Signal input / output device and failure notification method

Abstract

To make it possible to transmit a state of a failure to an outside when the failure occurs.SOLUTION: A signal input / output device according to an embodiment, which includes a plurality of input / output ports, includes a light-emitting element and a processor. The processor, when a failure occurs in the signal input / output device, notifies an outside of the occurrence of the failure through the light-emitting element, and notifies the outside of that through a device other than the light-emitting element.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate to a signal input / output device and a fault notification method. [Background technology]

[0002] Signal input / output devices, commonly known as I / O (input / output) boxes, are used in a variety of fields due to their simplicity. These types of signal input / output devices are relatively small and can be connected to a variety of devices with different specifications through I / O ports, which gives them the advantage of being able to be distributed on a small scale and still achieve the same functionality as devices in larger enclosures. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-330191 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-196533 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-058262 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned signal input / output devices do not have a screen display function, so if a fault occurs in the signal input / output device, the fault condition cannot be properly communicated to the outside.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a signal input / output device and a fault notification method that, when a fault occurs, makes it possible to notify the state of the fault to the outside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The signal input / output device of the embodiment is a signal input / output device having a plurality of input / output ports, and is equipped with a light-emitting element and a processor, and when a fault occurs in the signal input / output device, the processor notifies the outside world of the occurrence of the fault through the light-emitting element and also notifies the outside world through a device other than the light-emitting element. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a POS system including a signal input / output device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the signal input / output device (I / O box) 10 in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a signal input / output device 10 equipped with a printer (a modified example of the printer in FIG. 2). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the signal input / output device (I / O box) 10. As shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the function (control unit) realized by the program executed by the processor 35 in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control unit 40. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] (System Configuration) In this embodiment, an example in which a signal input / output device generally called an I / O box is applied to a POS (Point Of Sales) system will be described.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a POS system including a signal input / output device according to an embodiment.

[0011] The POS system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a signal input / output device (I / O box) 10 having a plurality of input / output ports.

[0012] The POS system 1 further includes a scanner (barcode reader) 21, a credit card reader 22, and an accounting machine 23, all of which are connected to the signal input / output device 10 via an input / output port, as well as a tablet terminal (information terminal equipped with a display device) 24, which is connected to the signal input / output device 10 via wireless communication (WiFi, etc.), and a printer 25, which is connected to the signal input / output device 10 via an input / output port. The scanner 21 can be used for product registration, and the tablet terminal 24 can be used as a register terminal (including a self-checkout).

[0013] The configuration in Figure 1 is an example and is not limited to this example. For example, the printer 25 does not necessarily have to be connected to the signal input / output device 10. A wired connection may also be changed to a wireless connection. The devices connected to the signal input / output device 10 may also be changed as appropriate.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the signal input / output device (I / O box) 10 in FIG.

[0015] 2, the signal input / output device 10 includes I / O ports (connectors) 11 and 12 that comply with various standards (for example, various types of USB (Universal Serial Bus) standards), as well as a light-emitting element 13 that displays the status of each device connected to the signal input / output device 10, a speaker 14 that emits sound, and the like. These are arranged on a device body 15. The light-emitting element 13 is specifically an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0016] The signal input / output device 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a type of signal input / output device that does not include a printer, but the signal input / output device may also include a printer.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a signal input / output device 10 equipped with a printer (a modified example of the printer in FIG. 2).

[0018] The signal input / output device 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a printer 16 attached to a device body 17.

[0019] The printer 16 is miniaturized to fit the size of a typical I / O box, and fits within an area of ​​several tens of centimeters square.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the signal input / output device (I / O box) 10. As shown in FIG.

[0021] 4, the signal input / output device 10 includes the I / O ports 11 and 12, the light-emitting element 13, and the speaker 14 described above, as well as a signal conversion device 31, an input register 32, an output register 33, a communication circuit 34, a processor 35, and a storage device 36. When the type of signal input / output device 10 shown in FIG. 3 is adopted, a printer 16 is further included.

[0022] The signal conversion device 31 converts signals between various devices connected to the I / O ports 11 and 12. The input register 32 temporarily stores a signal input from either the I / O ports 11 and 12 before sending it to the signal conversion device 31. The output register 33 temporarily stores a signal converted by the signal conversion device 31 before outputting it to either the I / O ports 11 and 12. The communication circuit 34 communicates with the tablet terminal 24.

[0023] The processor 35 executes a program that runs under an OS (Operating System). The program includes an algorithm that defines the procedure for appropriately notifying the outside world of the occurrence of a failure in the signal conversion device 31. The storage device 36 stores the programs used by the processor 35 and various related data. The printer 16 has already been described.

[0024] Some faults are at the level equivalent to an error (abnormality) and some are at the level equivalent to a warning (caution), but in this embodiment, to avoid complicating the explanation, all faults will be described as equivalent to an error.

[0025] There are various types of faults, such as communication failure, poor contact, and element failure. There are also various causes of faults, such as damage due to heat, deterioration, and impact. There are also various locations where faults occur. If it is possible to identify these types of faults, it is desirable to notify the user of the type in a way that is easy for the user to understand.

[0026] The types of errors that are notified include those issued by the OS of the main engine, those issued by the BIOS, various middleware and firmware, etc. Also, if there is a printer 16, and the printer firmware operates separately from the main processor 35, it may detect that it is unable to communicate with the main processor 35 when the main unit locks up, and print an error.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the function (control unit) realized by the program executed by the processor 35 in FIG.

[0028] The control unit 40 shown in FIG. 5 includes a monitoring unit 41, an error type determining unit 42, and an error display determining unit 43 as various functions.

[0029] The monitoring unit 41 has a function of monitoring whether or not a fault has occurred in the signal conversion device 31. The error type determination unit 42 has a function of determining the type of fault when a fault has occurred. The error display determination unit 43 has a function of determining the device that should display an error display according to the determined type of fault.

[0030] Using these functions, when any fault occurs in the signal input / output device 10, the control unit 40 notifies the outside world of information indicating the occurrence and type of the fault through one or more light-emitting elements 13, and also notifies the outside world through a device that can notify of faults other than those of the light-emitting elements.

[0031] When a failure occurs, the control unit 40 first notifies the outside through one or more light-emitting elements 13 of the occurrence of the failure and information indicating the type of the failure.

[0032] When a tablet terminal 24 is connected to any of the input / output ports 11, 12, the control unit 40 notifies the outside of the occurrence of a failure and information indicating the type of failure via a display device (display) of the tablet terminal 24. However, when a communication failure (communication error) with the tablet terminal 24 occurs, the tablet terminal 24 does not notify of the failure.

[0033] Furthermore, if the signal input / output device 10 is a type that includes a printer 16, when a fault occurs, the control unit 40 causes the printer 16 to print information indicating the fault. However, when a fault (printer error) occurs in the printer 16, the printer 16 does not notify the fault.

[0034] (Example of operation) Next, an example of the operation of the control unit 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] In ACT1, the control unit 40 is in a state of monitoring whether or not a fault has occurred in the signal conversion device 31.

[0036] In ACT2, the control unit 40 determines whether any fault (error) has occurred in the signal conversion device 31. If no error has occurred (No in ACT2), the process from ACT1 is repeated. On the other hand, if an error has occurred (Yes in ACT2), the process proceeds to ACT3.

[0037] In ACT3, if an error has occurred (if Yes in ACT2), the control unit 40 notifies the outside of the occurrence of the error via one or more light-emitting elements 13.

[0038] In ACT4, the control unit 40 determines whether a communication failure (communication error) has occurred with the tablet terminal 24. If a communication error has occurred (Yes in ACT4), the process proceeds to ACT6. On the other hand, if a communication error has not occurred (No in ACT4), the process proceeds to ACT5.

[0039] In ACT5, the control unit 40 notifies the outside through the display device (display) of the tablet terminal 24 that a failure has occurred.

[0040] In ACT6, the control unit 40 determines whether the signal input / output device 10 is equipped with a printer 16. If the signal input / output device 10 is not equipped with a printer 16 (No in ACT6), the process repeats from ACT1. On the other hand, if the signal input / output device 10 is equipped with a printer 16 (Yes in ACT6), the process proceeds to ACT7.

[0041] In ACT7, if the signal input / output device 10 is equipped with a printer 16 (if Yes in ACT6), the control unit 40 determines whether a failure (printer error) has occurred in the printer 16. If a printer error has occurred (if Yes in ACT7), the process repeats from ACT1. If a printer error has not occurred (if No in ACT7), the process proceeds to ACT8.

[0042] In ACT8, the control unit 40 causes the printer 16 to print information indicating the failure. After this, the process is repeated from ACT1.

[0043] (Summary of the embodiment) As described above in detail, according to the embodiment, even if the signal input / output device does not have a screen display function, if a fault occurs in the signal input / output device, the fault condition can be correctly reported to the outside.

[0044] For example, if a fault occurs in the signal input / output device 10, the occurrence of the fault is not only notified to the outside world through one or more light-emitting elements 13, but also through a device that can notify of faults other than those of the light-emitting elements (for example, a tablet terminal 24 or a printer 16), so that the fault situation can be correctly communicated to the outside world.

[0045] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1...POS system, 10...signal input / output device (I / O box), 11, 12...I / O port (connector), 13...light-emitting element (LED), 14...speaker, 15...device main body, 16...printer, 17...device main body, 21...scanner (barcode reader), 22...credit card reader, 23...accounting machine, 24...tablet terminal (information terminal with display device), 25...printer, 31...signal conversion device, 32...input register, 33...output register, 34...communication circuit, 35...processor, 36...storage device, 40...control unit, 41...monitoring unit, 42...error type determination unit, 43...error display determination unit.

Claims

1. In a signal input / output device having a plurality of input / output ports, A light-emitting element; Processor and Equipped with The processor: When a fault occurs in the signal input / output device, the occurrence of the fault is notified to an external device through the light emitting element, and also to an external device through a device other than the light emitting element. Signal input / output device.

2. The processor: If an information terminal equipped with a display device is connected to any of the plurality of input / output ports, the occurrence of the failure is notified to the outside via the display device of the information terminal.

2. The signal input / output device according to claim 1.

3. the signal input / output device further comprises a printer; When the failure occurs, the processor causes the printer to output information indicating the failure.

2. The signal input / output device according to claim 1.

4. The processor controls the light emitting element to emit light in a specific color or in a specific blinking pattern when the failure occurs.

4. The signal input / output device according to claim 1.

5. A fault notification method executed by a signal input / output device having a plurality of input / output ports and a light emitting element, comprising: When a fault occurs in the signal input / output device, the occurrence of the fault is notified to the outside through the light emitting element, and also notified to the outside through a device other than the light emitting element. Fault notification method.

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