected to the master RS485 network interface 15 mounted on the POS terminal A (10) via the RS485 network cable 41.

  The slave RS485 network interface 45 is communicably connected to the master RS485 network interface 25 mounted on the POS terminal B (20) via the RS485 network cable 42.

  The master station RS485 network interface 46 is communicably connected to the slave station RS485 network interfaces 61 to 63 mounted on the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) via the RS485 network cable 43.

  The two-system control system 40 is thus connected to the two slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45 that receive the connection from the two-system POS system and the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) that are the lower-level RS485 devices. This is a data processing apparatus that has one main station RS485 network interface 46 that performs the above-described processing and that can perform program control that performs exclusive distribution operation by judging the contents of messages transmitted and received from each other.

  According to this, a message transmitted by the polling / selecting operation from the 2 system POS terminals A and B (10, 20) is received by the slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45 of the 2 system control system 40, and actually It is possible to operate as the only POS (main station) for the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) which are controlled devices to be controlled. As a result, the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) can be connected without batting control messages from the 2 system POS terminals A and B (10 and 20).

  The main storage device 48 has a two-system control program 51 and a condition table 52 set in advance as part of a control program and control data in an OS (Operating System) 50 that forms the core of the basic software of the two-system control system 40. RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 is implemented.

  In the memory 49, the control program and control data of the OS 50 including the two-system control program 51, the condition table 52, and the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 are expanded from the main storage device 48 at startup, and the expanded OS 50 In addition, a storage area (hereinafter referred to as “priority system state”) 53 that is a storage unit for holding the setting state of the priority system (described later) is also secured.

  In the following description, in the two slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45, a system that enables transmission / reception of electronic messages is referred to as a “priority system”. Any of the three states of “system 1”, “system 2”, and “no setting” is held as the priority system setting state. In the present embodiment, meaning (association) is performed so that each of the two slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45 is assigned to “system 1” and “system 2”, respectively.

  There are three types of initial states corresponding to the state where the priority system is “no setting”: “system 1”, “system 2”, and “both systems”. Both systems indicate that transmission and reception at both slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45 are effective. The “transmission / reception valid state” shown here means that the network 44 and 45 are not actually disconnected, but a message received at each slave RS485 network interface is not transmitted to the destination device.

  The condition table 52 performs exclusive control of the message control. Based on the specific weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) and the transmitted / received message, the POS terminals A and B (10, 20) of which system the message is transferred to. This is for exclusively allocating whether to transmit / receive to / from.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the condition table 52.

  The condition table 52 shown in FIG. 3 includes “target message”, “target device”, “reception (reception system)”, “priority system status”, “priority system to be set”, and “command” for each condition data. Data for each item is registered.

  In the “target message”, data corresponding to control target messages such as a refueling permission message, a refueling end message, and a refueling cancellation message are registered.

  In the “target device”, data corresponding to the control target device (RS485 device) of the transmission destination is set. In this embodiment, the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) are targeted.

  In “Reception (Received System)”, data corresponding to the system that has received the message is set out of the second system POS terminals A and B (10, 20). In the example of FIG. 3, the POS terminal A (10) corresponds to “system 1” and the POS terminal B (20) corresponds to “system 2”.

  In the “priority system state”, data corresponding to the priority system state 53 currently registered in the memory 49 is registered. In the example of FIG. 3, it corresponds to one of “system 1”, “system 2”, and “no setting”.

  In the “priority system to be set”, data corresponding to the priority system to be set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 when a condition is met (see later) is set. In the example of FIG. 3, it corresponds to one of “system 1”, “system 2”, and “no setting”.

  The “command” has a control to execute it when an arbitrary message is sent or a priority system is set for the purpose of compensating for the inconsistency in the control sequence. The command is registered. In the example of FIG. 3, this control command is not used.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the following four condition data are registered in the condition table 52.

1) Condition data 1 (target message: refueling permission, target device: weighing machine, reception: system 1, priority system status: no setting, priority system to be set: system 1, command: none)
2) Condition data 2 (target message: refueling completed, target device: weighing machine, reception: system 1, priority system status: system 1, priority system to be set: no setting, command: none)
3) Condition data 3 (target message: refueling permission, target device: weighing machine, reception: system 2, priority system status: no setting, priority system to set: system 2, command: none)
4) Condition data 4 (target message: refueling end, target device: weighing machine, reception: system 2, priority system status: system 2, priority system to be set: no setting, command: none)
The CPU 47 executes each program constituting the OS 50 including the two-system control program 51 and the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 on the memory 49.

  The two-system control program 51 and the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 perform the following operations by being executed by the CPU 47.

  That is, the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 stores messages received from the slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45 from the second system POS terminals A and B (10 and 20) in the message from the master RS485 network interface 46. The data is transmitted to weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) which are destination RS485 devices. This transmission is performed only when the system set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 matches the received system or when the priority system (see later) is set.

  In contrast to the above, the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 is set to the system set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 or the priority system is set for the message received by the main station RS485 network interface 46. If not, the data is transmitted to the POS terminals A and B (10, 20) from the slave RS485 network interfaces 44 and 45 corresponding to a system in a preset initial state (see later).

  The two-system control program 51 operates in cooperation with the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54. First, when the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 receives a message at each slave RS485 network interface 44, 45, the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54 notifies the two-system control program 51 and passes the received message. Then, the two-system control program 51 waits for this notification, and determines the priority system by using the notification as a trigger (see later). When the priority system is determined, the priority system determined based on the received telegram and the current priority system status is written in the priority system status 53 on the memory 49 based on the condition table 52. If none of the conditions in the condition table 52 are met, this is not done. The determination of the priority system includes returning the priority system to the initial state.

  As described above, the consistency of the message sequence in the two-system POS system is maintained, and the operation as if it has only one weighing machine connected to itself is realized as viewed from each POS system.

  Next, the priority system setting process using the condition table 52 by the two-system control program 51 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, regarding the names of the systems in the priority system, the POS terminal A (10) is “system 1” and the POS terminal B (20) is “system 2”.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the two-system control program 51.

  In FIG. 4, first, when the two-system control program 51 receives a notification of a received telegram from the RS485 data transmission / reception program 54, the number of times according to the total number of condition data registered in the condition table 52 using this notification as a trigger. The data of the received message and the data of the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 are the registered data of each item of “target message”, “target device”, “reception”, and “priority state” of the condition data. The comparison judgment of whether or not they match is repeatedly executed. As a result, if there is condition data that is determined to match, the registration data of the “priority system to be set” item of the same condition data is determined as the priority system, and the determined priority system is stored in the memory 49. If there is no condition data that is determined to match all, the process ends without determining the priority system (step S1).

  Specifically, in the comparison determination described above, first, with respect to the target condition data on the condition table 52, the “target message”, “target device”, “reception”, and “priority state” of the same condition data. The registration data of each item, the data of the received message, and the setting data of the priority system state 53 set on the memory 49 at the time of reception are collated (steps S2 to S6).

  At the time of this matching, first, the data of the received message is compared with the registered data of the “target message” item of the target condition data on the condition table 52, and it is determined whether or not both data match (step S1). S2). The comparison is performed by, for example, front matching.

  When both data match in the above determination, the registration data of the “target device” item of the same condition data is compared with the data indicating the transmission destination device (for example, the weighing machine) included in the received telegram data, It is determined whether or not both data match (step S3).

  If they match in the above determination, the registered data in the “reception (received system)” item of the same condition data is compared to determine whether or not the two data match (step S4).

  If they match, the priority system currently set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is acquired (step S5), and the acquired priority system and the "priority system state" of the same condition data are registered. The data is compared and it is determined whether or not both data match (step S6).

  If it matches in the above judgment and therefore matches all the registered data of each item of “target message”, “target device”, “reception”, “priority status” of any condition data, The priority system registered as the setting data of the “priority system to be set” item is set (updated) in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 (step S7). If there is a command registered in the “command” item of the same condition data (step S8), the command is executed (step S9). A message is transmitted by executing the command. This command is not used in this embodiment.

  Next, the sequence of data communication between the POS terminals A and B (10, 20) and the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a state of time-series data communication by indicating time on the vertical axis and data direction on the horizontal direction. In the example of FIG. 5, S1 is a slave RS485 network interface 44 connected to the POS terminal A (10), S2: a slave RS485 network interface 45 connected to the POS terminal B (20), and M is a weighing machine. 1 to 3 (31 to 33), main station RS485 network interfaces 46 are shown.

  Here, the priority system is determined from the time when the refueling instruction message is transmitted from the POS terminal A (10), and then the refueling end message is transmitted from the measuring machine 1 (31) until the priority system is released. A control sequence will be described.

  First, consider a case where a refueling operation is performed from the outdoor terminal A1 (11) by a refueling customer. In this case, a refueling permission message directed to the weighing machine 1 (31) is transmitted from the POS terminal A (10) connected to the outdoor terminal A1 (11) (step S11). This refueling permission message is received from the POS terminal A (10) by the slave RS485 network interface 44 (S1) of the two-system control system 40. At this time, since the priority system is not set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 of the two-system control system 40, the above-mentioned refueling permission message is measured via the main station RS485 network interface 46 (M). It is transmitted to the machine 1 (11) (step S12).

  Next, the two-system control system 40 refers to the condition table 52 shown in FIG. 3 for the refueling permission message received above, and performs the priority system setting process shown in FIG. 4 (step S13). In this case, since “target message” corresponds to “refueling permission”, “target device” corresponds to “meter”, “reception” corresponds to “system 1”, and “priority system status” corresponds to “no setting”, condition data 1 Is consistent with the registered data. Therefore, in the above priority system setting process, “system 1”, which is registered data of the “priority system to be set” item of the condition data 1 as the priority system, is determined and set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49. .

  Next, when refueling is started in the weighing machine 1 (31), a refueling start message is transmitted to the POS terminal A (10) (step S14). This refueling start message is received from the measuring machine 1 (31) by the main station RS485 network interface 46 (M) of the two-system control system 40. At this time, since “system 1” is set as the priority system in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 of the two-system control system 40, it corresponds to the system 1 via the slave RS485 network interface 44 (S1). Is transmitted to the POS terminal A (10) to be executed (step S15).

  Next, in the two-system control system 40, the priority system setting process shown in FIG. 4 is executed for the refueling start message received above with reference to the condition table 52 shown in FIG. 3 (step S16). In this case, since the refueling start message does not match any of the “target messages” in the condition data 1 to 4, the priority system set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is the “system 1” which is the current state. Is continued.

  Then, the case where refueling instruction | indication operation is performed in outdoor terminal B1 (21) is considered. In this case, the refueling permission message from the POS terminal B (20) is received by the slave RS485 network interface 45 (S2) of the two-system control system 40 (step S17). At this time, since the current priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is “system 1”, the received refueling permission message is not transmitted to the weighing machine 1 (31). Further, in the two-system control system 40, the priority system setting process shown in FIG. 4 is also performed with reference to the condition table 52 shown in FIG. 3 (step S18). In this priority system setting process, the condition data 3 matches the condition data 3 until the “target message” is “refueling permission”, the “target device” is “meter”, and the “reception” is “system 1”. Whereas “priority system state” is “not set”, the current priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is set to “system 1”, so that “system 1” which is the current state also continues for the priority system. Is done.

  Further, consider a case where a refueling instruction cancellation operation is performed at the outdoor terminal B1 (21). In this case, the refueling cancellation message from the POS terminal B (21) is received by the slave RS485 network interface 45 (S2) of the two-system control system 40 (step S19). At this time, since the current priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is “system 1”, the received refueling permission message is not transmitted to the weighing machine 1 (31). Further, in the two-system control system 40, the priority system setting process shown in FIG. 4 is also performed with reference to the condition table 52 shown in FIG. 3 (step S20). In this case, since the refueling cancellation message does not match any of the “target messages” in the condition data 1 to 4, the priority system set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is the “system 1” that is the current state. Is continued.

  Next, when refueling is completed in the weighing machine 1 (31), a refueling end message is transmitted to the POS terminal A (11) (step S21). This refueling end message is received by the main station RS485 network interface 46 (M) of the two-system control system 40. At this time, since the current priority system state 53 on the memory 49 is set to “system 1”, the above-described refueling permission message is transmitted to the POS corresponding to the system 1 via the slave RS485 network interface 44 (S1). It is transmitted to terminal A (11) (step S22).

  Next, in the two-system control system 40, the priority system setting process shown in FIG. 4 is performed with reference to the condition table 52 shown in FIG. 3 (step S23). In this case, since “target message” corresponds to “end of refueling”, “target device” corresponds to “meter”, “reception” corresponds to “system 1”, and “priority system status” corresponds to “system 1”, condition data 2 Is consistent with the registered data. Accordingly, in the above priority system setting process, “not set” which is registered data of the “priority system to be set” item of the condition data 2 is determined as the priority system, and is set to the priority system state 53 on the memory 49. .

  In addition, since the above-mentioned priority system is managed between the POS terminals A and B (10, 20) and a single RS485 device (metering device), there is no duplication of exclusive control in a plurality of devices.

  Next, the overall operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, in the self-gas station shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle carrying a refueling customer enters and stops in any one of lanes 1 to 3 of three lanes 1 to 3, and is installed outdoors for each lane 1 to 3. Terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13) and B1 to B3 (21 to 23) perform an operation for bringing the weighing machines 1 to 3 (31 to 33) into a refuelable state.

  Two outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13) and B1 to B3 (21 to 23) connected to the 2 system POS terminals A and B (10, 20) are installed for each lane. The outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13) and B1 to B3 (21 to 23) that can use the payment means desired by the customer are selected. Since the operation procedures at the outdoor terminals A1 to A3 (11 to 13) and B1 to B3 (21 to 23) in the settlement means are not directly related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, it is assumed that the refueling customer uses the outdoor terminal A1 (11) to instruct the type of oil to be refueled (regular, high-octane, light oil, etc.). At this time, the refueling permission message transmitted from the POS terminal A (10) connected to the outdoor terminal A (11) passes through the two-system control system 40 and reaches the weighing machine 1 (31). Thereby, the weighing machine 1 (31) is in a state where it can be refueled (FIG. 5: steps S11 and S12).

  At this time, the two systems control system 40, when a neutral state in which the priority system is not set, holds or validated in advance which of the system, or, a configuration for enabling the both systems . In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the priority system is not set and the environment setting in which both systems are enabled is performed.

  Next, the two-line control system 40 captures the data of the refueling permission message that has passed through the slave station RS485 network interface 44 and the master station RS485 network interface 46, and based on this and the condition table 53, the above priority system Setting processing is performed (FIG. 5: step S13). Here, when the refueling permitted state is entered, in order to suppress the weighing machine control from the other POS terminal B (21), the condition table 53 is received as shown in the condition data 1 and 3 in FIG. Conditions for setting a priority system for a system are stored in advance.

  Therefore, in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49, the system that has received the refueling permission message, that is, “system 1” corresponding to the POS terminal A (11) is set as the priority system. This priority system is a system between the POS terminal A (11) and the weighing machine 1 (31), and a system with the other weighing machines 2, 3 (32, 33) is not a target. That is, communication between the POS terminal B (21) and the weighing machines 2, 3 (32, 33) is possible.

  Then, consider a case where another refueling customer operates the outdoor terminal B1 (21) by mistakenly operating the outdoor terminal. In this case, a refueling permission message is transmitted from the POS terminal B (21) to the weighing machine 1 (21). At this time, since “system 1” corresponding to the POS terminal A (11) is set as the priority system in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49, the refueling permission message transmitted is the two-system control system 40. And does not reach the weighing machine 1 (31) (FIG. 5: Steps S17 and S18). In this case, the outdoor terminal B1 (21) performs the refueling instruction operation, but returns to the original state by performing the refueling instruction canceling operation (FIG. 5: Steps S19 and S20).

  Next, the refueling customer performs a refueling operation with the measuring machine 1 (31), and the refueling nozzle is returned to the measuring machine 1 (31) to finish refueling. When refueling is completed, a refueling end message is transmitted from the weighing machine 1 (FIG. 5: step S21). This refueling end message passes through the two-system control system 40 and is transmitted to the POS terminal A (11) corresponding to “system 1” for which the priority system is set (FIG. 5: step S22).

  Next, the two-system control system 40 captures the data of the refueling end message that has passed, and the priority system setting process is performed with reference to the condition table 53 (FIG. 5: Step S23). At the end of refueling, in order to release the occupation of the weighing machine, the condition table 53 stores conditions for releasing the priority system, as indicated by the condition data 2 and 4 in FIG. Therefore, “no setting” is set in the priority system state 53 on the memory 49, and the setting of the priority system to the weighing machine 1 (31) is thereby canceled.

  With the above procedure, the refueling customer can refuel using the same weighing machine regardless of which outdoor terminal (POS system) is used.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  1) Since there is no need to prepare a dedicated RS485 device such as a weighing machine for each of the two POS systems, it is possible to reduce costs in terms of cost (cost effect).

  2) Since there is no need to prepare a dedicated RS485 device such as a weighing machine for each POS system, the installation area of the equipment can be halved (installation area effect).

  3) Conventionally, when RS485 equipment such as a weighing machine is prepared for each of the 2 system POS systems, the customer works in conjunction with the POS system in which the settlement method desired by the customer is allowed in the lane in which refueling is entered. It is also assumed that the vehicle enters a lane that is not, and in that case, it is forced to move to a lane that is linked to a POS system that allows the settlement. On the other hand, if this system is applied, a customer who visits refueling selects a lane regardless of the settlement method, and selects a POS that can perform settlement from one of the two POS systems in the lane. (Convenient effect of customer guidance).

  4) In the conventional store configuration, since the RS485 device is basically controlled under the control of one POS system, the operation of the store is limited to the specifications of the POS. For example, if you want to introduce a new payment method or a new RS485 device in store operation, conventionally 1) “Make the new payment method or device compatible with the installed POS system” or 2) “ For example, a method of reintroducing another POS that is already present can be considered. However, in the method 1), the cost of remodeling may be generated by POS and the remodeling itself may not be accepted. In this case, the method 1) cannot be applied. In the above method 2), the newly introduced POS system does not necessarily cover all the functions of the previous POS, and the necessary functions in the existing system are not satisfied by the POS to be switched. The method 2) is not applicable. Even in such cases, the application of this system is effective. The reason is that in addition to the existing system, it is possible to additionally install a POS system having functions desired for store operation, so that the functional requirements of the existing system are hardly impaired (operation Diversification effect).

  In the present embodiment, the weighing machine is presented as an example of the RS485 device. However, depending on the generation of judgment conditions in the telegram control, various RS485 devices such as a PIF, a total meter, an oil level meter, and a car wash machine are also excluded. There is no difference in the mechanism of sharing control being possible, and it can be applied.

  Further, in the present embodiment, application to a POS for a gas station is shown. However, as long as device control is performed by the above method, the present invention can be applied to a POS other than a POS for a gas station.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, control from a 2-system POS system to the same device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to 2-system and can be applied to 3 or more systems.

  According to the present invention, the present invention can be applied to a POS system that performs device control by the polling / selecting method in RS485.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a POS system for a gas station using a two-system POS control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the 2 system control system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the condition table shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of setting a priority type | system | group using a condition table. It is a communication sequence diagram between a POS terminal and a weighing machine. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the POS system for gas stations which takes a 2 system system structure. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the POS system for gasoline stations which takes 2 system structure. (A) And (b) is a sequence diagram explaining the subject in the case of taking the 2 system configuration | structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 POS terminal A (main station A)
11-13 POS terminals A1-A3
14 POS-outdoor terminal network 15 main station RS485 network interface (POS terminal A)
20 POS terminal B (main station B)
21-23 POS terminals B1-B3
24 POS-Outdoor terminal network 25 Main station RS485 network interface (POS terminal B)
31-33 Weighing machines 1-3 (slave stations 1-3)
40 2 system control system 41-43 RS485 system network cable 44, 45 Slave RS485 network interface (2 system control system)
46 Main station RS485 network interface (2 system control system)
47 CPU
48 Main memory 49 Memory 50 OS
51 Two-system control program 52 Condition table 53 Priority system state 54 RS485 data transmission / reception program

Claims (6)

A first POS terminal functioning as a main station for polling / selecting operation;
A second POS terminal functioning as a main station for polling / selecting operation;
A controlled device that functions as a slave station for polling / selecting operation;
A POS control system for controlling transmission and reception of telegrams by polling / selecting operations between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device;
The POS control system is
A first slave station interface communicably connected to the first POS terminal and functioning as a slave station of the first POS terminal;
A second slave station interface communicably connected to the second POS terminal and functioning as a slave station of the second POS terminal;
A main station interface that is communicably connected to the control target device and functions as a main station of the control target device;
When a predetermined telegram is exchanged by the polling / selecting operation between one of the first and second POS terminals and the device to be controlled, the first control sequence is completed until a predetermined control sequence is completed. And priority system setting means for setting one of the second POS terminals as a priority system;
Based on the priority system set by the priority system setting means, the first and second slave station interfaces, the master station interface, between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device, The electronic message is transmitted and received exclusively via the network, and a message transmission / reception unit that does not transmit a message from the POS terminal that is not set as a priority system to the control target device among the POS terminals is provided. POS system characterized by The priority system setting means includes:
A storage unit for storing priority setting data corresponding to one of the first and second POS terminals;
A condition table for registering condition data for setting the priority system;
Received telegram data received via the first slave interface, the second slave interface, or the master interface; current priority system setting data stored in the storage; and the condition Means for determining the priority system based on condition data registered in a table;
2. The POS system according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting the determined priority system in the storage unit as the priority system setting data. A first outdoor terminal that functions as a slave station of the first POS terminal;
A second outdoor terminal that functions as a slave station of the second POS terminal;
The POS system according to claim 1, wherein the control target device is an RS485 device.   4. The POS system according to claim 3, wherein the RS485 device has a measuring machine for a gas station.   5. The POS system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined control sequence is a control sequence from the start of refueling to the end of refueling by the measuring machine. A first POS terminal functioning as a main station for polling / selecting operation;
A second POS terminal functioning as a main station for polling / selecting operation;
Used in a POS system having a control target device functioning as a slave station for polling / selecting operation, and a message by a polling / selecting operation is transmitted between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device. A POS control system for controlling exchange,
A first slave station interface communicably connected to the first POS terminal and functioning as a slave station of the first POS terminal;
A second slave station interface communicably connected to the second POS terminal and functioning as a slave station of the second POS terminal;
A main station interface that is communicably connected to the control target device and functions as a main station of the control target device;
When a predetermined telegram is exchanged by the polling / selecting operation between one of the first and second POS terminals and the device to be controlled, the first control sequence is completed until a predetermined control sequence is completed. And priority system setting means for setting one of the second POS terminals as a priority system;
Based on the priority system set by the priority system setting means, the first and second slave station interfaces, the master station interface, between the first and second POS terminals and the control target device, through the transmit and receive are distributed exclusively of the telegram, among the POS terminals, message to the control target device from the POS terminal that is not set as a priority system that has a message receiving means does not transmit POS control system characterized by

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