JP2018077749A - Information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select an external device to be removed from a plurality of connected external devices without error, and prevent erroneous removal of the external device. SOLUTION: A POS terminal 10 is provided with a plurality of connection units to which USB memories 21 and 41 can be connected, and further, a connection information acquisition unit 112 for acquiring information on whether or not the USB memory is connected, and a connection information acquisition unit 112. Of the information of the display processing unit 113 that displays the information of the connection unit to which the USB memory is connected to 13 and the information of the connection unit displayed on the display unit 13, the operation from the operation unit 14 is accepted. The selection processing unit 114 that selects the connection unit to be removed and the USB memory connected to the selected connection unit are removed from the information processing system, and the physical removal is guided to the display unit 13. Includes a removal processing unit 115. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that removably connects a plurality of recording media.

  Conventionally, in a stand-alone POS (Point Of Sale) terminal, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) that stores POS information such as product information and sales information in an updated manner, and a maintenance USB (Universal Serial Bus) for system down protection ) Memory is connected. The maintenance USB is always connected to the POS terminal and acquires backup data. In the POS terminal, the HDD is assigned to the drives C and D, and the maintenance USB memory is assigned to the drive E. Furthermore, in recent years, in order to collect a part of POS information, a configuration has been adopted in which, for example, a collection USB memory or the like can be connected to a POS terminal via a USB connector having a plurality of connection units. Yes. When the collection (extraction) of necessary information is completed, the information is removed from the USB connector and used for other processing. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to effectively use and utilize the POS information. In this case, a new external memory is allocated to the drive F and further thereafter.

  Note that in Patent Document 1, when the connection status of a USB memory to a USB connector is detected and it is detected that a plurality of USB memories are connected, access is made to prevent erroneous access to the USB memory. A technique for prohibiting operation is described.

JP 2009-21948 A

  By the way, in the POS terminal, when removing the collection USB memory connected for data collection, there is a possibility that the maintenance USB memory is mistakenly removed. In the state where the maintenance USB memory is mistakenly removed, if an abnormality such as a system failure occurs during operation, the data backup process is not performed, and the POS information during that time cannot be obtained, making it impossible to recover. Since the technique described in Patent Document 1 prohibits access in a state where a plurality of USB memories are connected, it is applied to the POS terminal processing on the premise that a plurality of USB memories are connected. Can not.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and information for preventing an erroneous external device from being removed by confirming display of information on a connection portion (port) to which a removable external device is connected. An object is to provide a processing apparatus.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes, in an information processing apparatus including a plurality of connection units to which an external device can be connected, a display unit that displays an operation screen and an operation input unit that inputs an operation on the operation screen. And a connection information acquisition unit, a display processing unit, a selection unit, and a removal processing unit. The connection information acquisition unit acquires information on whether or not the external device is connected to a connection unit from which the external device can be removed. The display processing unit displays information on the connection unit to which the external device is connected, acquired by the connection information acquisition unit, on the display unit. A selection part receives operation from an operation input part among the information of the connection part displayed on the display part, and selects the connection part used as the object of removal. The removal processing unit performs a process of removing the external device connected to the selected connection unit to be removed from the information processing system, and guides the physical removal to the display unit. Therefore, the information on the connection part to which the removable external device is connected is displayed on the display part, so that the external device to be removed connected to the connection part can be recognized and the wrong external device is removed. Is prevented.

  The display processing unit displays information related to the external device connected to the connection unit. According to this configuration, since the information regarding the external device is also displayed in a visible manner, the external device to be removed can be more easily recognized, and an erroneous USB memory can be prevented from being removed.

  The external device is a USB memory. According to this configuration, the collection USB memory can be removed after the data collection operation without making a mistake with the maintenance USB memory.

  The display processing unit displays contents stored in the USB memory connected to the connection unit. According to this configuration, since the name of the file stored in the USB memory is displayed, it can be reliably determined whether or not the USB memory is a removal target.

  The present invention further includes a non-removable setting unit that sets a connection unit that disables physical removal for a plurality of connection units to which the external device can be connected, and the display processing unit includes the non-removable setting. The display on the display unit is prohibited for the information related to the external device connected to the connection unit set to be unremovable. According to this configuration, since display of information related to the external device connected to the connection unit set to be non-removable set by the non-removable setting unit is prohibited, an erroneous removal operation is suppressed.

  The information processing apparatus is a POS terminal. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a highly reliable POS terminal that does not lose storage of backup data or the like in the POS processing.

  According to the present invention, an external device to be removed can be selected without error from among a plurality of connected external devices, and erroneous removal of the external device is prevented.

1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a screen figure which shows an example of a menu screen. It is a table figure which shows the removal possibility and the presence or absence of a connection. It is a screen figure which shows an example when there is no applicable drive among removal screens. It is a screen figure which shows an example in the reference time of one drive among removal screens. It is a screen figure which shows an example in the reference point of another drive among removal screens. It is a screen figure which shows an example in the last time among removal screens. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process when a removal menu is selected.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram when the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a POS terminal. The POS terminal 10 includes, for example, a control unit 11 configured by a microcomputer, a USB memory connection unit 12 for connecting an external device such as a USB memory, a display unit 13 for displaying an image, a keyboard and a mouse, and / or An operation unit 14 including a touch panel, a RAM 15 that temporarily stores processing information, a processing program, an HDD 16 that stores necessary data and processing information, and a POS operation unit 141 that is necessary for merchandise sales processing are provided. The operation unit 14 can be applied to the POS operation unit 141 as necessary.

  The USB memory connection unit 12 is provided at a proper position on the main body of the POS terminal 10 and includes a predetermined number of connection units (ports) that are detachably connected to the maintenance USB memory 21 as an example of an external device. A USB memory 41 as an example of an external device can be connected via the USB hub 30. When the USB hub 30 includes a predetermined number, for example, four connection portions (ports), a maximum of four USB memory 41 for collection are detachably connected. The maintenance USB memory 21 is for data backup when an abnormality such as a system failure occurs, and needs to be always connected during operation. The collection USB memory 41 is connected as necessary, and is used when collecting necessary information from the POS information. Therefore, the USB memory 21 and the USB memory 41 have one or a plurality of data files in which such information is written. The USB memory connection unit 12 may be provided with a connection unit from which a plurality of USB memories 21 and 41 can be removed. The removable connection part can be said to be a connection part from which the connected external memory can be removed, and does not include the connection part of the HDD 16 and the USB memory 21.

  In this embodiment, the USB memory connection unit 12 detects the presence / absence of the USB memories 21 and 41 connected to each connection unit, and sequentially performs drive allocation processing on the connected USB memories 21 and 41. In the present embodiment, the HDD 16 is fixedly assigned to the drives C and D, and the maintenance USB memory 21 is fixedly assigned to the drive E. In the present embodiment, as is well known, the relationship between each connecting portion (port) and the drives F, G,... Is preset. In the present embodiment, the USB memory connection unit 12 may initially set, for example, a connection unit that prohibits the removal of the USB memories 21 and 41 (not removable) among the connection units. In addition, the initial setting of the connection unit for which removal is prohibited is executed by providing a function as a non-removable setting unit in the menu selection unit 111 (described later) provided in the control unit 11 in addition to the USB memory connection unit 12. It is good also as an aspect made to do.

  The control unit 11 reads out the processing program stored in the HDD 16 to the RAM 15 and executes it, thereby causing the menu selection unit 111, the connection information acquisition unit 112, the display processing unit 113, the selection processing unit 114, and the removal processing unit 115 to be executed. , And the POS processing unit 116.

  First, the POS processing unit 116 that is a basic process of the POS terminal 10 will be briefly described. The POS processing unit 116 executes the accounting process for each purchase at the cash register and the sales management process by using the merchandise information including at least the selling price stored in the HDD 16 (handled in the store). Information on the product at the time of the accounting process can be obtained by manually inputting the selling price via the numeric keypad, or via a code reader of the POS operation unit 141 when a code indicating the product information is attached to the product. doing. The POS processing unit 116 displays an accounting process screen, and inputs and displays information on purchased products. Moreover, in the aspect provided with a receipt issuing unit (not shown), the information on the purchased product and the selling price are printed on a sheet and issued for each transaction.

  Further, the POS processing unit 116 transfers the contents of the processing for each accounting process to the maintenance USB memory 21 for storage as a backup for the occurrence of an abnormality such as a system down. .

  Next, the removal process of the USB memory 41 for collection will be described. The menu selection unit 111 indicates, for example, a screen of the display unit 13 as illustrated in FIG. 2 when the power is turned on or when a predetermined button (menu button) is indicated (the operation unit 14 is pressed in a touch panel mode). The initial screen is displayed on 13A. The initial screen is a business selection screen, and a plurality of business buttons are displayed so as to be selectable. By pressing each button, the corresponding business screen is displayed. For example, when the “1. Sales process” button is pressed, the menu selection unit 111 shifts to a checkout process at a cash register. When the “9. USB memory removal” button 131 is pressed, the menu selection unit 111 proceeds to USB memory removal processing.

  When “9. USB memory removal” is selected, the connection information acquisition unit 112 sends the USB memory connection unit 12 each connection unit of the USB memory connection unit 12, that is, the USB memories 21 and 41 to each drive. Detects whether there is a connection. The detection result is written in the table memory 1121 shown in FIG. 3A shows a state before writing, and FIG. 3B shows a state after writing. The table memory 1121 has columns for drive type, detachability, and connection / non-connection. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the drives C, D, E are not removable (“0”), and the subsequent drives F˜ are initially set as removable (“1”). In the example of FIG. 3B, the HDD 16 is connected to the drives C and D, and the USB memory 21 is connected to the drive E, and the presence or absence of connection is obtained from the detection result of the connection of the USB memory 41 after the drive F. Here, the USB memory 41 is connected to the drives F and H. Therefore, “1” is set for the drives C, D, E, F, and H in the column of presence / absence of connection, and the other drives remain “0”.

  The display processing unit 113 displays connection unit information for selecting a USB memory to be removed according to the contents of the table memory 1121 created by the connection information acquisition unit 112 on the display unit 13 and further displays information related to the storage contents of the USB memory. Displayed on the unit 13. For example, FIG. 4 shows a screen 13A in the case where there is no removable drive (including a state where all the drives are removed), a window 132 for displaying the drive, a menu button 133 that is pressed when returning to the menu screen, and the center. Window 134 and a guide 135 “There is no corresponding drive” are displayed.

  FIG. 5 shows a screen 13A on which file information stored in the drive F and the USB memory 41 connected to the drive F is displayed, and a removal button 136 is displayed. That is, the drive F is displayed in the window 132, and the file information such as the file name and file date read from the USB memory 41 connected to the connection unit of the drive F is displayed in a list in the window 134. When the removal button 136 is instructed on this screen, removal of the USB memory connected to the drive F is permitted. By displaying the type of drive to be removed and displaying the file information so as to be visible, it is possible to easily recognize whether or not the USB memory 41 is to be removed, and it is possible to prevent an erroneous USB memory from being removed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the display processing unit 113 selects a pull-down button 1320 next to the drive name in the window 132 and performs a pull-down operation to display other drives to which the USB memory 41 is connected. The window 1321 can be displayed. In FIG. 6, it can be seen that the drive H is the drive to which the USB memory is connected after the drive F. A vertical scroll cursor 137 is displayed as necessary. Furthermore, by selecting the displayed drive name, the drive information of the selected drive is changed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the device connection information for the drive corresponding to the connection unit that is initially set as the removal prohibition is not displayed (prohibited), thereby preventing an erroneous removal operation.

  FIG. 7 shows a removal guide 138 displayed after the removal process on the system side performed after the USB memory 41 to be removed is selected. At an appropriate position of the guide 138, an ENT button for final confirmation of the removal operation is displayed so as to be pressed. When the ENT button 139 is pressed, the corresponding USB memory 41 is physically removed from the connection unit.

  In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the selection processing unit 114 detects the pressing of the removal button 136 and, when detecting that the removal button 136 has been pressed, performs a process of shifting to the screen 13A in FIG. 7, for example.

  When the removal button 136 is pressed by the selection processing unit 114, the removal processing unit 115 first removes the USB memory 41 connected to the corresponding connection unit from the system. The process is executed to instruct the transition to the screen shown in FIG.

  Next, processing when the “USB memory removal” button is selected on the menu screen will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the “USB memory removal” button 131 (FIG. 2) has been pressed (step S1). If another button is pressed on the menu screen, the process proceeds to a process corresponding to the pressed button.

Next, drive connection information is read, and a table memory 1121 shown in FIG. 3B is created (step S3). Subsequently, a process for selecting a drive is executed. For example, i indicating the drive is reset to 0 (step S5).
drive (i) = {“C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, “G”, “H”, “I”}… (1)
However, i = n (n = 0,1,2, ...)
Is calculated (step S7). In equation (1), drive (i) = 1 indicates a state where it can be removed and connected. If drive (i) is not 1 in step S7, i is incremented by 1 (step S9), and the same determination is made for the next drive. In the present embodiment, since the drives C, D, and E (that is, i = 0, 1, and 2) are initially set as non-removable targets, No is determined in step S7, and the connection information regardless of the presence or absence of connection. Is prohibited. If the USB memory 41 is not connected after drive E (i = 2), the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and this flow ends (returns to the menu screen).

  In this embodiment, i = 3, that is, drive F, step S7 becomes Yes, and the contents (record file) of drive F are displayed (step S11, see FIG. 5). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a pull-down operation (step S13). If there is a pull-down operation, another connected drive type is displayed (step S15, see FIG. 6). In the present embodiment, the other drive is the drive H, and when the drive H is selected, the contents (record file) of the drive H are displayed (step S17).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the removal button 136 has been pressed in a state where the corresponding drive (here, drive F or H) is displayed (step S19). If the remove button 136 is not pressed, the process returns to step S13 and the same selection process is repeated. On the other hand, if the remove button 136 has been pressed, a USB removal process in a systematic manner (in software) is performed on the USB memory 41 connected to the connection unit of the driver (step S21). Next, the “removal processing complete” display is displayed with the ENT button 139 displayed together (step S23). As described above, in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the storage contents such as the drive type of the connection unit to which the USB memory to be removed and the file name in the USB memory are stored are displayed. This can be confirmed and prevents the wrong USB memory from being removed. Then, it waits for whether or not the ENT button 139 has been pressed (step S25), and when pressed, returns to the menu screen.

  According to the above description, the collection USB memory 41 can be removed without error, and the maintenance USB memory 21 can be mistakenly removed systematically (on software), and maintenance data can be saved. It is possible to prevent disappearance.

  In this embodiment, the USB memory is exemplified as the external device, but a storage medium other than the USB memory may be used.

  In this embodiment, the connection information acquisition unit 112 detects the presence / absence of connection for the drives C, D, and E. However, as the second embodiment, for the drives C, D, and E that are not to be removed, The presence / absence detection may not be performed, and the process of writing “1” in the connection presence / absence column may be omitted as shown in FIG. According to this, the burden of the information acquisition process is reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the information processing apparatus is applied to a POS terminal for a store is shown. However, as the third embodiment, information that handles various types of information, for example, information processing at work, service business, etc. What applied to the processing apparatus may be used.

  In addition, the description of the above-described embodiment is an example in all respects, and should be considered not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

10 POS terminal (information processing device)
16 HDD (external device)
13 Display unit 14 Operation unit (operation input unit)
112 connection information acquisition unit 113 display processing unit 114 selection processing unit 115 removal processing unit 21, 41 USB memory (external device)
12 USB memory connection (connection)
30 USB hub (connection part)

Claims (6)

In an information processing apparatus including a plurality of connection units to which an external device can be connected,
A display for displaying the operation screen;
An operation input unit for inputting an operation on the operation screen; and a connection information acquisition unit that acquires information on whether or not the external device is connected to a connection unit from which the external device is removable among the plurality of connection units;
A display processing unit that displays information on a connection unit acquired by the connection information acquisition unit and connected to the external device on the display unit;
Of the information on the connection unit displayed on the display unit, a selection unit that receives an operation from the operation input unit and selects a connection unit to be removed;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a removal processing unit that performs a process of removing an external device connected to the selected connection unit to be removed from the information processing system and guides the physical removal to the display unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display processing unit displays information about the external device connected to the connection unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a USB memory. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display processing unit displays contents stored in the USB memory connected to the connection unit. A non-removable setting unit that sets a connection unit that disables physical removal for a plurality of connection units to which the external device can be connected,
The said display process part prohibits the display to the said display part of the information regarding the external device connected to the connection part made into the non-removable setting set by the said non-removable setting part. Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a POS terminal.