JP2000056907A - Keyboard composite input device and pos terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily discriminate the data received from the input devices other than its own one such as a keyboard and a magnetic card reader even when these input devices are connected to a keyboard I/F, to evade increase of the data size that is needed for discrimination of data and also to easily know the data stored on a magnetic card. SOLUTION: A POS keyboard composite device 2 includes a magnetic card reader part 15 in addition to a keyboard device part 16. The data which are sent from the part 15 are sorted into the data which are inputted as they are and the data which are simply converted at a data converter part 18 with addition of each identification code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard composite input device and a POS terminal device which can be connected to a POS terminal device and have a function as another input device in addition to a function as a normal keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, in the distribution process of various products, POS
Various managements are performed using (Point Of Sales).
Most conventional POS terminals are equipped with a barcode reader for reading barcodes printed directly on the product or on the packaging of the product, and a magnetic card reader for reading magnetic cards such as credit cards. ing. Further, a keyboard is provided for inputting various data, and a keyboard interface is used for connecting the keyboard. Bar code readers and magnetic card readers use other interfaces different from the keyboard interface, such as RS-232C,
You are entering data.

If the keyboard and the barcode reader are treated as separate input devices and an input interface is provided separately, the configuration of the information processing apparatus becomes complicated, and the number of connection codes and the like increases.

Recently, it has been proposed to use another input device such as a magnetic card reader by connecting to an interface for a keyboard. In such a proposal, data output from another input device to the information processing apparatus is also converted into a code corresponding to character data input from a keyboard. A special combination of keys is added to the input data from other input devices as an identification code to identify input data from the keyboard and input data from other input devices in the host information processing device. It has been proposed to. For example, JP-A-5-8
No. 6023 discloses a prior art in which a magnetic card reader is connected to a keyboard interface, and character data of a magnetic card is converted into a code corresponding to an output code of a keyboard and output. The magnetic card data is
Since it should be kept confidential, it is suggested that a backspace code be added when reading the stored content stored on the magnetic card so that the display program does not output the data directly to the display device. Have been.

[0005]

In a conventional keyboard multi-input device in which another input device is compounded with a keyboard, input data generated from an input device different from the keyboard is converted into data representing a character generated from the keyboard. The data is converted and output to an information processing device such as a POS terminal device serving as a host. As a result, the following problem occurs.

Since the input data generated from the input device is converted into a code corresponding to the character generated from the keyboard and output, the data size of the code of the input data increases. When data is transmitted through a general keyboard interface, the transfer speed of the keyboard interface is low, so the required time is long, and the speed of processing data from the keyboard multi-input device is reduced. Will be less efficient.

Since the input data generated from the input device is converted into a code corresponding to the character generated from the keyboard and output, the information processing device serving as the host uses the input data corresponding to the character from the keyboard as the input data. It cannot be accurately determined whether the input data is input data from an input device other than the keyboard. Although it has been proposed to use a key code string of a specific combination as an identification code of input data from an input device different from a keyboard,
Since the identification code itself can be generated by an input operation on the keyboard, accurate determination of the input device is impossible.

In a keyboard composite input device having a magnetic card reader and the like together with a keyboard, read data from a magnetic card, which should be kept confidential, is converted into a code indicating the same character as that of the keyboard and output. There is a possibility that the data stored in the card can be easily viewed. JP-A-6-3
In the prior art of 01825, a back space code is added after the read data from the magnetic card, so that even if the read data is displayed, it is erased by the back space code and is not displayed. However, if you create a program that allows you to view key input events as they are, erasure will not occur even if you insert a backspace, only the code corresponding to the backspace will be displayed, making it easier to read data from the magnetic card. It will be possible to see it.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard multi-input device and a POS terminal device that enable rapid data input, can be easily distinguished from character codes input from a keyboard, and can easily maintain confidentiality. It is to be.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a keyboard composite input device in which a keyboard for character input and an input device different from the keyboard are combined and connected to a keyboard interface of an information processing apparatus.
Key code output means for outputting a code representing a character corresponding to the operated key to a keyboard interface in response to a key press operation on the keyboard, and responding to an input operation to an input device different from the keyboard. Input data output means for outputting input data generated from the input device to a keyboard interface.

According to the present invention, the keyboard composite input device connected to the keyboard interface includes key code output means and input data output means. The key code output means outputs code data representing a character corresponding to the operated key in response to a key pressing operation on the keyboard. The input data output means outputs input data generated from the input device in response to an input operation to an input device different from the keyboard. Since the input data output means outputs the input data generated from the input device, it is not necessary to convert the input data into a code representing a character corresponding to the key in accordance with the code data output from the key code output means. Processing can be performed. Also, since input data different from the code data representing the character corresponding to the key is output, the input data generated by the input operation to the input device can be easily distinguished from the code data generated by the input operation to the keyboard. it can.

In the present invention, the key code output means may include a make code generated when a key is depressed, and a break code generated when the key is released and having a fixed relation to the make code. Are output in pairs, and the input data output means outputs a code indicating the type of the input device and the input data itself.

According to the present invention, the key code output means outputs a make code generated when a key is pressed down and a break code generated when the key is released. Since the input data output means outputs the code indicating the type of the input device and the input data itself, it is possible to easily determine whether the keyboard or the input device has been operated from the output code.

In the present invention, when the input data output means outputs the input data itself, the input data output means also outputs additional data having the same relationship as the pair of the make code and the break code with respect to the input data. It is characterized by outputting.

According to the present invention, the input data output means includes:
When the input data itself is output, additional data having the same relationship as the pair of the make code and the break code from the key code output means is also output to the input data, so that the keyboard composite input device is connected. When the input data does not correspond to the break code and the make code, the host side information processing device eliminates the possibility of erroneously determining that a keyboard error has occurred, and performs data transfer normally. be able to.

In the present invention, a range of data that can be input by the keyboard interface is limited, and the input data output unit is configured to input data generated from the input device outside the limited range. When the input data is included, the input data is divided and operated so as to fall within the limited range, and a code representing the division mode and the operation result is output.

According to the present invention, the range of codes that can be input is limited in the host-side information processing device to which the keyboard composite input device is connected. For this reason, it may not be possible to transmit the code generated from the input device as it is, but by dividing the code and calculating it, it can be easily converted to output data that can be input on the host side, and the keyboard The input data from the input device can be input to the information processing device on the host side in the same manner as described above.

In the present invention, the key code output means and the input data output means have a function of executing a basic assurance test under predetermined conditions and outputting a normal completion code or an abnormal completion code according to the test result. The input data output means outputs the input device identification code after a certain period of time.

According to the present invention, the key code output means and the input data output means execute a basic assurance test,
It has a function to output a normal completion code or an abnormal completion code according to the test result. Since the input data output means outputs the input device identification code after a certain period of time, the basic assurance test can be executed for the keyboard composite input device as well as the keyboard. Can be recognized from the input device identification code.

Further, the present invention comprises a key code output means and an input data output means, is capable of executing a basic assurance test, and outputs an input device identification code from the input data output means a fixed time after execution of the basic assurance test. A POS terminal to which a keyboard composite input device is connectable, wherein when the power is turned on, the basic assurance test is executed via the keyboard interface, and a keyboard is connected according to a code to be output. A POS terminal device comprising: an input device determining unit that determines whether or not is connected; and a data processing unit that processes data input from a keyboard interface according to a determination result of the input device determining unit. is there.

According to the present invention, the input device determination means of the POS terminal device executes the basic assurance test via the keyboard interface, and determines whether the keyboard is connected or the keyboard composite input device is connected according to the output code. To determine if The data processing means
Data input from the keyboard interface is processed in accordance with the result of the determination by the input device determination means. Therefore, when the keyboard multi-input device is connected, data input based on the input operation on the keyboard and the input operation on the input device are performed. Processing can be performed separately.

Further, according to the present invention, the input device determination means can make a determination based on the basic assurance test even when disconnecting via the keyboard interface and reconnecting when the operation is unspecified. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, it is possible to determine, via the keyboard interface, whether a keyboard is connected or a keyboard multi-input device is connected, even during an unspecified operation.

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the POS terminal 1,
It is connected via a keyboard I / F3 that performs a POS keyboard composite device interface (hereinafter abbreviated as “I / F”). That is, both when the control code is transmitted from the POS terminal device 1 which is the host information processing device to the POS keyboard composite device and when the input data from the POS keyboard composite device 2 is transmitted to the POS terminal device 1, This is performed via the I / F3.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration related to the POS keyboard composite device 2 of FIG. The transmission / reception control unit 11 connected to the keyboard I / F 3 of the POS terminal device 1
Controlled by U12. The CPU 12 has a ROM 1
3, RAM 14, magnetic card reader 15, keyboard device 16, mode switch 17, data converter 1
8 and the like via a system bus 19. RO
M13 stores programs and data for operating the CPU 12. The RAM 14 stores input data, control codes from the POS terminal device 1, and the like. The magnetic card reader 15 reads data recorded on the magnetic card. In the keyboard unit 16, a plurality of key switches are connected in a matrix, and an operation on a specific key switch is detected by scanning the matrix. In the mode switch section 17, a key-type key switch can be inserted to set an operation mode in accordance with the angularly displaced position. The data converter 18 converts input data input from the magnetic card reader 15, keyboard device 16, and mode switch 17.

FIG. 3 shows an appearance of the POS keyboard composite device 2 of FIG. A key-type key 20 can be inserted into the mode switch section 17. The magnetic card 21 can be inserted into the magnetic card reader 15 to read the stored contents. Keyboard I / F of POS terminal 1
3 can be connected by a connection cable 22 and a connector 23.

The magnetic card reader 15 shown in FIG. 3 can read data from the magnetic card 21 according to the JBA standard or the like. JBA standard magnetic card data characters are represented using the Roman alphabet / Katakana 7-unit code specified in JISC6220. The 7-unit code for Romaji / Katakana is “SO” shown at position A / 14 in FIG.
By alternately using “SI” shown at position A / 15, FIG.
7 and a katakana graphic character set shown in FIG. 6 are combined into a 7-unit code. FIG. 5 is used until the SI precedes and the next SO appears, and FIG. 6 is used until the SO precedes and the next SI appears.

FIG. 7 shows an example of magnetic card data conforming to the aforementioned JBA standard. The JBA standard has a start code and an end code, which are added before and after the data part. FIG. 8 shows the contents of the data section.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional keyboard composite input device.
The magnetic card data as shown in FIG.
When sending to a host such as the POS terminal device 1 through the ScanCo.
The character is converted into a key code as shown in FIG. 9 and transmitted using deSet2. As shown in FIG. 8, "h" is added to the end to indicate "31h, 3Dh, 54h, 6" which is a magnetic card data indicating a hexadecimal number.
"1h, 72h, 6Fh, 2Eh" is "1 = Tar
o. ". When this character data is converted into the corresponding keyboard data, as shown in FIG.
h, F0h, 16h, 12h, 4Eh, F0h, 4E
h, F0h, 12h, 12h, 2Ch, F0h, 2C
h, F0h, 12h, 1Ch, F0h, 1Ch, 2D
h, F0h, 2Dh, 44h, F0h, 44h, 49
h, F0h, 49h ". In FIG. 9, the makeup (MA
A KE) code and a break (BREAK) code are generated as a pair, and the break code is generated by adding F0h to the head of the make code. Further, in addition to the key code data shown in FIG. 9, header information as shown in FIG. 10 is transmitted for the purpose of identifying keyboard data and magnetic card data.

In the header information shown in FIG. 10, a special combination code of a key which is considered to be used very rarely by a normal key operation is added as an identification header of the magnetic card data. For example, Ctrl (control) key MAKE, Shift (shift) key MAKE, F1
0 key MAKE, F10 key BREAK, Shift key BREAK, Cntrl key BREAK, etc. are combined. The F0 key is the tenth function key. Then, the number of characters of the magnetic card and Enter which is the end identification code of the transfer data are also added.

In this case, the magnetic card data head identification code and the transfer data end identification code shown in FIG. 10 are added before and after the code shown in FIG. 9 as a header and an end, respectively.
In total, “14h, 59h, 09h, f0h, 09h,
F0h, 59h, F0h, 14h, 16h, F0h, 1
6h, 12h, 4Eh, F0h, 4Eh, F0h, 12
h, 12h, 2Ch, F0h, 2Ch, F0h, 12
h, 1Ch, F0h, 1Ch, 2Dh, F0h, 2D
h, 44h, F0h, 44h, 49h, F0h, 49
h, 5Ah, F0h, 5Ah ". This data amount is 39 bytes, and when the data communication speed is 2 ms per byte, it takes 78 ms for transfer.

The POS keyboard multifunction device 2 of the present embodiment transmits input data in a transmission format as described below.

First, in order to identify whether the transmission data of the POS keyboard composite device 2 is magnetic card read data, keyboard data, or mode switch data, an identification code is added to the head of each data. A code that is not included in the output code of the keyboard unit 15 is set as the identification code of the magnetic card read data and the mode switch data. The output code of the keyboard unit 15 is ScanCodeSet 1 as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 and has the same data format as a standard keyboard. Therefore, no identification code is required for a keyboard. Keyboard scan code uses type 1 (ScanCodeSet 1). FIG. 14 shows an example of the device identification code.

FIG. 15 shows a format at the time of transmitting magnetic card read data from the magnetic card reader 15, and FIG. 16 shows an error code transmission format when the magnetic card cannot be read normally. .
The first byte in FIG. 15 is the magnetic card data head identification code in FIG. The card type in the second byte is shown in FIG.
1 shows the types of magnetic card standards as shown in FIG. The third byte indicates the actual character data of the card. The character data of the card will be described later. The fourth byte is the magnetic card data end identification code in FIG. The first byte in FIG. 16 is the magnetic card error data head identification code in FIG. The error status in the second byte includes the error information shown in FIG. The third byte is a code corresponding to a break code using a scode indicating an error status in the second byte as a make code. The transmission format of the magnetic card reading error code shown in FIG. 16 is a format of a fixed size, and it suffices that only the head code can be identified, so that the end identification code is not required.

FIG. 19 shows the format of the position information data of the mode switch from the mode switch unit 17.
The first byte is the mode switch data head identification code in FIG. The second byte is the value of the mode switch position data (1 to 8) shown in FIG. 20 or “30h” which is a position unknown code. The position unknown code is provided for the purpose of notifying the host that the position of the key-type key 20 is at an intermediate position between the respective positions or that the position of the key-type key 20 cannot be detected and detected due to some kind of trouble. . The mode switch position data has a value of 1 to 8 and indicates a position to which the key-type key 20 is directed according to FIG.

Finally, the transmission data when the magnetic data reading unit 15 reads the magnetic data as shown in FIG. 8 through the keyboard I / F 3 in the POS keyboard composite device 2 of this embodiment. explain. As described above, the character codes of the magnetic card of the JBA standard are “20h” to “7Fh”, and “0Eh” and “0Fh” indicating SO and SI, respectively. Based on these codes based on the criteria shown in FIG.
8 is calculated and converted into an output code and then transmitted to the host.

FIG. 23 shows an example of data when the data of FIG. 8 is transmitted to the host in the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 of the present embodiment. The first byte character code "31h" and the second byte character code "3D
"h" indicates the characters "1" and "=" of the magnetic card data, and is in the range of 20h to 4Fh shown in FIG. Character code "54h" of the third byte character "T"
Is within the range of 50h to 7Fh shown in FIG.
30h is subtracted and transmitted as "24h". When subtracting 30h, "01" is used for identification before transmission data.
h ”.

The character code of the character "a" in the fourth byte is "61h".
h ". Since 30h is subtracted even in the third byte, it is not necessary to newly add "01h" to the head for identification. Similarly, the characters “r” and “o” in the fifth and sixth bytes are “72h” and “6Fh”
30h is subtracted from the character code of “42h”,
Each is transmitted as a “3Fh” code. Also in this case, since the subtraction of 30h is performed by the preceding code, it is not necessary to add the identification code "01h".

The character code of the last character "." Is "34h", which is in the range of 20h to 4Fh shown in FIG. Therefore, the entire code to be transmitted is “31h, 3Dh, 0”.
1h, 24h, 31h, 42h, 3Fh, 02h, 34
h ", and the data amount when transmitted through the keyboard I / F 3 is 9 bytes. If the data communication speed is 2 ms per byte, the data can be transmitted in the required time of 18 ms, and the data transmission amount is obviously reduced and the required time is shortened compared to the case of converting to a key code and transmitting. Is done.

FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a key corresponding to the character code at the time of transmission in FIG. 23 is used as a make code and a corresponding break code is added. The keyboard I / F 3 normally operates on the assumption that a standard keyboard is connected.
If a key code similar to that of a normal keyboard is not input and the input code is monitored and checked, the code as shown in FIG. 23 may not be accepted. The present embodiment aims to prevent this. The data in FIG. 24 is 18 bytes in the data amount when transmitted through the keyboard I / F3, and the required time when the data communication speed is 2 ms per byte is 36 ms. Compared to the case of converting to key code and sending,
Obviously, the amount of data transmission has been reduced, and the required time has been reduced.

The above is the description of the data format used in the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 of the present embodiment. Next, as still another embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
27, an example of a control procedure relating to the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 when the POS terminal device 1 performs a sales process of the POS system or the like will be described.

In step s1, a POS keyboard composite device 2 or a standard OADG (Open Architect
ure Developers Group) A keyboard device is connected to the POS terminal device 1 serving as a host via the keyboard I / F 3 to configure a POS system, and power on the system. In step s2, a basic assurance test is performed on the POS keyboard composite device 2 or the standard OADG device.

The basic assurance test was performed using BAT (Basic Assura
The control unit in the keyboard sequentially tests predetermined test items, and outputs a normal completion code when the test is completed normally. If an error is found in the test, an error completion code is output. In the OADG keyboard device specification, the normal completion code is AAh, and the abnormal completion code is “FCh”. After outputting the BAT normal completion code, the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 of this embodiment outputs a code “E0h” for identifying the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 within a predetermined time. The predetermined time is, for example, 25 ms. The BAT is performed when the power supply voltage is supplied to the device or when the device is connected to the keyboard I / F 3 of the host which is already powered on.

In step s3, it is determined whether the BAT has been completed normally. If it has been completed normally, in step s4, the BAT normal completion code "AAh" is transmitted. If it is the POS keyboard composite device 2, the identification code "E0h" is subsequently transmitted to the POS terminal device 1 on the host side. Send. In step s5, the POS terminal device 1 on the host side receives the BAT normal completion code “AAh”. In step s6, the POS terminal device 1 counts a waiting time using a timer. In step s7, the waiting time is 10
It is determined whether or not it is 0 ms or more. The waiting time is set to, for example, 100 ms in consideration of a margin from the predetermined time of 25 ms. When the waiting time is less than 100 ms, in step s8, the POS terminal 1
The identification code “E0h” of the OS keyboard composite device 2
Is determined. If not, the process returns to step s6 to continue waiting for reception.

The maximum waiting time in step s7 is 100
ms, the POS terminal 1 in step s9.
Determines that a standard OADG keyboard device is connected to the keyboard I / F 3 instead of the POS keyboard composite device 2, and executes initialization processing for the standard keyboard device. If the identification code “E0h” is received in step s8, the POS
The terminal device 1 determines that the POS keyboard composite device 2 is connected to the keyboard I / F 3, and executes an initialization process for the POS keyboard composite device 2.

If the result of the BAT is abnormal completion in step s3, in step s11 the POS keyboard composite device 2 or the standard OADG keyboard device
A BAT error completion code F is stored in the POS terminal device 1 on the host side.
Send 0h. In step s12, the POS on the host side
The terminal device 1 receives the BAT error completion code, determines in step s13 that the POS keyboard composite device 2 or the standard OADG keyboard device has an error, warns the user of the error, performs predetermined error processing, and performs control. End the procedure.

After executing the initialization processing for the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 in step s10,
At 14, it waits for data transmitted from a device connected to the keyboard I / F 3 to be received. Steps
At 15, if there is no transmission data, the reception wait of step s14 is repeated. If there is transmission data in step s15,
In step s16, data is received from the data reception port of the keyboard I / F3. In step s17, it is determined from which device the POS terminal device 1 on the host side is the output data based on the value of the received data.

If the head of the received data is the magnetic card data head identification code "E2h" shown in FIG. 14, in step s18, the host-side POS terminal device 1 sets the magnetic card data end identification code "E3h" shown in FIG. Until "can be received, data reception is continued and all magnetic card data is received. If all the data shown as the magnetic card data format in FIG. 15 can be received, in step s19, the received data is returned to the original magnetic card data, a code is performed, and the POS application processes the data as magnetic card input data. When data from the magnetic card is received via the keyboard I / F3, the recorded contents of the magnetic card cannot be seen even if the data is displayed as it is. The change of data is performed by a simple operation, and the processing load is small and the required time is short as compared with the case of converting to a key code.

In step s17, if the received data is the magnetic card reading error identification code "E4h" shown in FIG. 14, in step s20, data of a fixed size as shown in FIG. 16 is received. This size is, for example, 3 bytes. The POS terminal device 1 on the host side that has received the error code treats it as a reception error in the POS application. In step s17, if the received data is the mode switch data head identification code "E6h" shown in FIG. 14, in step s21, data of a fixed size as shown in FIG. 19 is received. This size is, for example, 3 bytes. In step s22, the POS terminal device 1 on the host side processes the mode switch data using the POS application.

In step s17, if the received data is the normal completion code "AAh" of the BAT, step s23
Then, it is determined that the POS keyboard composite device 2 connected to the keyboard I / F 3 has been disconnected, and that the POS keyboard composite device 2 has been connected again or a standard keyboard device has been connected, and the process returns to step s6.

If it is determined in step s17 that the received data is the abnormal completion code "FCh" of the BAT, step s24
Then, the POS keyboard composite device 2 connected to the keyboard I / F 3 is disconnected, and the POS keyboard composite device 2 or the standard keyboard device is connected again, but the BAT result of the connected device is abnormal. Then, the process proceeds to a warning / abnormal process for the user in step s13. It is also possible to perform a process to warn the user that the device has transitioned from the “connected → non-connected → connected” state.

If it is determined in step s17 that the received data is not the above-mentioned code, in step s25, the input is not based on the device identification code and the BAT completion code due to disconnection / connection of the device connection, but on the basis of an operation on the keyboard. It is determined that the data is keyboard data, such as data or a standard command from the keyboard to the host, other than those described above. In step s26,
The command from the keyboard to the POS system is processed in the same way as from the standard keyboard, and the input data of the keyboard is exactly the same as the input data from the standard keyboard.
It is processed by a POS application or the like. Step s1
9. When step s22 or step s26 ends, the process returns to step s14 and waits for the next received data.

In step s9, when the POS terminal device 1 determines that the standard keyboard is connected and executes the initialization processing, it waits for data reception from the device in step s27, and if there is data in step s28, , The data is received in step s29. In step s30, the processing is divided according to the value of the received data.

If the received data in step s30 is the normal completion code "AAh" of the BAT, in step s31,
The connected keyboard device is disconnected, and the host determines that the keyboard device is connected again, and returns to step s6. It is also possible to perform a process of warning the user that the status has changed from “connection → non-connection → connection”.

If the received data in step s30 is the abnormal completion code "FCh" of the BAT, in step s32,
The host judges that the connected keyboard device is disconnected and the keyboard device or the POS keyboard composite device 2 is connected again, but the BAT result after the connection is abnormal.
The process proceeds to warning / abnormal processing for the third user. The device is
It is also possible to perform a process of warning the user that the status has changed from “connection → non-connection → connection”.

If the received data in step s30 is not a BAT completion code, it is determined that the data is input data to the keyboard or a standard command from the keyboard to the system, and in step s33, a command from the keyboard to the system is executed. And input the keyboard input data to P
It is processed by an OS application or the like. After processing,
It returns to step s14.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, a keyboard composite input device in which a keyboard and an input device different from the keyboard are combined, code data representing a character corresponding to an operation on the keyboard, and a code generated from the input device. Input data to be input to the information processing apparatus from the same keyboard interface. Since it is not necessary to convert the input data into the code data of the character as it is generated from the input device, the input can be performed quickly, and the character and the input data can be easily identified. Even if the data input from the input device requires confidentiality, by processing it separately from the code data from the keyboard, it is possible to prevent the data from being displayed as easily as the data from the keyboard.

Further, according to the present invention, the code corresponding to the input operation to the keyboard is generated as a pair of the make code and the break code, and the code corresponding to the input operation to the input device changes the type of the input device. Since the indicated code and the input data itself are output, the data from the keyboard and the data from the input device can be easily identified.

According to the present invention, the data from the input device output by the data output means is output together with the additional code having the same relationship as the pair of the break code and the make code from the keyboard. Even if a pair of a make code and a break code is required in the input processing on the side, the input data from the input device can be handled as normal data.

Further, according to the present invention, even if the range of data that can be input by the keyboard interface is limited, the input data from the input device is kept within the limit by division and calculation. It can be input via an interface.

According to the present invention, the key code output means and the input data output means execute the basic assurance test under predetermined conditions and output a code according to the test result, and the input data output means further operates for a certain period of time. Since the input device identification code is output later, if the basic assurance test is executed in the information processing device on the host side, it is possible to easily determine whether the keyboard composite input device is connected or the normal keyboard is connected. .

Further, according to the present invention, when the power is turned on, a basic assurance test is executed via the keyboard interface, and according to a code output, it is determined whether the keyboard is connected or the keyboard composite input device is connected. Since the processing of the data input from the keyboard input interface is performed according to the determination result, appropriate processing can be performed according to the data.

According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether the input device connected to the keyboard interface is a keyboard or a keyboard combined input device even while the POS terminal device is operating. Even if the keyboard and the keyboard composite input device are used interchangeably during operation, appropriate data processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to the POS keyboard composite device 2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the appearance of the POS keyboard composite device 2 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a chart showing a part of a 7-unit code for Romaji and katakana.

FIG. 5 is a table showing a part of a 7-unit code for Romaji and katakana.

FIG. 6 is a table showing a part of a 7-unit code for Roman characters and katakana.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of transmission data recorded on the magnetic card 21 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing a data part of the transmission data of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a table showing data obtained by converting the data of FIG. 8 into keyboard data.

FIG. 10 is a table showing data added when magnetic card read data is transmitted by a conventional method.

FIG. 11: Keyboard scan code 1 (ScanCodeSet 1)
6 is a table showing a part of a list of output codes from a keyboard device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12: Keyboard scan code 1 (ScanCodeSet 1)
6 is a table showing a part of a list of output codes from a keyboard device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13: Keyboard scan code 1 (ScanCodeSet 1)
6 is a table showing a part of a list of output codes from a keyboard device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a table showing identification codes of respective device units of the POS keyboard multifunction device 2 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a transmission format of magnetic card read data read by the magnetic card reader unit 15 of FIG. 2;

16 is a diagram showing a transmission format of an error code at the time of a reading error in a magnetic card read by the magnetic card reader 15 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a chart showing type codes of the magnetic card 21 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a chart showing the error codes of FIG. 16;

19 is a diagram showing a transmission format of position information data from the mode switch unit 17 in FIG.

FIG. 20 is a chart showing the position information data of FIG. 19;

21 is a key-operated key 2 in the mode switch unit 17 in FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the relationship between the position of 0 and the position data of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a table showing criteria for division and calculation for converting data read by the magnetic card reader unit 15 of FIG. 2 into transmission data.

FIG. 23 is a table showing transmission data converted from the data of FIG. 8 according to the criterion of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a chart showing transmission data converted from the data of FIG. 8 in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a partial flowchart showing a control procedure as still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a partial flowchart showing a control procedure as still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a partial flowchart showing a control procedure as still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 POS terminal device 2 POS keyboard composite device 3 Keyboard I / F 11 CPU 15 Magnetic card reader unit 16 Keyboard device unit 17 Mode switch unit 18 Data conversion unit 20 Key type key 21 Magnetic card

Claims (7)

[Claims] A keyboard for character input and an input device different from the keyboard are compounded, and a keyboard compound input device connected to a keyboard interface of the information processing device responds to a key press operation on the keyboard. Key code output means for outputting a code representing a character corresponding to an operated key to a keyboard interface; and input data generated from the input device in response to an input operation to an input device different from the keyboard. And an input data output unit that outputs the input data to a keyboard interface. 2. The key code output means pairs a make code generated when a key is depressed and a break code generated when the key is released and having a fixed relation to the make code. The keyboard composite input device according to claim 1, wherein the input data output means outputs a code indicating the type of the input device and the input data itself. 3. The input data output means, when outputting the input data itself,
The keyboard composite input device according to claim 2, wherein additional data having the same relationship as the pair of the make code and the break code is also output. 4. A limit is provided on a range of data that can be input by the keyboard interface, and the input data output unit includes an input data generated from the input device that includes input data that is out of the limited range. The keyboard composite according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when included, the input data is divided and operated so as to fall within the limited range, and a code indicating the divided mode and the operation result is output. Input device. 5. The key code output means and the input data output means have a function of executing a basic assurance test under predetermined conditions and outputting a normal completion code or an abnormal completion code according to a test result. 2. The data output unit outputs an input device identification code after a certain period of time.
5. The composite keyboard input device according to any one of items 1 to 4. 6. A POS terminal to which the keyboard composite input device according to claim 5 can be connected, wherein at the time of power-on, the basic assurance test is executed via the keyboard interface, and according to the output code. Input device determining means for determining whether a keyboard is connected or a keyboard composite input device is connected; and data processing means for processing data input from the keyboard interface according to the determination result of the input device determining means. A POS terminal device comprising: 7. The input device judging means is capable of judging based on the basic assurance test even when disconnecting and reconnecting via a keyboard interface when an operation is unspecified. The POS terminal device according to claim 6.