JP4909911B2 - Wireless store terminal and starting method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a store terminal such as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal, a credit payment processing terminal, and a debit payment processing terminal, in particular, a wireless shop terminal capable of data communication with a server using a wireless local area network (LAN). About.

Various data relating to commercial transactions are stored in a storage device installed in a store terminal such as a POS terminal, a credit payment processing terminal, or a debit payment processing terminal that is operating in the store. These data are highly important and need to be secured. Therefore, conventionally, if the terminal casing is disassembled, the data stored in the storage device is automatically destroyed or the access to the storage device is disabled, thereby illegally analyzing the data in the storage device. There has been an anti-fraud technology that prevents being altered or modified (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-223620 A

  However, since the conventional store terminal can access the storage device when properly activated, the above-described fraud prevention technology is not sufficient. In particular, in the case of a wireless store terminal capable of data communication with a server using a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), the advantage is that it is portable, so there is a high possibility of theft and theft. There is a possibility that the data in the storage device is stolen after being properly activated later.

  Such a problem can be solved by making it impossible to start when the user is stolen. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless shop terminal that cannot be activated when it is stolen.

The present invention includes a wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with a wireless LAN access point, and is periodically transmitted from the access point in a wireless store terminal that transmits and receives data to and from the store server via the access point. identification information included in the beacon signal, e.g., beacon storage means for previously storing the ESS-ID (Extended Service set Identity ) and MAC (Media access Control) address of the access point, previously set start by turning on the power A timer that counts the startup grace time, a beacon receiving unit that operates the wireless communication means to receive a beacon signal during the startup process performed immediately after the power is turned on, and a beacon before the timer counts the startup grace time When a beacon signal is received by the receiving means, the identification information included in the received beacon signal is a beacon. A determination unit that determines whether or not the identification information stored in the storage unit matches, and the identification information included in the received beacon signal matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage unit. The first activation control means for continuously starting the startup process on the condition that it has been determined to match the identification information stored in the password storage means, the password input means, and the beacon storage means When the timer finishes counting the grace period without receiving a beacon signal, it accepts the input of the password, and the password that matches the password stored in the storage means is input via the input means And a second start control means for continuously starting the start-up process .

  According to the present invention in which such measures are taken, it is possible to provide a wireless shop terminal that cannot be activated when it is stolen.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a wireless POS terminal as one aspect of a wireless store terminal.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wireless POS system using wireless POS terminals 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, a wireless POS system is composed of six wireless POS terminals 1-1 to 1-6, two wireless base stations 2-A and 2-B, and one POS server 3. It is configured.

  The POS server 3 and each wireless base station 2-A, 2-B are connected by a wired LAN 4. A wireless LAN 5 is constructed between each wireless base station 2-A, 2-B and each POS terminal 1-1 to 1-6. Each of the radio base stations 2-A and 2-B functions as an access point serving as a gateway to the wired LAN 4.

  In the present embodiment, one radio base station 2 takes into account the load balance of each radio base station 2-A, 2-B and the installation location of each POS terminal 1-1 to 1-6. -A is connected with three POS terminals 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3, and the other wireless base station 2-B is connected with the remaining three POS terminals 1-4, 1-5 and 1-. 6 is set to be connected.

  Each of the POS terminals 1-1 to 1-6 has the same configuration. FIG. 2 shows an external view thereof, and FIG. Hereinafter, the POS terminals 1-1 to 1-6 are collectively referred to as a POS terminal 1.

  The POS terminal 1 is provided with a keyboard 12 and a card reader 13 in the front upper part of a casing 11 that is small, weighing and portable, and a display 14 in the center of the upper surface. In addition, a printer 15 is provided inside the housing 11, and a receipt printed by the printer 15 is issued from a receipt issuing port 16 formed at the center of the upper surface of the housing 11.

  The POS terminal 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 as a control unit main body. The CPU 21 is connected to a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, a flash memory 24, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 25, a clock unit 26, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) via a bus line 22 such as an address bus and a data bus. The control circuit of the POS terminal 1 is configured by connecting the device 27, the wireless LAN controller 28, the keyboard controller 29, the card reader controller 30, the display controller 31, the printer controller 32, the scanner interface 33, the drawer interface 34, and the like. ing.

  The clock unit 26 measures the current date and time. The wireless LAN controller 28 controls wireless communication performed with the access point of the wireless LAN 5. The keyboard controller 29 captures a key signal corresponding to the operation key from the keyboard 12. The card reader controller 30 reads the data recorded on the card medium by controlling the card reader 13. The display controller 31 controls screen display on the display 14. The printer controller 32 controls receipt printing by the printer 15. The scanner interface 33 is electrically connected to a barcode scanner (not shown) for optically reading a barcode. The drawer interface 34 is electrically connected to a drawer (not shown) for storing cash or the like.

  The ROM 23, the flash memory 24, the RAM 25, and the HDD device 27 are built-in storage devices. The ROM 23 stores basic programs such as BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The HDD device 27 stores an OS (Operating System), various application programs, and the like. In addition, various data files for storing data relating to commercial transactions such as sales data, inventory data, and customer data are stored. The RAM 25 has a memory area necessary for the CPU 21 to perform data processing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the flash memory 24 includes a regular beacon information storage area 41 and an emergency password storage area 42. Then, the regular beacon information and the emergency password are downloaded from the POS server 3 via the wired LAN 4 and the wireless LAN 5 and stored in the storage areas 41 and 42 in advance.

  The regular beacon information is at least a part of the identification information included in the beacon signal periodically transmitted from the access point of the wireless LAN 5. The beacon signal includes, for example, the ESS-ID of the access point and the MAC address as identification information. Therefore, in the present embodiment, both of these pieces of identification information are stored on the flash memory 24 of each POS terminal 1. That is, the POS terminals 1-1 to 1-3 store the ESS-ID and MAC address of a beacon signal periodically transmitted from the radio base station 1A as an access point. The POS terminals 1-4 to 1-6 store the ESS-ID and MAC address of a beacon signal periodically transmitted from the radio base station 1B as an access point.

  The emergency password is for restricting access when the POS terminal 1 is used in a place other than the store, and may be different for each POS terminal, or two or more may be duplicated. .

  In the POS terminal 1 having such a configuration, when the power switch is turned on, the startup process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed. First, the BIOS is activated as ST (step) 1. In addition, the activation timer starts as ST2. This timer is for measuring a preset grace period. Thereafter, during this activation grace period, the CPU 21 confirms that each hardware is recognized and operated according to the BIOS.

  Further, the CPU 21 controls the wireless LAN controller 28 as ST3 and waits for reception of a beacon signal periodically transmitted from the access point (beacon receiving means). And if a beacon signal is received (YES of ST3), CPU21 will acquire the identification information (ESS-ID, MAC address) contained in the beacon signal as ST4. In ST5, the identification information is compared with the regular beacon information stored in the storage area 41 to determine whether or not they match (determination means). As a result of this determination, if it is determined that they match (YES in ST6), the CPU 21 continues further startup processing as ST7, starts the OS, and takes over the normal processing by the OS (startup control means).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the identification information included in the received beacon signal does not match the regular beacon information (NO in ST6), the CPU 21 returns to the process of ST3 and waits for reception of the next beacon signal. (Beacon receiving means). And if a beacon signal is received, CPU21 will perform the process after ST4 mentioned above again.

  In this way, when the activation timer timeout is detected as ST8 without receiving a beacon signal including identification information that matches the regular beacon information, the CPU 21 displays a screen for requesting input of a password as ST9. . And it waits for a password to be input as ST10.

  Here, as a password input means, for example, when a password is input by a key operation of the keyboard 12 (YES in ST10), the CPU 21 sets an emergency in ST11 in the storage area 42 with the input password. Check whether the password matches the password. As a result of this determination, if it is determined that they match (YES in ST12), the CPU 21 proceeds to the process in ST7. That is, further startup processing is continued, the OS is started, and the normal processing by the OS is taken over (startup control means).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the input password does not match the emergency password (NO in ST12), the CPU 21 returns to the process in ST2. That is, after the start timer is restarted, it waits for the next beacon information.

  As described above, in the wireless POS terminal 1 according to the present embodiment, the identification information included in the beacon information periodically transmitted from the access point of the wireless LAN 5 built in the store to the built-in flash memory 24. Is stored as regular beacon information. Each POS terminal 1 waits for a beacon signal during the startup process by the BIOS when the power is turned on and the BIOS is activated, and when the beacon signal is received within a predetermined time, the ESS included in the beacon signal. -It is determined whether or not the identification information of the ID and the MAC address matches the regular beacon information, and the OS is started on the condition that they match. That is, it starts as a POS terminal.

  On the other hand, if the beacon signal cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power was turned on, or if the identification information does not match the regular beacon information even after receiving the beacon signal, the OS of the POS terminal 1 is activated. do not do. That is, it cannot be activated as a POS terminal.

  Therefore, the POS terminal 1 can be activated in an environment where a preset wireless LAN 5 is constructed, but in other environments, the POS terminal 1 is activated only by turning on the power. It is not possible.

  Further, in the POS terminal 1 of the present embodiment, if a beacon signal including identification information that matches the regular beacon information cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power is turned on, a password input screen is displayed on the display 14. Is displayed. Accordingly, when the operator operates the keyboard 12 to input a password and the password matches an emergency password preset in the flash memory 24, the OS is started. That is, it starts as a POS terminal.

  Therefore, even if the user is aware of the emergency password of the POS terminal 1 even if the preset wireless LAN 5 is not constructed, the POS terminal 1 can be activated.

  In other words, a user who does not know the emergency password cannot activate the POS terminal 1 except in an environment where a preset wireless LAN 5 is established. Therefore, even if the POS terminal 1 is stolen, it cannot be activated, and there is no possibility that data relating to commercial transactions such as sales data, inventory data, and customer data stored in the HDD device 27 is stolen.

  Incidentally, such an effect can be further enhanced by using it together with a conventional data protection function called tamper resistance.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where both the ESS-ID and the MAC address are stored as the identification information stored in the beacon storage unit (the storage area 41 of the flash memory 24) is shown. When the received beacon information includes the stored identification information, OS activation may be permitted.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to application to the wireless POS terminal 1. For example, the present invention can be applied to all wireless store terminals such as a wireless credit payment processing terminal and a wireless debit payment processing terminal operating in a store.

In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.
[Appendix 1]
In a wireless store terminal that includes wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an access point of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and performs data transmission and reception with a store server via the access point,
Beacon storage means for preliminarily storing identification information included in a beacon signal periodically transmitted from the access point;
Beacon receiving means for operating the wireless communication means to receive the beacon signal during start-up processing performed immediately after turning on the power;
When the beacon signal is received by the beacon receiving unit, the determining unit determines whether or not the identification information included in the received beacon signal matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage unit;
Activation control that continuously activates the start-up process on the condition that the identification information included in the received beacon signal matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage means by the determination means Means,
A wireless store terminal characterized by comprising:
[Appendix 2]
Password storage means;
Password input means,
Further comprising
The activation control unit receives an input of a password when the determination unit determines that the identification information included in the received beacon signal does not match the identification information stored in the beacon storage unit, and the input unit The wireless store terminal according to appendix 1, wherein the start-up process is continuously started on the condition that a password that matches the password stored in the storage means is input via.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a wireless POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The external appearance perspective view of the POS terminal in the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the POS terminal. The schematic diagram which shows the main memory areas formed in the flash memory which the same POS terminal incorporates. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the starting process performed at the time of power activation of the POS terminal.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1-1-1-6) ... Wireless POS terminal, 2-A, 2-B ... Wireless base station (access point), 3 ... POS server, 4 ... Wired LAN, 5 ... Wireless LAN, 21 ... CPU , 23 ... ROM, 24 ... flash memory, 25 ... RAM, 27 ... HDD device, 28 ... wireless controller.

Claims (3)

In a wireless store terminal that includes wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an access point of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and performs data transmission and reception with a store server via the access point,
Beacon storage means for preliminarily storing identification information included in a beacon signal periodically transmitted from the access point;
A timer that starts when the power is turned on and counts a preset delay time;
A beacon receiving means for receiving the beacon signal by operating the wireless communication unit in a startup process that is performed immediately after on of the power supply,
If the beacon signal is received by the beacon receiving unit before the timer counts the activation grace period, whether the identification information included in the received beacon signal matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage unit. Determination means for determining whether or not
The start-up process is started first on condition that the determination means determines that the identification information included in the received beacon signal matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage means . and start-up control means,
Password storage means;
Password input means,
When the timer finishes timing the start-up grace time without receiving a beacon signal that matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage means, the input of the password is accepted, and the storage means via the input means A second start control means for continuously starting the start-up process on condition that a password matching the password stored in is input;
A wireless store terminal characterized by comprising: The second activation control unit displays the password input screen when the timer finishes counting the activation grace period without receiving a beacon signal that matches the identification information stored in the beacon storage unit. And the startup process is continuously started on the condition that a password that matches the password stored in the storage means is input from the input screen via the input means. The wireless store terminal according to claim 1.   A wireless LAN (Local Area Network) wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an access point, a wireless store terminal activation method for transmitting and receiving data to and from the store server via the access point,
  Preliminarily storing identification information and a password included in a beacon signal periodically transmitted from the access point,
  A timer for measuring a preset activation grace time is started by turning on the power, and further, the wireless communication means is operated during the start-up process performed immediately after the power is turned on to wait for reception of the beacon signal. And
  When the beacon signal is received before the timer counts the activation grace period, it is determined whether or not the identification information included in the received beacon signal matches the identification information stored in advance. When it is determined that the wireless store terminal is activated by continuing the startup process,
  When the timer finishes timing the activation grace time without receiving a beacon signal that matches the stored identification information, it accepts the input of a password and matches the stored password via the input means. The start-up process is continued and the wireless shop terminal is started up when a password is input.

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