Safe startup and shutdown system and method for financial POS machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a safe startup and shutdown system and method for a financial POS (Point Of Sale) machine, which is characterized in that a user trigger unit is arranged in an external control device, and a software-level shutdown instruction is firstly sent to financial POS equipment before the external control device executes physical outage, so that the traditional hard shutdown operation is converted into a controlled normal shutdown process. According to the scheme, on the premise that the hardware complexity and cost of the financial POS equipment body are not increased, the risks of operating system file damage, application data loss or system crash caused by direct power failure are fundamentally avoided, the data integrity and system stability of the equipment in the shutdown process are guaranteed, and the service life of the equipment is prolonged. And the reliability and the service life of the whole system are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic equipment technology, and in particular to a secure power-on / off system and method for a financial POS machine. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, financial POS devices (Point of Sale) are widely used as a key electronic payment terminal. Based on their power supply and control methods, existing financial POS devices can generally be divided into two main types.

[0003] The first type is the mainstream portable POS device, which integrates a rechargeable battery and has a dedicated power button on the device itself. Users can trigger the internal software program by short-pressing or long-pressing the power button to perform the normal power-on or power-off process. This design is feature-rich and easy to use, but the presence of the battery and related power management circuitry also increases the device's manufacturing cost, size, and weight.

[0004] The second type is POS equipment designed to meet specific application scenarios, such as fixed cash registers and self-service terminal integration. These devices, in pursuit of extreme cost control, structural simplification, and high reliability, typically employ special designs. For example, they do not have built-in batteries but are powered directly by an external power adapter. Furthermore, to prevent accidental operation or simplify hardware design, they lack any physical power on / off buttons. While this battery-less and buttonless design offers cost and structural advantages, in normal operation, the only way to shut down such POS equipment is to directly unplug its external power adapter. This operation instantly cuts off all power to the device and is known as a hard shutdown.

[0005] For smart POS devices equipped with modern operating systems, such sudden abnormal power outages can bring a series of serious risks. For example, the operating system may be performing critical read and write operations, and a sudden power outage can lead to file system corruption and loss of system files. Frequent abnormal power outages may also cause electrical shocks to the device's hardware, which can affect the device's stability and lifespan in the long run. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a secure power-on / off system and method for a secure financial POS machine.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine, comprising a financial POS device and an external control device. The financial POS device does not have physical buttons for controlling its own power-on / off, but has a communication interface and a power interface for connecting to an external power supply, as well as a processing module. The processing module is configured to receive a preset power-off command through the communication interface and execute a software power-off process in response to the power-off command. The external control device is connected in series between the external power supply and the financial POS device, and includes a power input terminal, a power output terminal, a user trigger unit, a communication unit, and a power control unit. The system includes a main control unit, a power output terminal connected to the power interface of the financial POS device, a user trigger unit for receiving user shutdown operations, a communication unit connected to the communication interface of the financial POS device, a power control unit for controlling the on / off state of the power output terminal, and a main control unit connected to the user trigger unit, the communication unit, and the power control unit. The main control unit is configured to: when the user trigger unit receives the user's shutdown operation, before controlling the power control unit to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device, first control the communication unit to send the shutdown command to the financial POS device.

[0008] Preferably, the financial POS device further includes a power-on automatic startup module, which is configured to automatically trigger the financial POS device to power on when it receives power from the power interface.

[0009] Preferably, the communication interface and the communication unit are a universal serial bus interface and a USB communication unit.

[0010] Preferably, the processing module is further configured to: after the software shutdown process is completed, send a shutdown completion signal to the external control device through the communication interface; and the main control unit is specifically configured to: after receiving the shutdown completion signal, control the power control unit to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device.

[0011] Preferably, the shutdown completion signal is a preset synchronization signal.

[0012] Preferably, the main control unit is specifically configured to: after sending the preset shutdown command, and after a preset time delay, control the power control unit to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device.

[0013] Preferably, the main control unit of the external control device is a security chip, which is also configured to perform data encryption or identity authentication functions.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a secure power-on / off method for a financial POS machine, applied to the secure power-on / off system of the financial POS machine described in any embodiment of the first aspect, comprising the following steps: The external control device detects that the user trigger unit has received a user's shutdown operation; In response to the power-off operation, the external control device sends a preset power-off command to the financial POS device through its communication unit; The financial POS device receives the shutdown command and executes its internal software shutdown process; After the shutdown command is sent, the external control device disconnects the power supply to the financial POS device.

[0015] Preferably, the step of disconnecting the power supply to the financial POS device further includes: After the financial POS device completes the software shutdown process, it sends a shutdown completion signal to the external control device. Upon receiving the shutdown completion signal, the external control device performs a power disconnection operation.

[0016] Preferably, the user triggering unit is a physical button, and the power-off operation is a specific operation on the physical button, including a long press operation.

[0017] The secure power-on / off system and method for financial POS machines designed in this application transforms the traditional hard shutdown operation into a controlled, normal shutdown process by incorporating a user trigger unit in an external control device. This unit sends a software-level shutdown command to the financial POS device before physically cutting off power. Without increasing the hardware complexity or cost of the financial POS device, this solution fundamentally avoids the risks of operating system file corruption, application data loss, or system crashes caused by direct power outages. It ensures data integrity and system stability during the shutdown process, thereby improving the overall system reliability and lifespan. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine provided in this application embodiment.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a secure power-on / off method for a financial POS machine provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] The components include: financial POS device 10, power interface 11, communication interface 12, processing module 13, power-on self-starting module 14, external control device 20, power input terminal 21, power output terminal 22, user trigger unit 23, communication unit 24, power control unit 25, and main control unit 26. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0022] This application provides a secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine, which mainly includes a financial POS device 10 and an external control device 20.

[0023] Specifically, the financial POS device does not have physical buttons, such as a power button, on its main body to control its own power on / off state. This simplifies the device structure, reduces costs, and prevents accidental activation by on-site operators. The financial POS device 10 has a power interface 11 for connecting to an external power source and a communication interface 12. It also integrates a processing module 13, which can be the device's CPU or main processor. The processing module 13 is configured to receive external commands through the communication interface 12. In this embodiment, the software program of the processing module 13 has preset response logic for specific shutdown commands: once the preset shutdown command is received through the communication interface 12, a standard software shutdown process is immediately triggered and executed. This process includes a series of operations such as saving the current working state, closing all applications, and uninstalling the file system to ensure that the device is in a safe and stable state before power loss.

[0024] The external control device, acting as an intermediate unit, is connected in series between an external power source, such as a power adapter, and the financial POS device. This external control device 20 includes a power input terminal 21, a power output terminal 22, a user trigger unit 23, a communication unit 24, a power control unit 25, and a main control unit 26. Specifically, the power input terminal 21 and the power output terminal 22 are as follows: the power input terminal 21 is used to connect to an external power source, and the power output terminal 22 is connected to the power interface 11 of the financial POS device 10 to form a power supply path.

[0025] User trigger unit 23: Used to receive the user's power-off operation. In this embodiment, the user trigger unit 23 can be a physical button. The user's power-off operation can be defined as a specific operation, such as pressing and holding the physical button for a preset duration, to distinguish it from possible accidental short presses.

[0026] Communication unit 24: Connected to the communication interface 12 of the financial POS device 10 for data communication between the two.

[0027] Power control unit 25: For example, a circuit composed of switching elements such as relays and MOSFETs, used to physically control the power supply of the power output terminal 22 to the financial POS device 10.

[0028] Main control unit 26: As the center of external control device 20, it can be a microcontroller (MCU) or application-specific integrated circuit. It is electrically connected to user trigger unit 23, communication unit 24 and power control unit 25, and is responsible for coordinating the entire power-on and power-off logic.

[0029] In this embodiment, the system's workflow is as follows: When a user needs to shut down the financial POS device 10, they trigger the user-triggered unit 23 to perform a preset shutdown operation, such as a long press of a button. Upon detecting this operation, the main control unit 26 does not immediately cut off the power. Instead, it executes an ordered control sequence: First, the main control unit 26 controls its communication unit 24 to send the aforementioned preset shutdown command to the communication interface 12 of the financial POS device 10 via a data line. After sending this shutdown command, the main control unit 26 then controls the power control unit 25 to disconnect the power supply from the power output terminal 22 to the financial POS device 10. This mechanism of sending the command first and then cutting off the power ensures that the financial POS device 10 can execute the normal software shutdown process, thereby achieving a safe shutdown.

[0030] In some embodiments, to achieve a complete power-on / off experience, the financial POS device 10 may further include a power-on self-starting module 14, which is configured to automatically trigger the entire power-on process of the financial POS device 10 once the power interface 11 receives power. In this way, the user only needs to connect an external power source; after the external control device 20 supplies power to the POS device, the device will automatically power on without any additional operation.

[0031] In some embodiments, to simplify connection and utilize existing interfaces, the communication interface 12 of the financial POS device 10 and the communication unit 24 of the external control device 20 may specifically be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and a USB communication unit. Power and data can be transmitted through the same USB cable, and the main control unit 26 sends a shutdown command via the USB communication protocol.

[0032] In some embodiments, to achieve more precise and reliable shutdown control, the processing module 13 of the financial POS device 10 is further configured to send a shutdown completion signal to the external control device 20 via the communication interface 12 just before the system is completely shut down, after completing its own software shutdown process. Correspondingly, the main control unit 26 of the external control device 20 is configured to control the power control unit 25 to disconnect the power supply only after receiving this shutdown completion signal via the communication unit 24. This ensures, to the greatest extent possible, that the software shutdown process is fully executed. The shutdown completion signal here can be a specific data packet sent via a data line, or a level transition on an independent synchronization signal line.

[0033] As an alternative or simplified embodiment, the main control unit 26 can also adopt an open-loop control method, which is specifically configured as follows: after sending the preset shutdown command through the communication unit 24, an internal timer is started, and after a preset time delay, such as 5-10 seconds, which is sufficient for the financial POS device to complete the normal shutdown process, the power control unit 25 is then controlled to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device 10.

[0034] In some embodiments, the main control unit 26 of the external control device 20 may employ a security chip. In addition to executing the aforementioned power-on / off control logic, this security chip may also be configured to perform data encryption or authentication functions when communicating with the financial POS device 10, ensuring the legitimacy of the power-off command and preventing malicious command attacks.

[0035] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a secure power-on / off method for a financial POS machine, applied to the secure power-on / off system of the financial POS machine described in any embodiment of the first aspect. The specific steps of this method are as follows: Step S1: The external control device 20 detects that the user trigger unit 23 has received the user's shutdown operation.

[0036] Step S2: In response to the shutdown operation, the external control device 20 sends a preset shutdown command to the financial POS device 10 through its communication unit 24.

[0037] Step S3: The financial POS device 10 receives the shutdown command through its communication interface 12, and its processing module 13 executes the internal software shutdown process.

[0038] Step S4: After the power-off command in step S2 is sent, the external control device 20 disconnects the power supply to the financial POS device 10 through its power control unit 25.

[0039] Specifically, step S4 can be further refined as follows: after the financial POS device 10 completes the software shutdown process, it sends a shutdown completion signal to the external control device 20; the external control device 20 only performs the power disconnection operation after receiving the shutdown completion signal.

[0040] The secure power-on / off system and method for financial POS machines provided in this application transforms the traditional hard shutdown operation into a controlled, normal shutdown process by setting a user trigger unit in an external control device and sending a software-level shutdown command to the financial POS device before physically cutting off power. This solution, without increasing the hardware complexity and cost of the financial POS device, fundamentally avoids the risks of operating system file corruption, application data loss, or system crashes caused by direct power outages, ensuring data integrity and system stability during the shutdown process and improving the overall system reliability and lifespan.

[0041] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "vertical", "up", "down", "horizontal", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0042] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine, characterized in that, The system includes a financial POS device and an external control unit. The financial POS device does not have physical buttons for controlling its own power on / off, but has a communication interface and a power interface for connecting to an external power source, as well as a processing module. The processing module is configured to receive a preset power-off command through the communication interface and execute a software power-off process in response to the power-off command. The external control unit is connected in series between the external power source and the financial POS device, and includes a power input terminal, a power output terminal, a user trigger unit, a communication unit, a power control unit, and a main control unit. The power output terminal is connected to the power interface of the financial POS device. The user trigger unit is used to receive the user's power-off operation. The communication unit is connected to the communication interface of the financial POS device. The power control unit is used to control the power output terminal to switch on and off. The main control unit is connected to the user trigger unit, the communication unit, and the power control unit. The main control unit is configured to: when the user trigger unit receives the user's power-off operation, before controlling the power control unit to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device, first control the communication unit to send the power-off command to the financial POS device.

2. The secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The financial POS device also includes a power-on automatic startup module, which is configured to automatically trigger the financial POS device to power on when it receives power from the power interface.

3. The secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The communication interface and the communication unit are a universal serial bus interface and a USB communication unit.

4. The secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing module is further configured to: after the software shutdown process is completed, send a shutdown completion signal to the external control device through the communication interface; and the main control unit is specifically configured to: after receiving the shutdown completion signal, control the power control unit to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device.

5. The secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The shutdown completion signal is a preset synchronization signal.

6. The secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control unit is specifically configured to: after sending the preset shutdown command, and after a preset time delay, control the power control unit to disconnect the power supply to the financial POS device.

7. The secure power-on / off system for a financial POS machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control unit of the external control device is a security chip, which is also configured to perform data encryption or identity authentication functions.

8. A secure power-on / off method for a financial POS machine, applied to the secure power-on / off system of the financial POS machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The external control device detects that the user trigger unit has received a user's shutdown operation; In response to the power-off operation, the external control device sends a preset power-off command to the financial POS device through its communication unit; The financial POS device receives the shutdown command and executes its internal software shutdown process; After the shutdown command is sent, the external control device disconnects the power supply to the financial POS device.

9. The secure power-on / off method for a financial POS machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of disconnecting the power supply to the financial POS device further includes: After the financial POS device completes the software shutdown process, it sends a shutdown completion signal to the external control device. Upon receiving the shutdown completion signal, the external control device performs a power disconnection operation.

10. The secure power-on / off method for a financial POS machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The user trigger unit is a physical button, and the power-off operation is a specific operation on the physical button, including a long press operation.

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