JPH09147242A - Pos system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and securely prevent contents from being unmatching between POS terminals by equipping each POS terminal with a function which collects data that other POS terminals have by using a communication line and a function which distributes its own data to other POS terminals. SOLUTION: This POS system consists of plural POS terminals 1, 1A, and 1B, which are connected to the same network by the communication line 23, and the POS terminal 1A has the function which gathers the data that other POS terminals 1B have by using the communication line 23 and the function which distributes its own data to other POS terminals 1B. This constitution makes it possible to distribute altered data to all the POS terminals even if data of a master file, etc., is altered at some POS terminal, thereby easily and securely preventing the setting contents from being discrepant among the respective POS terminals.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a POS system composed of a plurality of POS terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a POS system of this type is installed in a store together with a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) which is a host processor, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-54265 (G07G1 / 14). It is composed of a plurality of installed POS terminal devices (POS terminals).

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a conventional POS system. The POS system is installed in a large supermarket where a plurality of stores coexist, and master terminals (POS terminals) 110M and 120 as parent machines provided in each store (or corner).
M, 130M and each master terminal 110M, 13
Slave terminal 111S as a child device installed in the same store as 0M and connected to master terminals 110M and 130M by RS-422A communication lines, etc.
(Unit 1) or 131S (Unit 1), 132S
(Unit 2) and each master terminal 110M, 120
M and 130M, and a host H or the like connected to the LAN line (10BASE-T or the like).

Next, each of the above master terminals 110
FIG. 8 shows the file structure of the data that M, 120M, and 130M have (in RAM), and each slave terminal 1
FIG. 9 shows a file structure of data held by 11S, 131S, and 132S.

The setting of the master terminal and the slave terminal is performed by means called setup. That is, in the setup, the program stored in the RAM card is installed in the POS terminal. At that time, the operator distinguishes between the master terminal and the slave terminal, and in the case of the master terminal, it is under his control. The number of slave terminals, and if it is a slave terminal, its own address (management number viewed from the master terminal)
Is set.

At this time, the date and time are input at the same time, and the clock in the POS terminal is also set. Also, after such setup, files such as various sales data held by each POS terminal were initialized.

Next, the operation of each POS terminal in such a conventional POS system will be described. In addition, for simplification, the following description will be given only in a store in which the master terminal 110M and the slave terminal 111S are installed.

The commodity data registered for sale at the master terminal 110M or the slave terminal 111S is sequentially written in the transaction file of each POS terminal shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. And
At the end of the transaction with one customer, the transaction file is used as a sales result and is developed into daily report files of various cash register data such as accounting / transaction, product, department, and product time zone.

After the settlement processing at the master terminal 110M is completed, the sales data determined by the cashier settlement is copied to a daily report file of store total data in the same format as the cashier data. Further, the daily report data of the cash register is added to the monthly report data of the cash register in the same format as the cash register data at the time of the settlement process to create the monthly report data of the cash register.

After the settlement processing at the slave terminal 111S is completed, the sales data determined by the cashier settlement is stored in the cashier data as it is. Similarly, the daily report data of the cash register is added to the monthly report data of the cash register in the same format as the cash register data at the time of settlement processing to create the monthly report data of the cash register.

Next, the flow of the store total settlement processing (same for inspection) of the store will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 10 shows the operation of the master terminal 110M. In step S10, when an instruction to output and display store total data is issued at the master terminal (MT) 110M, the master terminal 110M causes the master terminal 110M to perform step S1.
1. Copy your own cash register data (daily report, monthly report) to store total data (daily report, monthly report). Next, in step S12, the communication program is activated, and in step S13, the registration data of the slave terminal (ST) 111S is transferred to the communication line (R).
S-422A) to collect data in the master terminal 11M by serial communication.

The cash register data of the slave terminal 111S which has been collected is transferred to the master terminal 1 in step S14.
Add to 10M store total data. Next, step S1
In step 5, it is judged whether or not the collection of the cash register data of all slave terminals under its control is completed. If not, the process returns to step S13 to repeat the collection, and the total of the stores is collected every time. Add to data. This store total data is added to the store total monthly report data in the same format as this cash register data to create store total monthly report data.

Incidentally, since only one slave terminal (111S) is connected here, the reception is completed,
In step S16, the master terminal 110M outputs (displays / prints) store total data (daily report, monthly report).

When the store total settlement process is completed, the master terminal 110M moves to the slave terminal 111S.
To the terminal 110M and 111S, which enables the terminal 110M and 111S to register the sales for the next day.

Further, when there is a transmission request for store total data from the upper host H, the master terminal 110M copies the store total data that has been collected and added as described above to the upper host transmission / reception file of FIG. The data (store total data) therein is transmitted (uploaded) to the host H by using the LAN line.

Here, the master file in FIGS. 8 and 9 is a file in which the product name and the selling unit price thereof are set, and is set in the master terminal 110M as well as downloaded from the upper host H (upper host transmission / reception file). May be used). Further, when the master file of FIG. 8 is changed in the master terminal 110M due to the sale of a new product or the price change of the existing product, the content of the master file is distributed from the master terminal 110M to the slave terminal 111S. The slave terminal 111S rewrites the master file in FIG. 9 with the delivered data. Further, the master file inconsistency prevention in each of these POS terminals has been executed by the latest judgment using the setting management information such as the management date and the checksum value.

The above operation is performed by the master terminal and slave terminals (and host host) in each store.
The same was done between and.

[0018]

As described above, the conventional PO
With the S system, store total data could only be output at the master terminal, which is the master unit. Therefore, in order to grasp store total data at a store, it is necessary to go to the master terminal one by one and output store total data. No, it was extremely troublesome.

Further, when trying to output the store total data from the slave terminal which is a slave unit, it is complicated that the store total data is once created by the master terminal by receiving data and then the created store total data is returned to the slave terminal. However, there is a problem that the program capacity becomes enormous and communication time becomes very long.

Further, when the upper host is connected as described above, only the master terminal is responsible for the data communication with the upper host. Therefore, when transmitting the data of the master terminal to the upper host, the master terminal is directly connected. Although it can be transmitted from the master terminal, when transmitting the data of the slave terminal to the upper host, once the data of each slave terminal is collected in the master terminal, it will change to the slave terminal and the master terminal will transmit to the upper host. . Therefore, there is a problem that the program capacity of the master terminal becomes enormous and the communication time also becomes very long.

Furthermore, when the POS terminal (slave terminal) is relocated, expanded, or removed by remodeling the store or changing the layout, the number of slave terminals must be changed in the master terminal. Requires the above-mentioned setup operation. In this setup, the data is initialized as described above, so the data that should not be initialized is R
It is necessary to temporarily save it in an external storage device such as an AM card, and restore it again after the change. In addition, since each POS terminal is connected by a dedicated communication line, there is a problem that relocation and expansion / removal work of the POS terminal becomes extremely complicated because the replacement cost such as entry line and piping processing is expensive.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and each PO related to the settlement business.
An object of the present invention is to provide a POS system which can solve the restrictions of the S terminal and can easily cope with the relocation and expansion / removal of the POS terminal.

[0023]

The POS system of the present invention comprises a plurality of POS terminals. Each POS terminal is connected to the same network by a communication line, and each POS terminal is connected. Is
It is provided with a function of collecting data held by other POS terminals using a communication line and a function of distributing data held by itself to other POS terminals.

According to the POS system, it is possible to output the store total data at any POS terminal without distinguishing between the parent device and the child device as in the conventional case. Further, even if the data such as the master file is changed at any of the POS terminals, the changed data can be distributed to all the POS terminals connected to the same network. It is possible to easily and surely prevent the mismatch of the setting contents between the two.

In particular, when an upper host is connected to the network, data such as a master file can be transmitted and stored also on the upper host side, so that when a POS terminal is added or a failure occurs, The master file data can be quickly registered in the POS terminal.

Further, in the POS system according to the invention of claim 2, in the above, each POS terminal has rewritable address information for discriminating the attribute of the same store or a corner, and data is written using this address information. This is to collect / deliver.

According to this structure, even if the POS terminal is relocated or added / removed when the store is remodeled or the layout is changed, it is possible to deal with it only by rewriting the address information (changing the setting). In addition, each POS terminal is connected to the same network, which is similar to telephone line work, so wiring work is simplified,
Overall, the workability of POS terminal relocation and expansion / removal will be significantly improved.

[0028]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a POS terminal constituting the POS system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the POS terminal, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the POS system of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the address information of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the POS terminal.

Reference numeral 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a POS terminal, 2 is a keyboard having keys for various products, 3 is an operation display for displaying a product name, a product price, a total price, etc. in response to a key operation, 4 Is an insertion slot for inserting the RAM card 13, 5 is a business selection mode key used when business is changed, 6 is a receipt journal printer, and 7 is a cash drawer. In addition, on the back of the operation display, a customer display 8 for displaying a product price, a total price, and the like to the customer is provided.

The POS terminal 1 described above has a configuration as shown in FIG. 2, and includes a CPU (central processing unit) 9 and a ROM 10 in which a multitasking OS (operating system), an initial setting program, etc. are stored.
A readable / writable RAM 11 having an operation program and master file of the POS terminal 1 as shown in FIG. 4, various sales data, address information for distinguishing all device configurations belonging to the same store, and the operation display. An operation display control circuit 16 connected to the display device 3, a VIDEO-RAM 18 for storing data of the operation display device 3,
A FONT-ROM 12 for the operation display device 3, a keyboard input circuit 14 connected to the keyboard 2,
Printer control circuit 15 connected to the printer 6
A customer display control circuit 17 connected to the customer display 8; a mode key control circuit 19 connected to the mode key 5; a clock 20; A serial communication control circuit 21 for communicating with a device, a LAN communication control circuit 24 for communicating with another POS terminal 1 or the like via a communication line 23 such as a LAN, and a cache connected to the cash drawer 7. And a drawer control circuit 26. These are connected by a data bus.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of POS terminals 1 are connected by the LAN communication line 23 so as to form the same network, and further, an upper host H is connected to this network and data is transmitted. Send and receive.

1A and 1B are P installed in the same store (or corner) of a large supermarket.
The OS terminal is shown.

Next, each POS terminal 1 (1A, 1
FIG. 4 shows the file structure of the data held in B) (in the RAM 11). In the present invention, the file format of each POS terminal 1 is the same format. In the above-mentioned setup, the RAM card 13 is also used in the present invention.
The cashier program stored in the POS terminal 1
However, in the present invention, there is no distinction between a master (master device) and a slave (slave device), so only the date and time need be set at the time of setup. Therefore, the setup work is significantly reduced.

Instead, in the present invention, address information for determining all the device configurations (attributes) belonging to the same store is set (FIG. 4). This address information rewriting registration work exists in a special operation mode that should be performed by a service person, is connected to the same network by LAN, and all POS terminals that need to communicate in the same store as shown in FIG. , The address of the upper host H, the address of the printer server, etc. are set on the keyboard 2 and the operation display 3.

Each POS terminal 1 (1A, 1B)
Communication with the host H and the POS terminal 1
Communication between (1A, 1B) is performed in the form of file transfer, and the cash register data (daily report,
Monthly report), master files, modularized programs, etc. are all composed of files.

Next, the operation of each POS terminal 1 (1A, 1B) in the POS system of the present invention will be described.
For simplification, the following is the POS terminal 1A, 1
Only the store where B is installed will be described.

POS terminal 1A of the store, or P
The product data registered for sales at OS terminal 1B is
The transaction files shown in FIG. 4 are sequentially written. Then, at the end of the transaction with one customer, the sales result is converted from the transaction file to a daily report file of various cash register data (daily report, monthly report) such as accounting / transaction, product, department, or product time zone. Will be deployed as.

After the settlement processing at each POS terminal 1A, 1B is completed, the sales data confirmed by the cashier settlement is copied to the cashier data (settlement settlement) having the same format as the cashier data. The sales data written in the cash register data (determination of settlement) is stored as it is until the next settlement. Further, the daily report data of the cash register is added to the monthly report data of the cash register in the same format as the cash register data at the time of the settlement process to create the monthly report data of the cash register.

Next, the flow of store total settlement processing (the same applies to inspection) of the store will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 6 shows the operation of each POS terminal 1A or 1B. For example, the POS terminal 1A of the store
When an instruction to output (display) the store total data is issued (the same applies to the POS terminal 1B) (step S1. In the case of inspection, step S8), the POS terminal 1A determines its own cash data (settlement settlement) in step S2. ) (In the case of inspection, the cash register data (daily report, monthly report) in step S9) is copied to a file for creating store total data.

Next, in step S3, the communication program is activated, and in the same store based on the address information of the POS terminal set in the address information for identifying the connected device configuration in the same store in step S4. POS
The number of terminals (here, POS terminal 1B) and its address are determined, and the cash register data (payment confirmation) (the cash register data (daily report, monthly report) at the time of inspection) stored in the POS terminal 1B is connected to the communication line 23. Via the file transfer communication via the POS terminal 1A.

The cash register data (payment confirmation) of the collected POS terminal 1B is added to the store total data creation file of the POS terminal 1A in step S5. next,
In step S6, it is determined whether or not the collection of the cash register data (payment confirmation) of all the POS terminals set in the address information for determining the connected device configuration in the same store is completed, and if not, the process returns to step S4. Repeat the collection, and add to the file for creating store total data each time collection is performed. This cash register data is added to the store total monthly report data of the same format to create store total monthly report data.

Since the other POS terminals in the store are only connected to 1B here, the collection is terminated and the POS terminal 1A outputs (displays / prints) the store total data (daily report, monthly report) in step S7. ) Do.

As described above, at each POS terminal 1A or 1B, the sales data confirmed by the cashier settlement is copied to the cashier data (settlement settlement), stored until the next settlement, and the store total is stored. Since this cash register data (payment confirmation) is used in the payment processing, after the payment is confirmed at the POS terminal, the next registration operation can be executed.

Therefore, if the settlement operation in the store which is conventionally performed until the opening of the next day (when the settlement operation is not completed, the sales registration operation of the next day cannot be performed as described above) is performed before the settlement operation of the next day. It is improved and the operability is remarkably improved.

When there is a transmission request for the store total data from the upper host H, the POS terminal 1A copies the store total data obtained by the above-mentioned collection and addition to the upper host transmission / reception file of FIG. The data in the file (store total data) is transmitted to the host H (upload).

Here, the master file in FIG. 4 is a file in which the product name and the selling unit price thereof are set in the same manner as described above, and is set in each POS terminal as well as downloaded from the upper host H (upper host transmission / reception file). May be used). Further, when the master file shown in FIG. 4 is changed in the POS terminal 1A due to the sale of a new product or the price change of an existing product, the contents of the master file are based on the address information and the POS terminal 1A Is delivered by file transfer to the POS terminal (1B in this case) and the host H connected to the same network. The POS terminal B and the upper host H rewrite the master file with the delivered data.

As described above, according to the POS system of the present invention, it is possible to output the store total data at any POS terminal 1 without distinguishing between the parent device and the child device as in the conventional case. Further, even if the data such as the master file is changed in any of the POS terminals 1, the changed data can be distributed to all the POS terminals connected in the same network.
It is possible to easily and surely prevent the mismatch of the setting contents between the POS terminals.

In particular, since data such as a master file can be transmitted to and saved in the host H side as well, the master file data can be quickly registered in the POS terminal 1 when the POS terminal 1 is expanded or a failure occurs. You will be able to.

Further, each POS terminal 1 has rewritable address information for discriminating the attribute of the same store or a corner, and the data is collected / delivered using this address information. Even if the POS terminal 1 is relocated or added / removed at the time of remodeling or layout change, it can be dealt with only by rewriting the address information (setting change). In addition, each POS
Terminal 1 is connected to the same network,
This is connected by the communication line 23 of the same construction method as the telephone line construction, so the wiring construction is also simplified, and in general P
Workability of OS terminal 1 relocation and extension / removal is significantly improved.

[0050]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in a POS system composed of a plurality of POS terminals, each POS terminal is connected to the same network by a communication line, and each POS terminal is , The function to collect the data that other POS terminals have by using the communication line, and the data that they have
Since it has a function of delivering to the terminal, it becomes possible to output the store total data at any POS terminal without distinguishing between the parent device and the child device as in the conventional case.

Further, even if the data such as the master file is changed in any of the POS terminals, the changed data can be distributed to all the POS terminals connected in the same network. It is possible to easily and surely prevent the mismatch of the setting contents between the POS terminals.

In particular, when an upper host is connected to the network, data such as a master file can be transmitted and stored also on the upper host side. Therefore, when an POS terminal is added or a failure occurs, The master file data can be quickly registered in the POS terminal.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the above, each POS terminal has rewritable address information for discriminating the attribute of the same store or corner, and using this address information. Data is collected / distributed, so POS can be used at store remodeling and layout changes.
Even if a terminal is relocated or added / removed, it will be possible to deal with it only by rewriting the address information (setting change).

Each POS terminal is connected to the same network. Since this is a construction method similar to telephone line construction, wiring work is simplified, and POS terminals are generally used.
The workability of terminal relocation and expansion / removal will be significantly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a POS terminal that constitutes a POS system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the POS terminal of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a POS system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a file held by the POS terminal of FIG.

5 is a configuration diagram of the address information of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the POS terminal of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional POS system.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a file held by a conventional master terminal.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a file held by a conventional slave terminal.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a conventional master terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B POS terminal 9 CPU 10 ROM 11 RAM 23 communication line 24 LAN communication control circuit H host

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hisao Tanaka 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A POS system comprising a plurality of POS terminals, wherein each POS terminal is connected to the same network by a communication line, and each POS terminal uses another POS terminal to connect to another POS terminal. A POS system having a function of collecting data held by a terminal and a function of distributing data held by the terminal to other POS terminals. 2. Each POS terminal has rewritable address information for discriminating an attribute such as the same store or a corner, and data is collected / distributed using this address information. Claim 1 POS
system.