Filter Driver Abnormality Detection in POS Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems, such as those described in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 07-016190, face difficulties in recognizing communication abnormalities without modifying the existing application incorporated into the communicator, particularly when peripherals are connected through serial interfaces with varying signal lines and communication protocols, making it challenging to monitor their states uniformly.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where an information processor, like a POS terminal, acquires communication information over a predetermined period, defines a decision reference based on this information, and compares it with subsequent communication data to detect abnormalities in peripherals, allowing for abnormality detection without modifying the existing application or uniformly monitoring peripherals across different interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If communication information is acquired through the device driver to detect abnormalities, then abnormality detection capability is improved, but the device driver structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A filter driver is introduced as an intermediary layer between the device driver and the abnormality detection application. The filter driver intercepts communication information from the device driver without requiring modifications to the device driver itself, thereby maintaining the simplicity of the device driver structure while enabling comprehensive abnormality detection capabilities.
2Reliability
If existing application is modified to add abnormality recognition function, then abnormality detection is improved, but system compatibility and ease of deployment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The abnormality detection function is segmented into a separate filter driver module that operates independently from the existing application. This modular approach allows the abnormality recognition capability to be added without modifying the original application code, thereby maintaining system compatibility and simplifying deployment across different systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter driver serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the existing application and the new abnormality detection requirements. It captures communication information at the driver level and provides it to the detection application without requiring changes to the application itself, ensuring seamless integration and compatibility.
3Measurement precision
If uniform monitoring method is implemented across different peripheral interfaces, then monitoring consistency is improved, but adaptability to different communication protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring approach is customized at the local level for each peripheral interface and communication protocol while maintaining overall system consistency. The filter driver captures communication information specific to each interface type (serial, parallel, USB, etc.) and applies appropriate monitoring rules, allowing consistent monitoring methodology to be applied across diverse interfaces without forcing a one-size-fits-all solution that would compromise protocol-specific characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A POS terminal has: a device driver; a POS application that communicates with a peripheral through the device driver; a filter driver that acquires communication information related to communication performed between the POS application and the peripheral through the device driver; and a failure detection application that acquires communication information from the filter driver over a predetermined period, defines a decision reference according to which a decision is made about an abnormality related to the peripheral, according to the acquired communication information, and makes a decision about an abnormality related to the peripheral through a comparison between the defined decision reference and communication information acquired from the filter driver after the predetermined period.