JPH0636235B2 - POS system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a POS system capable of transmitting characters between arbitrary POS terminals.

[Prior Art] In a POS (point-of-sale information management) system adopted in a large-scale retail store such as a department store or a supermarket, one file control unit (file controller, FC) has a plurality of electronic caches, for example. A POS terminal (POS terminal) including a register is connected by a transmission line. Then, the sales data such as the number of items sold and the amount of sale of each item for sale registered at each POS terminal is immediately transmitted to the file control unit, and is sent to the product master file formed in the storage unit of the file control unit. For example, the product codes are aggregated.

If the scale of the sales floor becomes large and the number of POS terminals installed increases, one file control unit will no longer be able to handle it. Therefore, the POS terminals are divided into multiple groups and one file control is provided for each group. Units are installed, and the file control units of each group are connected to one store control unit (store controller, SC).
This store control unit collects the sales data of each product collected by each file control unit and analyzes the sales situation of the entire store.

In some cases, the scale becomes larger, and for example, each store control unit installed in each branch is controlled by a host computer (HOST) installed in the head office or the like.

In a sales floor that employs such a large-scale POS system, the cashier who actually performs the sales registration work at each POS terminal is constantly changed. Therefore, for each cashier, which POS terminal is currently executing the sales registration operation (signing on) is stored as cashier memory in, for example, the store control unit or the host computer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the POS system configured as described above has the following problems. Usually, sales data is transmitted from each POS terminal to the file controller. Further, the file control unit transmits product data such as the product name and unit price of the sold product and various setting data to each POS terminal. However, the message cannot be transmitted from each POS terminal to another POS terminal. For this reason, cashiers who are doing sales registration work at POS terminals sometimes want to contact other cashiers, but because cashiers cannot leave the department without permission, wait until the work is completed or the sales floor. I had to wait for the patrollers to visit and ask for a message. However, in the case of urgent requirements, there may be cases where there is no room to wait for the end of work or the patrol.

In addition, as mentioned above, the cashiers who are selling at each POS terminal are constantly changing, so each P
For cashiers who perform sales operations with OS terminals, not only can they not easily know who is executing sales operations (signing on) with other POS terminals, but also lack communication between the cashiers. I have a concern.

The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable the POS terminals to exchange messages with each other by using a character transmission message. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a POS system capable of communicating the above-mentioned intentions and capable of immediately transmitting a necessary message.

Further, in addition to the above-mentioned object, another object of the invention is
It is an object of the present invention to provide a POS system capable of calling up a list of all cashiers currently signed on to all POS terminals on an OS terminal and further improving communication between the cashiers. .

[Means for Solving Problems] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of file control units 2 are connected to a host model 1, and each file control unit 2 has a plurality of file control units under its own control. In the POS system in which the POS terminal 2 is connected and the sales data of each sale product registered for sale at each POS terminal 3 is aggregated in the connected file control unit 2, each POS terminal 3 is Of P
When a message to be sent to the OS terminal and a POS terminal number designating a destination POS terminal are input, this message and the message to embed the POS terminal number in a character transmission message and send them to the file control unit 2 The transmitting means 4, the emergency information embedding means 5 for incorporating the emergency designating information into the character transmission message when the emergency designating information for the message is inputted, and the character including the own POS terminal number from the file controller 2. When the transmission message is received, the emergency determination means 6 for determining whether or not the character transmission message includes the emergency designation information, and the emergency determination means 6 determines that the emergency designation information is not included. Then, a message storage notification means 7 for storing the message included in the character transmission message in the buffer and for notifying the presence of the received message, and a message When the display request command is input,
When the message display unit 8 for displaying the message stored in the buffer on the display unit and the emergency determination unit 6 determine that the emergency designation information is included, other data displayed on the display unit is given priority. And the priority display means 9 for displaying the message included in the character transmission message. When the file control unit 2 receives the character transmission message from the host model 1 and each POS terminal 3, the file control unit 2 receives the character transmission message. Terminal determining means 10a for determining whether the POS terminal number included in is a POS terminal number under its own jurisdiction, and if this terminal judging means discriminates the POS terminal number under its own jurisdiction It is provided with a message transmission control means 10b which transmits a transmission message to the corresponding POS terminal and, when it is determined that the POS terminal number is not under the jurisdiction, transmits the character transmission message to a higher-level model.

In still another invention, a cashier memory 11 for storing the cashier name during sign-on at each POS terminal is provided, and when the display request command 12 of the cashier name during sign-on at all POS terminals is input. , The cashier name request transmitting means 13 incorporates the display request command 12 into a character transmission message together with the own POS terminal number and sends it to the cashier memory 11, and the character including the own POS terminal number is sent from the cashier memory 11. When a transmission message is input Cashier name display means 14
Each cashier name included in this character transmission message is displayed on the display unit together with the POS terminal number.

[Operation] In the POS system configured as above, each PO
When a message and a destination POS terminal number are input to the S terminal, the input message and POS terminal number are incorporated into a character transmission message and transmitted to the file control unit. Then, when the character transmission message including the own POS terminal number is input from the file control unit, the message included in this character transmission message is stored in the buffer and the presence of the received message is notified. After that, when a message display request command is input, the message stored in the buffer is displayed on the display unit.

When sending an urgent message, the urgent information is input together with the message and the destination POS terminal number. Then, the emergency information is embedded in the character transmission message together with the message and the POS terminal number and transmitted to the file control unit. If the message transmitted by the file control unit contains urgent information, the message included in the message transmitted is given priority over other data currently displayed on the display unit. Is displayed.

In addition to the above actions, the action of still another invention is that each POS
When a cashier name display request command is entered at the terminal, the cashier names that are signed on at all POS terminals stored in the cashier memory are embedded in the character transmission message and sent to the corresponding POS terminal. . Then, it is displayed on the display unit together with the POS terminal number.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the entire POS system of the embodiment. For example, a plurality of store control units (SC) 22 provided at each branch are connected to a host computer (HOST) 21 provided at a head office or the like via a communication line. Each store control unit 22 has a plurality of file control units 2
3 are connected via a transmission line. Further, each file control unit 23 is connected with a plurality of POS terminals (POS terminals) 24 configured by electronic cash registers, for example, in a closed loop via transmission lines. Each store control unit 22, each file control unit 23, and each PO
The S terminal 24 is provided with a store controller number, a file controller number, and a POS terminal number, respectively.

Each of the POS terminals 24 is constructed as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the keyboard 26 is provided on the front surface of the housing 25.
Is provided on the upper part of the housing 25, and a display section 27 formed by a CRT display tube capable of displaying sales data such as a department code of a sale product, a sales amount, and a total amount of money and a message over a plurality of lines is provided. The receipt issuing port 28 and the drawer 29 are provided in the middle and lower portions, respectively.

On the keyboard 26, as shown in the figure, a message can be input with a character code, and the POS of the message destination can be input.
Numerical key 30 for entering numerical data such as terminal number, number of items sold, amount of deposit, etc., department key 31 indicating product category, deposit / cash total key 32 for calculating total amount, etc. In addition to the sales registration key, various function keys such as a character transmission key 33 that is operated before transmitting characters, a clear (C) key, and a # key are provided. Furthermore, next to this keyboard 26, click [Register].
A control key 34 is provided for selectively setting various operations such as [inspection], [payment] and [setting].

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the POS terminal 24.
The CPU (central processing unit) 35 has a built-in arithmetic circuit and the like,
Various arithmetic processes are performed based on input information from the keyboard 26, and the address bus 36 and the data bus 3
7. The ROM 39 that stores fixed data such as a control program via the control line 38 and the RAM 40 that stores sales data such as the sales amount of each product that is keyed in are operated. Further, a transmission control circuit 41 connected to the file control unit 23 via a transmission path, a keyboard input circuit 42 for receiving a key signal from the keyboard 26, a display control circuit 43 for sending a display signal to the display unit 27, and a receipt. Printer control circuit 45 of the dot printer 44 that prints out to and a buzzer drive circuit 47 that drives a buzzer 46 for notifying that an erroneous key operation or an emergency message has been input.
Is the CP via the data bus 37 and the control line 38, respectively.
It is connected to U35.

In the RAM 40, as shown in FIG. 5, in addition to a work buffer R1 for performing various sales registration operations, a message buffer R2 for temporarily storing a message included in an input character transmission message, an urgent message. Is input, a data buffer R3 for temporarily storing the data currently displayed on the display unit 27 is formed. Further, a message memory R for storing relatively frequently sent messages such as [out of change], [request for support] together with a message number.
4 are formed.

In addition, in the storage unit of the host computer 21, there is a cashier memory for storing cashier names for which sales registration is currently being executed (signing on) for each POS terminal installed in each sales floor. Has been formed.
Then, when the cashier performs a sign-on operation including an operation of inputting a cashier name (code) at the start of sales at each POS terminal 24, the corresponding cashier name is transmitted to the host computer 21, and the corresponding POS terminal in the cashier memory. Is set to. Also, if the cashier performs a sign-on operation at the end of the sales operation at the POS terminal, the corresponding P in the cashier memory
The OS terminal cashier name is cleared.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of a message transmitted among the POS terminal 24, the file controller 23, the store controller 22, and the host computer 21. That is,
In this message 48, a start flag a for synchronizing the POS terminals is set at the head, an address area b indicating the source (secondary station) or the destination (primary station) is second, and a control An area c, an information area d in which actual transmission information is set, a frame check sequence e for checking the validity of a message, an end flag f, etc. are formed.

Further, as shown in the figure, the information area d is formed of a destination address g, a source address h, an information type i, and actual information (text) k. Further, the transmission destination address g is composed of the transmission destination POS terminal number, the file control unit number to which the transmission destination POS terminal belongs, and the store control unit number, and the transmission source address h is also the transmission source POS terminal number and file. It is composed of a control unit number and a store control unit number. Note that if the destination or source is not the POS terminal 24 but a higher-level device such as the file control unit 23, the store control unit 24, the host computer 21 or the like, the lower model number is not set.

The information type i indicates the type of information (text) k, and as shown in the figure, different codes are set depending on interrupts, batch data, sales data, messages, cashier name display request commands, cashier names, and the like. It A status indicating whether the message is urgent or normal is set at the beginning.

If the information (text) k is a message, a display request command, or a cashier name, this message 48 will be a character transmission message.

When each file controller 23 receives the message 48 from the POS terminal 24 or the store controller 22, the file controller 23 checks the destination address g of the information area d as shown in FIG. 7 (terminal determining means). . And the destination is P under his own jurisdiction
If it is the OS terminal 24, the message 48 input to the corresponding POS terminal 24 is transmitted, and if it is not the POS terminal 24 under its own control, it is transmitted to the upper store control unit 22 (message transmission). Control means). If the destination is its own file controller 23, the corresponding receiving process is performed.

FIG. 8 shows the CPU 35 in each POS terminal 24 when the message 48 is input from the file control unit 23.
6 is a flow chart showing a process performed by the control program according to FIG. That is, when the message 48 is input to the transmission control circuit 41, the destination address g of the information area d is checked in the same manner as described above. Then, if the destination address is its own POS terminal number, the information type i is checked to determine whether the information k is a message, and if it is a message, it is further an emergency message (emergency determination means). . And information k
Is a message and is not an urgent message, the received message is stored in the message buffer R2 of the RAM 40, and the tri-mark indicating the presence of the received message on the display unit 27 is turned on (message storage notifying means).

If the information type i indicates an emergency message, the data currently displayed on the display unit 27 is temporarily stored in the data buffer R3. Then, the buzzer 46 is activated and the received message is displayed on the display unit 27 (priority display means). When the cashier confirms the message and presses the clear (C) key on the keyboard 26, the buzzer 46 stops ringing and the display on the display unit 27 is restored to the original data temporarily stored in the data buffer R3.

Although not shown in FIG. 8, the input message 48
If the information (text) k is the list data of the cashier names during sign-on corresponding to each POS terminal 24 read from the cashier memory of the host computer 21, it is displayed on the display unit 27 as a list.

FIG. 9 shows the store controller 22 or the host computer 21.
Internal CP not shown when the message 48 is received by
It is a flowchart which U etc. perform. Message 4 entered on P1
If 8 is a message addressed to itself, the display process after P2 is executed. This display process is almost the same as the process in each POS terminal 24 shown in FIG. If the message is not addressed to itself in P1, it is checked in P3 whether the destination is the file control unit 23 or the store control unit 22 under its control. If it is under its own control, it sends the received message to the lower device. If it is not under its own control, it is sent to the host device (host computer).

Arbitrary P in the POS system configured in this way
In the OS terminal 24, a frequently used message is newly set in the message registration memory R4 of the RAM 40,
FIG. 10 shows a key operation procedure on the keyboard 26 when changing a set message. That is, when the character transmission key 33 of the keyboard 26 is keyed in, the character transmission mode is set, and the display 27 displays four menus for character selection related to character transmission shown in FIG. 14 (a). Then, when message change / additional work is selected with the numeral keys 30 and # keys of 2, the display unit 27
As shown in FIG. 14 (b), the message already registered in the message registration memory R4 of the RAM 40 is displayed together with the message number. Then, the message number to be added / corrected is input by the numeral keys 30 and # keys in the same manner as described above, and then the message is converted into a decimal code and is inputted by the numeral key 30. Then, the input message is displayed on the display 27. When the # key is pressed again, the message and the message number displayed on the display unit 27 are stored in the message registration memory R4.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a key operation procedure when a message is transmitted from the arbitrary POS terminal 24 to the arbitrary POS terminal 24, the arbitrary store controller 22 or the host computer 21. That is, when the character transmission key 33 is keyed in, the character transmission mode is entered in the same manner as described above, and the work selection menu of FIG. 14 (a) is displayed on the display unit 27.
When the message transmission work is selected with the numeral key 30 of 1, the menu shown in FIG. 14C is displayed on the display unit 27. Therefore, the store control unit number to which the destination device belongs and the file control unit are displayed. The serial number and the POS terminal number are sequentially input by the numeric keypad 30. Then, each number is displayed on the display unit 27.
Will be displayed in the relevant area.

Then, when transmitting a message registered in the message registration memory R4, the message number is input. Then, the message of the corresponding message number is displayed on the display unit 2.
It is displayed on 7. When sending a message that has not been registered, the # key is keyed, and then the message is coded and keyed in the same manner as described above. Then the input message is displayed.

Next, when it is necessary to urgently transmit this message, the status of 1 is keyed in with the numeric keypad 30. In the normal case where no emergency is required, the numeric key 30 is used to key in a status of 0. When the above input operation is completed, the character transmission key 33 is again keyed. Then, the inputted number of each device of the transmission destination, the message, and the emergency or normal status are incorporated in the message 48 and transmitted (message transmitting means, emergency information incorporating means). When the transmission is completed, the display unit 27 returns to the original menu of FIG. 14 (a).

Also, for example, a message 48 addressed to itself from each POS terminal 24 or each POS terminal 24 at the host computer 21.
In the case of inputting, when the input data (message) is displayed, the operation procedure of FIG. 12 is followed. That is,
The character transmission key is keyed in to display the menu of FIG. 14 (a), and the received data display process is selected by the numeral key of 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 14 (d), each message received so far is displayed together with each device number of the transmission source (message display means). When the responsible person or cashier confirms each message, he or she inputs the numeric key of 1 to print out the received data on the receipt, and the numeric key of 0 if printout is not required. To do. When clearing the received data that has already been displayed, the numeric key of 1 is keyed in.

Further, in order to display the cashier name in the state where the message 48 including the cashier name is input from the host computer 21 after the cashier name display request command is keyed in from the keyboard 26 at any POS terminal 24. Executes the operating procedure shown in FIG. That is, the character transmission key 33 is keyed in to display the menu of FIG. 14 (a) on the display unit 27. And the numeric key 3 of 3
At 0, select the sign-on-cashier list service. Then, as shown in FIG. 14 (e), the display unit 27 is signed on with the store control unit number, the file control unit number, and the corresponding POS terminal number in all the POS terminal units 24. The cashier name of is displayed. When the character transmission key 33 is again input, the display on the display unit 27 returns to the menu of FIG. 14 (a).

With the POS system configured as described above, it is possible to transmit an arbitrary message from the arbitrary POS terminal 24 to the arbitrary POS terminal 24, the store control unit 22, and the host computer 21. Therefore, for cashiers who are performing sales registration work at each POS terminal 24, even if there is any business affair, it is necessary to immediately convey the requirement to the person concerned without waiting for the patrol person. Is possible. Therefore, the burden on each cashier can be reduced, and the work efficiency of the entire sales registration work can be improved.

In addition, information about the degree of urgency can be added to the message to be sent, so when an emergency notification item for security such as a fire occurs, it is displayed with priority over other display data, so the cashier can respond promptly. It is possible to take action.

Furthermore, in each POS terminal 24, it is possible to display a list of cashier names currently in the sales registration operation (signing on) on all the POS terminals 24 on the display unit 27. It is possible to communicate with each other.

Further, in this embodiment, since frequently used messages are registered in advance in the message registration memory R4 together with message numbers, the cashier does not need to key in the message each time, so the cashier's burden can be further reduced. .

If necessary, the received message can be printed out on a receipt or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, messages can be exchanged between POS terminals using character transmission messages. Moreover, emergency messages can be displayed with priority over other data. Therefore, it is possible to reliably communicate with each cashier without hindering business, and to immediately transmit an urgent message, thereby providing a POS system capable of improving the work efficiency of the entire sales registration business. be able to.

Furthermore, a list of all cashier names currently signed on to all POS terminals can be called up by any POS terminal, and the intention of the cashier can be further communicated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 14 show a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the entire system, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an external view showing each POS terminal, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the same POS terminal, FIG. 5 is a view showing a main memory of a storage unit, FIG. 6 is a format diagram showing a message, FIG. 9 to 10 are flow charts showing the operation, FIGS. 10 to 13 are flow charts showing the operation procedure on the keyboard, and FIG. 14 is a view showing the display contents on the display unit. 21 ... Host computer, 22 ... Store control unit,
23 ... File control unit, 24 ... POS terminal, 26
...... Keyboard, 27 ... Display, 30 ... Numeric key,
33 ... Character transmission key, 35 ... CPU, 40 ... RA
M, 46 ... Buzzer, 48 ... Message.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of file control units are connected to a host model, and a plurality of POS terminals under their own jurisdiction are connected to each file control unit, and each file is sold and registered at each POS terminal. In the POS system that collects the sales data of the sold products in the respective connected file control units, each POS terminal has a message to be transmitted to another POS terminal and a POS terminal number for designating a destination POS terminal. When entered, this message and PO
Message transmission means for incorporating the S terminal number into the character transmission message and transmitting it to the file control unit, and when urgent designation information for the message is input, urgency to embed this urgent designation information in the character transmission message Information embedding means,
When the character transmission message including the own POS terminal number is received from the file control unit, the emergency determination means for determining whether or not the emergency designation information is included in the character transmission message, and the emergency determination. When it is determined that the emergency designation information is not included by the means, a message storage notification means that stores the message included in the character transmission message in a buffer and notifies that there is a received message,
When a message display request command is input, it is determined that the message display unit that displays the message stored in the buffer on the display unit, and the emergency determination unit includes the emergency designation information, And a priority display unit for displaying a message included in the character transmission message in preference to other data displayed on the display unit, wherein the file control unit is provided from the upper model and each POS terminal. When a character transmission message is received, a terminal device determining means for determining whether or not the POS terminal number included in the character transmission message is a POS terminal number under its own jurisdiction, and its own jurisdiction by this terminal device determining means. When the POS terminal number is determined to be the POS terminal number, the character transmission message is transmitted to the corresponding POS terminal number. A POS system comprising: a message transmission control means for transmitting the message to the higher model. 2. A plurality of file control units are connected to a high-order model, and a plurality of POS terminals under their own jurisdiction are connected to each file control unit, and each POS terminal is sold for registration. The sales data of the products for sale are aggregated in the connected file control units, and each P
In a POS system provided with a cashier memory for storing a cashier name during sign-on in an OS terminal, each POS terminal specifies a message to be transmitted to another POS terminal and a POS terminal to which the POS terminal is to be transmitted. When the machine number is entered, this message and PO
Message transmission means for incorporating the S terminal number into the character transmission message and transmitting it to the file control unit, and when urgent designation information for the message is input, urgency to embed this urgent designation information in the character transmission message Information embedding means,
When the character transmission message including the own POS terminal number is received from the file control unit, the emergency determination means for determining whether or not the emergency designation information is included in the character transmission message, and the emergency determination. When it is determined that the emergency designation information is not included by the means, a message storage notification means that stores the message included in the character transmission message in a buffer and notifies that there is a received message,
When a message display request command is input, it is determined that the message display unit that displays the message stored in the buffer on the display unit, and the emergency determination unit includes the emergency designation information, Priority display means for displaying a message included in the character transmission message in preference to other data displayed on the display unit, and all P
When a display request command for the cashier name during sign-on in the OS terminal is input, the display request command is embedded in the character transmission message together with the own POS terminal number and transmitted to the higher model. When a request transmission means and a character transmission message including its own POS terminal number are received from the host model, each cashier name included in the character transmission message is displayed on the display unit together with each POS terminal number. When the file control unit receives a character transmission message from the higher model and each POS terminal, the file control unit has a POS terminal number included in the character transmission message under its own control. The terminal determining means for determining whether or not it is a machine number, and if the terminal determining means determines that the POS terminal number is under its own jurisdiction, the character The POS device further comprises a message transmission control means for transmitting the transmission message to the corresponding POS terminal and, if it is determined that the POS terminal number is not one under the jurisdiction, the character transmission message is transmitted to a higher level. system.