JPS6037506B2 - Program loading method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a data collection system in which the operating program of each terminal is stored in a volatile memory, in which a common line can be used even while other terminals are transferring data to a center through the same line. The present invention relates to a program loading method that allows the operating program to be written to any terminal without having to do so.

Data collection system, for example, a large number of P in each department store
The system that installs OS terminals and connects them to the center using a private line is roughly configured as shown in Figure 1.
, -Tn each stores its own operating program and transfers data to the center CEN based on sales.

L is a local line, and a terminal side connector CN2 is connected to the connector CN in a manner that can be connected to and separated from the local area line. However, since using a non-volatile read-only memory (ROM) as the memory IJ for storing the above-mentioned operating program is expensive, there is a tendency to use an inexpensive random access memory (RAM). As is well known, RAM is volatile, so by turning off the power to terminals T and ~Tn when the store is closed, the RAM can be
The program in M will be deleted. Therefore, the next day, before the store opens, it is necessary to turn on the power, transfer the program from the center CEN again, and store it in the RAM at each end. If such a system takes 3 to 5 minutes to transfer a program to one terminal, if the number of terminals is 1000 or more, the method of sequentially transferring the program to each terminal would require an enormous amount of time. , we would not be able to make it in time for the opening.

Therefore, by adopting a method in which, while a program is being transferred to one terminal, other terminals also import the program on line L if it is the same as their own, the program can be transferred to all terminals. There are also methods to shorten the transfer time. By the way, if the source of program transfer to the terminals T, -Tn is always the center CEN, problems will arise when the terminal (for example, T2) is moved to another location after the start of business, or when the terminal is repaired.

That is, in these cases, the power to the terminal T2 is often temporarily cut off, and the program stored in the RNM at that point disappears. Therefore, when the terminal is moved,
Alternatively, after recovering from the fault and turning on the power, you will have to request the center CEN to start the program again, but if you do this, the line L will be occupied for 3 to 5 minutes after the start of work, so other Transfer of sales data from the terminal will be prohibited during this time, reducing line usage efficiency. The present invention improves this point. The present invention connects a predetermined number of terminals to a common line extending from a center, transfers an operating program to each terminal outside the center, and each terminal stores the corresponding program in a volatile memory and then performs subsequent communication. In a program loading method in a data collection system that operates according to a program and transfers data to the center, a program loader having a recording medium for storing the program and a connector that can be coupled to the line is provided, and the center The program to be transferred to each terminal is captured from the line and recorded on a recording medium, and for terminals that require program loading, the program is input from the recording medium to the terminal. This will be explained in detail with reference to. Second
The figure is a schematic block diagram of a data collection system to which the present invention is applied, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same symbols.

The CTL shown in FIG. 2 is a program loader using a cassette tape according to the present invention, and can be connected to a connector CN on the line side through a connector CN3. Figure a shows the situation during program transfer before the opening of the store, in which the corresponding one of the various programs PRO sent from the center CEN onto the line L is taken into each terminal and written into its RAM. . At the same time, the program loader CTL loads all programs sent onto the line L using the cassette tape as a recording medium. Record the gram PRG. In this way, the cassette tape can be used to load programs into the terminal. For this purpose, a tape holding portion may be provided on the terminal side, and the cassette tape may be removed from the program loader CTL and loaded onto the terminal to load the program, but it may simply be done as shown in Figure b. Figure b shows that all terminals T, ~Tn store programs and data DA.
This figure shows how the program PRO is written to the terminal T2 after the start of work when the TA can be transferred to the center CEN. The program for terminal T2 is connector C.
N2 and CN3 are directly connected and transferred from the cassette tape loader CTL. By doing this, line L is not used, so during this time, for example, terminal T connects to center CE through line L.
Even if sales data DMTA is transferred to N, this will not be interfered with. FIG. 3a shows the format of the program transferred from the center CEN, and the "fixed part" at the beginning is a flag indicating that it is a program.

"IPL data" is the operation program of the terminal, and is common to terminals having the same "group number" following the fixed part. "Common part designation" indicates matters common to the group in general, and "parameter designation" indicates matters related to different options for terminals within the group. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a data storage area in a cassette tape loader CTL in a system in which terminals T, .about.Tn are classified into four groups G, .about.G4 based on the type of program. When inputting such a program from a cassette tape, the terminal T2 will, for example, if it belongs to group G, then the terminal T2 will read the program from group G. Import only parameter 1 and data 1. If the program loader CTL is left connected to line L and receives the program when the power is turned on before the store opens, the program on the cassette tape will always be updated to a new one. You can remove the terminal and perform the terminal flower L.

Note that department stores and the like sometimes hold events, and at that time, part of the terminal operating program is often changed.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. When the cassette tape loader CTL is connected as shown in FIG.
The input side of is turned on, and the parameter PA determined by the switch control section 12 is sent to the parameter determination section 13 and also to the IPL.
Data D, is guided to the data buffer 14. The parameter determination unit 13 determines whether the input PA is the parameter 1 to 1 in FIG. 2b.
4, and if the parameter is 1, the counter 15 of group ○ is counted up.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a buffer memory divided into groups G, .about.D4, in which parameters .about.4 and data 1-4, which are grouped as shown in FIG. 3b, are accumulated.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a read control unit that reads data D by giving a memo address ADD, and the read data is sent to the write control unit 1.
8 and recorded on the cassette tape CST.

The operations up to this point are performed in the state shown in Fig. 2a, and Fig. 2b
When the start key 19 is pressed after the cassette tape CST is connected, the data D is read from the cassette tape CST through the read control section 20, and is led to the terminal T2 through the output terminal 21. For terminal T2, this state is the same as in Figure 2a, so it detects its own group number and selects the corresponding IPL.
Write data to RAM. As described above, according to the present invention, all the necessary programs are stored on the cassette tape, so that even after the system has started working, the program can be written to any terminal without using a line.

[Brief explanation of the drawings] Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional data collection system;
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a data collection system to which the present invention is applied, FIGS. 3a and 3b are explanatory diagrams showing a program transmission format and a storage format in a cassette tape loader, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of a data collection system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment. In the figure, CEN is the center, L is the line, T, ~Tn are the terminals,
CN, to CN3 are connectors, CTL is a cassette tape loader, and CST is a cassette tape. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A predetermined number of terminals are connected to a common line extending from a center, and the center transfers an operating program to each terminal, and each terminal stores the corresponding program in volatile memory and then operates according to the program. In a program loading method in a data collection system that operates and transfers data to the center, a program loader having a recording medium for storing the program and a connector that can be coupled to the line is provided, and the center is connected to each terminal. A program loading method characterized in that a program to be transferred to a terminal is captured from the line and recorded on a recording medium, and if the program needs to be loaded, the program is input from the recording medium to the terminal.