POS terminal apparatus

• US 7,398,922 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Yuichi, Kodama, Tomohiro, Hayashi, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/170,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/381, 399/8, 399/10
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A POS terminal apparatus is adapted to be connected to an external device. With an application running in the POS terminal apparatus, a device manager determines whether the external device is capable of counting a first value indicating a usage amount of the external device, and if so, the device manager acquires the first value from the external device in response to a first command from the application. A counter retains a second value indicating the usage amount of the external device and notifies the second value to the application in response to a second command from the application. If it is determined that the external device is not capable of counting the first value, the counter virtually counts the second value in accordance with a third command sent from the application to the external device. An updater updates the second value with a third value which is obtained by a fourth command from the application. The first value is retained even when the second value is updated with the third value.

Claims

1. A POS (point-of-sale) terminal apparatus adapted to communicate with an external device, the POS terminal apparatus comprising:

an application for execution on the POS terminal apparatus;

a device manager operable to communicate with the external device, the device manager being configured to (i) determine whether the external device is capable of counting a first value indicating usage of a first function of the external device, and (ii) acquire the first value from the external device in response to a first command issued by the application in the case in which it is determined that the external device is capable of counting the first value; and

a virtual counter operable to determine a second value indicating usage of a second function of the external device in response to a second command issued by the application,

wherein, in response to a third command issued by the application, the application is notified of the first and second values, or a combined value thereof, in the case in which the first value is counted, and the application is notified of the second value in the case in which the first value is not counted;

the POS terminal apparatus further comprising;

an updater operable to update the second value in response to a fourth command issued by the application, the update being performed with reference to a third value obtained in response to the fourth command in the case in which the first value is not counted, and with reference to the first and third values in the case in which the first value is counted,

wherein the first value, in the case in which it is counted, is retained even when the second value is updated.

2. The POS terminal apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a storage component, wherein the device manager is operable to store the first value in the storage component when a predetermined event occurs.

3. The POS terminal apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a storage component, wherein the device manager is operable to store the second value in the storage component when a predetermined event occurs.

4. The POS terminal apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the virtual counter comprises a predictor operable to predict the second value in response to the second command.

5. The POS terminal apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a cumulative counter to store a cumulative count of the second value.

6. A method of managing usage of an external device in communication with a POS (point-of-sale) apparatus, the method comprising:

running an application in the POS terminal apparatus;

determining whether the external device is capable of counting a first value indicating usage of a first function of the external device;

acquiring the first value from the external device in response to a first command issued by the application in a case in which it is determined that the external device is capable of counting the first value;

determining a second value virtually indicating usage of a second function of the external device in response to a second command issued by the application;

notifying the application, in response to a third command issued by the application, of the first and second values, or a combined value thereof, in the case in which the first value is counted, and of the second value in the case in which the first value is not counted; and

updating the second value in response to a fourth command issued by the application, the update being performed with reference to a third value obtained in response to the fourth command in the case in which the first value is not counted, and with reference to the first and third values in the case in which the first value is counted,

wherein the first value, in the case in which it is counted, is retained even when the second value is updated.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising storing the first value when a predetermined event occurs.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising storing the second value when a predetermined event occurs.

9. A POS (point-of-sale) terminal apparatus adapted to communicate with an external device, the POS terminal apparatus comprising:

a general purpose computer including a processor and a memory, the general purpose computer configured to run an application;

a device manager operable to communicate with the external device, the device manager being configured to (i) determine whether the external device is capable of counting a first value indicating usage of a first function of the external device, and (ii) acquire the first value from the external device in response to a first command issued by the application in the case in which it is determined that external device is capable of counting the first value;

a virtual counter operable to determine a second value indicating usage of a second function of the external device in response to a second command issued by the application,

wherein, in response to a third command issued by the application, the application is notified of the first and second values, or a combined value thereof, in the case in which the first value is counted, and of the second value in the case in which the first value is not counted;

the POS terminal apparatus further comprising;

an updater operable to update the second value in response to a fourth command issued by the application, the update being performed with reference to a third value obtained in response to the fourth command in the case in which the first value is not counted, and with reference to the first and third values in the case in which the first value is counted,

wherein the first value, in the case in which it is counted, is retained even when the second value is updated.