JPH0447347B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention is directed to a file update processing method, particularly in a data processing system that controls terminal equipment such as a sales point. The present invention relates to a file update processing method in which inquiry request processing and update request processing for a price lookup table are executed substantially in parallel.

(B) Summary of Disclosure A system such as a POS terminal system is configured such that a price lookup table is provided on a central controller and each terminal device communicates with the controller to receive the contents of the table. In a data processing system, the processing within the controller is configured to have at least table inquiry request processing (table content index processing) and table update request processing (table content update processing) as modes, and the former processing is given priority. Therefore, it has been disclosed that the process of indexing table contents and notifying the terminal device side is not affected.

(C) Problems to be solved by the conventional technology and the invention For example, data processing systems having so-called POS terminals have been known for a long time.・Luck-up tables (hereinafter referred to as PLU tables) are indexed very frequently, so
It was stored in each terminal device. but,
For example, at a predetermined time every morning, the process of transmitting the price (i.e., a part of the PLU table) to be traded on that day from the host controller to each terminal device is complicated, and the price is changed midway through the day's work. The process is troublesome when it becomes necessary to do so.

For this reason, consideration has been given to providing a controller called a PLU controller on the center side, as shown in FIG. 1, to collectively manage the PLU table. In the case shown in Figure 1, there are two units on the upper side, including a spare PLU controller.
It has a PLU controller.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a terminal device, 100 is a price lookup controller (PLUCONTL), 101 is an aggregation file for each terminal, and 102 is a PLU table that contains codes, product names, prices, and information about the product. 103 is a recovery processing unit that performs recovery processing for the failed PLU controller; 104 is a polling monitoring unit that is connected to the other side;
It monitors the polling signal issued by the PLU controller and checks whether the other PLU controller is in a healthy state or in a faulty state. Although not shown in the figure, the PLU controller 1 shown in the figure
The functions of the recovery processing unit 103 and polling monitoring unit 104 are also provided in 00-0.
It goes without saying that the PLU table 102 is also provided within the PLU controller 100-1.

In the case shown in FIG. 1, each terminal device 1-0,...
1-n, the price required for commercial transactions is determined by the PLU controller 1 on the upper side.
00 and receive the price of the desired product from the controller each time.
By doing so, the management of the PLU table can be unified.

However, by performing such centralized management, on the one hand, () countermeasures should be taken when a failure occurs in the PLU controller 100; and () each terminal device 1 can communicate with the PLU controller 100 each time. Therefore, it is necessary to consider measures to deal with the increase in processing amount.

In addition, () when changing the unit price, data to update the above PLU table may be entered from one of the terminal devices to update the contents of the table, but such update processing is not performed. It is necessary to avoid, as much as possible, the above-mentioned PLU table inquiry processing from being delayed even during this period. In other words, when updating a PLU table, for example, if we do not prohibit queries on the PLU table until the update is completed for all items, generally, for example, if the above PLU table is accessed from a certain POS terminal, When you make an inquiry, you will be notified of the old rate, and if you make an inquiry at about the same time, for example,
The new charges will be notified to the POS terminal.
This may lead to confusion regarding the store's credibility during commercial transactions. However, as mentioned above, table inquiry processing should be avoided.

(D) Means for solving the problem The present invention is designed to solve the above problem.In particular, the PLU table lists the prices of all the products handled, but these products are Update processing takes into account that the products are classified and managed according to type and characteristics, and the products inquired by one department (Part 1) and the products inquired by another department (Part 2) belong to different classifications. The system prioritizes and handles inquiries and queries, and eliminates the complete prohibition of inquiries during updates. The file update processing method of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices that utilize the results of indexing a price lookup table that is a correspondence table between products and prices, and a controller connected to the plurality of terminal devices. The terminal device is configured to have the price look-up table in the controller, and each of the terminal devices communicates with the controller to receive price information corresponding to the product during product transactions, and also receives price information corresponding to the product. When updating product information on the up table, send an update request and the corresponding code to be updated to the above controller,
In addition, the controller is configured to update at least the price information sent from the controller and send it back to the controller, and the controller receives a price lookup table inquiry request requesting price information from the terminal device. When an update request is made to the processing mode and the price lookup table, at least the price information corresponding to the product for which the update request was made is sent to the terminal device that made the update request, and the terminal device In a file update processing method of a data processing system configured to have at least an update request processing mode for updating a price lookup table based on update information returned from In the process, price information corresponding to the requested product is transmitted to at least the terminal device that has made the update request, detects that it is a waiting time for update information from the terminal device, and during this waiting time, The present invention is characterized in that the processing is executed in the inquiry request processing mode, and the continuation processing in the update request processing mode is executed. This will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

(E) Embodiment Fig. 1 is a configuration of an embodiment of a data processing system to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of processing in a controller, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a data processing system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is an example of the format of a maintenance message that corresponds to an update request among the information exchanged between the devices, FIG. shows.

As for FIG. 1, since it has been described above, a duplicate explanation will be avoided, but by providing the PLU table 102 on the controller 100 side as described above, the amount of processing in the terminal device 1 increases. Therefore, in the terminal device shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. It has a second microcomputer section that executes an output control subprogram, so that multiple microcomputers can be used.

In FIG. 4, 1 indicates the entire terminal device, 2
0 is a first microcomputer section, 30 is a second microcomputer section, 21 is a microprocessor, 22 is C-MOS RAM, 23
1 is a ROM, 24 is a direct memory access control device, 31 is a microprocessor, 32 is a C-MOS RAM, 33 is a ROM, 34 is a direct memory access control device, and 35 is a line adapter. PLU controller 1 shown
00, 36 is the keyboard, 3
7 represents a display, 38 a printer, 39 a scanner, and 40 an interface circuit.

In the case shown in FIG. 4, the first microcomputer section 20 and the second microcomputer section 3
0 via an interface circuit 40, and a direct memory access control device (hereinafter referred to as
(abbreviated as DMAC) 24 and 34 are the other party's micro
It is configured to be able to access at least RAMs 22 and 32 of the computer section.

RAM of first microcomputer section 20
A main program corresponding to the original processing of the POS terminal is stored on the ROM 3 of the second microcomputer section 30.
3 stores an input/output device control subprogram. Needless to say, this subprogram has functions such as processing for communicating with the above-mentioned higher-level controller 100 and receiving the contents of the PLU table 102, and printing processing by the printer 38.

For example, in response to product sales, the main program notifies the subprogram by DMA to input data from the keyboard 36 or scanner 39. As a result, when a JAN code, for example, is input from the keyboard 36 or scanner 39, the subprogram notifies the main program 1 of this fact and sends a PLU table inquiry message to the PLU controller 100-0. The first microcomputer section executes other processing until a PLU response is received.
Then, from the PLU controller 100-0
A PLU response notifies the main program of this.

In the case shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 1 operates as described above. For this reason, the second microcomputer section 30 can exclusively execute processing related to input/output control, so that communication processing with the controller becomes extremely easy.

However, in the case of the above system configuration, when changing the unit price of a product, for example, the change data is input from the terminal device, and the change data is input into the controller 100.
It is desired to update the PLU table 102,
This is made possible.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the format of a maintenance message corresponding to an update request among the information exchanged between the controller and the terminal device. The message includes: Item length Item identification Message identification data () Maintenance request (terminal → controller) () Old data message (controller → terminal) () New data message (terminal → controller) () Unregistered message (controller → (Terminal) What is sent when the PLU code specified from the terminal does not exist in the file () When the PLU code specified for creating a duplicate registration message (controller → terminal) already exists in the file What to send () Busy message (controller → terminal) () Processing completion (OK) message (controller →
(Terminal) () Processing NG message (controller → terminal) Specification Specify the creation, modification, deletion, or incorporation of PLU data (specified input from the terminal) Single item code Department code Both are input from the terminal, and the above , used when sending a message.

unit price Product name Both are included in the above telegram.

attribute classification Each information is given as necessary.

Based on the maintenance message having the format shown in FIG. 3 above, information is sent and received when changing the contents of the PLU table, but the controller 100 shown in FIG. Queue 2 (table update processing)
It has three processing modes: queue 1, queue 2, and queue 3 (totalization (inspection) request processing), and the former is given a higher priority in the order of queue 1, queue 2, and queue 3.

Then, the controller 100 processes the table inquiry request processing belonging to queue 1 with the highest priority, and if there is idle time even when performing the table update request processing belonging to queue 2, the controller 100 processes the processing belonging to queue 1, if any. After processing, the corresponding processing of queue 2 is continued. Even when a process belonging to queue 3 is being executed, if a free time occurs, the process belonging to queue 1 or queue 2, if any, is executed, and then the process of queue 3 is continued. That is, when one process is completed, it is checked whether or not there is a process for queue 1. If not, the process for queue 2 is executed, and if there is no process, the process for queue 3 is executed. As a result, the controller 100 receives information from each terminal device 1-i.
The content inquiry point of the PLU table is prevented from ending.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart representing one embodiment of processing in the controller. In the illustrated case, the processing of the queue 3 is omitted, and the processing of the queue 2 is illustrated as a "maintenance request", and the processing of the queue 1 is illustrated as a "maintenance request". It may be considered that the processing of is illustrated as a "PLU request".

In the figure, (1) Suppose that a "maintenance request" is received from terminal device #1 (processing A), (2) the controller transfers old data (update target data - data before update) regarding the product to terminal device #1. 1 (processing B). (3) Since there is free time between sending the old data and receiving the new data (data to be updated - data before update), (4) Check whether there is a "PLU request" from the terminal device (processing C), and (4) if there is a "PLU request" from the other terminal device.
(Processing D), (5) Then, it enters the state of receiving new data from the terminal device #1 (Processing E) and has it, (6) When the new data is received, the new data is received. Write the data to the file (processing F), (7) check whether there is an error in the controller at this time (processing G), (8) if there is no error, send processing OK to terminal device #1 (processing I), (9) If there is an error, send processing NG to terminal device #1.

That is, when a free time occurs, it is checked whether or not there is a process for queue 1, and if there is a process, that process is executed. In this way, the processing of inquiry requests for the PLU table contents issued from each terminal device to the controller 100 never ends.
It becomes possible to update the contents of the PLU table while executing the processing.

FIGS. 5 a to 5 c are functional block diagrams showing the specific configurations of the main and standby side PLU controllers 100-0 and 100-1 described above, and common parts in each figure are denoted by the same reference numerals. It is attached. That is, both controllers 100-0 and 100-1 are equipped with each configuration (function) shown in FIGS. 5a to 5c.

As shown in the figure, the PLU controller 100 is
3 sub CPUs 1 for main CPU 110
50, 160, and 170. That is,
A sub CPU 150 that controls the lower line for the POS terminals 1-0, . Sub CPU170 in charge
have each.

On the other hand, the main CPU 110 performs control tasks 111 and 112 for the lower line and upper line, and a task 11 for analyzing received messages from the lower and upper lines.
3, 114, a module branching task 115, and a floppy processing task 116. and,
Each of these tasks is performed by a monitor unit (not shown).
Execution rights are granted according to a predetermined priority order (in this embodiment, the order of numbers 111 to 116 assigned to each part). Processing data (including transmitted and received messages) is exchanged between each task via queues 118-120 and 127-129 provided between the tasks.

The operation will be explained below.

The "PLU request" and "maintenance request" messages from the POS terminals 1-0, . . . , 1-n are received by the message control unit 155 of the sub CPU 150 via the line 199.

The message control unit 155 sends the received message to the main CPU 110 via the DMA control units 151 and 121.
It is sent to the lower line control task 111 on the side. This task 111 sends the received message to the message analysis task 113 via the queue 119. The message analysis task 113 reads the message identification data (see FIG. 3) in the message and determines the processing required by the message. Based on the determination result, it is placed in a predetermined queue among the module branch queues 118.

This queue 118 is the three queues (queues 1, 2, and 3) assigned the above-mentioned priority order. The module branch task 115 then checks whether there is telegram data (request data) connected to each queue, and takes out the PLU request belonging to queue 1 with priority.

Under this branch task 115, there are multiple types of processing modules (0 to n) 11 corresponding to each process (PLU process, maintenance process, aggregation process, etc.).
7 is provided.

Further, calculation processing tasks (0 to n) 175 corresponding to each of these modules 117 are provided in the sub-CPU 170 for calculation. Then, by executing the module 117, a processing request for the calculation part is sent to the calculation CPU 170 via the queue 128 and the sending unit 130, and one of the corresponding tasks 175 is sent to the sub It will be executed by the CPU 170.

A sending unit 171 that sends processing operation information (status) from each of these tasks 175, and a main CPU
DMA control unit 172 that directly exchanges data (operated data, calculation results, etc.) with 100;
173 is also provided. Data such as status and calculation results from each task is available on queues 127 and 118.
The process returns to branch task 115 via . Then, in response to the response from the task, the corresponding module 117 is executed, a response message is assembled and sent to the line control task 111, and the series of processing ends.

Task 111 that received this response message uses the DMA
The sub CPU 15 via the control units 122 and 152
The message is passed to the message control unit 155 of 0. As a result,
A response message will be sent back via line 199 in response to the POS terminal that made the request.

(F) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the PLU table can be collectively managed on the controller side, and the contents of the PLU table can also be updated from each terminal device. This makes it extremely easy to perform processes such as changing the contents of the PLU table during daytime work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a data processing system to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of processing in a controller, and Fig. 3 shows communication between the controller and a terminal device. FIG. 4 shows a format of an embodiment of a maintenance message corresponding to an update request among information, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the configuration of a terminal device, and FIGS. 5a to 5c show a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a PLU controller. In the figure, 1 represents a terminal device, 100 represents a PLU controller, and 102 represents a PLU table.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device comprising a plurality of terminal devices that utilize the results of indexing a price lookup table that is a correspondence table between products and prices, and a controller connected to the plurality of terminal devices. Each of the terminal devices is configured to have the price look-up table, and each of the terminal devices communicates with the controller during product transactions to receive price information corresponding to the product, and also has the price look-up table. When updating product information for a table, make an update request and send the corresponding code to be updated to the above controller,
In addition, the controller is configured to update at least the price information sent from the controller and send it back to the controller, and the controller receives a price lookup table inquiry request requesting price information from the terminal device. When an update request is made to the processing mode and the price lookup table, at least the price information corresponding to the product for which the update request was made is sent to the terminal device that made the update request, and the terminal device In a file update processing method of a data processing system configured to have at least an update request processing mode for updating a price lookup table based on update information returned from In the process, price information corresponding to the requested product is transmitted to at least the terminal device that has made the update request, detects that it is a waiting time for update information from the terminal device, and during this waiting time, A file update processing method characterized in that processing is executed in an inquiry request processing mode and continuation processing in the update request processing mode is executed.