Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G1/00—Cash registers
  • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
  • G07G5/00—Receipt-giving machines

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to so-called "POS"
• Point of Sale systems such as are found in retail facilities, and pertains more particularly to systems and methods for use in adapting POS systems to host computer equipment.
• bar code lookup for bottled or canned goods e.g., baked beans or tomato soup
• SLD single line decoding
• the respective single line data would read "BAKED BEANS 0.35" and "TOM SOUP 0.30". This type of data is readily processable by host computer equipment.
• bar code lookup yields multiple line data, decodable as so-called "MLD".
• the data furnished at the POS to its printer in this instance may comprise a first line “LOOSE CARROTS” and a second line "1.0 Kg ⁇ 0.25/Kg 0.25". Since the POS and printer software for decoding is readily managed independently of the host computer equipment, no difficulty attends the data structure disparity as between SLD and MLD at the POS station level.
• POS equipment takes on significance in transmissions from POS stations to host computer equipment.
• the latter is manufactured without facility for input tolerance of data having decoding meaning only under MLD constraints and, evidently, the manufacturer's of POS equipment have no interest in or desire to adversely make inroads on their products to accommodate data structure disparities as between their equipment and host computer equipment.
• POS equipment is presently operated at or close to its performance limits and any additional processing requirements are perceived by the manufacturers and their client to hinder the essential function of POS equipment.
• the present invention has as its primary object the provision of systems and methods for overcoming the foregoing data structure disparity problem as between POS stations and host computer equipment.
• the invention provides a method for processing single line data and multiple line data generated at a POS station for driving a printer thereof into common structure data, e.g., single line data, the method comprising the steps of defining a first lookup table having first signal content corresponding to literal article identifications of articles and article price encompassed in the single line data and having second signal content corresponding to literal identifications of articles encompassed in the multiple line data and flag data, defining a second lookup table having signal content corresponding to article identifications of articles encompassed in the multiple line data cross-correlated with additional multiple line data, furnishing the single line data and multiple line data generated at the POS station for driving the printer thereof to the first lookup table and determining correspondence of literal identifications in the single line data and the multiple line data with literal identifications stored in the first lookup table and detecting flag data therein.
• the contents of the first lookup table are furnished as single line output data.
• the contents of the second lookup table are furnished as single line output data.
• Fig. 1 is a flowchart indicating steps of loading a first lookup table in accordance with the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a flowchart indicating steps of loading a second lookup table in accordance with the invention.
• Fig. 3 is a flowchart of steps of a signal conversion practice in accordance with the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram of a system in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description of Preferred Practices and Embodiments
• the practice for loading a first lookup table involves outset step SI, PROVIDE SLD AND MLD DATA FOR SYSTEM PARTICIPATING ARTICLES INCLUSIVE OF ARTICLE LITERAL
• step S2 STORE LITERAL IDENTIFICATIONS OF SYSTEM PARTICIPATING ARTICLES WITH ALL SLD DATA, all literal identifications collected in step SI (SLD and MLD) are stored as is all single line data associated therewith, i.e., the price information for the SLD packaged, bottled, etc., goods. The MLD data additional to the article identification data is not stored.
• step S3 STORE FLAG DATA WITH STORED LITERAL
• the lookup table is completed by associating a flag with MLD data entries stored in step S2.
• the flag data is of a nature which causes progress to the second lookup table, now discussed in connection with Fig. 3.
• step S4 STORE LITERAL IDENTIFICATIONS OF SYSTEM
• Step S5 STORE MLD ADDITIONAL DATA WITH STORED
• the second lookup table is completed by storing the multiple line additional data with the previously stored article literal identifications in step S4.
• FIG. 3 it depicts a flowchart of steps of a signal conversion practice in accordance with the invention. It is assumed that the practices of Figs. 1 and
• step S6 INPUT POS PRINTER DRIVE DATA, POS printer drive data is entered in either single line or multiple line structure, as determined by the nature of the input data.
• step S7 SELECT ARTICLE LITERAL IDENTIFICATION DATA FROM INPUT POS PRINTER DRIVE DATA, that portion of the data input in step S6 relating to article literal identification is selected.
• step S8 PERFORM LOOKUP IN LOOKUP IN LOOKUP TABLE ONE FOR SELECTED ARTICLE LITERAL IDENTIFICATION DATA, the first lookup table contents are accessed.
• step S9 ? CORRESPONDENCE IN LOOKUP TABLE ONE, inquiry is made as to whether there is a counterpart article literal identification data in the first lookup table for the selected article literal identification data.
• negative (N) reply to the inquiry i.e., the establishment of the first lookup table did not take into account the selected article literal identification
• return is to step S6 and a suitable output alarm indication is provided to the system user.
• step S9 Upon affirmative (Y) reply to the step S9 inquiry, progress is to step S10, ? FLAG DATA DETECTED, inquiry is made as to whether flag data is stored in the first lookup table along with the selected article literal identification data.
• step S9 Upon negative reply to the inquiry, the data is recognized as SLD data and progress is to step Sll, OUTPUT LOOKUP TABLE ONE DATA AS SLD OUTPUT DATA.
• the selected article literal identification data is recognized as MLD data and progress is to the second lookup table, i.e., to step S12, PERFORM LOOKUP IN LOOKUP IN LOOKUP TABLE TWO FOR SELECTED ARTICLE LITERAL IDENTIFICATION DATA and thence to step S13, ? CORRESPONDENCE IN LOOKUP TABLE TWO.
• step S13 inquiry i.e., the establishment of the second lookup table did not take into account the selected article literal identification
• return is to step S6 and a suitable output alarm indication is provided to the system user.
• step S14 OUTPUT LOOKUP TABLE TWO DATA AS SLD OUTPUT DATA.
• INPUT BUFFER 10 receives and holds the data input in step S6 of Fig. 3, i.e., the POS printer drive data in SLD or MLD format.
• the buffer output signals are applied over lines 12 to CPU 14 (central processing unit - a microprocessor programmed per the Fig. 3 flowchart) .
• Lines 12 are bidirectional and CPU 14 thus communicates readout commands to buffer 10 as desired.
• the CPU communicates bidirectionally with LOOKUP TABLE
• SLD DATA OUTPUT ASSEMBLER 20 receives content of LOOKUP TABLE ONE 16 over lines 22 when CPU 14 concludes that SLD data was input and is to be output as system data.
• MLD TO SLD DATA OUTPUT ASSEMBLER 28 receives content of LOOKUP TABLE TWO 24 over lines 30 when CPU 14 concludes that MLD data was input and is to be output as system data in SLD format.
• System output data made available on output lines 32 and 34 is thus fully in SLD format, readily interpretable by host computer equipment without need for modification of host computer data recognition rules.
• Various changes to the particularly disclosed apparatus, systems and practices may evidently be introduced without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the particularly discussed and depicted preferred embodiments and practices of the invention are intended In an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention are set forth in the ensuing claims.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
• Radio Transmission System (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10781884

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1995
  • 1995-10-06 GB GBGB9520435.0A patent/GB9520435D0/en active Pending
• 1996
  • 1996-10-02 GB GB9620547A patent/GB2306032B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-10-04 BR BR9610758A patent/BR9610758A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 1996-10-04 AU AU73914/96A patent/AU705174B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-10-04 CA CA002232578A patent/CA2232578C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-10-04 WO PCT/US1996/015981 patent/WO1997013215A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-10-04 JP JP9514485A patent/JPH11512859A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1996-10-04 EP EP96936210A patent/EP0853796A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-10-08 AR ARP960104643A patent/AR003820A1/es unknown

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