Patent GB-1324616-A (GB)
Title: Commercial transaction data terminal
Inventor: ZACHAR J E
IPC: G06Q10/08
Filed: 1971-09-02
Abstract: 1324616 Data terminal; checking/recording department store transactions NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO 2 Sept 1971 [14 Sept 1970] 40929/71 Headings G4A and G4T A data terminal includes a digital data processor having a read-only program memory and a plurality of input/output ports to a first one of which a keyboard is connected for supplying data including functional information defining a type of commercial transaction, to a second one of which a read/write memory is connected for storing several transaction control words pertaining to types of commercial transaction, and to a third one of which is connected a data transmission means for transmitting data processed in the terminal to a remote location in accordance with the relevant functional information from the keyboard and the relevant control word or words from the memory. As described the terminal is one of several in, e.g. a department store, see Specification 1,324,617, and is connected to a central unit which may be a tape recording device for subsequent connection to a central computer or the central computer itself. The terminal, e.g. terminal C-280, comprises a digital processor 12 comprising a read only program memory 100 and a logic unit and several modules connected to the processor. Each of the modules, which may include a price tag reader 14, a keyboard 16, an operator 18 and a customer 20 display, a coin dispenser 22, a read/write memory 24, a printer 26, a cash drawer 32, and a module 36 for controlling key interlocks and other like functions, is described in functional terms. For example the keyboard 16 continuously sends one of three status words to the processor 12, KIDL meaning that it is idle and contains no data for transmission, KIN meaning that it has data for transmission, or KERR meaning that a keying error has occurred. Each module is identified by a unique four bit code which is a part of an instruction extracted from the read only memory 100 e.g. in response to status signals from the modules the remaining parts being a four bit operation code, and a four bit function code. In response to such an instruction the processor selects a module, decodes the operation code, and if appropriate transmits the function code to the selected module which responds accordingly. The central unit 10 polls the terminals in turn, a signal from a terminal indicating that it requires service causing the poll sequence to be interrupted so that each terminal effectively operates in real time. Data may be transmitted between the central device and the terminal modems in frequency shift keyed form over telephone lines. The read/write memory 24 may be a core store and contains 256 eight bit words which may be transaction control words, printer etc. format control words, or words lodged in storage by the processor. The transaction control words stored in the memory have a bit position for indicating that they are to be skipped, e.g. where the department store does not use a particular type of inventory control but has plans to do so in the future. The operator display contains several lamps which are lit, inter alia, to guide an operator through any given transaction by displaying the type of information required next, e.g. price, department identification, or whether the transaction is to be stored in taxable transaction or non-taxable transaction files.