JPH03250295A - Pos terminal group managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a POS terminal group management device used in a POS (point of sale) system. Specifically, when there is a request to access a PLU file from multiple POS terminals, a POS terminal group management device that determines the priority order of the POS terminals and allocates the POS terminals to storage devices according to the priority order. Regarding.

[Background Art and Problems Therein] There are various types of POS terminal group management devices in conventional POS systems.

[First conventional example]

In the simplest case, the FLU files are not duplicated and all PLU files are stored in one storage device.

However, in such a POS terminal group management device, the PLU
If the storage device storing files fails, the POS
It becomes impossible to read the PLU file from the terminal.

[Second conventional example]

For this reason, there is a system in which the same PLU file is stored in two storage devices to create a double file, with one being used as the main storage and the other as a spare storage.

In normal operating conditions, such a PO8 terminal group management device is the main gc! If the main storage device is accessed and there is a failure, the spare storage device is accessed.

However, even if the PLU file is duplicated,
In normal operating conditions, only one main storage device is used, so while the main storage device is being read by the POS terminal, even if there is an access request from another PO8 terminal, the access request will not be accepted. Access requests could not be accepted until after reading from the main memory had been completed. For this reason, multiple P.O.
If access requests from 8 terminals are pending, 1
After one PO8 terminal has completed reading the main memory, the next PO8 terminal issues an access request to the main memory, and after this access request is accepted, the POS
The terminal is performing a read from main memory. As a result, a waiting time for r/O processing is required between the completion of reading by the PO8 terminal and the start of reading by the next PO8 terminal, resulting in a disadvantage that the response time to the PO8 terminal becomes long. Furthermore, as a result of the longer response time to the PO8 terminal, the processing capacity of the PO8 terminal (the number of terminals and the number of possible transactions) is limited.

Further, even if the PLtJ file is duplicated, the spare storage device is only used when the main storage device fails, and is not used in normal operating conditions, resulting in a large waste of system configuration.

Further, the main storage device is checked for failure in advance each time it is accessed, but the spare storage device is not checked until the main storage device fails.

[Third conventional example]

Even if the PLU file is duplicated as in the second conventional example, if access to the spare storage device is started after a failure in the main storage device is discovered, the response speed in the event of a read failure will be slow. For this reason, some systems access two storage devices at the same time and quickly read the PLU file from the storage device that has accepted the access request. P like this
In the O8 terminal group management device, when one storage device fails, data is immediately read from the other storage device, so the response speed at the time of failure is improved.

However, even with such a device, under normal operating conditions, only the storage device with the faster response speed is accessed, and as in the second conventional example, multiple access requests may accumulate. In this case, the disadvantage is that the response time becomes longer due to the latency of I/O processing. Also, under normal operating conditions, only one storage device is used, and failures of storage devices with slow response speeds cannot be checked in advance.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional example, and its purpose is to improve the response speed when multiple access requests from POS terminals are pending. The object of the present invention is to improve the performance of both storage devices and to enable checking of both storage devices even in normal operating conditions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The PO8 terminal group management device of the present invention stores the same PLU file in which product information such as product name and product unit price is recorded,
In response to two independent storage devices that are now accessed alternately, multiple PO8 terminals requesting access to the PLU file, and access requests from the PO8 terminals,
It is characterized by comprising an I/O control means that registers the access request in the storage device on the side that is not being accessed and causes the access requests registered in each storage device to be sequentially processed.

[Operation] In the PO8 terminal group management device of the present invention, the same PL
The two storage devices that store the U file are accessed alternately, so even if there is an access request from another PO8 terminal while the - storage device is being accessed, the other storage device will not be accessed. I/O processing can be performed by registering a request, and once reading from the storage device being accessed is completed, reading of the PLU file registered in the other storage device can be immediately executed. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if a plurality of access requests from the PO8 terminal are pending, the access request (in particular, the read request) can be made to the other storage device without waiting for the completion of reading from one storage device. can be done, I/
This can be achieved by reducing the O processing waiting time and improving the response speed of the entire system. Furthermore, as a result of the response time being shortened, the number of connectable PO8 terminals has also increased.
Processing capacity will also improve.

Also, since multiple storage devices are accessed alternately,
The waste of storage devices is reduced, and since the presence or absence of a failure is determined at the time of access, both storage devices are checked for failures even in normal operating conditions.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, multiple PO8 terminals 3
are connected to a communication control section 4 through a path line 5, and the communication control section 4 is connected to two storage devices such as hard disks #1. Connected to #2. Both storage devices #1. #2
are mutually independent devices, and both storage devices #1. #2
A plurality of identical PLU files A, B, and C are stored in the storage device #1 (
Alternatively, even if a failure or failure occurs in #2), the P stored in the other storage device #2 (or #1)
LU files A, B, and C can now be accessed.

The PO8 terminal 3 is a terminal for a POS system, and is capable of reading a PLU code and the like from a barcode affixed to a product using a barcode reader. Alternatively, the PLU code or the like may be input from the keyboard.

As shown in Figure 3, each PLU file A, B, and C contains information for product management, such as product name 9, product unit price/O, and total sales quantity 11, corresponding to PLU code 8. recorded.

Further, when receiving an access request from the PO8 terminal 3, the communication control unit 4 connects the PO8 terminal 3 to the two storage devices #1. #2, and if there is an access request from multiple PO8 terminals 3, the priority order (for example, the order of reception) of those PO8 terminals 3 is determined, and the P.O.
O8 terminal 3 is connected to both storage devices #1. They are connected alternately to #2. As shown in FIG. 2, this communication control unit 4 is controlled by the CPU 6 according to the PO8 terminal 3 group management program registered in the program memory 7, and as described below, the PO8 terminal Terminal 3 and both storage devices #1. #2 is connected.

[1/O processing] The PO8 terminal 3 uses a barcode reader to read the barcode of the product purchased by the customer, and as shown in FIG.
Incorporate PLU code 8 next to message header 13 and PL
Edit the U request message 12 and transmit the PLU request message 12 from the PO8 terminal 3 to the communication control unit 4.

The communication control unit 4 monitors whether or not a PLU process is received from the POS terminal 3 (S31), and receives the PLU request message 1.
2, it is checked whether both storage devices #1 and #2 are normal (S32).

Both storage devices #1. If #2 is confirmed to be normal, a read request for PLU files A, B, and C (PLU
O request) or PLU files A, B.

If it is a PLU request process, it is determined whether the storage device that was read last time is #1 or #2 (S34). That is, in step 34, it is determined whether the storage device (described later) read out in step 45 or 46 is #1 or #2.

If the storage device from which the previous read was performed is #1, the PLU request process is registered in the storage device #2 glue queue 18 (S35). Also, if the storage device that was read last time is #2, PLU request processing is performed on storage device #1.
It is registered in the read queue 17 of (33e).

That is, storage device #1. #2 each read cue 17,
18, as shown in FIG. 6, there is an F'IF○ type registration area 21 in which remaining PLU request data is registered and
It has a U request data registration pointer 19 and a next PLU request data read pointer 20. And a new PLU
When a request is processed, the next PLU request data registration pointer 1
The remaining PL and L are in the area indicated by 9 (empty area) 22.
7 request data, and the next PLU request data registration pointer 19 is updated. On the other hand, the next PLU request data read pointer 20 indicates an area 23 in which the remaining PLU request data to be read next (the earliest remaining PLU request data) is registered, and the area indicated by the next FLU request data read pointer 20 When the 23 remaining PLU request data are retrieved, the next PLU request data read pointer 20 is updated.

Therefore, when there are multiple read requests from the POS terminal 3, the communication control unit 4 sends each read request to the storage device #1 in the order in which it was received. They are temporarily registered in read queues 17 and 18 of #2, and read out in the priority order registered in read queues 17 and 18.

As mentioned above, in this PO8 terminal group management device, two storage devices #1. Read out alternately from #2 (8
44-46: Will be described later. ), if reading is being performed on storage device #1, read queue 1 of storage device #2
8 (S35), and if reading is being performed on storage device #2, it is registered in the read queue 17 of storage device #1 (83 B), so in either case, the other Registration to the read queue or I/O processing can be performed while reading from the storage device, and under normal operating conditions, when multiple read requests are pending, the 1/O processing waiting time is shortened. be able to. In other words, once the reading of the storage device that is being read is completed,
Reading can be performed immediately without requiring waiting time for I/O processing.

[Reading process]

When reading from one of the storage devices is completed, it is determined whether the storage device from which reading has been completed is #1 or #2 (S44
). If reading from the storage device #2 is completed, retrieve the PLO request data indicated by the next request data read pointer 20 from the read queue 17 of the storage device #1,
The PLO files A, B, and C are accessed to start reading out the unit price/O, product name 9, etc. (S45). Then, it is determined whether reading of PLU files A, B, and C is completed (S42), and when reading is completed, the read product name 9, unit price/O, etc. are edited into a response message (not shown). A reply is sent to the PO8 terminal 3 (S43). When the reading from the storage device #1 is completed in this way, the PLU request data indicated by the next request data read pointer 20 is retrieved from the read queue 18 of the storage device #2 and stored in the PLU 7 isle A.

B and C are accessed to start reading out the unit price/O, product name 9, etc. (S44, 4e). Then, it is determined whether reading of PLU files A, B, and C has been completed (
842), when the reading is completed, the read product name 9
, unit price/O, etc. into a response message and send it back to the PO8 terminal 3 (843).

In this way, surface storage devices #1 and #2 alternately store P
The LU file is being read.

Also, in step 45 or 4θ, storage device #1
Alternatively, after starting the readout process #2, the communication control unit 4 repeatedly monitors whether or not the PLU process has been received from the PO8 terminal 3 until the readout of PLO files A, B, and C is completed. (342,31), POS
If PLU processing is received from terminal 3, the above <P
A storage device that is receiving LU processing but is not being read.
to be registered in the queue (831-36).

Therefore, when moving from step 44 to step 45 or 46, there is no need for I/O processing, and step 4 is immediately performed.
5 or 4θ, and the processing time can be shortened.

[: Update of PLU file] When the POS terminal 3 receives the response message sent in step 43, it takes out the unit price /O and the product name 9, displays them on the display and totals them, as shown in FIG.
The PLU update message 14 is edited by adding the PLU code 8 and the sales quantity 16 after the message head 15, and is sent to the communication control unit 4.

Note that after this, the PO8 terminal 3 can process the next product.

When this PLU update message 14 is transmitted, the communication control unit 4
to receive the message 14 (831), both storage devices #l,
After confirming that #2 is normal (332) and determining that it is not a PLO request process (S33), both storage devices
1. The sales quantities of the PLU files A, B, and C of #2 are simultaneously rewritten and updated (S47).

[Operation when a failure occurs]

A read request or update request was received (83
1) If it is determined in step 32 that one of the storage devices is faulty, it is determined whether storage device #1 is faulty or
2 is a failure (S37). If it is determined that the storage device #1 is in failure, it is determined whether the processing is a PI or tJ request (538), and if it is a PLU request processing, it is registered in the read queue 18 of the recording device #2 (539), and the update request is processed. If so, the sales quantities of PLU files A, B, and C in storage device #2 are updated (S48). On the other hand, if it is determined that the internal storage device #2 is out of order, it is determined whether or not it is a PLU request process (540), and if it is a PLU request process, it is registered in the read queue 17 of the storage device #l (541), and the update is performed. If it is a request, the sales quantities of PLU files A, B, and C in storage device #1 are updated (849).

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even when a plurality of access requests from POS terminals are pending, a read request can be issued to one storage device without waiting for the completion of reading from one storage device. When viewed as a whole system, the I/O processing waiting time can be shortened and the response speed to the PO8 terminal can be improved. Furthermore, as a result of the improved response speed, the number of PO8 terminals that can be connected can also be increased, and the processing capacity of the POS system can also be improved. Furthermore, since both storage devices are accessed alternately, it is possible to check for failures in both storage devices even in normal operating conditions, and the waste of storage devices can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of the PO8 terminal group management device of the present invention, Figure 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the Pos terminal group management device of the present invention, and Figure 3 is an example of a PLO file. 4 is a partially omitted configuration diagram of a PLU request message, FIG. 5 is a partially omitted configuration diagram of a PLU update message, and FIG. 6 is a partially omitted configuration diagram of a storage device read queue. The memory configuration diagram and FIG. 7 are flowcharts illustrating processing procedures according to an embodiment of the Pos terminal group management device same as above. #1. #2...Storage device 3...PO8 terminal 4...Communication control unit A, B, C...PLU file? P 1 + +? 2...Storage device 3...PO8
Terminal 4...Communication unit A, B, C...PLU file public, skewer, q Abusive face 3 5 Fig.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Two independent storage devices that store the same PLU file that records product information such as product name and product unit price and are accessed alternately, and multiple devices that request access to the PLU file. Consisting of a POS terminal and an I/O control means that registers the access request in a storage device that is not being accessed in response to an access request from the POS terminal, and sequentially processes the access requests registered in each storage device. A POS terminal group management device characterized by the following. .