[DESCRIPTION]
[Title of Invention]
Transmission system, transmission device, and data transmission
method
[Technical Field]
[0001]
The present invention relates to a transmission system, a
transmission device, and a data transmission method.
[Background]
[0002]
Methods of two-way communication using the WebSocket standard
as a means of exchanging data between a plurality of devices are known
from the literature (see, for example, PTL 1). Each time data is stored
in the storage unit of the server in the configuration disclosed in
PTL 1, data is sent from the server to a client device. This configuration
enables transmitting data while omitting the process of the client
device requesting data from the server.
POS systems used for processing transactions related to product
sales that are configured so that price, quantity, and other information
is output by a device other than the POS terminal device used by the
operator are also known from the literature (see, for example, PTL
1) . A POS customer display that is connected to a host device and displays
information according to commands input from the host device is
described in PTL 2. Output devices such as customer displays used in
POS systems must be able to output information in real-time without
creating a significant delay when the transaction process is run by
the POS system. As a result, the customer display is conventionally
connected directly to the host device as described in PTL 1, and commands
are sent as necessary from the host device to control the display.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0003]
!~------~-----~·-----~- -----~--- ----~---·~---~-·-----------~-----·------------·-
[PTL 1] JP-A-2012-182744
[PTL 2] JP-A-2001-109448
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0004]
- 3 -
When transmitting data without the device on the side that receives
the data requesting the data, which device the data should be sent
to cannot be determined because the receiving side does not request
the data. As a result, this requires a simple connection, such as a
1:1 connection between the device on the transmitting side and the
device on the receiving side, as described in PTL 1, for example.
Furthermore, because the process of the receiving device requesting
data is omitted, retransmission is difficult when receiving the data
fails, for example.
Therefore, with consideration for this problem, an objective of
the present invention is to enable controlling the relationship between
the transmitting device and the receiving device with a high degree
of freedom when sending and receiving data between devices.
A further objective of the invention is to enable sending data
between multiple devices while also enabling controlling
retransmission of data.
[0005]
A POS system such as described above may also have multiple customer
displays or other output devices. In this case, individually
controlling each of the output devices was difficult. For example,
there are no examples of control enabling using multiple customer
displays to display content in different ways.
A further objective of the invention is to enable individually
controlling the operation of output devices in a POS system.
[Solution to Problem]
[0006]
To achieve the above objective, a transmission system according
I
- 4 -
to the invention includes: a reception device that receives data; and
a transmission device including a transmission unit that sends the
data to the reception device, a storage unit having a storage area
to store data and storing relation information linking the storage
area to a reception device, and a storage control unit that controls
storing the data to the storage area; wherein the transmission device
sends the data stored in the storage area by the storage control unit
to the reception device.
Thus comprised, when the transmission device acquires new data,
the data is sent to the related reception device without the reception
device that that is to receive the data requesting the transmission
device to send the data. The reception device to which to send the
data can be determined at this time with a high degree of freedom.
[0007]
In the foregoing transmission system, the transmission device
may include a transmission control unit that, when the storage control
unit stores the data to the storage area, sends the data stored in
the storage area to the reception device linked by the relation
information to the storage area.
Thus comprised, when the transmission device acquires new data,
the data can be sent to the related reception device by control of
the transmission device without the reception device that that is to
receive the data requesting the transmission device to send the data.
[0008]
The foregoing transmission system preferably also has a second
reception device that receives second data; wherein the storage unit
has a second storage area different from the storage area; the relation
information links the second storage area and the second reception
device; and when the storage control unit stores the second data in
the second storage unit, the transmission control unit controls the
transmission unit to send the second data stored in the second storage
unit to the second reception device linked by the relation information
1~---~--------------· ----~-----~--------------
- 5 -
to the second storage area.
Thus comprised, the storage unit has a storage area and a second
storage area, the storage area and reception device are linked, and
the second storage area and the second reception device are linked,
by the relation information, and data stored in the second storage
area is sent to the second reception device. The reception device to
which the data is sent can therefore be determined freely by linking
the plural storage areas with the plural reception devices by the
relation information.
[0009]
The foregoing transmission system preferably also has a data
supply device that supplies the data to the transmission device. The
data includes information specifying the storage area; and when
controlling storing the data in the storage device, the storage control
unit stores the data in the storage area based on the information
specifying the storage area contained in the data.
Thus comprised, the data the transmission device acquires from
the data supply device contains information specifying a storage area,
and this data is store in the specified storage area and is sent to
the reception device linked to the storage area storing the data. As
a result, data acquired from a data supply device can be sent to the
desired reception device. In addition, the reception device to which
to send data can be specified by the data the data supply device supplies.
[0010]
The foregoing transmission system preferably also has a data
supply device that supplies data to the transmission device. The data
has attribute information; and when controlling storing the data in
the storage area, the storage control unit stores the data in the storage
area based on the attribute information contained in the data.
Thus comprised, the data the transmission device acquires from
the data supply device is stored to a storage area corresponding to
attributes of the data, and is sent to the reception device linked
- 6 -
to the storage area· storing the data. As a result, data acquired from
a data supply device can be quickly sent to the desired reception device.
In addition, the reception device to which to send data supplied by
the data supply device can be determined from the attributes of the
supplied data.
[0011]
In the foregoing transmission system, the reception device and
the transmission device may connect by WebSocket; and the transmission
device has a link information control unit that generates the relation
information linking a connected reception device to the storage area.
Thus comprised, the reception device to which data is sent is
connected to the transmission device by WebSocket, the connected
reception device is related to a particular storage area, and the
transmission device can use this relationship to determine the
reception device to which to send the acquired data.
[0012]
In the foregoing transmission system, when the reception device
requests retransmission of data after data stored in the storage area
of the transmission data is sent to the reception device, the data
stored in the storage area may be resent to the reception device.
Thus comprised, data can be sent from the transmission device
to the reception device without going through a process of the reception
device requesting the transmission device to send data, and when the
reception device requests retransmission of data, data is resent from
the transmission device to the reception device. As a result, data
can be sent to the reception device, and data can be retransmitted
in response to a request from the reception device.
[0013]
In the transmission system described above, when the transmission
device sends the data stored by the storage control unit in the storage
area to the reception device linked to the storage area by the relation
information and the reception device then requests retransmission of
- 7 -
the data, the transmission control unit may control the transmission
unit to res end the data stored in the storage area linked to the reception
device by the relation information.
Thus comprised, data can be sent from the transmission device
to the reception device as controlled by the transmission device without
going through a process of the reception device requesting the
transmission device to send data. In addition, when the reception device
requests the transmission device to resend data, data stored in the
storage area linked to the reception device that requested
retransmission is resent to the reception device as controlled by the
transmission device. As a result, data can be sent to the reception
device, and data can resent in response to a request from the reception
device,
[0014]
Further preferably in the foregoing transmission system, the
reception device and the transmission device are connected by
WebSocket; and the transmission control unit controls the transmission
unit to push the data to the reception device.
Thus comprised, when the transmission device stores data in the
storage area, the data is pushed to the reception device and data can
be resent as needed.
[0015]
In the foregoing transmission system, the storage area is
preferably a storage area with a predetermined storage capacity, and
stores second data different from the data; and the storage control
unit additionally stores the second data when the total of the amount
of the data and the amount of the _second data is less than or equal
to the capacity of the storage area, and stores the data by overwriting
when the total of the amount of the data and the amount of the second
data exceeds the capacity of the storage area.
Thus comprised, because data is accumulated to the storage
capacity of a predetermined storage area, more data can be resent to
I
I
I
- 8 -
the reception device when the reception device requests retransmission
of data.
[0016]
A transmission system according to another aspect of the invention
is a POS system including a POS terminal device that runs a transaction
process; the reception device is an output device that outputs based
on data; and the transmission device is a server device including a
transmission unit that sends the data to the output device, a storage
unit having storage areas to store data and storing relation information
linking the storage areas to the output devices, a storage control
unit that acquires and stores the data in the storage area based on
a transaction process of the POS terminal device, and a transmission
control unit that, when the storage control unit stores the data to
the storage area, sends the data stored in the storage area to the
output device linked by the relation information to the storage area.
Thus comprised, data based on a transaction process run by the
POS terminal is transmitted from the server to the output device without
going through a process of the output device requesting the server
for data. The output device to which data is sent can also be set based
on the relationship to the storage area. As a result, the data to output
to the output device, and the output device to which the data should
be sent, can be determined as desired, and output devices can be
individually controlled.
[0017]
The transmission system may be configured with the output device
and the server device connecting by WebSocket; and the server device
having a link information control unit that generates the relation
information linking a connected output device to the storage area.
Thus comprised, because an output device connected by WebSocket
to the server is linked to a storage area as the data output destination
by the relation information, the server can send data to the output
device according to the relation information.
I
i
-------~---------~-------- ------------------------------,
- 9 -
[0018]
Further preferably, the transmission system has an input device
that sends input data to the POS terminal device, and the data may
be the input data sent by the input device, or transaction data resulting
from executing a transaction process based on the input data.
Thuscomprised, inputdatatheinputdevicesenttothePOSterminal,
or transaction data resulting from a transaction process, is sent to
the output device related to the storage area. As a result, when input
data or transaction data is output to an output device, the data to
output and the output device to output to can be determined as desired.
[0019]
In another example of the transmission system, the storage unit
has plural storage areas, the data has identification information that
specifies a particular storage area, and the storage control unit stores
to the storage areas based on the identification information.
Thus comprised, by specifying a storage area with the
identification information in the data acquired by the server, the·
output device to which to output the data can be determined, and data
can be sent to a desired output device.
[ 0 02 0]
In a transmission system according to another aspect of the
invention, the storage unit has multiple storage areas; the data has
attribute information; and the storage control unit selects a storage
area to store the data based on the attribute information.
Thus comprised, data acquired by a server is stored to the storage
area related to the attribute information in the data, and is sent
to the output device linked to that storage area. As a result, because
data is sent to the output device corresponding to the data attributes,
data can be sent to a desired output device.
[0021]
In a transmission system according to another aspect of the
invention, the output device is a display device having a display unit
- 10 -
that displays, and an output control unit that displays on the display
unit based on the data; the relation information includes information
related to a display format of the output device; and the output control
unit displays the data on the display unit based on information in
the relation information related to the display format.
Thus comprised, the output device can display received data, and
the display format of the data can be controlled using the relation
information stored by the server. As a result, data can be sent from
the server to an output device, and displayed in a desired display
format.
[0022]
To achieve the foregoing objective, a transmission device
according to another aspect of the invention includes a transmission
unit that transmits data; .a storage unit having storage areas to store
data and storing relation information linking a storage area to a
reception device; a storage control unit that controls storing the
data to the storage areas; and a transmission control unit that, when
the storage control unit stores the data to the storage area, sends
the data stored in the storage area to the reception device linked
by the relation information to the storage area.
Thus comprised, when the transmission device acquires new data,
the data can be sent to the related reception device without the reception
device that that is to receive the data requesting the transmission
device to send the data. The reception device to which to send the
data .can be determined at this time with a high degree of freedom.
[0023]
Further preferably in this transmission device, when the
transmission control unit controls the transmission unit to send the
data stored in the storage area to the reception device linked to the
storage area by the relation information and the reception device then
requests retransmission of the data, the transmission control unit
resends the data stored in the storage area linked to the reception
I
I
I
I
rI -------
- 11 -
device.
Thus comprised, data can be sent from the transmission device
to the reception device without going through a process of the reception
device requesting the transmission device to send data. When the
reception device requests retransmission of data from the transmission
device, data stored in the storage area linked to the reception device
that request retransmission is resent from the transmission device.
As a result, data can be sent to the reception device, and data can
be retransmitted in response to a request from the reception device.
[0024]
In another aspect of the invention, the transmission device is
configured as a server device that transmits data to an output device
by the transmission unit; the storage unit has a plurality of storage
areas that store the data, and stores relation information linking
the storage areas to the output devices; the storage control unit
acquires and stores the data in the storage areas; and the transmission
control unit controls the transmission unit, and when the storage
control unit stores the data in the storage area, the transmission
control unit controls the transmission unit to send the data stored
in the storage area to the output device linked to the storage area
by the relation information.
Thus comprised, data is sent to the output device linked to a
storage area of the server without going through a process of the output
device requesting the server for data. Because the output device to
which data is sent can be determined by the relationship to the storage
area, the data output to the output device, and the output device to
which the data is sent, can be determined as desired, and the output
devices can be individually controlled.
[0025]
Another aspect of the invention is a data transmission method,
including: acquiring data including information specifying a storage
area; storing the data in the storage area based on the information
- 12 -
specifying a storage area; and sending data stored in the storage area
to the reception device linked to the storage area when data is stored
in the storage area.
Thus comprised, data can be acquired, the data stored in a storage
area based on information contained in the acquired data, and the data
sent to the reception device related to the storage area. As a result,
when the transmission device acquires new data, the data can be sent
to the reception device rela-ted to the data without the reception device
that that is to receive the data requesting the transmission device
to send the data. The reception device to which to send the data can
also be determined at this time with a high degree of freedom.
[0026]
Further preferably, the data transmission method is a method of
sending the data from a transmission device that transmits the data
to a plurality of reception devices; a plurality of storage areas that
store data are disposed in the transmission device; and the transmission
device stores the data in the storage area, sends the data stored in
the storage area to the reception device linked to the storage area,
and sends the data stored in the storage area linked to the reception
device when the reception device requests retransmissi·on of the data
after the transmission device has transmitted the datato the reception
device.
Thus comprised, the transmission device can quickly send data
to the reception device without the reception device that is t.o receive
the data requesting the transmission device to send data. When
retransmission of data is requested from the transmission device by
the reception device, data related to the reception d~vice that
requested retransmission is resent. As a result, data can be
retransmitted.
[0027]
Further preferably, the data transmission method includes
acquiring the data based on a transaction process of the POS terminal
-------·-·-· ·---
- 13 -
device; storing the acquired data in the storage area; and when the
data is stored to the storage area, sending the data to the output
device linked to the storage area.
Thus comprised, when the server device acquired data based on
operation of the POS terminal, data is sent to an output device without
going the process of the output device requesting the server for data.
The output device to which data is sent can also be determined by the
relationship to the storage area. As a result, the data output to
individual output devices can be determined as desired, and the output
devices can be individually controlled.
[0028]
As described above, the reception device to which data is sent
when the transmission device sends acquired data to a reception device
can be determined with a high degree of freedom.
Furthermore, the transmission device can quickly send acquired
data to the reception device, and data can be resent when retransmission
of data is requested by the reception device.
In a POS system, the data output to individual output devices
can also be freely determined, and the output devices can be individually
controlled.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[ 0 02 9 J
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration
of a POS system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration
of devices in the POS system.
FIG. 3 describes the data transmission operation in the POS system.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of devices in the POS
system.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a user interface presented on a tablet
terminal.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the operation of devices in the POS
- 14 -
system.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a user interface presented on a tablet
terminal.
FIG. 8 describes the data retransmission operation in the POS
system.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the operation of devices in the POS
system.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0030]
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with
reference to the accompanying figures.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration
of a POS (Point of Sales) system 1 (transmission system) according
to this embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram
illustrating the functional configuration of a first tablet terminal
101 (data supply device), a second tablet terminal102 (reception device,
output device), and a host device 11 (transmission device, server
device) in the POS system 1.
[0031]
The POS system 1 is a system that is employed in shopping centers,
department stores, convenience stores, and other types of retail stores,
restaurants, coffee shops, and other food service providers, and other
types of stores and businesses. The POS system 1 handles registering
product sales, calculating payment amounts, transaction processing
related to payments, producing receipts showing the results of sale
and transaction processes providing information related to the
transaction process, and other operations relating to product sales
in the business. The POS system 1 also has functions for managing product
marketing, product inventory, and sales trends, for example, in the
business.
There are plural checkout counters where transactions are
processed in a store where the POS system 1 is used. At least one host
1--------------
- 15 -
device 11 and multiple second tablet terminals 102 can be disposed
at one checkout counter. One of the second tablet terminals 102
corresponds to a reception device, and another second tablet 102
corresponds to a second reception device. The first tablet terminal
101 and one or plural second tablet terminals 102 are connected to
the host device 11.
[0032]
The first tablet terminal 101 and the second tablet terminals
102 are tablet computers, and in this embodiment are terminals with
a touch panel disposed to the display area on the front of the tablet
enabling input by touch operations (see FIG. 5).
The first tablet terminal 101 is a tablet used by the checkout
clerk (operator) that processes transactions at the checkqut counter,
and provides an appropriate user interface to the checkout clerk for
processing transactions at the checkout counter as described further
below.
The second tablet terminal 102 displays transaction-related
information, such as the total amount of the transaction, for a customer
at the checkout counter. More specifically, the second tablet terminal
102 is a device that functions as a so-called customer display. Devices
with a dot matrix display panel having a resolution of several ten
by several hundred dots are commonly used as customer displays in a
POS system. The POS system 1 according to this embodiment of the invention,
however, can use a general-purpose tablet terminal as the customer
display, and compared with a conventional customer display can display
dynamic, high resolution images. The second tablet terminal 102 is
disposed at an appropriate location where it can be seen by the customer
at the checkout counter. Some of the second tablet terminals 102 can
obviously also be disposed to locations away from the checkout counter.
[0033]
The host device 11 is a device including a POS server 17 and a
device server 18. The POS server 17 is a server device that manages
I
I
- 16 -
the POS system 1, and provides data to the first tablet terminal 101,
for example.
A barcode scanner 12 and card reader 13 are connected as input
devices (input devices) to the device server 18. The barcode scanner
12 reads barcodes from products or product packaging, and outputs the
read result to the device server 18. The barcode scanner 12 may connect
to the device server 18 by near-field communication using the Bluetooth
(TM) standard, or may connect to a wired communication interface through
a USB interface, for example. The card reader 13 reads credit cards
and loyalty cards, for example, and outputs the read result to the
device server 18. The card reader 13 may be a device that reads magnetic
information from magnetic stripe cards, or a device that reads and
writes to IC cards. The card reader 13 connects to the device server
18 through a wired communication interface using the USB standard,
for example.
[0034]
The device server 18 sends data input from the barcode scanner
12 and card reader 13 to the first tablet terminal 101. A cash drawer
14 that holds paper currency, coins, checks and gift certificates,
for example, and a printer unit 21, are connected to the device server
18. The cash drawer 14 connects to the device server 18 by a wired
communication interface conforming to a specific serial communication
standard. The device server 18 drives and opens the cash drawer 14
based on data input from the first tablet terminal 101. The device
server 18 also controls the printer unit 21 contained inside the cabinet
of the host device 11, and prints receipts. The device server 18 also
functions as a transmission device that sends display data to plural
second tablet terminals 102.
[0035]
The POS server 17 and device server 18 of the host device 11 may
be embodied by separate hardware configurations. The functions of the
POS server 17 and device server 18 may also be embodied by a computer
------------~--j
- 17 -
embedded on the control board of the host device 11 running a program
corresponding to the host device 11 and a program corresponding to
the device server 18. Furthermore, the printer uni~ 21 is disposed
in the same housing as the host device 11, but the control board of
the printer unit 21 and the control board that operates as the POS
server 17 and device server 18 may be separately disposed in the housing.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 2, the host device 11 has a server interface
32 that communicates with the first tablet terminal 101 and second
tablet terminal 102, and is connected to the POS server 17 and device
server 18. The server interface 32 has a specific network card or other
communicati"on interface, and operates as controlled by the POS server
control unit 30 of the POS server 17 and the device control unit 20
of the device server 18. The server interface 32 sends and receives
data according to a specific wireless communication protocol between
the host device 11 and the first tablet terminal 101 and second tablet
terminal 102 as controlled by the POS server control unit 30 and device
control unit 2 0. As a result, the POS server 17 and the device server
18 communicate with the first tablet terminal101 and the second tablet
terminal 102 through the server interface 32.
[0037]
The device server 18 includes a device control unit 20, a printer
unit 21 (print unit), a wireless device communication unit 22, a wired
device communication unit 24, and a storage unit 25.
The device control unit 20 controls parts of the device server
18~ and includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other peripheral circuits not
shown in the figure. The device control unit 20 includes a printer
unit control unit 20a, a communication unit 20b, a device communication
control unit 20c, and a data transmission unit 20d. These function
blocks are embodied by the CPU of the device server 18 running a program,
for example. The printer unit control unit 2 Oa runs programs related
to controlling the printer unit 21, and controls the printer unit 21.
- 18 -
[0038]
The printer unit 21 includes a conveyance unit for conveying roll
paper, a print mechanism that prints text and images on the roll paper
by means of a thermal head, and a cutter mechanism that cuts the roll
paper. After printing a receipt image on the roll paper, the printer
unit 21 cuts the roll paper at a specific position and issues a receipt.
The cash drawer 14 is daisy chained to the printer unit 21. The printer
unit control unit 20a connects to and communicates with the cash drawer
14 according to a specific serial communication protocol through the
printer unit 21. The printer unit 21 controls the cash drawer 14 as
controlled by the printer unit control unit 20a and causes the cash
drawer 14 to open, for example.
[ 0 03 9]
The communication unit 20b controls communication with the first
tablet terminal 101 and the second tablet terminal 102 by executing
a communication control program.
The communication unit 20b is connected to the first terminal
control unit 261 through the terminal interface 271, and receives data
sent from the first terminal control unit 2 61. The communication unit
2 Ob also has a function for storing the received data in the transmission
buffer 26 disposed in the storage unit 25 as described below.
The communication unit 20b is connected to the second terminal
control unit 262 through the terminal interface 272. The communication
unit 20b has a function for sending data received from the first tablet
terminal 101 to the second terminal control unit 262 in cooperation
with the data transmission unit 20d. The data transmission unit 20d
sends data in the transmission buffer 2 6 of the storage unit 25 described
below to the second tablet terminal 102.
The device communication control unit 20c runs a device control
program to communicate with each device and control each device.
The program related to controlling the printer unit 21, program
related to controlling communication, and the program related to device
I
I
- 19 -
control are created using a dedicated API (Application Programming
Interface) provided by the manufacturer of the host device 11, for
example, and the device control unit 20 runs these programs.
[0040]
The wireless device communication unit 22 communicates wirelessly
with the barcode scanner 12 using a near-field communication standard
such as Bluetooth (T), for example, and includes a link manager, a
link controller, a high frequency circuit, and an antenna. The device
communication control unit 20c reads and runs a Bluetooth driver stack
to control Bluetooth hardware. As a result, the device communication
control unit 20c controls the wireless device communication unit 22
and communicates with the barcode scanner 12 by near-field
communication using the Bluetooth standard.
The wired device communication unit 24 has a network interface
card connected to a physical port, and communicates by wire according
to a specific communication protocol such as USB with the card reader
13. The device communication control unit 2 Oc controls the wired device
communication unit 24, and exchanges data and signals with the card
reader 13.
The storage unit 25 includes a nonvolatile storage device such
as a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor storage
device. The storage unit 25 store$ programs and data readably and
rewri tably by the CPU. Multiple transmission buffers 2 6 (storage areas)
described below are formed in the storage unit 25. Buffer link
information 27 (correlation information) described below is stored
in the storage unit 25. One transmission buffer 26 corresponds to one
storage area, and another transmission buffer 2 6 corresponds to a second
storage area.
[0041]
The POS server 17 includes a POS server storage unit 31 that stores
adatabasestoringproduct-relatedinformation, adatabaseformanaging
sales, and a database for managing inventory, and uses these databases
,---------·-----
- 20 -
to manage the POS system 1.
The POS server 17 also has a POS server control unit 30 and POS
server storage unit 31, and is connected to the server interface 32.
[0042]
The POS server control unit 30 controls the POS server 17 and
includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other peripheral circuits not shown.
As described above, th~ CPU, ROM, RAM, and other peripheral circuits
of the POS server control unit 30 may be the same as those of the device
control unit 20.
The POS server storage unit 31 includes a nonvolatile storage
device such as a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor
storage device. The POS server storage unit 31 stores programs and
data readably and rewri tably by the CPU. The POS server storage unit
31 and the storage unit 25 may be embodied by a common device.
The POS server storage unit 31 stores an application 35 so that
the application 35 can be loaded. The application execution unit 30a
reads and runs the application 35, and executes processes alone or
in conjunction with a first browser execution unit 2 6la. The application
execution unit 30a generates data for web pages requested by the first
tablet terminal 101 or the second tablet terminal 102, or reads and
sends the data from the POS server storage unit 31 to the device that
sent the request. The terminals display screens as described below
based on the received web page data.
[0043]
The first tablet terminal 101 includes a first terminal control
unit 261, a terminal interface 271, a display control unit 2&1, an
input detection unit 291, and a touch panel lOla.
The touch panel lOla includes a display panel lOlc disposed to
the front of the first tablet terminal 101, and a touch sensor lOlb
disposed over the display panel lOlc. The display panel lOlc may be
an LCD panel, an OLED panel, e-paper, or other type of display, and
is driven by the display control unit 281. The touch sensor lOlb is
- 21 -
a capacitive or pressure-sensitive sensor disposed over the display
panel lOlc, detects touch operations by the user's finger, stylus,
or similar device, and inputs a signal indicating the position where
the operation was detected to the input detection unit 291.
The display control unit 281 drives the display panel lOlc based
on display data input from the first browser execution unit 26la
described below, drives the display panel lOlc, and displays a window
containing text or images on the display panel lOlc.
The input detection unit 2 91 detects the touch operation on the
touch panel lOla based on the signals output by the touch sensor lOlb.
When an operation is detected, the input detection unit 291 generates
coordinate data indicating the operated position by means of
coordinates corresponding to the display position on the display panel
lOlc, and outputs to the first browser execution unit 26la.
[0044]
The first terminal control unit 261 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM,
and other peripheral circuits, and controls the first tablet terminal
101. The first terminal control unit 261 includes a first browser
execution unit 2 6la that renders the function of a browser by running
a browser program.
The first browser execution unit 26la downloads a web page written
in HTML or other markup language, or a scripting language, from the
POS server 17 by a function of the browser. The data for the downloaded
web page is stored in RAM not shown, for example. The first browser
execution unit 26la reads the data of the downloaded web page by a
function of the browser, generates display data for displaying the
web page, and outputs to the display control unit 2 81. By the functions
of scripts embedded on the web page, the first browser execution unit
26la independently or in conjunction with the application execution
unit 30a executes processes. The first tablet terminal 101 therefore
performs the operations of a POS terminal device through the operation
of the first browser execution unit 26la, or the cooperation of the
- 22 -
first browser execution unit 261a and application execution unit 30a
of the POS server 17.
[0045]
The first browser execution unit 2 61a determines the input content
of a touch operation based on the coordinate data input from the input
detection unit 2 91 in response to a touch operation on the touch sensor
101b, and the display data output to the display control unit 281.
The first browser execution unit 261a runs an appropriate process by
a script function based on the identified input content as needed,
and sends data representing the identified input content to the POS
server 17. The application execution unit 30a then executes a process
based on the input data. The first browser execution unit 261a also
receives data about the result of the application execution unit 30a
running an application program from the POS server 17, and generates
and outputs display data reflecting the received data to the display
control unit 281.
The terminal interface 271 communicates with the device server
18 and the POS server 17 according to a specific wireless communication
protocol as controlled by the first terminal control unit 261. The
terminal interface 271 and first terminal control unit 2 61 work together
to function as a transmission unit that sends data from a browser.
[0046]
Like the first tablet terminal 101, the second tablet terminal
102 includes a second terminal control unit 2 62 (second control unit) ,
a terminal interface 272, a display control unit 282, an input detection
unit 292, and a touch panel 102a.
The touch panel 102a includes a display panel 102c (display unit)
disposed to the front of the second tablet terminal 102, and a touch
sensor 102b disposed over the display panel 102c. The display panel
102c may be an LCD panel, an OLEO panel, e-paper, or other type of
display, and is driven by the display control unit 282. The touch sensor
102b is a capacitive or pressure-sensitive sensor disposed over the
- 23 -
display panel 102c, detects touch operations by the user's finger,
stylus, or similar device, and inputs a signal indicating the position
where the operation was detected to the input detection unit 292.
The input detection unit 2 92 detects the touch operation on the
touch panel 102a based on the signals output by the touch sensor 102b.
When an operation is detected, the input detection unit 2 92 generates
coordinate data indicating the operated position by means of
coordinates corresponding to the display position on the display panel
102c, and outputs to the second browser execution unit 262a.
[0047]
The second terminal control unit 262 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM,
and other peripheral circuits, and controls the second tablet terminal
102. The second terminal control unit 262 includes a second browser
execution unit 2 62a that renders the function of a browser by running
a browser program.
[0048]
The second browser execution unit 2 62a downloads ·a web page written
in HTML or other markup language, or a scripting language, from the
device server 18 by a function of the browser. The data for the downloaded
web page is stored in RAM not shown, for example. The second browser
execution unit 262a reads the data of the downloaded web page by a
function of the browser, generates display data for displaying the
web page, and outputs to the display control unit 282.
[0049]
The second browser execution unit 262a may store the web page
to display in ROM (not shown in the figure). This web page data is
the location information 112 described below (FIG. 3). As described
below with reference to FIG. 5 (B), various display areas for displaying
information related to a transaction processed by the POS system 1
are located in the screen displayed on the display panel 102c. Data
setting the location and size of these display areas, and borders around
display screens, for example, is included in the location information
---·--------------·---
- 24 -
112 of the second browser execution unit 2 62a. A script for acquiring
the data to be displayed in the display areas is also included in the
location information 112. Data related to the content of the transaction
process is included in the window displayed by the second browser
execution unit 262a, and this data is sent from the device server 18
when executing the transaction process and changes according to the
content of the transaction process. Information for arranging data
sent from the device server 18 is included in the location information
112. The second browser execution unit 262a generates display data
placing the data sent from the device server 18 during the transaction
process in the display areas based on the location information 112,
and outputs the display data to the display control unit 282 for display
on the display panel 102c. Each time new data is received from the
device server 18, the second browser execution unit 262a places the
new data in the appropriate display area, and updates the display data.
As a result, the second browser execution unit 262a can dynamically
display data.
[0050]
In the second tablet terminal 102 according to this embodiment,
the terminal interface 272 and second terminal control unit 262 work
I
together to function as a reception unit that receives data sent from
the communication unit 20b. The touch panel 102a also functions as
a display unit that displays a browser controlled by the second terminal
control unit 262 (output control unit).
In the following description, the first tablet terminal 101 and
second tablet terminal 102 are appropriately referred to generically
as terminals.
[0051]
FIG. 3 illustrates sending and receiving data between the first
tablet terminal 101, device server 18, and second tablet terminal 102.
The relationship between the communication unit 20b, data transmission
unit 20d, first browser execution unit 261a, and second browser
·---------------·
- 25 -
execution unit 262a of the device control unit 20 is shown schematically
in FIG. 3 suitably for description.
[0052]
In this embodiment of the invention data can be sent from the
first browser execution unit 2 61a to the second browser execution unit
262a through the communication unit 20b. The function blocks used to
sent data from the first browser execution unit 261a to the second
browser execution unit 262a are shown in FIG. 3.
When the POS system 1 starts, a first path K1, which is a
communication path for sending and receiving data, is established
between the first browser execution unit 261a and the communication
unit 20b; More specifically, the first browser execution unit 261a
and the communication unit 20b open a connection conforming to the
WebSocket standard. The first path K1 is rendered by the first browser
execution unit 261a and the communication unit 20b creating a software
interface for sending and receiving data using the WebSocket standard.
The first path K1 is a WebSocket communication path that uses the
Socket. io library, for example, but a different standard, such as Cornet,
may be used.
[0053]
When the POS system 1 starts, a second path K2, which is a
communication path for sending and receiving data, is also opened
between the second browser execution unit 2 62a and the communication
unit 20b. Like the first path K1, the second path K2 is a communication
path based on a connection opened according to the WebSocket standard.
Plural second tablet terminals 102 can connect to the device server
18 for use in the POS system 1. As a result, when the POS system 1
starts, or at a specific time after starting, the second tablet terminals
102 used in the POS system 1 are connected to the device server 18.
When connecting, each second tablet terminal 102 opens a second path
K2 to the device control unit 20. The second path K2 is a communication
path enabling push communication conforming to the WebSocket standard.
!
I
I
I
I
- 26 -
As a result, after the second path K2 is opened, the device control
unit 2 0 can push data to the second browser execution unit 2 62a. More
specifically, the process of the second browser execution unit 262a
sending a request to the device control unit 20, and the device control
unit 20 sending data as a response to the request, is not required.
When there is data that should be sent to the second browser execution
unit 262a, the device control unit 20 can also push the data to the
second browser execution unit 262a.
[0054]
Multiple transmission buffers 26 are created in the storage unit
25. A transmission buffer 26 is a storage area reserved in a portion
of the data storage area of the storage unit 25. A transmission buffer
26 can also be newly created or deleted as controlled by the data
transmission unit 20d. Unique identification information is also
assigned by the data transmission unit 20d to each transmission buffer
26 created in the storage unit 25. In the example shown in FIG. 3,
the numbers #1 to #4 are assigned as the identification information,
but the identification information must only be able to identify each
transmission buffer 26, and may be a code (name) including alphanumeric
characters, for example.
[0055]
A transmission buffer 2 6 is linked to the second tablet terminal
102 that created the second path K2 to the device control unit 20.
The second tablet terminal 102 linked to the transmission buffer 26
may be any second tablet terminal 102 that opened a second path K2.
Multiple transmission buffers 26 can be linked to one second tablet
terminal 102, and multiple second tablet terminals 102 can be linked
to one transmission buffer 26.
[0056]
The relationship between each of the transmission buffers 26 and
second tablet terminals 102 is defined by the buffer link information
27. The buffer link information 27 is created and updated by the data
- 27 -
transmission unit 20d whenever the device control unit 20 and a second
tablet terminal 102 open a second path K2. More specifically, when
one second tablet terminal 102 opens a second path K2, the transmission
buffer 26 linked to that second tablet terminal 102 is selected, and
the buffer link information 27 related to that link is created or updated
by the data transmission unit 20d. In this event the data transmission
unit 20d functions as a link information control unit.
The buffer link information 27 is a file that records these link
relations using the identification information identifying a
particular transmission buff~r 26 and identification information
identifying a particular second tablet terminal 102, for example. The
identification information identifying a second tablet terminal 102
may be the ID assigned to the second path K2, the name of the second
tablet terminal 102, or the IP address of the second tablet terminal
102, for example.
[0057]
When the device control unit 2 0 sends data to the second browser
execution unit 262a, the first browser execution unit 261a sends the
data through the first path K1 to the communication unit 20b. The
communication unit 20b then stores the data received through the first
path Kl to the transmission buffer 2 6 in the storage unit 25. At this
time the communication unit 20b selects the transmission buffer 26
linked to the data sent through the first path K1 for storage. For
example, if the first browser execution unit 261a sends information
specifying the transmission buffer 2 6 to store the data w_i th the data,
the communication unit 20b may store the received data in the
transmission buffer 2 6 specified by the information. The information
specifying the transmission buffer 26 used to store the data may be
added to or included in the data the first browser execution unit 2 61a
sends.
The communication unit 20b may also evaluate an attribute of the
data received from the first browser execution unit 261a, and store
- 28 -
the data in the transmission buffer 26 previously related to that
attribute. More specifically, the #1 transmission buffer 26 may be
used for product codes, the #2 transmission buffer 26 used for the
transaction total, and the #3 transmission buffer 26 related to image
data for product images. In this event, if the first browser execution
unit 261a sends image data for a product image, the communication unit
20b stores the received image data to the #3 transmission buffer 26.
The attributes evaluated by the communication unit 20b may be the
function of the data in a transaction process related to product sales
as described above, or the format of the actual data, such as image
data and text data. Informati~n identifying an attribute of the data
(attribute data) may also be included in the data the first browser
execution unit 261a sends to the device server 18.
[0058]
The data transmission unit 20d detects that the communication
unit 20b stored data in a transmission buffer 26, and determines in
which transmission buffer 26 the new data was stored. The second tablet
terminal 102 that is linked to the identified transmission buffer 26
is also selected based on the buffer link information 27. The data
transmission unit 20d then sends the new data stored in the transmission
buffer 26 to the selected second tablet terminal 102. In this event,
the data transmission unit 20d pushes the data ·through the second path
K2 by a function of the printer unit control unit 20a. As a result,
the data the first browser execution unit 2 61a sent to the device control
unit 20 is also sent to the linked second tablet terminal 102.
[ 0 05 9]
When sending data stored in the transmission buffer 26 to the
second tablet terminal 102, the data transmission unit 20d also sends
the identification information for the transmission buffer 2 6 stored
in the data. The second tablet terminal 102 receives the data and the
identification information of the transmission buffer 26 where the
data was stored.
- 29 -
When the data sent through the second path K2 is received, the
second browser execution unit 262a generates and outputs display data
for displaying the received data to the display control unit 282 (FIG.
1) and displays the data on the display panel 102c. More specifically,
the second browser execution unit 262a references the location
information 112, and displays the data on the display panel 102c in
the display format defined in the location information 112. In addition
to information related to the location and size of the display area
on the display panel 102c, information specifying the display area
for displaying data received from the device control unit 20 is also
included in the location information 112. This information includes
the identification information of the transmission buffer 26 that
stored the received data linked to the area for displaying the received
data.
[ 0060 J
In the example shown in FIG. 3, when the communication unit 20b
stores data to the #2 transmission buffer 26, this data is pushed to
three second tablet terminals 102 as controlled by the data transmission
unit 20d. The second browser execution unit 262a that receives the
data then displays the received data in the display area linked to
the #2 transmission buffer 26 in the location information 112. Note
that information specifying the font used to display text data, the
image size for displaying image data, or the background color, for
example, may be included in the location information 112 as information
specifying the display format of the received data.
When data previously received from the device control unit 20
is displayed and new data stored in the same transmission buffer 26
as the data being displayed is sent from the device control unit 20,
the second browser execution unit 2 62a replaces the data being displayed
with the new data. As a result, the data displayed on the display panel
102c is updated. The data transmission unit 20d can also send a command
instructing deleting the data being displayed, and can send null data
------------·-----
,-------
- 30 -
as the new data stored in the transmission buffer 26. In this event,
the second browser execution unit 262a stops displaying all or part
of the data being displayed.
[0061]
All or part of the information contained in the location
information 112 may be contained in the buffer link information 27.
More specifically, information specifying the display format of the
data stored in the transmission buffer 26 can be included relationally
to the transmission buffer 2 6 in the buffer link information 2 7. When
sending data stored in the transmission buffer 26 to the second tablet
terminal 102 according to the buffer link information 27, the data
transmission unit 20d also sends information specifying the display
format contained in the buffer link information 27. The second browser
execution unit 262a of the second tablet terminal 102 that receives
the data then displays the received data according to the information
specifying the display format that is received with the data. The
information specifying the display format is, for example, information
specifying the font for displaying text data, the display size when
displaying image data, or information specifying the background color.
This has the advantage of being able to control the display format
of data on the second tablet terminal 102 from the host device 11.
When the buffer link information 27 contains information
specifying the display format of data, the second tablet terminal 102
may store or not store the location information 112. When the second
tablet terminal 102 stores the location information 112, the second
browser execution unit 262a may determine the display format to
prioritize the information specifying the display format contained
in the buffer link information 27 or prioritize the location information
112. Further alternatively, the second browser execution unit 262a
may determine thedisplay format based on both the location information
112 and the displ~y format information contained in the buffer link
information 27.
________ _!
- 31 -
[0062]
The process of sending data stored in the transmission buffer
26 of the storage unit 25 to the second tablet terminal 102 is not
limited to configurations in which the data transmission unit 20d
controls transmission and pushes data from the device server 18.
For example, the data transmission unit 20d may control reporting
the relationship to the buffer link information 27 to each second tablet
terminal 102. In this event, the second terminal control unit 2 62 may
access the transmission buffer 26 to acquire the data based on the
relationship reported from the device server 18. In this case, the
second tablet terminal 102 may store information showing the
relationship between the transmission buffer 2 6 and the second tablet
terminal 102 that is set in the buffer link information 27, or the
buffer link information 27 itself. Alternatively, a storage area
synchronized with the transmission buffer 26 may be provided in the
second tablet terminal 102, and the second terminal control unit 262
or the data transmission unit 20d may control synchronizing the data
in this storage area with the transmission buffer 26. When data is
stored in the transmission buffer 26 by any of these methods, the data
storedinthetransmissionbuffer26issenttothesecondtabletterminal
102 linked to the transmission buffer 26 based on the relationship
set in the buffer link information 27.
[0063]
The operation related to data transmission shown in FIG. 3 is
illustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates the operation
of parts of the POS system 1, column (A) showing the operation of the
first tablet terminal 101, (B) the operation of the device server 18,
(C) the operation of a second tablet terminal102, and (D) the operation
of a second tablet terminal 102.
First, the data transmission unit 20d creates a transmission
buffer 26 in the storage unit 25 of the device server 18 (step SB1).
The transmission buffer 26 is created in response to a manual operation
I
,I --·----
- 32 -
on the host device 11, or to a request from the first tablet terminal
101. When a connection is made with a second tablet terminal 102, the
transmission buffer 26 may also be created in response to a request
from the second tablet terminal 102.
[0064]
The device control unit 20 and second tablet terminal 102 then
connect by WebSocket, a second path K2 is established, and allocation
of a transmission buffer 26 is requested from the second tablet terminal
102 (step SCl). The data transmission unit 20d receives the request
from the second tablet terminal 102 (step SB2) , and creates the buffer
link information 27 according to the received request (step SB3) . If
the buffer link information 27 already exists, the data transmission
unit 20d updates the buffer link information 27 to include the requested
link. The second browser execution unit 262a of the second tablet
terminal 102 that requested a transmission buffer 26 then generates
location information 112 based on the requested allocation, or updates
existing location information 112 (step SC2). When another second
tablet terminal 102 requests allocation of a transmission buffer 26
(step SOl), the data transmission unit 20d likewise receives the request
(step SB4), and updates the buffer link information 27 (step SB5).
The second browser execution unit 2 62a of the second tablet terminal
102 that requested this transmission buffer 26 likewise generates
location information 112 of content corresponding to the requested
allocation, or updates existing location information 112 (step SD2) .
[ 0 0 65]
When the second browser execution unit 262a then sends data (step
SAl), the communication unit 20b receives the data (step SB6), and
stores the received data in the transmission buffer 2 6 linked to the
data (step SB7) . In this event, the data transmission unit 20d detects
that new data was storedbythe communication unit 20b in the transmission
buffer 26, and based on the buffer link information 27 sends the data
through the second path K2 (step SB8). The second browser execution
- 33 -
unit 262a that receives the data (step SC3) then generates display
data with the received data arranged according to the location
information 1i2 and displays the data on the display panel 102c (step
SC4) . The second browser execution unit 2 62a of the other second tablet
terminal 102 to which data was simultaneously sent also receives the
data (step SD3) and displays the received data based on the location
information 112 (step SD4).
[0066]
When the server interface 32 can connect to an external server
2, the communication unit 20b can also acquire data from the external
server 2. The external server 2 is a server on an external open network
such as the Internet, or a closed network including the POS system
1. A specific example of an external server 2 is a server that provides
a service transmitting weather information. The communication unit
20b accesses the external server 2 based on a previously set IP address
or URL, acquires data from the external server 2, and stores the data
in the transmission buffer 26 (such as #4) linked to the external server
2. This data is read by the data. transmission unit 20d from the
transmission buffer 26, and sent to the second tablet terminal 102
linked to the# 4 transmission buffer 2 6. As a result, weather information,
for example, can be sent to the second tablet terminal 102, and the
weather information can be displayed on the display panel 102c.
[0067]
Beforeatransaction-relatedprocessisexecuted, thefirsttablet
terminal 101 and second tablet terminal 102 each execute the following
process.
The operator of a cash register in the POS system 1 or other person
instructs displaying the first user interface Ul by a touch operation
on the touch panel lOla. In response to this command, the first browser
execution unit 261a accesses a specified address on the POS server
17, acquires data for a web page, such as an HTML file, and displays
the first user interface Ul based on the acquired data. A program for
- 34 -
executing transaction-related processes as described below, for
example, in conjunction with the application execution unit 30a is
embedded (written) in a specific scripting language in the web page
data.
[0068]
FIG. 5 shows a user interface displayed on a tablet terminal.
FIG. 5 (A) shows an example of the first user interface U1 presented
on touchpanel101a. FIG. 5 (B) shows an example of a second user interface
U2 displayed on touch panel 102a.
[0069]
A list display area 39 where the names of the products purchased
by the customer, the prices of the products, and the quantities of
the products are presented in a list is displayed at the top left of
the first user interface U1 in FIG. 5 (A). To the right of this list
display area 39 is presented an amount display area 40 where the total
amount of the products purchased by the customer, the amount of money
received from the customer in the transaction, and the amount of change
due to the customer are displayed.
Below the list display area 39 is a barcode information input
field 41, which is an input field where the informaiion (referred to
below as barcode information) expressed by the barcode that is read
bythebarcodescanner12isinputanddisplayed.Thebarcodeinformation
is basically identification information uniquely assigned to each type
of product.
Below the barcode information input field 41 is a customer number
input field 42, which is an input field where the customer number acquired
by reading a customer loyalty card with the card reader 13 is input
and displayed when a card is read.
A virtual keypad 43 is displayed on the right side of the barcode
information input field 41 and the customer number input field 42.
Information can be input through the virtual keypad 43 to the various
fields presented in the first user interface U1, and the virtual keypad
- 35 -
43 includes the keys required to input information.
An address input field 44 where the accessed address is displayed
is presented at the top of the first user interface U1.
[0070]
The second tablet terminal 102 is described next. As described
above, the second tablet terminal 102 is a terminal that functions
as a customer display to provide transaction-related information to
the customer.
Before the transaction process starts, the checkout clerk or other
workerstartsthebrowserofthesecondtabletterminal102, andcommands
displaying the second user interface U2 by touching the touch panel
102a. Based on this command, the second browser execution unit 262a
accesses a specific address on the POS server 17, acquires the web
page data from an HTML file, for example, and displays the second user
interface U2 based on the acquired data.
[ 0 071 J
A purchased product display area 55 where the names of the products
purchasedbythecustomer, thepricesoftheproducts, andthequantities
of the products are presented in a list is displayed at the top part
of the second user interface U2 in FIG. 5 (B). Below this purchased
product display area 55 is a transaction total display area 56 where
the total amount of the products purchased by the customer is displayed.
Below the transaction total display area 56 is an amount-received
display area 57 where the amount of money received from the customer
for the transaction is displayed. Below the amount-received display
area 57 is a change-due display area 58 where the amount of change
to be given to the customer is displayed.
An information display area 59 is located at the bottom of the
second user interface U2. The information display area 59 is an area
for displaying weather information the communication unit 20b acquires
from the external server 2 as described above, for example.
[0072]
I
I
I
I
- 36 -
The display format of the second user interface U2 is defined
by the location information 112. The product display list area 55,
transaction total display area 56, amount-received display area 57,
change-due display area 58, and information display area 59 are linked
to the identification information of a transmission buffer 26. For
example, if the information display area 59 is linked to the #4
transmission buffer 26 and the second browser execution unit 262a
receives meteorological information stored in the #4 transmission
buffer 26, the meteorological information is displayed in the
information display area 59. When new meteorological information is
sent from the device control unit 20, the content displayed in the
information display area 59 is updated.
[0073]
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the operation of devices in the POS
system 1. FIG. 6 (A) shows the operation of the device server 18, (B)
shows the operation of the first tablet terminal 101, (C) shows the
operation of the POS server 17, and (D) shows the operation of a second
tablet terminal 102. FIG. 7 illustrates the user interface presented
on the tablet terminal, FIG. 7 (A) showing the first user interface
Ul and (B) showing the second user interface U2.
[0074]
The operation of the devices is described below with reference
to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 using the operation when a customer purchases
one product as an example.
At the checkout counter, the checkout clerk first uses the barcode
scanner 12 to scan the barcode on th~ one product purchased by the
customer (step SXl).
The device communication control unit 20c acquires data showing
the result of reading by the barcode scanner 12 through the wireless
device communication unit 22 (step SB11). Based on the data showing
the read result, the device communication control unit 20c also
generates data (input data) indicating the barcode information, and
- 37 -
outputs the data (input data) indicating the barcode information to
the communication unit 20b (step SB12). The communication unit 20b
sends the data (input data) indicating the barcode information to the
first browser execution unit 261a according to a specific protocol
(step SB13)
[0075]
When the data (input data) representing the barcode information
is input, the first browser execution unit 261a inputs the barcode
information to the barcode information input field 41 by a function
of the program (referred to below as simply a "script") embedded in
the HTML file related to the first user interface Ul (step SAll) . Next,
by a function of the script, the first browser execution unit 261a
communicates with the application execution unit 30a, and requests
the product name and price of the product identified by the barcode
information (step SA12). The application execution unit 30a that
receives the request accesses the appropriate database by a function
of the application 35, acquires the required information, and outputs
the acquired information to the first browser execution unit 261a (step
SEll).
[0076]
The first browser execution unit 261a displays the name of the
product the customer purchased, the price of the product, and the
quantity of the product in the list display area 39, and displays the
total amount of the product the customer purchased in the specific
field of the amount display area 40, by a function of the script (step
SA13). Next, when an operation finalizing the purchase transaction
is executed by the checkout clerk through the virtual keypad 43, payment
is received from the customer and change is made. In conjunction
therewith, the first tablet terminallOl is operated, the first browser
execution unit 261a communicates appropriately with the application
execution unit 30a by a function of the script, and displays the
information in the appropriate fields of the amount display area 40
---- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------,I,
(step SA14).
[0077]
- 38 -
FIG. 7 (A) shows an example of the first user interface Ul displayed
when step SA14 is completed. As shown in FIG. 7 (A), when step SA14
is completed, the appropriate information is input and displayed in
the respective areas of the first user interface U1 by a function of
the first browser execution unit 261a (a function of the browser).
[0078]
Next, the first browser execution unit 261a generates the
display-related data for displaying information in the respective areas
of the second user interface U2 by a script function (step SA15) . The
first browser execution unit 261a generates the display data based
on the input data sent by the device server 18. The first browser
execution unit 261a sends the generated display-related data through
the first path Kl to the communication unit 20b (step SA16).
Whenthecommunicationunit20breceivesthedisplay-relateddata,
it stores the received display-related data in the transmission buffer
26 (step SB14). The data transmission unit 20d also sends the
display-related data stored in the transmission buffer 2 6 through the
second path K2 to the second browser execution unit 2 62a (step SB15) .
[ 0 07 9]
The display-related data is data written in JSON (Java Script
Object Notation), for example, and is the data displayed in each display
area of the second user interface U2. More specifically, the
display-related data contains information indicating the product name,
price, and quantity of the product the customer purchased written
according to a specific protocol. This data is the information to be
displayed in the purchased product display area 55 of the second user
interface U2, and is stored by the communication unit 20b in the
transmission buffer 26. The transmission buffer 26 is linked to the
product display list area 55 by the location information 112, and is
displayed in the product display list area 55 as described below.
I
I
~-------------1
- 39 -
Likewise, information indicating the total amount of the products the
customer purchased is written in the display-related data as the
information to display in the transaction total display area 56.
Information indicating the amount of money received from the customer
for the transaction is also written in the display-related data as
the information to display in the amount-received display area 57.
Information indicating the amount of change due to the customer is
also written in the display-related data as the information to display
in the change-due display area 58. As known from the literature, data
written in JSON is it can be processed by a JavaScript (T) or other
script embedded in the HTML file of the web page. As a result, as in
this embodiment, it can be used as the format for data sent from the
first browser execution unit 261a embodied by a function of the browser
to the second browser execution unit 2 62a. Configurations that exchange
data in other formats are also conceivable.
[0080]
When the second browser execution unit 262a receives the
display-related data (step SC11), it interprets the display-related
data written in JSON by a function of the script (step SC12) . The second
browser execution unit 262a then displays the information specified
by the received data in the appropriate areas of the second user interface
U2 based on the identification information of the transmission buffer
26 where the display-related data was stored and the location
information 112 (step SC13).
[0081]
FIG. 7 (B) shows an example of the second user interface U2 when
step SC13 is completed. As shown in FIG. 7 (B), the second browser
execution unit 262a displays information in the appropriate fields
of the second user interface U2 according to the location information
112 based on the display-related data that was received. As a result,
the customer making the transaction can confirm the information related
to the transaction by reading the second user interface U2 presented
1---- --------- ------------------------------ ------------------------·-----1
- 40 -
on the touch panel 102a. More specifically, unlike a dot matrix display
panel with a resolution of several ten by several hundred dots according
to the related art, the transaction-related information is displayed
on the touch panel 102a of the second tablet terminal 102, which is
a tablet computer, in this embodiment of the invention. As a result,
a large amount of information can be provided to the customer displayed
on a high resolution, dynamic ·display unit.
[0082]
Next, by a function of the script, the first browser execution
unit 261a generates an XML document (data) containing information
related to the receipt to be produced by the printer unit 21 (step
SA17). Included in the XML document is the information required to
produce a receipt, such as information about the text and images to
be printed on the receipt, in an XML-compliant format. Next, the first
browser execution unit 261a sends the generated XML document to the
communication unit 20b using a specific protocol (step SA18) .
When the XML document is sent by the first browser execution unit
261a, the communication unit 20b receives the XML document (step SB16)
and outputs to the printer unit control unit 20a (step SB17).
The printer unit control unit 20a generates and outputs to the
printer unit 21 control commands that are control commands conforming
to the command language of the printer unit 21 based on the input XML
document and cause the printer unit 21 to execute the processes related
to producing a receipt (step SB18) . The control circuit of the printer
unit 21 then controls the related mechanisms and produces a receipt·
based on the control commands (step SB19).
[0083]
Data that the device server 18 sent to the second tablet terminal
102 can also be resent in this POS system 1 in response to a request
from the second tablet terminal 102.
FIG. 8 illustrates the data retransmission operation of the POS
system 1. FIG. 9 also describes the operation of the POS system 1 when
i----·--·-----------·----------~----~----------·----------~----~-------------------~------·--------------------------------------i
I
- 41 -
resending data. FIG. 9 (A) shows the operation of the device server
18, and FIG. 9 (B) shows the operation of the second tablet terminal
102.
[0084]
When the second browser execution unit 262a fails to receive data
sent from the data transmission unit 20d, the second browser execution
unit 262a requests retransmission of the data through the second path
K2 (step SC21). The second browser execution unit 262a requests
retransmission when, for example, the data sent from the data
transmission unit 20d is data not conforming to the specific format,
or when receiving data from the data transmission unit 2 Od times out.
The request that the second browser execution unit 262a sends
is a command requesting retransmission of data, and may include
identification information for the transmission buffer 26 storing the
data to be resent. The command may also simply contain information
requesting retransmission of data.
[0085]
When retransmission of data is requested from the second browser
execution unit 2 62a, the data transmission unit 20d receives the request
(step SB21), and acquires data from the transmission buffer 26 (step
SB22). As shown in FIG. 8, when the command requesting data
retransmission is sent from the second browser execution unit 262a
with the identification information of the transmission buffer 26,
the data transmission unit 20d reads the data from the transmission
buffer 2 6 identified by the identification information. For example,
when the #1 to #3 transmission buffers 26 are linked to the second
tablet terminal 102, the second browser execution unit 2 62a can request
retransmission of data from a subset of the thrE:;e transmission buffers
26. When the data transmission unit 20d receives a command from the
second browser execution unit 2 62a and identification informa-tion of
a transmission buffer 26 is contained in the received command, the
data transmission unit 2 Od may determine whether or not retransmission
r·----·----- -----·-··--·------·----------------~--------------------·-----------------------------------------------------------------i
- 42 -
is possible based on the buffer link information 27. More specifically,
the data transmission unit 20d determines retransmission of the data
is not possible if the .transmission buffer 26 specified by the
identification information in the command received from the second
tablet terminal 102 is not linked to the second tablet terminal 102
by the buffer link information 27. In this event, sending data that
is not linked in the buffer link information 27 can be prevented.
When the second browser execution unit 262a requests
retransmission by sending only a command not containing transmission
buffer 26 identification information, the data transmission unit 20d
reads data from the transmission buffer 2 6 linked by the buffer link
information 27 to that second tablet terminal 102. More specifically,
when a command requesting data retransmission is received, the data
transmission unit 2 Od identifies the second tablet terminal 102 based
on the IP address, for example, of the second tablet terminal 102 that
sent the command. The data transmission unit 20d then determines the
transmission buffers 26 linked by the buffer link information 27 to
the specific second tablet terminal 102, and resends data from those
transmission buffers 26.
[0086]
The data transmission unit 20d sends the data read from the
transmission buffers 26 to the second browser execution unit 262a
sequentially from the data that was updated most recently, for example
(step SB23). The data transmission unit 20d may add the identification
information of the transmission buffers 26 storing the data to the
data that is resent.
The second browser execution unit 262a then receives the
retransmitted data (step SC22), and based on the location information
112 displays the received data on the display panel 102c (step SC23)
[0087]
By resending data in this way, data can be displayed on the second
tablet terminal 102 even if communication between the host device 11
I
- 43 -
and second tablet terminal 102 is interrupted or a problem occurs.
The POS system 1 runs a transaction process related to product sales,
and displays information related to the transaction process on the
second tablet terminal 102. The customer is inconvenienced when
information is not displayed, and this is undesirable for a business.
By resending data, such problems can be avoided.
[0088]
As shown in FIG. 8, the communication unit 20b can store different
data in the same transmission buffer 26. The capacity of each
transmission buffer 26 is allocated based on the storage capacity of
the storage unit 25. Data can be stored to the allocated capacity of
the transmission buffer 26.
For example, the communication unit 2 Ob may add data to be sent
to the second tablet terminal 102 to the transmission buffer 26, and
may be configured to delete or overwrite data already stored in the
transmission buffer 26. In this event, if the capacity of the
transmission buffer 26 is exceeded when the communication unit 20b
stores data to the transmission buffer 26, old data previously stored
in the transmission buffer 26 is deleted or overwritten.
[0089]
When data is already stored in the transmission buffer 26, the
communication unit 20b may also compare the total size of the stored
data and the new data to be stored (second data) with the previously
set storage capacity of the transmission buffer 26. If the total size
of the stored data and the second data is less than or equal to the
capacity of the transmission buffer 2 6, or is smaller than the capacity
of the transmission buffer 26, the communication unit 20b leaves the
previously stored data and adds the second data. If the total of the
size of the data stored in the transmission buffer 26 and the size
of the second data exceeds the capacity of the transmission buffer
26, the communication unit 20b overwrites the stored data with the
second data. In this event, the communication unit 20b adds the acquired
~--- -·-··---·-·--·---------·---·-------------.-~---------·-·-----~--- -·-·------------- -----·~---- -··-------·-·-----·--------------------
- 44 -
data to the transmission buffer 26 within the capacity of the
transmission buffer 26, and does not delete or overwrite data stored
in the transmission buffer 26. This stores more data in the transmission
buffer 2 6 sequentially from the new data without exceeding the capacity
of the transmission buffer 26.
When retransmission is requested by the second browser execution
unit 262a, the data transmission unit 20d sends data from the
corresponding transmission buffer 26 to the second browser execution
unit 262a. As a result, if more data is stored in the transmission
buffer 26, and a problem that lasts a long time occurs, more data that
was not received due to the problem can be resent. As a result, even
if a condition in which the second tablet terminal 102 cannot receive
data occurs, the correct information can be displayed on the second
tablet terminal 102 by resending the data.
[0090]
As described above, in this embodiment of the invention, the POS
system 1 described as an example of a transmission system has a second
tablet terminal 102 that receives data, and a host device 11. The host
device 11 includes a server interface 32 that sends data to the second
tablet terminal 102, and a storage unit 25 that includes a transmission
buffer26forstoringdata, andstoresbufferlinkinformation27linking
a transmission buffer 26 to a second tablet terminal 102.
The device server 18 of the host device 11 has a communication
unit 20b that acquires data and controls storing data in the transmission
buffer 26, and when the communication unit 20b stores data in the
transmission buffer 26, sends the data to the second tablet terminal
102. As a result, when the device server 18 acquires new data, it sends
the data to the second tablet terminal 102 without the second tablet
terminal 102 requesting the device server 18 to send data. The second
tablet terminal 102 to which data is sent can also be determined with
a high degree of freedom.
[ 0 091]
I
I
I
1--------------------------------------------·-------------------·-·---··-----------·-----·------------------------------1
- 45 -
The device server 18 also has a data transmission unit 20d. When
the communication unit 20b stores data to the transmission buffer 26,
the data transmission unit 20d sends the data stored in the transmission
buffer 2 6 by the buffer link information 27 to the second tablet terminal
102 linked to the transmission buffer 2 6. As a result, when the device
server 18 acquires new data, data is sent as controlled by the device
server 18 to the second tablet terminal 102 linked to the buffer link
information 27. The device server 18 can also determine the second
tablet terminal 102 to which to send data with a high degree of freedom.
[0092]
The POS system 1 has one second tablet terminal 102, and another
second tablet terminal 102 that is different from the one second tablet
terminal 102. The storage unit 25 has one transmission buffer 26, and
another transmission buffer 26 that is different from the one
transmission buffer 26. The buffer link information 27 links one
transmission buffer 26 to one second tablet terminal 102, and links
another transmission buffer 26 to another second tablet terminal 102.
When the communication unit 20b sends data to a transmission buffer
26, the data transmission unit 20d sends the data to the second tablet
terminal 102 linked to the transmission buffer 26 by the buffer link
information 27. As a result, by linking plural transmission buffers
26 to plural second tablet terminals 102 by relation information, the
second tablet terminal 102 to which to send data can be set as desired.
[0093]
The POS system 1 has a first tablet terminal 101 that supplies
data. The data the communication unit 20b acquires may include
information specifying a transmission buffer 26. If such data is
acquired, the communication unit 20b stores the data in the transmission
buffer 26 specified by the device that provided the data. As a result,
the data the communication unit 20b acquires is stored in the specified
transmission buffer 2 6, and is sent to the second tablet terminal 102
linked to the transmission buffer 26 where the data is stored. As a
l----------------------------------------·----------------------------·----------------- -----------------------1
'
I'
- 46 -
result, the data can be sent to a specific second tablet terminal 102.
[0094]
The data the communication unit 20b acquires may also include
attribute information related to attributes of the data. When such
data is acquired, the communication unit 20b stores the data in the
transmission buffer 26 selected based on the data attributes. As a
result, the data the communication unit 20b acquires is stored in the
transmission buffer 26 corresponding to the data attributes, and is
sent to the second tablet terminal102 linked to the transmission buffer
26 where the data is stored. As a result, the data can be sent to a
specific second tablet terminal 102.
[0095]
The second tablet terminal 102 and device server 18 are connected
by WebSocket, and the data transmission unit 2 Od generates buffer link
information 27 relating each connected second tablet terminal 102 to
a transmission buffer 2 6. As a result, the second tablet terminal 102
to which data is sent is connected to the device server 18 by WebSocket,
and the connected second tablet terminal 102 is linked to the
transmission buffer 2 6. The data the device server 18 acquired is sent
to a second tablet terminal 102 based on this. relationship.
[0096]
The second browser execution unit 262a of the second tablet '
terminal 102 receives data sent from the device server 18 and displays
it on a display panel 102c. The second browser execution unit 262a
displays the data received from the device server 18 on the display
panel 102c in a display format corresponding to the transmission buffer
26 where the data was stored. As a result, the second tablet terminal
102 can determine the display format for displayed the received data
based on the transmission buffer 26 where the data was stored. As a
result, data can be sent from the device server 18 to a second tablet
terminal102, and the data can be displayed in a specific display format.
[0097]
1- -·--------------------:------------------------------------------------------- ·--------·-----------------------~---------------~ ·i
i
- 47 -
When the second tablet terminal 102 requests retransmission of
the data after data the communication unit 20b stored in the transmission
buffer 26 is sent to the second tablet terminal 102 in this POS system
1, the data stored in the transmission buffer 26 is resent to the second
tablet terminal 102. As a result, when the device server 18 acquires
new data, the data can be sent to the related second tablet terminal
102 without the second tablet terminal 102 requesting transmission
of data from the device server 18. When the second tablet terminal
102 requests retransmission of data, the data is resent to the second
tablet terminal 102 that requested retransmission. As a result, data
can be resent.
[0098]
When retransmission of data is requested from a second tablet
terminal 102, the data transmission unit 20d resends the data stored
in the transmission buffer 2 6 related by the buffer link information
27 to the second tablet terminal 102 that requested retransmission.
As a result, when the device server 18 receives new data, data is sent
to the second tablet terminal 102 linked by the buffer link information
27 as controlled by the device server 18. When a second tablet terminal
102 requests retransmission of data, the data in the transmission buffer
26 linked to that second tablet terminal 102 is resent as controlled
by the device server 18. Sending and resending data to a second tablet
terminal 102 can therefore be controlled by the device server 18, and
the second tablet terminal 102 to which to send data can be determined
with a high degree of freedom.
[0099]
A transmission buffer 26 is a storage area with a predetermined
storage capacity, and stores second data different from the data
described above. When the total of the amount of data stored in the
transmission buffer 26 and the size of the second data is small or
less than or equal to the capacity of the transmission buffer 2 6, the
communication unit 20b adds the second data to the transmission buffer
1~--·---------------------·-~-------------------------- -------·--·-·---------·---- ------------·-----
I
I
I
- 48 -
26, and if the total of the amount of data stored in the transmission
buffer 26 and the size of the second data exceeds the capacity of the
transmission buffer 26, the second data is stored by overwriting data
in the transmission buffer 2 6. Because data is thus accumulated within
the predetermined capacity of the transmission buffer 26, more data
can be resent when the second tablet terminal 102 requests
retransmission of data.
[0100]
The second tablet terminal 102 specifies a transmission buffer
26 to request retransmission of data, and the data transmission unit
20d sends data stored in the transmission buffer 26 specified by the
second tablet terminal102 from among the transmission buffers 26linked
to the second.tablet terminal 102 that requested retransmission of
data. As a result, problems resulting from resending unrelated data
can be prevented and data can be sent reliably without res ending data
stored in a transmission buffer 26 not related to the second tablet
terminal 102.
When the second tablet terminal 102 and device control unit 20
are connected by WebSocket, and the communication unit 20b stores data
in one of the transmissionbuffers 26, the data transmission unit 20d
can push the stored data to the second tablet terminal 102 linked by
the buffer link information 27. As a result, when the communication
unit 20b stores data in the transmission buffer 26, the data is pushed
to the second tablet terminal 102. Data can therefore be transmitted
quickly to the second tablet terminal 102, and data can be retransmitted
as necessary.
[0101]
The second browser execution unit 262a of the second tablet
terminal 102 receives data sent from the device server 18 and displays
it on the display panel 102c. The second browser execution unit 2 62a
displays data received from the device server 18 on the display panel
102c in the display format related to the transmission buffer 26 where
1------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i
- 49 -
the data was stored. As a result, the second tablet terminal 102 can
determine the display format for displaying the received data based
on the transmission buffer 26 from which the data was sent. Data can
therefore be transmitted quickly from the device server 18 to the second
tablet terminal102, and the data can be displayed in a specific display
format.
[0102]
The first tablet terminal 101 of the POS system 1 operates as
a POS terminal and runs a transaction process, and data based on this
transaction process is sent from the host device 11 to the second tablet
terminal 102 without the second tablet terminal 102 executing steps
to request data from the host device 11. The second tablet terminal
102 to which to send data can be determined based on the relationships
to the transmission buffers 26. As a result, the data output to the
second tablet terminal 102 and the second tablet terminal 102 to which
to output the data can be determined as desired, and the second tablet
terminals 102 can be individually controlled.
[0103]
The second tablet terminal 102 and host device 11 are connected
by WebSocket, and the data transmission unit 20d generates buffer link
information 27 relating a connected second tablet terminal 102 to a
transmission buffer 26. As a result, when a second tablet terminal
102 connects by We9Socket to the host device 11, the second tablet
terminal 102 is linked to a particular transmission buffer 26 by the
buffer link information 27. Therefore, data the host device 11 acquires
can be sent to the second tablet terminal 102 after the second tablet
terminal 102 connects by WebSocket to the host device 11.
[0104]
The POS system 1 also has a barcode scanner 12, card reader 13,
or other input device that inputs data to the first tablet terminal
101. The data the communication unit 20b acquires and stores in the
transmission buffer 26 is data input by an input device to the POS
~-·--·-----··-·----·--·--------------·---------------------------------------·-----------
- 50 -
terminal, or transaction data resulting from the first tablet terminal
101 processing data input by an input device. As a result, data input
by the barcode scanner 12 or card reader 13 to the first tablet terminal
101, or transaction process data resulting from the transaction process
executed by the first tablet terminal 101, is sent to the second tablet
terminal 102. As a result, the second tablet terminal 102 to which
to output the input data or the transaction process data can be determined
as desired.
[0105]
The storage unit 25 includes plural transmission buffers 26, and
the data received by the communication unit 20b and stored to a
transmission buffer 26 may contain information specifying the
transmission buffer 26 for storing the data. In this event, the
communication unit 20b stores the data in the transmission buffer 26
specified by the information contained in the data received from the
first browser execution unit 261a. In this event, a particular
transmission buffer 26 can be specified by the first browser execution
unit 261a, and the second tablet terminal 102 to which to send the
data can be specified.
The data received by the communication unit 20b and stored to
a transmission buffer 26 may also contain attribute information
denoting attributes of the data. In this event, the communication unit
20b stores the data in the transmission buffer 26 corresponding to
the attributes of the data received from the first browser execution
unit 261a. In this event, the second tablet terminal 102 to which to
send the data that the communication unit 20b received can be determined
based from the attributes of the data. Data can therefore be sent to
the desired output device.
[0106]
The second browser execution unit 262a of the second tablet
terminal 102 receives and displays data sent from the device server
18 on the display panel102c. The buffer link information 27 may include
I
--- I
-----------------------,
i
I
I
I
I
1-"
- 51 -
information related to the display format for displaying data by the
second browser execution unit 2 62a. In this event, the second browser
execution unit 2 62a displays data received from the device server 18
based on information related to the display format contained in the
buffer link information 27. As a result, data that the device server
18 receives from the first tablet terminal 101 can be displayed by
the second tablet terminal 102 in the desired display format.
The second tablet terminal 102 also has location information 112,
and may display data from the device server 18 in a display format
determined based on the location information 112. In this case, the
second tablet terminal 102 can display data in a predetermined display
format without the device server 18 specifying the display format.
[0107]
The invention is described above with reference to a preferred
embodiment thereof, but the invention is not limited thereto and can
be modified and adapted in many ways wi t.hout departing from the scope
of the accompanying claims.
For example, the foregoing embodiment is described using an
example in which the data trans·mission unit 20d pushes data stored
inatransmissionbuffer26toasecondtabletterminall02.Theinvention
is not so limited, however, and the output device may be the printer
unit 21 or an external printer, for example. More specifically, the
data transmission unit 20d may push data to the printer unit 21 or
another printer, and the printer unit 21 or other printer that receives
the data may format and print the data based on previously set
information.
A display device may also be connected to the host device 11,
and the second tablet terminal 102 may be created virtually on the
device control unit 20. More specifically, the CPU of the device control
unit 20 may run a software program, and operate as a virtual terminal
that runs a web browser identically to the second terminal control
unit 2 62 of the second tablet terminal 102. This virtual terminal may
- 52 -
open a second path K2 with the printer unit control unit 2 Oa. In this
case, the data transmission unit 20d also sends the data sent to the
second tablet terminal 102 to the virtual terminal on the device control
unit 20. As a result, data pushed to the second tablet terminal 102
can also be output by the host device 11. The same method can be used
to render a virtual terminal that operates identically to the second
tablet terminal 102 on the first tablet terminal 101.
[0108]
The foregoing embodiment is described using an example in which
the host device 11 embodies the functions of the POS server 17 and
device server 18, but configurations in which the POS server 17 and
device server 18 are discrete devices are obviously also possible.
Further alternatively, the function of the communication unit 20b and
data transmission unit 20d whereby data acquired from the first tablet
terminal 101 or an external device is stored in the transmission buffer
26 and pushed to the second tablet terminal 102 may be embodied by
the POS server 17. This function may also be performed by a device
other than the host device 11.
Yet further, the function blocks shown in FIG. 2 can be desirably
achieved by the cooperation of hardware and software, and do not suggest
a specific hardware configuration. In addition, the operations can
be performed by the devices executing programs stored on an externally
connected storage medium.
[Industrial Applicability]
[0109]
As described above, the invention is useful for controlling with
a high degree of freedom the relationship between sending devices and
receiving devices in a system in which data is sent and received between
multiple devices, and is particularly useful for sending data without
the device on the side receiving the data needing to request data,
and when the device to which data should be sent is undefined because
the receiving side did not request data.
;--··-·-------------------- -------------
[Reference Signs List]
[0110]
- 53 -
1 POS system (transmission system)
11 host device
12 barcode scanner (input device)
13 card reader (input device)
17 POS server
18 device server (transmission device, server device)
20 device control unit
20a printer unit control unit
20b communication unit (storage control unit)
20c device communication control unit
20d data transmission unit (transmission control unit, link
information control unit)
25 storage unit
26 transmission buffer (storage area, second storage area)
27 buffer link information (link information)
30 POS server control unit
30a application execution unit
31 POS server storage unit
32 server interface (transmission unit)
35 application
101 first tablet terminal (data supply device, POS terminal device)
101c display panel
102 second tablet terminal (reception device, second reception
device)
102c display panel (display unit)
112 location information
261 first terminal control unit
261a first browser execution unit
262 second terminal control unit
262a second browser execution unit (output control unit)

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1]
A transmission system comprising:
a reception device that receives data; and
a transmission device including a transmission unit that sends
the data to the reception device, a storage unit having a storage area
to store data and storing relation information linking the storage
area to a reception device, and a storage control unit that controls
storing the data to the storage area;
wherein the transmission unit sends the data stored in the storage
area by the storage control unit to the reception device.
[Claim 2]
The transmission system described in claim 1, wherein:
thetransmissiondeviceincludesatransmissioncontrolunitthat,
when the storage control unit stores the data to the storage area,
sends the data stored in the storage area to the reception device linked
by the relation information to the storage area.
[Claim 3]
The transmission system described in claim 1 or 2, further
comprising:
a second reception device that receives second data;
wherein the storage unit has a second storage area different from
the storage area;
the relation information links the second storage area and the
second reception device; and
when the storage control unit stores the second data in the second
storage unit, the transmission control unit controls the transmission
unit to send the second data stored in the second storage unit to the
second reception device linked by the relation information to the second
storage area.
I ~-------------------------------·--------------------------- --------------------------- ---i
- 56 -
[Claim 4]
and
The transmission system described in claim 1, further comprising:
a data supply device that supplies data to the transmission device;
wherein the data has information specifying the storage area;
when controlling storing the data in the storage area, the storage
control unit stores the data in the storage area based on the information
specifying the storage area contained in the data.
[Claim 5]
The transmission system described in claim 1, further comprising:
a data supply device that supplies data to the transmission device;
wherein the data has attribute information; and
when controlling storing the data in the storage area, the storage
control unit stores the data in the storage area based on the attribute
information contained in the data.
[Claim 6]
The transmission system described in claim 1, wherein:
the reception device and the transmission device connect by
WebSocket; and
the transmission device has a link information control unit that
generatestherelationinformationlinkingaconnectedreceptiondevice
to the storage area.
[Claim 7]
The transmission system described in claim 1, wherein:
when the reception device requests retransmission of data after
data stored in the storage area of the transmission data is sent to
the reception device, the data stored in the storage area is resent
to the reception device.
I _____ -----------------------------------·-----·--7------------------i
- 57 -
[Claim 8]
The transmission system described in claim 7, wherein:
when the transmission device sends the data stored by the storage
control unit in the storage area to the reception device linked to
the storage area by the relation information and the reception device
then requests retransmission of the data, the transmission control
unit controls the transmission unit to resend the data stored in the
storage area linked to the reception device by the relation information.
[Claim 9]
The transmission system described in claim 8, wherein:
the reception device and the transmission device are connected
by WebSocket; and
the transmission control unit controls the transmission unit to
push the data to the reception device.
[Claim 10 l
The transmission system described in claim 7, wherein:
the storage area is a storage area with a predetermined storage
capacity, and stores second data different from the data; and
the storage control unit additionally stores the second data when
the total of the amount of the data and the amount of the second data
is less than or equal to the capacity of the storage area, and stores
the data by overwriting when the total of the amount of the data and
the amount of the second data exceeds the capacity of the storage area.
[Claim 11]
The transmission system described in claim 1, wherein:
the transmission system is a POS system including a POS terminal
device that runs a transaction process;
the reception device is an output device that outputs based on
( ___ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 58 -
data; and
the transmission device iS a server device including a
transmission unit that sends the data to the output device, a storage
unit having storage areas to store data and storing relation information
linking the storage areas to the output devices, a storage control
unit that acquires and stores the data in the storage area based on
a transaction process of the POS terminal device, and a transmission
control unit that, when the storage control unit stores the data to
the storage area, sends the data stored in the storage area to the
output device linked by the relation information to the storage area.
[Claim 12]
The transmission system described in claim 11, wherein:
the output device and the server device connect by WebSocket;
and
the server device has a link information control unit that
generates the relation information linking a connected output device
to the storage area.
[Claim 13].
The transmission system described in claim 11, wherein:
the storage unit has multiple storage areas;
the data has attribute information; and
the storage control unit selects a storage area to store the data
based on the attribute information.
[Claim 14]
The transmission system described in claim 11, wherein:
the output device is a display device having a display unit that
displays, and an output control unit that displays on the display unit
based on the data;
the relation information includes information related to a display
I ,--·-------------·----------------·--------------------------------·----------------------------1
I
j
- 59 -
format of the output device; and
the output control unit displays the data on the display unit
based on information in the relation information related to the display
format.
[Claim 15]
A transmission data comprising:
a transmission unit that.transmits data;
a storage unit having storage areas to store data and storing
relation information linking a storage area to a reception device;
a storage control unit that controls storing the data to the storage
areas; and
a transmission control unit that, when the storage control unit
stores the data to the storage area, sends the data stored in the storage
area to the reception device linked by the relation information to
the storage area.
[Claim 16]
The transmission device described in claim 15, wherein:
when the transmission control unit controls the transmission unit
to send the data stored in the storage area to the reception device
linked to the storage area by the relation information and the reception
device then requests retransmission of the data, the transmission
control unit resends the data stored in the storage area linked to
the reception device.
[Claim 17]
The transmission device described in claim 15, wherein:
the transmission device is a server device that transmits data
to an output device by the transmission unit;
the storage unit has the storage area and stores relation
information linking the storage area to the output device;
~---~------- --- ------·---------- -·--- ------------·--·------------~---------------------·------ ----------- ----·----- -------------
- 60 -
the storage control unit acquires and stores the data in the storage
area; and
when the storage control unit stores the data in the storage area,
the transmission control unit controls the transmission unit to send
the data stored in the storage area to the output device linked to
the storage area by the relation information.
[Claim 18]
A data transmission method, comprising:
acquiring data including information specifying a storage area;
storing the data in the storage area based on the information
specifying a storage area; and
sending data stored in the storage area to the reception device
linked to the storage area when data is stored in the storage area.
[Claim 19]
The data transmission method described in claim 18, wherein:
the data transmission method is a method of sending the data from
a transmission device that transmits the data to apluralityof reception
devices;
a plurality of storage areas that store data are disposed in the
transmission device; and
the transmission device stores the data in the storage area,
sends the data stored in the storage area to the reception
device linked to the storage area, and
sends the data stored in the storage area linked to the
reception device when the reception device requests retransmission
of the data after the transmission device has transmitted the data
to the reception device.
[Claim 20]
The data transmission method described in claim 18, further
comprising:
acquiring the data based on a transaction process of the POS
terminal device;
storing the acquired data in the storage area; and
when the data is stored to the storage area, sending the data
to the output device linked to the storage area.