JP5000461B2 - Product sales data processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise sales data processing apparatus that transmits transaction data generated as a result of merchandise sales data processing as transaction data to a host machine.

  A merchandise sales data processing apparatus such as a POS terminal temporarily stores transaction data generated as a result of merchandise sales data processing in a storage unit as transaction data, and transmits and outputs the temporarily stored transaction data to a host machine at an appropriate timing. I am doing so. Since such transaction data is transaction data, it must be handled with care, and data loss that may occur due to some kind of failure must be prevented as much as possible. For this reason, various proposals have been made for handling transaction data.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, every time the file controller receives transaction data, the current usage rate of the file controller with respect to the total storage capacity of the transaction data is calculated and displayed on the display unit. The invention is described in which is transmitted to the store server.

  Patent Document 2 describes an invention in which reception of transaction data exceeding the capacity is stopped.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-065246 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-289917

  The transaction data is initially transmitted and output from the POS terminal to the store server or other higher-level machine. At this time, if a failure of the host device itself or a communication failure between the POS terminal and the host device occurs, the POS terminal cannot output the transaction data. In this case, the transaction data remains in the storage unit of the POS terminal. However, when such a situation occurs, a large amount of transaction data remains in the storage unit of the POS terminal, and the storage capacity of the storage unit will eventually become insufficient. For this reason, depending on the settings of individual POS terminals, old transaction data may be deleted as needed, or on the contrary, new transaction data may not be stored in the storage unit, resulting in data loss. There is a problem that occurs.

  Even more serious when such a problem occurs is that the user may not know that a data loss has occurred. As a general trend, transaction data that occurs for each transaction is checked relatively frequently, whereas data such as electronic journals is difficult to check and cannot be recovered when you notice it. There is a high possibility of data loss in the state.

  Note that the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not take into account the failure of the host device itself or the communication failure between the POS terminal and the host device. Does not provide.

  The object of the present invention is to enable data loss due to the fact that transaction data cannot be transmitted to a host machine even when a host machine failure or a communication fault between a POS terminal and a host machine occurs. It is to reduce sex as much as possible.

The present invention provides a product sales data processing apparatus that includes an input unit for inputting information and a display unit for displaying information, and executes product sales data processing based on product information input by the input unit. Stored in the storage unit, a storage unit that temporarily stores transaction data generated by the merchandise sales data processing, a data transmission / reception unit that performs data transmission / reception between the first and second external devices, and the storage unit A first process for transmitting and outputting transaction data as transaction data to the first external device by the data transmission / reception unit; and a second process for measuring the size of untransmitted transaction data stored in the storage unit A process, a third process for determining whether the size of the measured untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value, and the untransmitted transaction When it is determined that the size of the application data exceeds a specified value, a fourth process for displaying and outputting a warning message on the display unit, and confirmation designation by the input unit on the display unit of the warning message are permitted. A control unit that displays an object and executes a fifth process of transmitting and outputting a failure notification to the second external device by the data transmission / reception unit after the confirmation designation by the object or after a predetermined time has elapsed, .

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that the size of untransmitted transaction data stored in the storage unit exceeds the specified value, a warning message is displayed on the display unit. The possibility of data loss due to the inability to transmit transaction data to the host device can be reduced as much as possible even when a failure of itself or a communication failure between the POS terminal and the host device occurs. .

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an application example to a merchandise sales data processing system suitable for use in, for example, a convenience store.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the entire system. A plurality of POS terminals 101 are provided, and these POS terminals 101 are connected to a communication network 201 such as a LAN. The communication network 201 is also connected with a store controller 301, a communication server 401, and the like as a host device that can access various types of information. Therefore, the POS terminal 101, the store controller 301, and the communication server 401 connected to the communication network 201 can exchange data with each other. The communication server 401 can access an external network (not shown), and performs data transmission / reception with a host computer (not shown) installed outside.

  The POS terminal 101 is not only connected to the communication network 201 but also connected to the failure server 501 that is an external device via the external communication network CN so that data can be directly transmitted and received.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the POS terminal 101. The POS terminal 101 is placed on the drawer 102 and can control the opening operation of the drawer 103 of the drawer 102. A keyboard 104 and an operator display 105 are arranged on the right side of the upper surface of the POS terminal 101, and a receipt journal printer 106 is arranged on the left side of the upper surface. The operator display 105 functions as a display unit that displays information, and has, for example, a liquid crystal display panel on its display surface 105a. A touch panel TP is stacked on the display surface 105a to enable touch input of information. A customer display 107 is erected on the rear of the top surface of the POS terminal 101. In FIG. 2, a groove provided in the vicinity of the right side surface of the POS terminal 101 is a card reading groove 109 for scanning a card in order to read card information by the card reader / writer 108 (see FIG. 3). . In FIG. 2, a key key K is arranged behind the card reading groove 109 on the upper right side of the POS terminal 101. Key key K accepts the pointing and rotation operation of a key (not shown) possessed by each user, and changes the operation mode of POS terminal 101 to “registration”, “checkout”, “check”, “training”, etc. Switch. Various types of information can be input on the POS terminal 101 by using the keyboard 104 and the touch panel TP that function as an input unit.

  A bar code scanner 110 is connected to the POS terminal 101. The barcode scanner 110 reads a barcode attached to a product brought into a checkout counter in which the POS terminal 101 is installed, and analyzes the product code included in the barcode. The product code analyzed by the barcode scanner 110 is transmitted to the POS terminal 101. Therefore, the barcode scanner 110 also functions as an input unit for inputting information, as with the keyboard 104.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the POS terminal 101. The POS terminal 101 includes an information processing unit that executes various arithmetic processes and controls each unit, and a CPU 151 as a control unit. A ROM 152 that stores fixed data in a fixed manner, a RAM 153 that stores variable data in a rewritable manner and is used as a work area, and an HDD 154 are connected to the CPU 151 via a bus line 155. The HDD 154 has various computer programs installed. All of these computer programs are copied to the RAM 153 when the POS terminal 101 is activated. The CPU 151 executes processing according to the computer program copied to the RAM 153.

  The drawer 102, keyboard 104, operator display 105, receipt journal printer 106, customer display 107, card reader / writer 108, and barcode scanner 110 all have various input / output circuits (all not shown). It is connected to the CPU 151 via the bus line 155 and the operation is controlled by the CPU 151. Therefore, each unit such as the CPU 151, the ROM 152, and the RAM 153 is a hardware resource that is indispensable for the computer program to control the control target using the physical properties of the operation control target. A control unit that executes various processes is configured.

  The POS terminal 101 includes a communication interface 156 for connecting to a communication network 201 provided in a store where the POS terminal 101 is installed. This communication interface 156 is also connected to the CPU 151 via the bus line 155. . The various computer programs installed in the HDD 154 are downloaded from a higher-level machine via the communication interface 156 as an example.

  Further, the communication interface 156 of the POS terminal 101 not only realizes local communication via the communication network 201 but also realizes communication with the fault server 501 via the external communication network CN. ing. Therefore, the communication interface 156 functions as a data transmission / reception unit that performs data transmission / reception with external devices such as the store controller 301 and the failure server 501.

  As described above, the CPU 151 of the POS terminal 101 executes processing according to the computer program copied to the RAM 153. As such processing, the CPU 151 causes the POS terminal 101 to execute various processing such as merchandise sales data processing and transaction data transmission monitoring processing.

  When the key inserted into the key K is positioned at the “registration” position, the registration process is executed. As an example, the registration process is executed by calling the corresponding unit price information from a PLU file (not shown) based on the product code input by the barcode scanner 110 or the keyboard 104. The called product code and unit price are temporarily stored in the work area of the RAM 153. Thereafter, one transaction is confirmed according to a closing operation using the keyboard 104, for example, a deposit / cash key (not shown) is pressed. Therefore, after confirming one transaction, the CPU 151 stores transaction data such as the total sales amount calculated based on the data temporarily stored in the work area of the RAM 153 in the temporary registration area of the RAM 153, and based on such transaction data. Generate and issue a receipt with transaction information printed on it. Then, the issued receipt is delivered to the customer, and one transaction is completed.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transaction file having a read pointer and a write pointer. As described above, the CPU 151 stores the transaction data in the temporary registration area of the RAM 153 after one transaction is confirmed. In this case, the temporary registration area is the transaction area 153a. The CPU 151 deletes the transaction data temporarily registered in the transaction area 153a when a predetermined time arrives, for example, when two weeks have elapsed after registration.

  Here, the CPU 151 transmits the transaction data stored in the transaction area 153a to the store controller 301 as transaction data at the end of one transaction. When the key inserted into the key K is positioned at the “settlement” position, the CPU 151 executes a settlement process. The settlement process is a process that is executed after the end of business, for example, and transmits a settlement report generated by the transaction data stored in the transaction area 153a to the store controller 301 as transaction data. Further, the CPU 151 stores transaction data for each transaction as a journal in the form of an electronic journal, and transmits the electronic journal to the store controller 301 as transaction data every predetermined period, for example, one week. In this way, the CPU 151 transmits and outputs the transaction data stored in the transaction area 153a in the RAM 153 serving as the storage unit to the store controller 301 serving as the external device via the communication interface 156 serving as the data transmission / reception unit (first). Processing).

  As the first processing, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which transaction data is transmitted and output from the POS terminal 101 to the store controller 301 as transaction data. On the other hand, as another embodiment, transaction data stored in the transaction area 153a of the POS terminal 101 is stored in the communication server 401 through the store controller 301 or directly from the communication server 401. It may be transmitted and output to a connected host computer (not shown). In this case, the POS terminal 101 once transmits the transaction data stored and saved in the transaction area 153a as transaction data to the communication server 401, and designates the transmission destination of the transaction data as a host computer.

  The CPU 151 manages data read and data write for the transaction area 153a with a read pointer (RP) and a write pointer (WP). That is, when transaction data is written in the transaction area 153a, the position indicated by the read pointer (RP) is updated. When the transaction data recorded in the transaction area 153a is transmitted, the position indicated by the write pointer (WP) is updated. These read pointer (RP) and write pointer (WP) generally operate with one transaction data record as one unit.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of transaction data transmission monitoring processing. As described above, the CPU 151 transmits and outputs transaction data to the store controller 301. However, when a failure occurs in the store controller 301 or host computer (not shown), which is a host device, or a communication failure occurs between the POS terminal 101 and such host device, the POS terminal 101 transmits transaction data. Cannot output. In this case, since the CPU 151 always obtains an acknowledgment of communication with the host computer and executes the transmission output of transaction data as transaction data, the transaction data remains in the RAM 153 of the POS terminal 101. However, when such a situation occurs, a large amount of transaction data remains in the transaction area 153a in the RAM 153, and eventually the storage capacity of the transaction area 153a becomes insufficient. For this reason, old transaction data is deleted at any time, or on the contrary, new transaction data cannot be stored in the storage unit, and data loss occurs.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, transaction data transmission monitoring processing, whose data processing flow is shown in FIG. 5, is executed so that such data loss does not occur. That is, the CPU 151 executes the transaction data transmission monitoring process shown in FIG. 5 at a prescribed timing. The prescribed timing in this case is set in a program for transaction data transmission monitoring processing. As an example, the prescribed timing for executing such transmission monitoring processing can be set as a desired timing on the user side.

  The CPU 151 calculates the number of records in which no transaction is processed in the transaction area 153a (step S101). In this process, the difference between the positions indicated by the read pointer (RP) and the write pointer (WP) in the transaction area 153a is determined, and the size of untransmitted transaction data, that is, the number of records for which no transaction has been processed is determined based on the difference. It is executed by determining. Such processing in step S101 constitutes second processing for measuring the size of untransmitted transaction data in the transaction area 153a.

  Next, the CPU 151 determines whether the number of unprocessed records determined in step S101 exceeds a threshold as a third process for determining whether the size of the measured untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value. (Step S102). The threshold value in this case is a threshold value set in a program for transaction data transmission monitoring processing, and can be set as a desired value on the user side.

  If the CPU 151 obtains a determination result that the number of unprocessed records determined in step S101 does not exceed the threshold as a result of the determination process in step S102 (N in step S102), the CPU 151 ends the process as it is. On the other hand, when the determination result that the number of unprocessed records exceeds the threshold value is obtained (Y in step S102), a warning message is displayed on the operator display 105 (step S103). That is, image data for displaying a warning message 121 “There is an unsent transaction. Please contact the call center.” Is generated and displayed as a pop-up screen 122 on the display surface 105 a of the operator display 105. Here, if it is determined that the size of the untransmitted transaction data exceeds the specified value, the fourth process of displaying and outputting the warning message 121 on the operator display 105 as a display unit is executed.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a pop-up screen 122 of a warning message 121 displayed when the size of untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value. As shown in FIG. 6, a confirmation button 123 is displayed on the pop-up screen 122 in addition to the warning message 121. The confirmation button 123 can be touch-designated by the touch panel TP, and is displayed as an object that allows confirmation designation by the touch designation.

  Returning to the description of the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. When the CPU 151 displays a warning message on the operator display 105 (step S103), the CPU 151 waits for a determination process as to whether or not the confirmation button 123 has been touch-designated by the touch panel TP (step S104). If it is determined that the confirmation button 123 has been touched (Y in Step S104), the pop-up screen 122 is deleted (Step S105), and the process proceeds to Step S107. On the other hand, when the touch designation of the confirmation button 123 cannot be determined (N in Step S104) and a time-out occurs (Y in Step S106), the process similarly proceeds to Step S107.

  In step S <b> 107, it is determined whether or not a failure notification is made on that day from the POS terminal 101 to the failure server 501. If the CPU 151 determines that the failure notification is made on that day (N in step S107), the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the CPU 151 determines that the failure notification has not been made on that day (Y in step S107), the CPU 151 executes data communication directly with the failure server 501 via the communication interface 156, and sends the failure server 501 A failure notification is transmitted and output (step S108), and the process ends. Here, when it is determined that the size of the untransmitted transaction data exceeds the specified value, the communication interface 156 that is a data transmission / reception unit transmits and outputs a failure notification to the failure server 501 that is an external device. Process 5 is executed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the CPU 151 determines that the size of untransmitted transaction data stored in the transaction area 153a of the RAM 153 that is the storage unit exceeds the specified value. Since the warning message 121 is displayed and output on the operator display 105 as a display unit, the failure of the host device itself such as the store controller 301 or the failure server 501 or the communication between the POS terminal 101 and the host device. Even when a failure or the like occurs, the possibility of data loss caused by the inability to transmit transaction data to the host machine can be reduced as much as possible.

  When the CPU 151 determines that the size of untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value, the CPU 151 transmits and outputs a failure notification to the failure server 501 that is an external device through the communication interface 156 that is a data transmission / reception unit. As a result, it becomes easier to handle failures more quickly, and the possibility of data loss due to the inability to transmit transaction data to the host device can be more reliably reduced.

  Further, the CPU 151 displays a confirmation button 123, which is an object that allows confirmation designation by the touch panel TP, which is an input unit, on the display screen of the warning message 121. Therefore, it is possible to perform an active operation to confirm that it is likely to occur, and therefore, it is possible to more reliably reduce the possibility of data loss due to the inability to transmit transaction data to the host device.

  Further, the CPU 151 transmits unsent transaction data according to the difference between the position indicated by the read pointer and the write pointer for managing the data read position and the data write position of the transaction area 153a in the RAM 153 which is a storage unit for storing transaction data. Therefore, the size of untransmitted transaction data can be easily and reliably measured using the existing mechanism of read pointer and write pointer.

1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the entire system as an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a POS terminal 101. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a POS terminal 101. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the transaction file which has a read pointer and a write pointer. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the transmission monitoring process of transaction data. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the pop-up screen of the warning message displayed when the magnitude | size of unsent transaction data exceeds a regulation value.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 ... Keyboard, 105 ... Display for operator (display part), 110 ... Barcode scanner, 151 ... CPU (control part, information processing part), 153 ... RAM (memory | storage part), 156 ... Communication interface (data transmission / reception part) 301: Store controller (external device), 501: Fault server (external device), TP: Touch panel (input unit)

Claims (4)

In a product sales data processing apparatus that includes an input unit for inputting information and a display unit for displaying information, and executes product sales data processing based on product information input by the input unit,
A storage unit for temporarily storing transaction data generated by the merchandise sales data processing;
A data transmission / reception unit for performing data transmission / reception with the first and second external devices;
A first process for transmitting and outputting the transaction data stored in the storage unit as transaction data to the first external device by the data transmission / reception unit; and unsent transaction data stored in the storage unit A second process for measuring the size, a third process for determining whether the size of the measured untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value, and the size of the untransmitted transaction data being a specified value. When it is determined that the number exceeds, a fourth process for displaying and outputting a warning message on the display unit, and an object for which confirmation designation by the input unit is permitted on the display unit of the warning message are displayed. after confirming specified or after a predetermined time, it transmits the failure notification toward the second external apparatus by the data transceiver And a control unit that executes a fifth process of force, the,
A product sales data processing apparatus comprising: As the third process, the control unit performs unsent transaction data according to a difference between a position indicated by a read pointer and a write pointer that manages a data read position and a data write position of a storage unit that stores the transaction data. Measure the size of
The merchandise sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1. In a product sales data processing apparatus that includes an input unit for inputting information and a display unit for displaying information, and executes product sales data processing based on product information input by the input unit,
An information processing unit for executing information processing;
A storage unit for temporarily storing the transaction data that accompanies the merchandise sales data processing until it is transmitted and output as transaction data;
A data transmission / reception unit for performing data transmission / reception with the first and second external devices;
Means for transmitting and outputting the transaction data stored in the storage unit to the first external device by the data transmitting / receiving unit;
Means for measuring the size of unsent transaction data stored in the storage unit by the information processing unit;
Means for determining whether the size of the measured untransmitted transaction data exceeds a prescribed value,
If the information processing unit determines that the size of the untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value, a warning message is displayed on the display unit, and the warning message is displayed on the display unit by the input unit. Means for displaying an object allowing confirmation designation, and transmitting and outputting a failure notification to the second external device by the data transmission / reception unit after confirmation designation by the object or after elapse of a predetermined time;
A product sales data processing apparatus comprising: An input unit for inputting information and a display unit for displaying information; and installed in a computer of a product sales data processing apparatus that executes product sales data processing based on product information input by the input unit; On that computer,
Transaction data stored in the storage unit that temporarily stores the transaction data generated by the merchandise sales data processing until it is transmitted and output as transaction data is transmitted and received between the first and second external devices. A function of transmitting and outputting to the first external device by the data transmitting and receiving unit,
A function of measuring the size of unsent transaction data stored in the storage unit;
A function of determining whether the size of the measured unsent transaction data exceeds a specified value;
When it is determined that the size of the untransmitted transaction data exceeds a specified value, an object that displays and outputs a warning message on the display unit, and permits confirmation designation by the input unit on the display unit of the warning message A function of transmitting a failure notification to the second external device by the data transmitter / receiver after the confirmation designation by the object or after a predetermined time has elapsed,
A machine-readable computer program that executes

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