JP5819365B2 - Information processing apparatus, merchandise sales processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus, a merchandise sales processing apparatus, and a program.

  Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer), a VGA BIOS is used for display control of a display such as a liquid crystal to be connected. The VGA BIOS is stored in a BIOS ROM mounted on the information processing apparatus and includes instructions for controlling the display function of the display. The information processing apparatus expands by reading the VGA BIOS into the memory when the memory is initialized at the time of activation. Thereafter, the information processing apparatus refers to various processing instructions from the display specification setting instructions included in the VGA BIOS expanded in the memory, and performs display control according to the processing instructions.

  Also, in a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal used in a merchandise store or the like, various information such as merchandise information is displayed using a display. In such a POS terminal, there are a plurality of types of screen sizes of the mounted display.

  By the way, since only one VGA BIOS is stored in the BIOS ROM, the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specifications must be written in the BIOS ROM for each model having a different combination. Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a technique for controlling display on a display having different specifications by updating a parameter of a VGA BIOS developed in a memory.

  However, in the conventional technique, since the parameters developed in the memory are rewritten, it is necessary to manage addresses on the memory, which may complicate the processing. Therefore, there is a demand for a technology that can efficiently apply the corresponding VGB BIOS to POS terminals with different specifications.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a merchandise sales processing apparatus, and a program capable of efficiently applying a corresponding VGB BIOS to POS terminals having different specifications.

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment is an information processing apparatus that controls a display device, and includes a storage unit, an identification unit, and a deployment unit. The storage means stores a plurality of VGA BIOS having different specifications. The identification means identifies the specification of the own device including the display device at the time of activation. The expansion means reads the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification identified by the identification means from the storage means, and expands it in the main storage device. The identifying means identifies the type of the operating system installed in the own device as the specification of the own device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a POS terminal as an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the POS terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the state of the VGA BIOS stored in the ROM shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between each VGA BIOS illustrated in FIG. 3 and a corresponding specification. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of VGA BIOS expansion processing. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the procedure of the VGA BIOS expansion process.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus, a merchandise sales processing apparatus, and a program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a POS terminal as an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The POS terminal 1 is placed on a drawer 2 for storing cash or the like, and controls opening and closing of a drawer 2a of the drawer 2. The POS terminal 1 is provided with a keyboard 3 and the like on the front side for an operator to input a deposit amount and the like.

  Further, a first display 4 for an operator is connected to the front side of the POS terminal 1, and a second display 5 for a customer is connected to the back side. A printer 6 for printing receipts and journals is built in, and a receipt printed by the printer 6 is issued from a receipt issuing port 7 formed on the front side of the POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1 is connected to a code scanner 8 for reading a bar code printed on a product label at the time of product sales registration.

  The 1st display 4 and the 2nd display 5 are comprised with the liquid crystal color display etc. provided with the backlight, and display the item name and price of the goods registered for sale, the total amount of one transaction, the amount of change, etc.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a portion according to the present embodiment regarding the internal configuration of the POS terminal 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a POS terminal 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 102, a read only memory (ROM) 103, and a hard disk drive (HDD). 104, a K / B (key board) controller 105, and a VGA controller 106. In addition, the first display 4 and the second display 5 are connected to the POS terminal 1 via the VGA controller 106.

  The ROM 103 stores various programs such as MAIN BIOS and a plurality of VGA BIOSes.

  The MAIN BIOS includes a processing instruction (program) for operating the POS terminal 1. The MAIN BIOS includes, for example, ACPI BIOS, PCI BIOS, SM BIOS, and the like. The MAIN BIOS includes a processing instruction (program) for executing a VGA BIOS expansion process to be described later.

  The VGA BIOS includes processing instructions (programs) related to display control of the first display 4 and the second display 5. The processing commands related to display control are, for example, processing commands related to processing for setting a display size and resolution, processing commands related to processing for setting luminance, processing commands related to backlight control, and the like. A plurality of VGA BIOSes are stored in the ROM 103 in advance.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the state of the VGA BIOS stored in the ROM 103. In the figure, an example is shown in which the ROM 103 stores four VGA BIOSes 11-14. Here, each of the VGA BIOSes 11 to 14 includes a processing instruction related to display control corresponding to different specifications as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between each VGA BIOS illustrated in FIG. 3 and a corresponding specification. For example, the VGA BIOS 11 corresponds to a specification in which the OS (operating system) type is “OS1”, the screen size of the first display 4 is “Size11”, and the screen size of the second display 5 is “Size21”. The VGA BIOS 12 corresponds to the specification of the OS type “OS1”, the screen size of the first display 4 “Size12”, and the screen size of the second display 5 “Size22”.

  Here, the type of OS means the type of software itself, the difference in version, and the like. The screen size means the actual size and aspect ratio of the display area, displayable screen resolution, and the like.

  Note that a method for writing the VGA BIOS to the ROM 103 is not particularly limited, and a known technique is used. Further, the number of VGA BIOS written in the ROM 103 is not particularly limited as long as it is plural. Moreover, it is good also as a form memorize | stored in ROM103 including the general purpose VGA BIOS independent of the specification of the POS terminal 1. FIG.

  The HDD 104 stores the OS, various programs, and various data of the POS terminal 1. The K / B controller 105 takes in a signal corresponding to the operation input on the keyboard 3 and supplies it to the CPU 101.

  The VGA controller 106 controls driving of the first display 4 based on a command related to the first display 4 of the VGA BIOS developed in the DRAM 102. With this control, the VGA controller 106 causes the first display 4 to display characters and the like corresponding to the display data supplied from the CPU 101.

  The VGA controller 106 controls driving of the second display 5 based on a command related to the second display 5 of the VGA BIOS developed in the DRAM 102. With this control, the VGA controller 106 causes the second display 5 to display characters and the like corresponding to the display data supplied from the CPU 101.

  Next, functions related to the development of the VGA BIOS, which are realized by the CPU 101 executing the MAIN BIOS stored in the ROM 103, will be described.

  The CPU 101 implements functions as an identification unit and a development unit by executing MAIN BIOS when the POS terminal 1 is activated. Specifically, the CPU 101 obtains information indicating the type of OS stored in the HDD 104 and the screen sizes of the first display 4 and the second display 5 when the own device is started up. Identify the specification (identification means).

  Further, the CPU 101 specifies the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification (OS and screen size) of the own device from the ROM 103 and sets it as a deployment target. The CPU 101 expands the VGA BIOS to be expanded by reading it from the ROM 103 to the DRAM 102 (developing means). Details of these processes (VGA BIOS expansion process) will be described below.

  Next, an example of the procedure of VGA BIOS expansion processing performed by the POS terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the VGA BIOS expansion process. This process is realized by executing the MAIN BIOS.

  When the own apparatus is activated by turning on a power button (not shown) or the like, the CPU 101 identifies the OS and screen size specifications of the own apparatus (step S11). Subsequently, the CPU 101 identifies a VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification of the device among the VGA BIOS stored in the ROM 103, and sets it as a deployment target (step S12). Then, the CPU 101 reads out the VGA BIOS set as the development target from the ROM 103 to the DRAM 102, develops it in the DRAM 102 (step S13), and ends this processing.

  When the activation of the POS terminal 1 is completed after the above processing, the VGA controller 106 controls driving of the first display 4 and the second display 5 based on the VGA BIOS expanded in the DRAM 102.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification of the POS terminal 1 is read from the ROM 103 storing a plurality of VGA BIOS having different specifications, and is developed in the DRAM 102. Thereby, the POS terminal 1 can control the display using the VGA BIOS suitable for the specification of the own device. According to such a configuration, the corresponding VGB BIOS can be efficiently applied to the POS terminal 1 having different specifications.

  When the ROM 103 stores the general-purpose VGA BIOS and there is no VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification of the POS terminal 1, the general-purpose VGA BIOS may be developed. When this form is adopted, the CPU 101 (developing unit) develops the general-purpose VGA BIOS in the DRAM 102 when the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification of the own device does not exist in the ROM 103. Hereinafter, the procedure of the VGA BIOS expansion processing in this embodiment will be described as another example with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the procedure of the VGA BIOS expansion process. This process is realized by executing the MAIN BIOS, similar to the VGA BIOS development process of FIG.

  When the own apparatus is activated by turning on a power button (not shown) or the like, the CPU 101 sets a general-purpose VGA BIOS stored in the ROM 103 as a deployment target (step S21). Next, the CPU 101 identifies the OS and screen size specifications of the device itself (step S22).

  Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification of the own device exists in the ROM 103 (step S23). Here, when it is determined that it exists (step S23; Yes), the CPU 101 sets the VGA BIOS as a deployment target (step S24).

  Subsequently, the CPU 101 reads out the VGA BIOS set as the development target from the ROM 103 to the DRAM 102, develops it in the DRAM 102 (step S25), and ends this processing.

  In addition, when it determines with not existing in step S23 (step S23; No), CPU101 transfers to step S25 immediately. In step S25, the CPU 101 expands the general-purpose VGA BIOS set as the expansion target in step S21 in the DRAM 102, and ends the process.

  Thereby, even if there is no VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification of the POS terminal 1, the display can be controlled using the general-purpose VGA BIOS. Moreover, according to this structure, since the display function of a display can be ensured, the convenience can be improved.

  In the above processing, the general-purpose VGA BIOS is set as the deployment target in the first step S21. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be set after it is determined that it does not exist in step S23.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the said embodiment was shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, additions, combinations, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the said embodiment and its deformation | transformation are included in the range of the invention, the summary, and the invention described in the claim, and its equal range.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the OS type and the screen size of the first display 4 and the second display 5 are identified as the specifications of the POS terminal 1, but either one may be identified. Moreover, it is good also as a form which identifies the other specification which concerns on the hardware and software which the POS terminal 1 has according to the VGA BIOS specification definition.

  In the above embodiment, the POS terminal 1 is configured to include two displays, the first display 4 and the second display 5, but the number of displays is not particularly limited. For example, the POS terminal 1 may be configured to include one display, or may be configured to include three or more displays.

  In the above-described embodiment, the processing instruction related to the VGA BIOS expansion processing is included in the MAIN BIOS, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may be stored in the ROM 103 separately from the MAIN BIOS and the VGA BIOS. Further, it may be stored in another storage device different from the ROM 103.

  The program executed by the POS terminal 1 according to the above embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a storage medium (ROM 103 or HDD 104), but is not limited thereto. For example, an installable or executable file is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Also good. Furthermore, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a storage medium in which a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

  Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided by storing the program run by each apparatus of the said embodiment on the computer connected to networks, such as the internet, and downloading via a network. The program executed by each device of the above embodiment may be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Moreover, it is good also as a form which incorporates the program of the said embodiment in information processing apparatuses, such as PC, a smart phone, and a tablet terminal, and implement | achieves the function.

1 POS terminal 2 Drawer 3 Keyboard 4 First display 5 Second display 6 Printer 7 Receipt issuing port 8 Code scanner 101 CPU
102 DRAM
103 ROM
104 HDD
105 K / B controller 106 VGA controller

JP-A-8-241261

Claims (5)

An information processing device for controlling a display device,
Storage means for storing a plurality of VGA BIOS having different specifications;
Identification means for identifying the specifications of the device including the display device at the time of activation;
Expansion means for reading out the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification identified by the identification means from the storage means and expanding the VGA BIOS in the main storage device;
Equipped with a,
The identification unit is an information processing apparatus that identifies a type of an operating system installed in the own apparatus as a specification of the own apparatus.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit identifies a screen size of the display device as a specification of the own device. The storage means further stores a general-purpose VGA BIOS,
3. The information processing according to claim 1 , wherein the expansion unit expands the general-purpose VGA BIOS to the main storage device when a VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification identified by the identification unit does not exist in the storage unit. apparatus. A merchandise sales processing device for controlling a first display device for an operator and a second display device for a customer,
Storage means for storing a plurality of VGA BIOS having different specifications;
Identification means for identifying the specifications of the device including the first display device and the second display device at startup;
Expansion means for reading out the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification identified by the identification means from the storage means and expanding the VGA BIOS in the main storage device;
Equipped with a,
The product sales processing device , wherein the identifying means identifies the type of operating system installed in the device as the specification of the device. A computer for controlling the display device,
Identification means for identifying the specifications of the device including the display device at the time of activation;
Expansion means for reading out the VGA BIOS corresponding to the specification identified by the identification means from the storage means for storing a plurality of VGA BIOSes having different specifications, and expanding the VGA BIOS in the main storage device;
To function ,
The identification means is a program for identifying a type of an operating system installed in the own device as a specification of the own device .

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