JPH03282722A - Sleeping mode control system by external device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize power saving by suppressing power consumption in standby time to a necessary minimum by setting a mode at a sleeping mode in a standby state, and prohibiting a function other than that of a data reception part. CONSTITUTION:This system is equipped with a device 1 having a microprocessor 3 provided with the sleeping mode and the data reception part 4, and an external device 2 connected to the data reception part 4 and transmits a signal to start an operation to the device 1. The sleeping mode of the microprocessor 3 can be cancelled by a signal to cancel the sleeping mode from the external device 2 received by the data reception part 4. Also, the microprocessor 3 can rush into the sleeping mode by the completion of processing or a cancel signal from the external device received by the data reception part 4. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the power consumption in the standby time to a required minimum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] - The present invention relates to a sleep mode control method by an external device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control method in which the sleep mode of a microprocessor built into a device is controlled by an external device.

[Background Art and Problems Therewith] When a device whose operation start is controlled by receiving a transmission control character from an external device in a data receiving section, after the operation is finished, the device does not control the operation until the next transmission control character is received. Enters standby state.

Conventionally, when such a device is in a standby state, it simply waits for the completion of receiving a transmission control character from an external device, and no measures have been taken to reduce power consumption in the standby state.

For this reason, such a device has a problem in that even in a mere standby state, it consumes about the same amount of power as in normal operation.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional example described above, and the start of operation is controlled by receiving a transmission control character from an external device in a data receiving section. This was done with the aim of saving power in the standby state of the device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the sleep mode control method using an external device according to the present invention provides a device having a microprocessor and a data receiving section that has a sleep mode that prohibits functions other than the data receiving section, and a device that has the data receiving section. an external device connected to the data receiving section that sends a signal for causing the device to start operating; The present invention is characterized in that the microprocessor is released from the sleep mode and entered into the sleep mode upon completion of processing or a cancel signal from an external device received by the data receiving section.

[Operation] According to the present invention, when the device enters a standby state due to a processing end or cancel signal, the microprocessor enters a sleep mode and functions other than the data receiving section are immediately prohibited. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress power consumption during standby to the necessary minimum.

Furthermore, even in the standby state, the data receiving section does not stop, so when the data receiving section receives the sleep mode release signal, the device is immediately taken out of the standby state, receives data, and becomes operational. .

Furthermore, the data receiving section that receives the signal (transmission control character) to start the operation cancels the sleep mode upon receiving the sleep mode release signal, and enters the sleep mode upon receiving the cancel signal, so that data reception The signal line for sleep mode control can also be used as a control line for sleep mode control. Therefore, there is no need for a special control line for sleep mode control, which simplifies the configuration and allows it to be used in a wide range of applications.

Moreover, since it is in sleep mode in standby mode, compared to turning off the power of the device during standby mode,
The startup time when canceling is shortened.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

What is shown in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention, which shows a card reader 1 and an external device 2 that controls the start of operation of the card reader 1 using a transmission control character. Specifically, it forms part of, for example, an automated teller machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the card reader 1 includes a microprocessor 3 that controls the processing of the card reader 1, a reading head 7.8 such as two magnetic heads for card input, and a reading head 7.8 for reading the reading results. A display 9 such as an LED that displays the transmission result, a buzzer 10 that notifies you of the card input result and the transmission result, a data receiving section 4 that receives signals from the external device 2, and transmits data to the external device 2. and a data transmitting section 5. Here, the two reading heads 7 and 8 are for reading magnetically recorded data on the front and back sides of the card and inputting it to the microprocessor 3, and are placed on both sides of a card insertion slot (not shown).

Further, the microprocessor 3 has a sleep mode function. Sleep mode is a mode in which the microprocessor stops operating, but the timer, serial communication interface, etc. can continue operating, and in accordance with the embodiment, the data receiving unit The functions of each part other than 4 are prohibited, and the microprocessor 3 itself also enters sleep mode. Therefore, in the sleep mode, the power consumption of the card reader 1 is reduced compared to during normal operation.

The external device 2 is connected to the data receiving section 4 through signal lines 6, 6.
and is connected to the data transmitter 5.

Therefore, a transmission control character (hereinafter referred to as B
It's called an NQ character. ) is received by the data receiving unit 4, the card reader 1 is taken out of the sleep mode and released from the standby state. Conversely, a cancellation signal (cancellation character) transmitted from the external device 2 through the signal line 6 is transmitted to the data receiving section 4.
When received, the card reader 1 enters sleep mode. Furthermore, the card reader 1 also enters the sleep mode when the card reading process is completed. Even when the card reader 1 is in sleep mode, the data receiving section 4 is functioning, so it can receive signals from the external device 2, and therefore can receive the ENQ character and exit the sleep mode. can come out. Also, if you turn off the power in standby mode, the standby time will be longer when the power is turned on after being unplugged from standby mode, but the wait time will be longer due to the longer startup time. The startup time when exiting the sleep mode and exiting from the standby state is short, and the waiting time is shortened.

Further, when a card reader control character transmitted from the external device 2 through the signal line 6 is received by the data receiving section 4, the card reader 1 reads the card. That is, the card read control character is information that defines the operating state (active/inactive) of both reading heads 7 and 8 after the standby state is released, and this character allows the external device 2 to control the operating state of the reading heads 7 and 8. can be controlled. Therefore, the card reader 1 receives the ENQ character from the external device 2 and the ENQ character from the external device 2.
The card can be read by receiving the card reader control character that follows the Q character.

What is shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card reader 1. As shown in FIG. The operation of the card reader 1 will be explained using this flowchart.

The card reader l receives the ENQ character and the card reader control character (CRCC) in the data receiving unit 4.
(S31), and if both characters have not been received, steps 31 and 3 are performed.
8 is repeated to maintain the sleep mode and enter the standby state. Also, if the characters received in step 31 do not include the ENQ character, the device enters sleep mode again (538) and enters a standby state.

On the other hand, if the character received in step 31 includes an ENQ character, the microprocessor 3 cancels the sleep mode due to the reception interrupt of the ENQ character. Next, when the sleep mode is canceled, the indicator 9, such as an LED, indicating card read permission is lit (S32).

Then, the data receiving unit 4 receives a cancellation request from the external device 2 (
Cart swipe is executed while monitoring whether or not a CAN signal is being received (S33°534). Entering sleep mode can also be forcibly executed from an external device, and when a cancel signal is received (3
33) The card reader 1 interrupts the cart swipe process, enters the sleep mode again, and enters the standby state (3
38). Note that the cancel signal is transmitted from the external device to the data receiving unit 4 when, for example, the operator presses a key incorrectly or inputs a cancel key. When the cart swipe is completed (834), - The card data read from the reading heads 7, 8 or error information is transmitted to the external device through the data transmitter 5 (S35). When the transmission is completed, it is checked again whether a cancellation signal has been received (836), and if a cancellation signal has been received, the system enters sleep mode (S
38) Goes into standby state. If the cancellation signal is not received, the operator is notified of the card reading result and the transmission result to the external device using the display 9 or the buzzer 10 (837).
). For example, the card reading result is displayed on the display 9, or if there is a card reading error or transmission error, it is displayed on the display 9 and a buzzer 10 is sounded to alert you. When the series of card reading processes is thus completed, the card reader 1 automatically enters the sleep mode (S38) and enters the standby state.

Note that the present invention can be used not only for automatic cash dispensers but also for a wide range of applications such as electronic cash registers and POS (point of sale) systems. Furthermore, the device that utilizes the sleep mode is not limited to the card reader, but may be any other device.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, in the standby state, the mode is set to sleep mode, and functions other than the data receiving section are prohibited, so power consumption during standby can be suppressed to the necessary minimum, and power saving can be achieved. can be achieved. Further, since a special control line for sleep mode control is not required, the configuration for sleep mode control is simplified and the applicability is increased. Furthermore, the rise time when the device is removed from the standby state is shortened, and the waiting time can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the sleep mode control operation of the same. ■...Card league 2...External device 3...Microprocessor 4...Data receiving section 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A device that has a microprocessor and a data receiver that has a sleep mode that prohibits functions other than the data receiver, and an external device that is connected to this data receiver and that sends a signal to start operation of the device. and a device for canceling the sleep mode of the microprocessor in response to a signal for canceling the sleep mode from the external device received by the data receiving unit, and canceling the sleep mode of the microprocessor by the signal received by the data receiving unit to terminate the processing or from the external device received by the data receiving unit. A sleep mode control method by an external device, characterized in that the microprocessor is caused to enter a sleep mode by a cancel signal.