Information transmission system for terminal device

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to an information transmission system of a higher-level device and a terminal device including a plurality of processing devices connected to the higher-level device.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional terminal device, a touch panel type display, a printer, a card reader, and other processing devices (hereinafter referred to as devices) are connected to a host device consisting of a central processing unit and a storage device, and the device is connected to the device from the host device. There is a device that executes various processes by notifying the processing request information to operate the device or by notifying the host device of various event information from the device.

【0003】

In such a terminal device, an application corresponding to the content to be processed is prepared on the host device side, and processing request information is transmitted to each device and event information is transmitted from each device based on this application. .. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of software when the devices are sequentially requested to process and operate based on the application of the host device.

【0004】

In this case, the application first notifies the first device of the processing request and the processing content information, thereby operating this device. Then, when the operation of the device ends and the end notification is sent from the first device to the application, the application notifies the next device of the processing request and the processing content information, thereby operating this device.

【0005】

By such a procedure, information on processing requests and processing contents of a plurality of devices is notified and operated. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the concept of software when receiving event information from a predetermined device based on the application of the host device. In this case, assuming that the predetermined event information is received from the device having the nth application, for example, the first to third devices, the application is from one of the first to third devices. Every time it receives event information, it determines whether it has received event information from all other devices, and if it determines that it has not received event information from all devices, it waits for the next information and all. If it is determined that the event information has been received from the device of, the receiving process is terminated.

【0006】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in the processing request described with reference to FIG. 10, it is necessary to write the processing content to the application for each operating device, which causes a problem that it takes time and effort to create the application.

【0007】

Further, in receiving the information shown in FIG. 11, each time the application receives the information from each device, the application needs to check whether or not the information is received from all the other devices, and for that purpose, the data is repeatedly referred to. Since it is necessary to give the process to the application, there is a problem that the creation of the application becomes troublesome.

【0008】

Furthermore, in both cases of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, if the number of devices is increased or decreased due to functional changes, etc., it is necessary to make major modifications to the application, and especially when increasing the number of devices, it is necessary to change the entire application. It has the problem that it will not be easy. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information transmission system for a terminal device capable of solving these problems.

【0009】

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, the present invention comprises a host device and a plurality of processing devices connected to the host device, and an information transmission system for a terminal device that operates the plurality of processing devices based on a notification from an application prepared on the host device side. In the above, when a management module having a table is interposed between the application and the plurality of processing devices and the application notifies the management module of the processing request to the processing device and the processing content information, the management module displays the processing content information in the table. It is characterized in that the processing is sequentially requested to the plurality of processing devices based on the processing content information.

【0010】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the information processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a higher-level device, which is composed of a central processing unit (CPU) 2, a main storage device 3, a magnetic disk device 4, and the like.

【0011】

5-1 to 5-n are devices (processing devices), and each device 5-1 to 5-n executes various processes based on the processing request of the application described later, and notifies the application of various information. It is to be performed, and is connected to the central processing unit 2 by the bus 6 together with the main storage device 3 and the magnetic disk device 4. These devices 5-1 to 5-n are not limited, but general ones include, for example, a touch panel display, a card reader / writer, a printer, a scanner, and various sensors.

【0012】

On the other hand, the main storage device 3 is a memory such as RAM, which stores data and programs as needed, and the magnetic disk device 4 is an external storage means for storing various data and various programs. Further, the central processing device 2 calls the application stored in the magnetic disk device 4 and stores it in the main storage device 3 and stores it in the main storage device 3. It controls each device 5-1 to 5-n based on the applied application.

【0013】

Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of the software for processing requests running on the system shown in Figure 1. As shown in this figure, in this software, between the application and multiple devices 5-1 to 5-n. The management module 7 is intervened in the software. Here, the management module 7 transmits the processing request notification from the application and the information of the processing contents to the devices 5-1 to 5-n, and the existence of the management module 7 causes the application to be the devices 5-1 to 5- It is possible to collectively output information on the processing contents for these devices 5-1 to 5-n without recognizing n individually.

【0014】

In other words, management module 7 is responsible for making the application look like one device 5-1 to 5-n. Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the device is operated by a processing request from an application, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the steps shown in S of FIG.

【0015】

First, in the host device 1, the central processing unit 2 calls and starts the processing request application read from the magnetic disk device 4 into the main storage device 3, and the started application is applied to the management module 7 having a predetermined table. Notify the processing request together with the processing content information (S1). This processing content information consists of a device name and a processing identifier, and when the management module 7 receives the processing content information, it writes this in the table.

【0016】

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the table at this time, and the device name and the processing identifier are written in the area divided for each index. Here, the device name is a character string indicating the device. In addition, the processing identifier represents the operation performed by the device. For example, "1" requests the driver of device 5-1 to prepare the initial settings, and "2" is device 5-2. If is a card reader or scanner, it requests reading of data from the card or manuscript.

【0017】

From the contents of this table, management module 7 identifies the number of devices and the device name (S2). Based on this identification result, the management module 7 requests the device 5-1 corresponding to the first index to perform the processing based on the processing identifier (S3). Then, when the management module 7 is notified of the end of the processing operation from the device 5-1, the management module 7 requests the device 5-2 corresponding to the second index to perform the processing based on the processing identifier (S4). ..

【0018】

In the same way, other devices are operated based on the contents of the table. The number and order of devices that operate in this series of processes are not limited, but are determined by the contents of the application created in advance, and it is optional to operate the same device twice or more. .. By executing the information transmission as described above, the application can process two or more devices as if they handle one device.

【0019】

In other words, when notifying two or more devices of processing request and information on the processing content, the application only needs to notify the management module of the processing content information in a batch, and the subsequent processing request to each device is managed. It can be shared by modules. Therefore, it is not necessary to write the processing content to the application for each operating device, which makes it easier to create the application, and even if the number of devices is increased or decreased due to a function change or the like, the modification of the application can be kept to a minimum. This makes it easy to change the application even when increasing the number of devices.

【0020】

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of software for receiving event information. In this case, the management module 7 receives event information from a plurality of devices based on notifications from the application, and then transmits the event information to the application. In other words, in this case as well, the management module 7 is responsible for making the application look like multiple devices as one.

【0021】

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when event information notified asynchronously from a plurality of devices is received, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the steps shown in S of FIG. First, in the host device 1, the application for receiving event information read from the magnetic disk device 4 to the main storage device 3 by the central processing unit 2 is called from the main storage device 3 and started, and the started application is sent to the management module 7. Notify the information of the event information reception contents.

【0022】

This information consists of the device name and event type, and when the management module 7 receives this information, it writes it in the table and registers it (S1). Figure 7 shows the contents of the table at this time, and the device name and the type of event to be received are written in the area divided for each index. Here, the device name is a character string indicating the device.

【0023】

In addition, the event type is expressed by coding the event information to be received. For example, "1" is the information on the end of operation from the device 5-1 and "2" is the case where the device 5-2 is a printer or the like. It shows attention information such as progress and out of paper. After that, the management module 7 waits for the event information notified from the devices 5-1 to 5-n, and when the management module 7 receives the event information from any of the devices 5-1 to 5-n (S2), the management module 7 waits for the event information. The event information is collated with the contents of the table, and if it is the corresponding event information notified from the corresponding device, the received information is written, and whether or not all the event information has been received is checked and whether or not it ends. Judge (S3).

【0024】

Here, if there is event information that has not been received yet and it is determined that it is not the end, the management module 7 continues to wait for the event information to be notified, and if it is determined that all the event information has been received and the end, the end of the event information reception is terminated. Notify the application (S4). By executing the process as described above, the application can process one device for two or more devices.

【0025】

In other words, when an application receives event information from two or more devices, it only needs to receive the end notification via the management module, and the actual reception of event information can be shared by the management module. Therefore, it is not necessary for the application to have a process of repeatedly referencing data, which makes it easier to create an application, and even if the number of devices is increased or decreased due to a function change, etc., the modification of the application can be kept to a minimum. This makes it easy to change the application even when increasing the number of devices.

【0026】

Figure 8 is a configuration diagram of the software for requesting processing to the device and receiving event information. As shown in this figure, this software creates a device information file consisting of processing content information and event information reception content information. It is stored in the magnetic disk device 4, and the management module 7 takes in the device information by the notification from the application and executes the process.

【0027】

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when both processing requests to a plurality of devices and event information reception are performed. FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 are shown according to the steps shown in S of FIG. It will be explained with reference to. First, in the host device 1, the central processing unit 2 calls and starts the application read from the magnetic disk device 4 into the main storage device 3, and the started application manages the processing request to the device and the request for receiving event information. Notify module 7. (S1) Upon receiving a request from the application, management module 7 calls the device information from the device information file and writes it to the table.

【0028】

This device information is, for example, the information shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. From the contents of this table, management module 7 identifies the number of devices and device names for processing requests (S2). Based on this identification result, the management module 7 sends information based on the processing identifier to the devices 5-15-n to be operated as in the case of FIG. 3 and operates them sequentially (S3).

【0029】

After that, the management module 7 waits for the event information notified from the devices 5-1 to 5-n, and when the management module 7 receives the event information from any of the devices 5-1 to 5-n (S4), the management module 7 waits for the event information. The event information is collated with the contents of the table, and if it is the corresponding event information notified from the corresponding device, the received information is written, and whether or not all the event information has been received is checked and whether or not it ends. Judge (S5).

【0030】

Here, if there is event information that has not been received yet and it is determined that it is not the end, the management module 7 continues to wait for the event information to be notified, and if it is determined that all the event information has been received and the end, the end of the event information reception is terminated. Notify the application (S6). In the above example, the notification of the processing request to the device and the notification of the event information reception request are simultaneously sent to the management module and executed as a series of processing, but the processing request information is notified separately for each notification. Alternatively, it is also possible to extract the information for receiving the event information from the device information file and perform it as an independent process.

【0031】

By executing the processing as described above, the application only needs to notify the management module of the processing request, and the execution of the processing of each device and the reception of the information from the device are the device information created separately from the application. Since the management module is based on the file, you can increase or decrease the number of devices without changing the application.

【0032】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, in the present invention, a management module is interposed between an application and a plurality of processing devices, and the management module requests each device (processing device) for processing and receives event information from each device. In order to perform the above, the application may notify the management module of the processing content information or the event information reception content information in a lump, and the subsequent management can be shared by the management module.

【0033】

Therefore, it is not necessary to write the processing contents to the application for each operating device or to give the application a process of repeatedly referencing data, which facilitates the creation of the application and changes the function of the device. Even when the number of devices is increased or decreased, the modification of the application can be minimized, and the effect of facilitating the modification of the application can be obtained even when the number of devices is increased.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a functional block diagram which shows embodiment of the invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a block diagram of the software for the processing request in an embodiment.

[Fig. 3]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure at the time of operating a device by a processing request.

[Fig. 4]

It is a figure which shows the contents of the table at the time of a processing request.

[Fig. 5]

It is a block diagram of the software for receiving event information in an embodiment.

[Fig. 6]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure for receiving event information.

[Fig. 7]

It is a figure which shows the contents of the table at the time of receiving event information.

[Fig. 8]

It is a block diagram of software for processing request and event information reception in an embodiment.

[Fig. 9]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of processing request and event information reception.

[Fig. 10]

It is a block diagram of software for a conventional processing request.

[Fig. 11]

It is a block diagram of the software for receiving event information in the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Upper device 2 Central processing unit 3 Main memory 4 Magnetic disk drive 5-1 ~ 5-n device (processing equipment) 7 Management module