JP2000339551A - Product sales registration data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To improve the mutual communication efficiency by using a power line and a communication line other than the power line as a communication line connecting a data processing terminal and a terminal controller. SOLUTION: A data processing terminal 1 and a terminal controller 5
A power line 7 for supplying power to itself and communication lines 4 and 6 other than the power line are provided as a transmission medium for data transmission performed between the power line and the power line. The data processing terminal 1 and the terminal controller 5 respectively provide a line selection table in which whether the power line 7 or the communication lines 4 and 6 are used as a transmission medium for each type of transmission data, Line identification means for identifying a transmission medium corresponding to the type of data based on the setting data of the line selection table. Then, the data is transmitted between the data processing terminal 1 and the terminal controller 5 using the transmission medium identified by the line identification means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plurality of data processing terminals for performing data processing such as registration of merchandise sales data,
The present invention relates to a merchandise sales registration data processing system provided with a terminal controller for centrally controlling each data processing terminal so that data can be transmitted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a mass retailer such as a supermarket, a data processing terminal, so-called POS, which is installed at each sales floor and registers and processes sales data and the like of customer purchased commodities.
(PointOf Sales: point of sale management) Terminal and
It is installed in the store management office, etc., and responds to the unit price data of the product inquired from the POS terminal of each sales floor,
A merchandise sales registration data processing system, a so-called POS, which is connected by a communication line to a terminal controller, a so-called POS controller, which collects and aggregates sales data of merchandise registered at each POS terminal and manages sales of the entire store. The system has been introduced.

In a conventional POS system of this kind,
As a communication line connecting each POS terminal and the POS controller, for example, a wired line such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) conforming to the IEEE802.3 standard is mainly used. In addition, a wireless station is attached to each POS terminal and a wireless base station is attached to the ceiling of a sales floor, etc., and a wireless LAN such as a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard is provided between the wireless base station and the wireless station of each POS terminal. A wireless P which is connected by a wireless line, and a wireless base station and a POS controller are connected by a wired line such as a wired LAN so that data transmission between each POS terminal and the POS controller is performed by wireless.
OS systems have also been developed. With this wireless POS system, there is no need to wire a communication cable on the floor of the sales floor, so that there is an advantage that the layout of the sales floor can be easily changed.

[0004] However, since the wireless LAN is slower than the wired LAN, if data communication requiring real-time performance occurs during data communication with a large amount of information, the response tends to be delayed. . In particular, P
In the OS system, for example, while POS controller is collecting sales data from one POS terminal, product registration is performed in another POS terminal, and unit price inquiry of the product is performed to the POS controller. At this time, the POS controller responds to the inquiry source POS terminal with the unit price data of the product, but this response is delayed when wireless communication is used. This delay in response is not preferable because it leads to a reduction in processing efficiency at the POS terminal where the product is registered, and eventually to a reduction in serviceability such as waiting for shoppers.

On the other hand, recently, a power line communication device for performing data communication using a spread spectrum method using a power line as a communication medium has been developed and put to practical use. Therefore, by incorporating the power line communication device into each POS terminal and POS controller,
It is conceivable to use a power line as a communication line of the S system. However, since data transmission using a power line is much slower than a wireless LAN or a wired LAN, it is not suitable as a communication line of a POS system in which data communication requiring real-time properties frequently occurs. .

Incidentally, in the POS system, it is desirable that the POS controller can remotely control the power on / off of each POS terminal so that the POS controller can access the POS terminal even when the power is off. Therefore, conventionally, a dedicated signal line for power supply remote control is separately provided between the POS controller and the POS terminal in addition to the wired LAN or wireless LAN communication line, and only the communication control unit of each POS terminal is always energized. Then, the POS controller appropriately transmits a power ON / OFF command to each POS terminal through a dedicated signal line, thereby realizing power remote control of each POS terminal.

[0007]

As described above, the PO
In a conventional merchandise sales registration data processing system called an S system, a system using a wired line and a wireless line are used as a communication line connecting each data processing terminal (POS terminal) and a terminal controller (POS controller). However, in the former system using a wired line, there is a problem that it is necessary to route the communication cable according to the installation location of each data processing terminal, and in the latter system using a wireless line, However, there is a problem that the processing speed of data communication requiring real-time characteristics tends to be delayed. Also, using a power line as a communication line was inappropriate due to the nature of a merchandise sales registration data processing system in which data communication requiring real-time properties frequently occurs.

In order to construct a system in which the terminal controller remotely controls the power on / off of the data processing terminal, a dedicated signal line for remote control of the power supply is provided separately from a wired LAN or a wireless LAN communication line. Even if the wireless LAN is used as the communication line between the data processing terminal and the terminal controller, the wiring of the communication cable is not required, but the dedicated signal line for the power supply remote control must be laid. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to use a power line and a communication line other than the power line together as a communication line connecting a data processing terminal and a terminal controller. Another object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise sales registration data processing system capable of efficiently performing data communication between a data processing terminal and a terminal controller. In addition, a power line and a wireless line are used in combination as a communication line connecting the data processing terminal and the terminal controller, and in particular, the terminal controller controls the main power on / off of the data processing terminal using the power line, thereby providing remote power supply control. It is an object of the present invention to provide a merchandise sales registration data processing system capable of realizing power supply remote control of a data processing terminal without laying a dedicated signal line for the data processing.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise sales registration data processing system comprising a plurality of data processing terminals and a terminal controller for centrally controlling each data processing terminal so as to be capable of data transmission. The system includes a power line for supplying power to itself and a communication line other than the power line as a transmission medium for data transmission performed between the data processing terminal and the terminal controller. Then, a power line is used as a transmission medium for communication of data with a large amount of information, and a communication line other than the power line is used as a transmission medium for communication of data requiring real time. With such a configuration, communication of data having a large amount of information and communication of data requiring real-time properties are performed through separate transmission media, so that a response to data communication requiring real-time properties is delayed. Disappears.

According to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, as a transmission medium for data transmission between a data processing terminal and a terminal controller, a power line for supplying power to itself and a communication line other than the power line are used. A line selection table in which whether a power line is used as a transmission medium or a communication line other than the power line is used for each type of data transmitted between the data processing terminal and the terminal controller, and a data processing terminal And line identification means for identifying a transmission medium corresponding to the type of data based on the setting data in the line selection table when data transmitted between the terminal controller and the terminal controller is generated. The data is transmitted between the data processing terminal and the terminal controller using a transmission medium. With such a configuration, a setting is made in the line selection table to use a power line for data communication with a large amount of information, and a communication line other than the power line is used for data communication requiring real-time performance. By setting to the effect, communication of data having a large amount of information and communication of data requiring real-time property are performed through separate transmission media, and the response to data communication also requiring real-time property is performed. Will not be delayed.

[0012] The invention described in claim 3 of the present application is the above-described claim 1.
Alternatively, in the invention described in Item 2, the communication line other than the power line is a wireless line. With such a configuration, even in a system using a wireless line as a communication medium,
The response to data communication that requires real-time characteristics is not delayed.

The invention described in claim 4 of the present application is the above-described claim 3.
In the invention described in the above, the terminal controller is provided with means for transmitting a command for remotely controlling the power of the data processing terminal to the data processing terminal via the power line, and the data transmitted via the power line is always transmitted to the data processing terminal. It is provided with a means for receiving and a means for turning on or off its own main power when data transmitted via the power line is a command for remotely controlling its own power. With such a configuration, a command for remotely controlling the power of each data processing terminal is transmitted from the terminal controller to each data processing terminal via the power line. Each data processing terminal is always in a state where it can receive the command, and when it receives the command, it turns on or off its own main power supply. Therefore, even in a system using a wireless line as a communication medium, remote control of power of each data processing terminal can be realized from the terminal controller without laying a dedicated signal line for remote control of power.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of a merchandise sales registration data processing system, a so-called POS system, according to the present embodiment. And the wireless base station 3 on the ceiling of the sales floor, etc.
IEEE 80 is connected to the wireless station 2 of the OS terminal 1.
The connection is made with a wireless LAN 4 conforming to the 2.11 standard. Further, the wireless base station 4 and a POS controller 5 as a terminal controller installed in a store management office or the like are connected by a wired LAN 6 conforming to the IEEE802.3 standard, and the POS controller 5 and each POS terminal are connected. 1 to perform bidirectional data communication via wireless communication.

Further, a power line 7 dedicated to the POS system is provided in the store, and the operating power supply of each of the POS terminal 1, the wireless base station 3 and the POS controller 5 is changed.
The power is supplied from power outlets 8 provided at various places on the power line 7.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the POS controller 5. As shown in FIG. This POS controller 5
Is a business program file 51 in which program data for causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute various tasks requested as a POS controller is set in advance, and the business program file 51 mainly including the CPU is set in the business program file 51. A main control unit 52 for controlling execution of various tasks based on the program data, an I / O control unit 53 for controlling operations of various input / output devices such as a keyboard, a display, a printer, a hard disk device, and a prop-disk device. , Each POS terminal 1
To transmit data to be transmitted wirelessly to the wireless base station 3 via the wired LAN 6 or to transmit data wirelessly transmitted from each POS terminal 1 and received by the wireless base station 3 to the wired L
A main power supply for the POS controller 5 from a power supply supplied from the power line 7 and the main control unit 52 and the wired LAN communication control unit via a power switch 55 And a power supply circuit 56 for supplying the power to the power supply circuit 54.

The POS controller 5 includes a power line transmission control unit 57 as a power line communication device for performing data communication using the spread spectrum method using the power line 7 as a communication medium, and the wired LAN 6 as a communication medium. In addition to data communication, data communication using the power line 7 as a communication medium can be performed. The power line transmission control unit 5
7 is always energized by a power supply from the power line 7.

The POS controller 5 stores a line selection table 58, which will be described later, in a random access memory (RAM).
mory). Further, the main control section 52 constitutes a line identification means 59 described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the POS terminal 1. As shown in FIG. This POS terminal 1
Various tasks required as a POS terminal
A business program file 11 in which program data to be executed by a PU is set in advance; a main control unit 12 mainly configured by the CPU for controlling execution of various tasks based on the program data set in the business program file 11; An I / O control unit 13 that controls the operation of various input / output devices such as a keyboard, a display, a printer, a scanner, and a drawer; and the wireless station 2 wirelessly transmits data to be transmitted to the POS controller 5; A wireless LAN communication control unit 14 for receiving wireless data received by the wireless station 2 and a main power supply for the POS terminal 1 from a power supply supplied from the power line 7 and a power switch 1
And a power supply circuit 16 for supplying the main control unit 12 and the wireless LAN communication control unit 14 via the control unit 5. The POS terminal 1 is equipped with a power line transmission control unit 17 as a power line communication device for performing data communication using a spread spectrum method using the power line 7 as a communication medium. In addition, data communication using the power line 7 as a communication medium can be performed. The power line transmission control unit 17 is always energized by the power supply from the power line 7.

The POS terminal 1 includes a power on / off control unit 18 for automatically turning on (closed) and off (open) the power switch 15 in response to a command from the power line transmission control unit 17. A line selection table 19 described later is set and stored on a memory such as a RAM. Further, the main controller 12 constitutes a line identification means 110 described later.

Thus, the POS system according to the present embodiment can be used as a transmission medium for data transmission between each POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 other than the communication lines of the wireless LAN 4 and the wired LAN 6 conventionally used. And a power line 7 for supplying power to itself.

Here, among the various tasks executed in the POS terminal 1, the tasks for performing data communication with the POS controller 5 include a unit price inquiry task for inquiring the POS controller 5 about the unit price of the customer purchased merchandise, and a credit payment. POS controller 5 checks the credit of incoming transactions
Inquiry for credit inquiry, sales registration processing for transmitting sales data (transaction data) of products registered for sale to the POS controller 5 in real time, and history data of credit-paid transactions and member transactions, etc. There is a history notification operation to be transmitted to the controller 5, and the like. Of these, the unit price inquiry business, credit inquiry business, and sales registration processing business are data communication businesses that require a small amount of information and require real-time processing.
Use a communication line. In contrast, the history notification service
The power line 7 is used as a transmission medium because it is a data communication task that requires a large amount of information and does not require real-time properties.

On the other hand, among the various tasks executed by the POS controller 5, the tasks for performing data communication with the POS terminal 1 include a task of responding to a unit price inquiry and a credit inquiry, and a maintenance of a data file possessed by each POS terminal 1. Maintenance work to send data,
There is a power supply remote control task for transmitting a command for remotely controlling the power on / off of each POS terminal 1. Of these, the response service is a data communication service that requires a small amount of information and requires real-time performance. Therefore, the communication lines of the wired LAN 6 and the wireless LAN 4 are used as transmission media. On the other hand, maintenance work is a data communication work that has a large amount of information and does not require real-time performance.
The power line 7 is used as a transmission medium. The power supply remote control operation is a data communication operation that requires a small amount of information and requires real-time operation.
Is the wireless LAN when the power switch 15 is off.
Since the communication control unit 14 is down and cannot receive, the power line 7 is used as a transmission medium.

In this embodiment, the POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 are provided with line selection tables 19 and 58, respectively, so that the transmission medium can be properly used for each type of data.
9 and 58, a selection line code (1: power line, 2: communication line) for identifying whether the power line 7 is used as a transmission medium or the communication line of the wireless LAN 4 and the wired LAN 6 is used for each type of transmission data. You have set.

When data transmitted between the POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 is generated by the various controllers 12 and 52 of the POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5, a transmission medium corresponding to the type of the data is generated. On the basis of setting data in the line selection tables 19 and 58.

FIG. 4A shows an example of the line selection table 19 provided in each POS terminal 1. The type of data [inquiry] generated in the unit price inquiry business and the credit inquiry business, and the data generated in the sales registration processing business. For the type [transaction] of the data to be transmitted, the selected line code [2] indicating that the communication line is used as the transmission medium
Is set. Also, for the type [history] of the data generated in the history notification operation, a selected line code [1] indicating that the power line 7 is used as the transmission medium is set.

FIG. 4B shows an example of a line selection table 58 provided in the POS controller 5, which indicates that a communication line is used as a transmission medium for the type [response] of data generated in response work. The selected line code [2] shown is set. For the type of data [maintenance] generated in the maintenance work and the type [power control] of data generated in the power remote control work, the selected line code [1] indicating that the power line 7 is used as the transmission medium is used. ] Has been set.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the outline of the line identification means 110 and 59.
The line identification means 110 and 59 provided in the S controller 5 have the same configuration. That is, the main control unit 1
In steps 2 and 52, when the business program set in the business program file 11 is executed to generate transmission data, the line identification units 110 and 59 acquire the type of the transmission data. Then, the line selection table 1
9 and 58, and reads out the selected line code corresponding to the type of the transmission data.

Here, the read selected line code is wireless L
Code [2] indicating the communication line of AN4 and wired LAN6
, The wireless L in the case of the POS terminal 1
The transmission of the transmission data is controlled by operating the AN communication control unit 14 and, in the case of the POS controller 5, by operating the wired LAN communication control unit 54. On the other hand, when the read selected line code is the code [1] indicating the power line 7, in the case of the POS terminal 1, the power line transmission control unit 17 is operated and the POS controller 5 is operated.
In this case, the power line transmission control unit 57 is operated to control the transmission of the transmission data.

As described above, in the present embodiment, P
As a transmission medium for data transmission performed between the OS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5, a wireless LAN 4 and a wired L
In addition to the communication line of the AN 6, a power line 7 for supplying power to itself is provided. The power line 7 is used as a transmission medium for communication of data having a large amount of information, and a communication line other than the power line 7 is used as a transmission medium for communication of data requiring real-time properties.

Therefore, the communication of data having a large amount of information and the communication of data requiring real-time property are performed through separate transmission media, so that the response to the data communication requiring real-time property is not delayed. .
For example, in the POS system, while the POS controller 5 is collecting sales data from one POS terminal, a product is registered at another POS terminal, and the unit price of the product is inquired to the POS controller 5. Sometimes. At this time, in the present embodiment, the sales data is transmitted via the power line 7, and the data regarding the unit price inquiry and its response is transmitted via the wireless LAN 4 and the wired LAN 6 communication lines. Therefore,
There is no collision between the data, and there is no delay in responding to the unit price inquiry. As a result, the processing efficiency at the POS terminal 1 in which the product registration is performed does not decrease due to the delay in response, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in serviceability that causes the shopper to wait.

In the present embodiment, the power line 7 is used as a transmission medium or the communication line of the wireless LAN 4 and the wired LAN 6 is used for each type of data transmitted between the POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5. When data to be transmitted between the POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 is generated, a transmission medium corresponding to the type of the data is transmitted to the line selection tables 19 and 58 in which a selected line code for identifying whether to use the line is set. Line identification means 110 and 59 for identifying based on the setting data of the selection tables 19 and 58 are provided in each POS terminal 1 and POS controller 5 respectively. The POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 transmit the data between the POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 using the transmission medium identified by the line identification means 110 and 59.

Therefore, the line selection tables 19 and 58
In addition, a selection line code [1] for use of the power line 7 is set for data communication having a large amount of information, and a selection is made for use of the communication line for data communication requiring real-time performance. Only by setting the line code [2], communication of data with a large amount of information and communication of data requiring real-time properties are performed through separate transmission media. As a result, the processing efficiency does not decrease due to a delay in response to data that also requires real-time processing. Moreover, since the transmission data is not processed irrespective of the type of the transmission medium selected by the data type, even if the setting of the line selection tables 19 and 58 is changed, the processing of the business program in which the transmission data is generated is affected. Never.

In this embodiment, a wireless station 2 is attached to each POS terminal 1 and a wireless base station 3 capable of wireless communication with each wireless station 2 is attached. Are connected by a wireless LAN 4, and the wireless base station 3 and the POS controller 5 are connected by a wired LAN 6, so that data communication between each POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 is performed by wireless.
Therefore, the communication cable other than the power line 7 may be wired only between the POS controller 5 and the wireless base station 3,
Since there is no need to wire a communication cable on the floor of the sales floor, the layout of the sales floor can be easily changed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the POS controller 5 transmits a command for remotely controlling the power of each POS terminal 1 to each POS terminal 1 via the power line 7. In addition, each POS terminal 1
The power line transmission control unit 17 always receives data transmitted via the power line 7. And
When the data transmitted via the power line 7 is a command for remotely controlling its own power supply, the power line transmission control unit 17 of each POS terminal 1
The power on / off control unit 18 transmits a power on command or a power off command to the power switch 8, and turns on the power switch 15 in response to the power on command and turns off the power switch 15 in response to the power off command. ing.
Therefore, even in the POS system of this embodiment using a wireless line such as the wireless LAN 4 as a communication medium, the power supply remote control of each POS terminal 1 can be performed from the POS controller 5 without laying a dedicated signal line for power supply remote control. Control can be realized.

In the above embodiment, the wireless station 2 is attached to each POS terminal 1 and each wireless station 2
A wireless base station 3 capable of wireless communication with the
And the POS controller 5 are connected by a wireless LAN 4, and the wireless base station 3 and the POS controller 5 are connected by a wired LAN 6 so that data communication between each POS terminal 1 and the POS controller 5 can be performed by wireless. The present invention has been applied to a POS system performed via
The present invention is also applicable to a POS system in which the S controller 5 is connected to a wired line.

[0037]

As described in detail above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a power line and a communication line other than the power line can be used together as a communication line connecting the data processing terminal and the terminal controller. It is possible to provide a merchandise sales registration data processing system capable of efficiently performing data communication between the data processing terminal and the terminal controller. According to the third aspect of the present invention, a power line and a wireless line can be used together as a communication line connecting the data processing terminal and the terminal controller, and data communication between the data processing terminal and the terminal controller can be performed. Can be provided efficiently. According to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, a power line and a wireless line can be used together as a communication line connecting the data processing terminal and the terminal controller. In particular, the terminal controller turns on the main power of the data processing terminal using the power line. , And OFF, it is possible to provide a merchandise sales registration data processing system capable of realizing power supply remote control of a data processing terminal without laying a dedicated signal line for power supply remote control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a POS system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the POS controller according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the POS terminal according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a line selection table in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a configuration of a line identification unit according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 POS terminal (data processing terminal) 2 wireless station 3 wireless base station 4 wireless LAN (wireless line) 5 POS controller (terminal controller) 6 wired LAN (wired line) 7 power line 8 power outlet 12 52, a main control unit 14, a wireless LAN communication control unit 54, a wired LAN communication control unit 15, 55, a power switch 16, 56, a power circuit 17, 57, a power line transmission control unit 18, a power on / off control unit 19, 58 line selection table 110, 59 line identification means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A merchandise sales registration data processing system comprising a plurality of data processing terminals and a terminal controller for centrally controlling each of the data processing terminals, wherein the data processing terminals and the terminal controller A power line for supplying power to itself and a communication line other than the power line are provided as a transmission medium for data transmission performed between the devices. A data processing system using a communication line other than the power line as a transmission medium for data communication requiring high reliability. 2. A merchandise sales registration data processing system comprising a plurality of data processing terminals and a terminal controller for centrally controlling each data processing terminal so as to be able to transmit data. A power transmission line for supplying power to itself and a communication line other than the power line, and a type of data transmitted between each data processing terminal and a terminal controller. Separately, a line selection table in which whether the power line is used as a transmission medium or a communication line other than the power line is set in advance, and when data to be transmitted between each data processing terminal and a terminal controller is generated, the data is generated. Line identification means for identifying a transmission medium corresponding to the type of the line based on the setting data of the line selection table. , Commodity sales registration data processing system characterized by transmitting the data between the respective data processing terminal and the terminal controller using a transmission medium which is identified by the line identification means. 3. The merchandise sales registration data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication line other than the power line is a wireless line. 4. The terminal controller has means for transmitting a command for remotely controlling a power supply of each of the data processing terminals to each of the data processing terminals via the power line. Means for constantly receiving data transmitted via the power line, and means for turning on or off its own main power supply when the data transmitted via the power line is a command for remotely controlling its own power supply. 4. The merchandise sales registration data processing system according to claim 3, wherein: