Information processing device

Abstract

The printer replacement process was inconvenient. [Solution] The system comprises a connection unit that can be connected to a first POS printer or a second POS printer different from the first POS printer, a storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit receives setting information related to the first POS printer from the first POS printer already connected to the connection unit via the connection unit and stores it in the storage unit. After the connection with the first POS printer is disconnected at the connection unit, and then a connection is made with the second POS printer, the control unit reads the setting information from the storage unit and transmits it to the second POS printer via the connection unit, causing the second POS printer to set the setting information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an information processing apparatus that connects a POS terminal apparatus to peripheral devices such as a printer in a POS (Point of Sale) system has been known. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2024-148935 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, when the printer connected to the information processing apparatus needs to be replaced, it is necessary to connect the replacement printer and perform settings, and thus an improvement in convenience has been desired. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] The information processing apparatus includes a connection unit connectable to a first POS printer or a second POS printer different from the first POS printer, a storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit receives setting information related to the first POS printer from the first POS printer connected to the connection unit via the connection unit, and stores the setting information in the storage unit. After the connection to the first POS printer is disconnected at the connection unit, when the connection to the second POS printer is established, the control unit reads the setting information from the storage unit, transmits the setting information to the second POS printer via the connection unit, and causes the second POS printer to set the setting information. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing the configuration of a POS system, including the first POS printer. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing the configuration of the POS system when the first POS printer in Figure 1 is replaced with the second POS printer. [Figure 3] A state transition diagram showing the control method for the information processing device of a POS system, including the first POS printer. [Figure 4] A state transition diagram showing the control method of the POS system's information processing unit when replacing the first POS printer with the second POS printer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] 1. POS system configuration As shown in Figure 1, the POS system 1 consists of a POS terminal device 10, an information processing device 20, and a first POS printer 30. Hereafter, the POS terminal device 10 will be simply referred to as the terminal device 10, the information processing device 20 as the device 20, and the first POS printer 30 as the first printer 30.

[0008] Device 20 and terminal device 10 can communicate with each other via a Wide Area Network (WAN) 50, which is the Internet. Note that the WAN 50 may also be a Local Area Network (LAN). Device 20 and the first printer 30 can communicate via USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0009] The device 20 is comprised of a second control unit 21, a second communication unit 22, and a second storage unit 23. The second control unit 21 comprehensively controls each part of the device 20. The second control unit 21 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) for managing input / output, and logic circuits such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a PLD (Programmable Logic Device). The second control unit 21 is also called the processor. The CPU of the second control unit 21 is sometimes specifically called the processor. Hereafter, the second control unit 21 will also be simply referred to as the control unit.

[0010] The second storage unit 23 is composed of memory such as flash ROM (Read Only Memory) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive), which are rewritable non-volatile memories, and RAM (Random Access Memory), which are volatile memories. The non-volatile memory of the second storage unit 23 may also include an SSD (Solid State Drive). The CPU of the second control unit 21 reads the program stored in the non-volatile memory of the second storage unit 23 and executes it using the volatile memory of the second storage unit 23 as a working area. Hereafter, the second storage unit 23 will also be simply referred to as the storage unit.

[0011] The second communication unit 22 consists of a communication circuit including a USB host controller, which is a communication IC (Integrated Circuit) that operates as a host in accordance with the USB standard, and a connector. The second communication unit 22 can communicate by being connected to the first printer 30 via a USB cable. Hereinafter, the second communication unit 22 will also be simply referred to as the connection unit. The second memory unit 23 stores the OS (Operating System) and various USB device drivers. The second control unit 21 reads and executes the OS and device drivers from the second memory unit 23, and can operate as a USB host. Furthermore, the second communication unit 22 can also connect via USB to and communicate with multiple devices other than the first printer 30, such as label printers, customer displays, and cash drawers (all not shown in the diagram).

[0012] Furthermore, the second communication unit 22 is configured to include a circuit that can communicate via the Internet, and is connected to the terminal device 10 via the WAN 50 to enable communication. The second communication unit 22 has an antenna in the case of wireless communication and a connector in the case of wired communication. The second communication unit 22 of device 20 and the first communication unit 12 of terminal device 10 (described later) are each assigned a unique IP address (Internet Protocol Address), allowing communication to be performed by specifying the IP address of the communication destination. Note that when the device 20 sends and receives data with the communication destination, this is done by the second communication unit 22. However, in order to simplify the explanation, the sending and receiving by the second communication unit 22 will be omitted below. The same applies to the first communication unit 12 of the terminal device 10 and the third communication unit 32 of the first printer 30, which will be described later.

[0013] The first printer 30 is comprised of a third control unit 31 and a third storage unit 33. Since the configuration of these components of the first printer 30 is substantially the same as that of the device 20 described above, a detailed explanation will be omitted. It is assumed that the third storage unit 33 has pre-stored and configured the setting information described later, based on commands from the device 20 or terminal device 10. The first printer 30 is equipped with a third communication unit 32. The third communication unit 32 consists of a communication circuit including a USB device controller, which is a communication IC that operates as a device according to the USB standard, and a connector, and is connected to the device 20 by a USB cable to enable communication.

[0014] Furthermore, the third communication unit 32 has a memory. This memory stores first device information related to the first printer 30. Hereafter, the first device information related to USB communication will be specifically referred to as the first USB information. The first USB information is information that conforms to the format defined by the USB standard, and may include, for example, the first class ID, the first vendor ID which is unique information of the manufacturer, the first product ID which is unique information of the product, the first vendor name, the first model name, and the first serial number which is the manufacturing serial number of the product related to the first printer 30. Here, it is assumed that the first USB information includes the first serial number and at least one of the first vendor ID and the first product ID. The first USB information may be stored in the third storage unit 33.

[0015] It should be noted that the second control unit 21 of the apparatus 20 can acquire the first USB information from the first printer 30 and identify a device driver having a printer function corresponding to the first printer 30. The second control unit 21 can execute the identified device driver to control the first printer 30. The second control unit 21 can transmit and receive data, commands and the like to and from the first printer 30 as a USB host side.

[0016] The first printer 30 includes a third printing unit 34. The third printing unit 34 is configured to include printing mechanisms such as a head and a conveying roller (both not shown). The head is, for example, a thermal type. It should be noted that the head may also be an inkjet type or the like. The first printer 30 includes a third cutting unit 35. The third cutting unit 35 is configured to include a cutter blade. The first printer 30 can print on a medium such as roll paper by the third printing unit 34, cut the medium by the third cutting unit 35, and issue it as a receipt.

[0017] The third storage unit 33 stores setting information related to the third printing unit 34 and the third cutting unit 35. The setting information includes print setting information related to printing and cutting, such as a print area such as a printing width, printing speed, printing density, store-specific logos and fonts, and timing for cutting a medium. When the third control unit 31 receives print data, commands, and the like from the terminal device 10 via the device 20, the third control unit 31 reads print setting information from the third storage unit 33, controls the third printing unit 34 and the third cutting unit 35, and can perform printing and cutting on a medium in a predetermined manner.

[0018] The terminal device 10 is, for example, a computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like. The terminal device 10 includes a first control unit 11 and a first storage unit 13. These configurations of the terminal device 10 are substantially the same as the configurations of the device 20 described above, so descriptions thereof are omitted. The CPU of the first control unit 11 can read a POS application stored in the first storage unit 13 and execute accounting processing and the like. The input / output unit 14 is a user interface for a user. The input / output unit 14 can read product information by an input unit such as a barcode scanner, and display an accounting processing result on an output unit such as an Operator Display.

[0019] 2. Relaying by the information processing apparatus As shown in Fig. 1, the device 20 is interposed between the terminal device 10 and the first printer 30, and is also a relay device capable of relaying information transmitted and received therebetween. Here, it is assumed that the terminal device 10 and the first printer 30 are compatible with IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). IPP is a standard related to a communication protocol that extends HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

[0020] The third storage unit 33 of the first printer 30 stores communication setting information that is setting information related to communication. For example, the third storage unit 33 stores IPP setting information such as a unique IP address, which is communication setting information related to IPP. The third control unit 31 of the first printer 30 can read the IPP setting information from the third storage unit 33 and communicate with the terminal device 10 via the device 20 by IPP.

[0021] For example, the first storage unit 13 of the terminal device 10 is assumed to have an OS provided by the OS provider installed. With this OS, the terminal device 10 can send and receive information using IPP, regardless of the printer model. IPP is also a communication protocol that allows control of the first printer 30 from the terminal device 10 via the internet. In this case, device 20 relays the information transmitted and received between the IPP-compatible terminal device 10 and the first printer 30 without converting the content of the information.

[0022] Device 20 and the first printer 30 are connected via USB, and are assumed to be compatible with a standard called "IPP over USB". "IPP over USB" is a standard that enables communication in accordance with IPP over USB. Device 20 and the first printer 30 can communicate via USB using IPP. Device 20 can change the communication format between IPP and USB. If the first printer 30 does not support IPP, the device 20 can also convert the IPP information from the terminal device 10 so that the first printer 30 can interpret it.

[0023] 3. Control method for the information processing device when replacing a printer. If the first printer 30 shown in Figure 1 needs to be replaced due to a malfunction or other reason, the user may replace it with the second POS printer 40, as shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the POS system 1a is configured to include the replaced second POS printer 40 and is equipped with terminal devices 10 and 20 similar to those shown in Figure 1. Hereafter, the second POS printer 40 will simply be referred to as the second printer 40.

[0024] The second printer 40 is composed of a fourth control unit 41, a fourth storage unit 43, a fourth printing unit 44, and a fourth cutting unit 45. Since these components of the second printer 40 are the same as those of the first printer 30 described above, the explanation will focus on the differences.

[0025] The fourth memory unit 43 is assumed to either not store the aforementioned setting information, or to store an initial value. Furthermore, the fourth communication unit 42 has a memory, which stores second device information related to the second printer 40. Hereafter, the second device information related to USB communication will be specifically referred to as the second USB information. The second USB information may include the same type of information as the first USB information described above. Here, the second USB information includes a second serial number, a second vendor ID, and at least one of the second product ID related to the second printer 40. The second USB information may be stored in the fourth storage unit 43.

[0026] In the following, the first control unit 11 of the terminal device 10, the second control unit 21 of the device 20, the third control unit 31 of the first printer 30, and the fourth control unit 41 of the second printer 40 each execute their respective processes, but for the sake of brevity, the execution of each control unit's processes will be omitted.

[0027] First, we will explain the control of each device in the case of POS system 1, which includes the first printer 30 shown in Figure 1. Assume the user connects the USB cable of the first printer 30 to the device 20 and turns on the power of the first printer 30. The first printer 30 applies a voltage of 5V to the VBUS line of the USB port of the third communication unit 32.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the device 20 starts operating as a USB host, and detects that a USB connection has been established with the first printer 30 when a voltage of 5V is applied to the USB VBUS line of the second communication unit 22 (S101). Device 20 requests first USB information from first printer 30 (S102). First printer 30 reads the first USB information stored in the memory of third communication unit 32 or third storage unit 33 and sends it to device 20 as a response to this request (S103). Device 20 stores the first USB information received from the first printer 30 in the second storage unit 23 (S104).

[0029] Based on the first USB information, the device 20 can identify and execute a device driver for the printer corresponding to the first printer 30 from among multiple USB device drivers stored in the second storage unit 23. Although not shown in the diagram, the device 20 sends an initialization command to the first printer 30, and the first printer 30 resets the USB bus connection status using the third communication unit 32, thereby establishing USB communication between the two devices.

[0030] Device 20 requests setting information from the first printer 30 (S105). The first printer 30 reads setting information such as print setting information and communication setting information stored in the third storage unit 33 and sends it to device 20 as a response to this request (S106). Device 20 stores the setting information received from the first printer 30 in the second storage unit 23 (S107). In this way, the device 20 can receive setting information of the first printer 30, which is connected to the second communication unit 22, via the second communication unit 22, and store it in the second storage unit 23.

[0031] Device 20 notifies terminal device 10 that it has stored the setting information of the first printer 30 in the second storage unit 23 (S108). In this case, the device 20 may transmit the configuration information to the terminal device 10. Based on the communication configuration information contained in the received configuration information, the terminal device 10 can communicate with the first printer 30 via IPP through the device 20. Furthermore, the terminal device 10 generates print data and commands based on the print setting information included in the received setting information, and transmits them to the first printer 30 via the device 20, causing the media to print and cut.

[0032] Next, we will explain the control of each device when the first printer 30 shown in Figure 1 is replaced to form a POS system 1a including the second printer 40 shown in Figure 2. Note that the second communication unit 22 of device 20 can be connected to either the first printer 30 or the second printer 40. The user attempts to replace the first printer 30 with the second printer 40 due to a malfunction or other issue. The user turns off the power to the first printer 30 and disconnects the USB cable from the device 20.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the device 20 detects that the USB connection with the first printer 30 has been disconnected because a voltage of 5V is not applied to the VBUS line of the USB of the second communication unit 22 (S109). Assume the user connects the USB cable of the second printer 40 to the device 20 and turns on the power of the second printer 40. The second printer 40 applies a voltage of 5V to the VBUS line of the USB of the fourth communication unit 42.

[0034] The device 20 detects that a USB connection has been established with the second printer 40 when a voltage of 5V is applied to the VBUS line of the USB of the second communication unit 22 (S201). Device 20 requests second USB information from the second printer 40 (S202). The second printer 40 reads the second USB information stored in the memory of the fourth communication unit 42 or the fourth storage unit 43 and sends it to device 20 as a response to this request (S203).

[0035] Based on the received second USB information, device 20 can execute the same device driver as the first printer 30. Although not shown in the diagram, the device 20 sends an initialization command to the second printer 40, and the second printer 40 resets the USB bus connection status using the fourth communication unit 42, thereby establishing USB communication between the two devices.

[0036] Here, the second printer 40 is one that the user has prepared as a replacement for the first printer 30, and is a printer of the same specifications manufactured by the same manufacturer as the first printer 30. Therefore, the second printer 40 and the first printer 30 have at least one of the same vendor ID or the same product ID, while their serial numbers have the same notation format but different values. The notation format refers to a predetermined format including the number of digits and the numbers and characters used.

[0037] Device 20 compares the second USB information received from the second printer 40 with the first USB information from the first printer 30 read from the second storage unit 23 (S204). If device 20 determines, after comparing the two, that the second USB information corresponds to the first USB information, it sends the configuration information to the second printer 40 (S206).

[0038] Specifically, the device 20 compares the second USB information with the first USB information and determines that at least one of the following is the same: the second vendor ID of the second printer 40 and the first vendor ID of the first printer 30, or the second product ID of the second printer 40 and the first product ID of the first printer 30 (not shown).

[0039] Furthermore, if the device 20 compares the second serial number of the second printer 40 with the first serial number of the first printer 30 and determines that the serial number (SN, Serial Number) values ​​are different (S205), it can determine that the second USB information corresponds to the first USB information. The second serial number and the first serial number are assumed to be in the same notation format. Device 20 can also determine that the first printer 30 has been replaced with the second printer 40 if the second serial number and the first serial number are different.

[0040] Device 20 reads the setting information for the first printer 30 stored in the second storage unit 23 and sends it to the second printer 40 (S206). The second printer 40 can store the received setting information from the first printer 30 in the fourth storage unit 43 and set it (S207). In this way, the replaced second printer 40 can operate in the same way as the first printer 30 before the replacement, based on the setting information it received and set. Furthermore, the device 20 can store the received second USB information in the second storage unit 23.

[0041] Thus, when the device 20 is connected to the second printer 40 after the connection to the first printer 30 has been disconnected, the second communication unit 22 reads the setting information from the second storage unit 23 and transmits it to the second printer 40 via the second communication unit 22. The device 20 can cause the second printer 40 to set the configuration information of the first printer 30.

[0042] When the second printer 40 has finished setting the configuration information for the first printer 30, it notifies the device 20 of the completion of the setting (S208). Furthermore, the device 20 notifies the terminal device 10 of the completion of the setting received from the second printer 40 (S209).

[0043] In this case, the device 20 may also notify the terminal device 10 of the exchange information that the first printer 30 has been replaced with the second printer 40. The terminal device 10 can display the exchange information using the input / output unit 14 and inform the user. In this way, after the device 20 sends the configuration information to the second printer 40, and then receives notification from the second printer 40 that the configuration is complete, it can notify the terminal device 10 that the first printer 30 has been replaced by the second printer 40.

[0044] The second printer 40 can read communication setting information contained in the setting information from the fourth storage unit 43 and communicate with the terminal device 10 via IPP through the device 20, similar to the first printer 30. Furthermore, the second printer 40 can read print setting information contained in the setting information from the fourth storage unit 43 and control the fourth printing unit 44 and the fourth cutting unit 45, similar to the first printer 30, to print and cut on the medium in a predetermined manner. In this way, the replaced second printer 40 can acquire and configure the same setting information from the device 20 as the first printer 30, and can operate in the same way as the first printer 30 before the replacement.

[0045] As described above, the information processing device 20 includes a second communication unit 22 that can be connected to the first printer 30 or a second printer 40 different from the first printer 30, a second storage unit 23, and a second control unit 21. The second control unit 21 receives setting information related to the first printer 30 from the first printer 30, which is connected to the second communication unit 22, via the second communication unit 22, and stores it in the second storage unit 23. The second control unit 21, when the connection with the first printer 30 is disconnected and then the connection with the second printer 40 is re-established in the second communication unit 22, reads the setting information from the second storage unit 23 and transmits it to the second printer 40 via the second communication unit 22, causing the second printer 40 to set the setting information.

[0046] As a result, if the user needs to replace the first printer 30 connected to device 20, they only need to connect the replacement second printer 40 to device 20, and there is no need to configure settings for the second printer 40. In this way, device 20 can improve convenience during replacement.

[0047] Although embodiments have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and may be modified, substituted, deleted, etc., as long as it does not depart from the spirit of this invention. Terminal devices 10 and 20 may be made capable of communication via USB. In this case, the configuration information does not need to include communication configuration information related to IPP. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1,1a...POS system, 10...POS terminal device, 11...1st control unit, 12...1st communication unit, 13...1st storage unit, 14...Input / output unit, 20...Information processing device, 21...2nd control unit, 22...2nd communication unit, 23...2nd storage unit, 30...1st POS printer, 31...3rd control unit, 32...2nd communication unit, 33...3rd storage unit, 34...3rd printing unit, 35...3rd cutting unit, 40...2nd POS printer, 41...4th control unit, 42...4th communication unit, 43...4th storage unit, 44...4th printing unit, 45...4th cutting unit, 50...WAN.

Claims

1. A connection unit that can be connected to a first POS printer or a second POS printer different from the first POS printer, Memory unit and, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The connection unit receives setting information related to the first POS printer from the first POS printer already connected to the connection unit, and stores it in the storage unit. An information processing device comprising: a connection unit that, after the connection with the first POS printer is disconnected, and then a connection with the second POS printer is established, transmits the setting information stored in the storage unit to the second POS printer via the connection unit, causing the second POS printer to set the setting information.

2. The control unit, The connection unit receives the first device information relating to the first POS printer from the first POS printer and stores it in the storage unit. In the aforementioned connection section, after the connection with the first POS printer is disconnected, and then the connection with the second POS printer is established, The connection unit receives the second device information relating to the second POS printer from the second POS printer. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first device information is read from the storage unit, and if the second device information corresponds to the first device information, the connection unit transmits the setting information to the second POS printer.

3. The first device information includes a first serial number relating to the first POS printer, and at least one of a first vendor ID and a first product ID. The second device information includes a second serial number relating to the second POS printer, and at least one of the second vendor ID and the second product ID. The control unit, If it is determined that at least one of the first vendor ID and the second vendor ID, or the first product ID and the second product ID is the same, Furthermore, the information processing device according to claim 2, which, when it determines that the values ​​of the first serial number and the second serial number are different, transmits the setting information to the second POS printer.

4. The aforementioned connection part is connectable to a POS terminal device. The control unit, The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein after transmitting the setting information to the second POS printer via the connection unit, and when the second POS printer notifies the device of setting completion information indicating that the setting of the setting information has been completed, the device notifies the POS terminal device of exchange information indicating that the first POS printer has been replaced with the second POS printer.

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