Patent Publication Number: US-2021194581-A1

Title: Information processing device, method and maintenance terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-232966, filed in Dec. 24, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing device, a method, and a maintenance terminal. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, commodity sales data processing devices such as POS terminals (Point of Sales) have been used in stores such as supermarkets. Since the commodity sales data processing device is an information processing device that operates based on various data such as programs, it is possible to improve security and add functions by updating the data. 
     In the related art, there is a technique for transmitting an update program from a remote host computer to a terminal to remotely update data. On the other hand, there is an environment where it is not possible to connect to an external device or a network for security reasons or the like. In such a case, a maintenance person goes to the site and updates data manually. 
     Meanwhile, the data update processing is generally programmed to be automatically performed by the above-described update program or the like. Further, the data update processing may be performed for a relatively long time. Therefore, when the maintenance person updates the data on site, there is a demand to perform other work (for example, maintenance work of another POS terminal) in parallel until the update processing is completed. 
     However, according to the technique of the related art, it is difficult to easily grasp the end time of the data update, which makes it difficult to concentrate on other work. Further, in a store serving as a work site, since it may be difficult to connect to the network in the store for the above-described security reasons or the like, it is difficult to check the process status of the update processing over the network. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a maintenance system according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a POS terminal according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server device according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a maintenance terminal according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the maintenance system according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the POS terminal according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the server device according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the maintenance terminal according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a maintenance system according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server device according to the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the server device according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing device, a method, and a maintenance terminal that can perform maintenance work efficiently. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, an information processing device includes an execution means, a prediction means, and a transmission means. The execution means executes processing based on a preset processing procedure. The prediction means predicts an end time of the processing executed by the execution means. The transmission means controls a light source device connected to the own device and transmits the end time predicted by the prediction means by visible light communication. 
     Hereinafter, an information processing device, a method, and a maintenance terminal according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a POS terminal used in a store will be described as a device to be maintained. The present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments described below. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a maintenance system according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a maintenance system  1  includes a POS terminal  10 , a server device  20 , and a maintenance terminal  30 . Further, the maintenance system  1  includes a lighting device  40 . 
     The POS terminal  10  and the server device  20  are connected via a network N 1  such as a local area network (LAN) provided in the store. The server device  20  and the lighting device  40  are connected via a cable N 2  such as a control line. That is, the POS terminal  10  and the lighting device  40  are connected via the server device  20 . The number of POS terminals  10  and the number of lighting devices  40  are not limited to the example of  FIG. 1 . 
     The POS terminal  10  is provided in a checkout section in a store and performs a settlement process for a commodity purchased by a customer. In the present embodiment, the POS terminal  10  is a device to be maintained, and data is updated by a maintenance person as described later. In addition, the POS terminal  10  is not limited to a normal POS terminal operated by a store clerk but includes a self-service type POS terminal operated by a customer. In addition, the POS terminal  10  includes a semi-self-service type POS terminal in which a clerk operates sales registration and a customer performs a checkout operation. 
     The POS terminal  10  includes a clerk display unit  110  including a backlight  1101  described below. The POS terminal  10  can perform visible light communication by modulating the intensity of light emitted from the backlight  1101 . In addition, the visible light communication can use a known and public technology. 
     The server device  20  is, for example, a store server placed in a store and receives various information transmitted from each of the POS terminals  10 . The server device  20  is connected to the lighting device  40  and controls the light emission of the lighting device  40 . 
     A plurality of lighting devices  40  are installed, for example, on the ceiling of the store and illuminate the entrance and exit of the store, display portions where commodities are displayed, the checkout section, and the like from above. The server device  20  can perform visible light communication by modulating the intensity of light emitted from the lighting device  40 . 
     In the present embodiment, a light source device such as light emitting diode (LED) lighting is used as a light source of the backlight  1101  and the lighting device  40  described later. In the LED lighting, the modulation frequency can be set high in particular. Therefore, by using LED lighting as the light source of the backlight  1101  and the lighting device  40 , the light intensity can be modulated in a high frequency band in which human eyes do not sense flickering. 
     The maintenance terminal  30  is an example of a maintenance terminal. The maintenance terminal  30  is carried by a maintenance person and used when performing maintenance work on the POS terminal  10 . As the maintenance terminal  30 , for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal can be used. The maintenance terminal can receive information transmitted by visible light communication by analyzing image data captured by an imaging unit  311  described below. 
     Next, the device configuration of the above-described maintenance system  1  will be described. 
     First, the hardware configuration of the POS terminal  10  will be described.  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the POS terminal  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the POS terminal  10  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  101 , a read only memory (ROM)  102 , and a random access memory (RAM)  103 . 
     The CPU  101  is an example of a processor and controls the operation of the POS terminal  10  in an integrated manner. The ROM  102  stores various programs. The RAM  103  is a workspace for loading programs and various data. The CPU  101 , the ROM  102 , and the RAM  103  are connected to each other via a bus  104 . The CPU  101 , the ROM  102 , and the RAM  103  constitute a control unit  100  configuring a computer. In the control unit  100 , the CPU  101  executes various processes by operating in accordance with a program stored in the ROM  102  or a storage unit  105  described later and loaded in the RAM  103 . 
     The storage unit  105  is connected to the control unit  100  via the bus  104 . The storage unit  105  is a storage device such as a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a flash memory, and retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off. 
     The storage unit  105  stores, for example, various data such as a basic program  1051 , an application program  1052 , a commodity master  1053 , and the like. The basic program  1051  is a program for realizing the basic operation of the POS terminal  10 , such as an operating system. The application program  1052  is a program for realizing a predetermined function related to a commercial transaction (for example, a function related to a settlement process). The commodity master  1053  is a database or the like that stores information on commodities sold in the store. For example, the commodity master  1053  stores various commodity information such as a commodity name and a unit price in association with a commodity code for identifying each commodity. 
     In the present embodiment, any or all of the data of the basic program  1051 , the application program  1052 , and the commodity master  1053  described above are updated as data to be updated by an operation of the maintenance person. Specifically, when an instruction to start execution of an update program PG is given by the maintenance person, the data to be updated is automatically updated according to a processing procedure programmed in advance in the update program PG. In  FIG. 2 , the storage unit  105  stores the update program PG, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the server device  20  may store the update program PG, and the POS terminal  10  may execute the update program PG over the network N 1 . 
     Further, a communication unit  106  and a clock unit  107  are connected to the control unit  100  via the bus  104 . The communication unit  106  is a wired or wireless communication interface that can be connected to the network N 1 . The communication unit  106  communicates with the server device  20  and the like via the network N 1 . The clock unit  107  is a clock device such as a real time clock (RTC). The clock unit  107  measures, for example, the current date and time. The date and time measured by the clock unit  107  is used for calculating an end time, which will be described later. 
     An operation unit  109 , the clerk display unit  110 , a customer display unit  111 , a printer  112 , a code reader  113 , and the like are connected to the control unit  100  via the bus  104  and an input and output controller  108 . 
     The operation unit  109  includes a keyboard including various operation buttons, a pointing device, and the like. The operation unit  109  receives an operation of the operator and outputs the content of the received operation to the control unit  100 . 
     The clerk display unit  110  is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) including the backlight  1101 . The backlight  1101  is configured by a light source device such as an LED as described above. The backlight  1101  can perform visible light communication by modulating light emitted by the light source device under the control of the control unit  100 . 
     In addition, the clerk display unit  110  displays various screens, such as a screen related to the operation of the POS terminal  10 , a screen related to the settlement process for a commodity, and a screen indicating the data update status, under the control of the control unit  100 . The operation unit  109  may be, for example, a touch panel provided on a surface of the clerk display unit  110 . 
     The customer display unit  111  is configured by a display device similar to the clerk display unit  110 , for example. Under the control of the control unit  100 , the customer display unit  111  displays a screen presented to the customer, such as a screen related to the settlement process for a commodity. 
     The printer  112  is, for example, a thermal printer including a thermal head. The printer  112  prints commodity information and information related to the settlement on long thermal paper to dispense a receipt. The code reader  113  is a reading device that reads a code symbol such as a bar code attached to a commodity. The code reader  113  receives an input of a commodity to be purchased by a customer by reading a commodity code held by the code symbol. 
     Next, a hardware configuration of the server device  20  will be described.  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server device  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the server device  20  includes a CPU  201 , a ROM  202 , and a RAM  203 . 
     The CPU  201  is an example of a processor and controls the operation of the server device  20  in an integrated manner. The ROM  202  stores various programs. The RAM  203  is a workspace for loading programs and various data. The CPU  201 , the ROM  202 , and the RAM  203  are connected to each other via a bus  204 . The CPU  201 , the ROM  202 , and the RAM  203  constitute a control unit  200  configuring a computer. In the control unit  200 , the CPU  201  executes various processes by operating in accordance with a program stored in the ROM  202  or a storage unit  205  described later and loaded in the RAM  203 . 
     The storage unit  205  and a communication unit  206  are connected to the control unit  200  via the bus  204 . The storage unit  205  is a storage device such as an SSD, an HDD, and a flash memory, and retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off. The storage unit  205  stores various programs executed by the CPU  201  and setting information. The communication unit  206  is a wired or wireless communication interface that can be connected to the network N 1 . The communication unit  206  communicates with the POS terminal  10  and the like via the network N 1 . 
     The lighting device  40  is connected to the control unit  200  via the bus  204  and an input and output controller  207 . The lighting device  40  includes a light source device such as an LED lighting as described above. The lighting device  40  can perform visible light communication by modulating light emitted from the light source device under the control of the control unit  200 . 
     Next, the hardware configuration of the maintenance terminal  30  will be described.  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the maintenance terminal  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the maintenance terminal  30  includes a CPU  301 , a ROM  302 , and a RAM  303 . 
     The CPU  301  is an example of a processor and controls the operation of the maintenance terminal  30  in an integrated manner. The ROM  302  stores various programs. The RAM  303  is a workspace for loading programs and various data. The CPU  301 , the ROM  302 , and the RAM  303  are connected to each other via a bus  304 . The CPU  301 , the ROM  302 , and the RAM  303  constitute a control unit  300  configuring a computer. In the control unit  300 , the CPU  301  executes various processes by operating in accordance with a program stored in the ROM  302  or a storage unit  305  described below and loaded in the RAM  303 . 
     The storage unit  305  and a clock unit  306  are connected to the control unit  300  via the bus  304 . The storage unit  305  is a storage device such as an SSD, an HDD, and a flash memory, and retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off. The storage unit  305  stores various programs executed by the CPU  301  and setting information. The clock unit  306  is a clock device such as an RTC. The clock unit  306  measures, for example, the current date and time. The date and time measured by the clock unit  306  is used for alarm notification and the like described later. 
     Further, an operation unit  308 , a display unit  309 , an audio output unit  310 , the imaging unit  311  and the like are connected to the control unit  300  via the bus  304  and an input and output controller  307 . 
     The operation unit  308  includes a keyboard including various operation buttons, a pointing device, and the like. The operation unit  308  receives an operation of the operator and outputs the content of the received operation to the control unit  300 . The display unit  309  is a display device such as an LCD. The display unit  309  displays various screens under the control of the control unit  300 . The operation unit  308  may be, for example, a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit  309 . The audio output unit  310  is an audio output device, such as a speaker, that can output audio. The audio output unit  310  outputs audio such as an alarm sound under the control of the control unit  300 . 
     The imaging unit  311  is an imaging device including an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary MOS (CMOS). The imaging unit  311  outputs image data obtained by imaging to the control unit  300 . 
     In the present embodiment, the imaging unit  311  captures a moving image as image data. The imaging unit  311  is used to receive light emitted by the clerk display unit  110  (backlight  1101 ) and the lighting device  40 . A configuration may be adopted in which a light receiving device for visible light communication is provided instead of the imaging unit  311 . 
     Next, a functional configuration of the maintenance system  1  will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the maintenance system  1 . In  FIG. 5 , the relationship between the functional units related to each device is indicated by an arrow. In  FIG. 5 , for convenience of explanation, the functional units provided in each device are described inside the device and the hardware configuration provided in each device is described outside the device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the POS terminal  10  includes an update processing unit  151 , an end time prediction unit  152 , a transmission unit  153 , a first modulation unit  154 , and a first light source control unit  155  as functional units. These functional units are activated when the POS terminal  10  is shifted to a maintenance mode for maintenance work by a predetermined operation via the operation unit  109 , for example. 
     Some or all of the above-described functional units may have a software configuration realized by cooperation between a processor (for example, CPU  101 ) of the POS terminal  10  and a program stored in a memory (for example, ROM  102 , storage unit  105 ). For example, some or all of the functional units described above may be realized by the basic program.  1051 , the update program PG, or the like. Further, some or all of the functional units described above may have a hardware configuration realized by a dedicated circuit or the like mounted on the POS terminal  10 . 
     The update processing unit  151  is an example of an execution unit. The update processing unit  151  executes update processing for updating data to be updated in cooperation with the update program PG. Specifically, the update processing unit  151  performs update processing of data to be updated by executing various processes related to data update based on a processing procedure programmed in advance in the update program PG. 
     The end time prediction unit  152  predicts the end time of the update processing executed by the update processing unit  151 . The method of predicting the end time is not particularly limited, and various methods can be adopted. 
     For example, when the required time necessary for the update processing is set in advance in the update program PG, the end time prediction unit  152  may predict the required time set in the update program PG as the end time. In addition, the end time prediction unit  152  may predict, as the end time, the time obtained by adding the required time set in the update program PG to the time at which the update processing is started. 
     Further, for example, the end time prediction unit  152  may predict the time required until the update processing ends from the progress status of the update processing or the like as the end time in cooperation with the update processing unit  151 . In addition, the end time prediction unit  152  may predict, as the end time, the time obtained by adding the required time predicted from the progress status or the like to the time at which the update processing is started. 
     The end time prediction unit  152  predicts the end time at least at the timing at which the update processing is started. However, it is preferable that the end time prediction unit  152  predicts (updates) the end time at predetermined intervals while the update processing unit  151  is executing the update processing. For example, the end time prediction unit  152  may predict the end time derived from the required time set in the update program PG at the timing when the update processing is started, and then predicts (update) the end time based on the progress status of the update processing and the like. Thus, the end time can be updated in accordance with the progress status of the update processing, and thus, a more accurate end time can be predicted. 
     The transmission unit  153  transmits the end time predicted by the end time prediction unit  152  to the server device  20 . As will be described later, the end time transmitted to the server device  20  is transmitted by visible light communication via the lighting device  40  under the control of the server device  20 . 
     The first modulation unit  154  generates a control signal for transmitting the end time predicted by the end time prediction unit  152  by visible light communication. Specifically, the first modulation unit  154  superimposes information indicating the end time predicted by the end time prediction unit  152  on a control signal for controlling the light emission of the backlight  1101 , thereby generating a control signal for visible light communication. 
     The first light source control unit  155  controls light emission of the backlight  1101  based on the control signal generated by the first modulation unit  154 . The first light source control unit  155  controls the light emission of the backlight  1101  to transmit the end time predicted by the end time prediction unit  152  by visible light communication. 
     The information transmitted from the POS terminal  10  to the server device  20  and the information transmitted via the backlight  1101  are not limited to the end time. For example, the transmission unit  153  and the first modulation unit  154  may control to transmit, together with the end time, a command for automatically setting an alarm at a time corresponding to the end time. Further, for example, the transmission unit  153  and the first modulation unit  154  may control to transmit, together with the end time, information (for example, a terminal ID or the like) for identifying the own POS terminal  10 . 
     The server device  20  includes a receiving unit  251 , a second modulation unit  252 , and a second light source control unit  253  as functional units. 
     Some or all of the functional units described above may have a software configuration realized by cooperation between a processor (for example, CPU  201 ) of the server device  20  and a program stored in a memory (for example, ROM  202 , storage unit  205 ). In addition, some or all of the functional units described above may have a hardware configuration realized by a dedicated circuit or the like mounted on the server device  20 . 
     The receiving unit  251  receives information transmitted from the POS terminal  10 . Specifically, the receiving unit  251  receives the end time transmitted from the transmission unit  153  of the POS terminal  10 . 
     The second modulation unit  252  generates a control signal for transmitting the end time received by the receiving unit  251  by visible light communication. Specifically, the second modulation unit  252  superimposes information indicating the end time received by the receiving unit  251  on a control signal for controlling the light emission of the lighting device  40 , thereby generating a control signal for the visible light communication. 
     The second light source control unit  253  controls the light emission of the lighting device  40  based on the control signal generated by the second modulation unit  252 . The second light source control unit  253  controls the light emission of the lighting device  40  to transmit the end time received by the receiving unit  251 , that is, the end time of the update processing predicted by the POS terminal  10  by visible light communication. 
     The maintenance terminal  30  includes a receiving unit  351 , an alarm setting unit  352 , and a notification unit  353  as functional units. 
     Some or all of the functional units described above may have a software configuration realized by cooperation between a processor (for example, CPU  301 ) of the maintenance terminal  30  and a program stored in a memory (for example, ROM  302 , storage unit  305 ). Further, some or all of the functional units described above may have a hardware configuration realized by a dedicated circuit or the like mounted on the maintenance terminal  30 . 
     The receiving unit  351  receives the information transmitted by visible light communication by analyzing the image data captured by the imaging unit  311 . Specifically, the receiving unit  351  receives information superimposed on the light by analyzing the intensity of the light received by the imaging unit  311 . 
     For example, when the clerk display unit  110  is imaged by the imaging unit  311 , the receiving unit  351  analyzes the intensity of light emitted from the backlight  1101  captured in a moving image and receives the end time superimposed on the light. In addition, for example, when the lighting device  40  is imaged by the imaging unit  311 , the receiving unit  351  analyzes the intensity of light emitted from the lighting device  40  captured in a moving image and receives the end time superimposed on the light. 
     The alarm setting unit  352  sets an alarm for notifying the end time received by the receiving unit  351 . For example, when the end time indicates a period such as 10 minutes, the alarm setting unit  352  sets an alarm at a time obtained by adding the period indicated by the end time to the current time. In addition, for example, when the end time specifies a time, the alarm setting unit  352  sets an alarm at the specified time. When a command related to alarm setting is received along with the end time, the alarm setting unit  352  may set an alarm according to the command. 
     The notification unit  353  performs various notifications using the display unit  309 , the audio output unit  310 , and the like. For example, the notification unit  353  causes the display unit  309  to display a screen for notifying the end time received by the receiving unit  351 . In addition, when the time when the alarm is set by the alarm setting unit  352  is reached, the notification unit  353  sounds the audio output unit  310  or displays a screen on the display unit  309  to notify that the end time is reached. 
     When the terminal ID of the transmission source POS terminal  10  is included together with the end time, the notification unit  353  may display the terminal ID on the display unit  309  in association with the end time or the like. Accordingly, the notification unit  353  can make the maintenance person recognize which POS terminal  10  is performing the update processing, and thus, the convenience can be improved in the case of updating a plurality of POS terminals  10  in parallel. 
     In addition, the notification unit  353  may perform notification using a unit other than the display unit  309  and the audio output unit  310 . For example, when the maintenance terminal  30  includes a vibration generation device such as a vibrator, the notification unit  353  may notify that the alarm set time is reached by vibrating the vibration generation device. 
     As described above, in the maintenance system  1 , when the update program PG is started by the POS terminal  10  by the maintenance person, the end time of the update processing is predicted and the predicted end time is transmitted via the clerk display unit  110  and the lighting device  40  by visible light communication. For this reason, the maintenance person points the imaging unit  311  of the maintenance terminal  30  owned by the maintenance person toward the clerk display unit  110  or the lighting device  40 , thereby inputting the predicted end time to the maintenance terminal  30 . 
     Accordingly, in the maintenance system  1 , even in an environment where the maintenance terminal  30  cannot be connected to the network N 1  or the POS terminal  10  for security reasons or the like, the end time predicted by the POS terminal  10  can be transferred to the maintenance terminal  30 . 
     Further, the maintenance terminal  30  displays the end time received by the visible light communication on the display unit  309  and sets an alarm at a time corresponding to the end time. Then, when the alarm set time is reached, the maintenance terminal  30  notifies that the end time of the update processing is reached. 
     Thereby, the maintenance person can easily recognize, via the maintenance terminal  30 , the end time of the update processing being executed on the POS terminal  10  and the timing when the end time is reached. Therefore, the maintenance person can make an action plan when performing other work in parallel and can concentrate on other work until the update processing is completed. In addition, since the maintenance person can perceive that the end time of the update processing is reached by sounding or the like, for example, when performing additional work on the POS terminal  10  after the data update, it is possible to quickly shift to the additional work. 
     In addition, in the maintenance system  1 , since the end time predicted by the POS terminal  10  can be transmitted using the in-store lighting device  40 , the end time can be received at any position in the store. Thus, the maintenance person can check the end time of the update processing using the maintenance terminal  30  even when performing other work at a position away from the POS terminal  10  that is executing the update processing. Therefore, the maintenance person can concentrate on other work. 
     Hereinafter, an operation example of the above-described maintenance system  1  will be described. 
     First, an operation example of the POS terminal  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the POS terminal  10 . It is assumed that the POS terminal  10  is operating in the maintenance mode as a premise of this processing. 
     First, when the update processing unit  151  receives an instruction of operation to start execution of the update program PG via the operation unit  109  (ACT  11 ), the update processing unit  151  starts update processing of data to be updated based on the update program PG (ACT  12 ). 
     The end time prediction unit  152  predicts the end time at which the update processing ends based on the progress status of the update processing, and the like (ACT  13 ). Next, the transmission unit  153  transmits the end time predicted in ACT  13  to the server device  20  to transmit the end time by visible light communication via the lighting device  40  (ACT  14 ). 
     In addition, the first modulation unit  154  generates a control signal for visible light communication on which the end time predicted in ACT  13  is superimposed (ACT  15 ). The first light source control unit  155  controls the light emission of the backlight  1101  based on the control signal generated in ACT  15  (ACT  16 ), thereby transmitting the end time by visible light communication via the backlight  1101  (ACT  17 ). 
     Subsequently, the end time prediction unit  152  determines whether or not the update processing ended (ACT  18 ). If it is determined that the update processing is ongoing (ACT  18 ; No), the end time prediction unit  152  returns to ACT  13  to repeatedly predict the end time while executing the update processing. The end time prediction unit  152  may be configured to perform the end time prediction at predetermined time intervals by checking the end of the update processing at predetermined time intervals (for example, 30 seconds). 
     If it is determined in ACT  18  that the update processing ended (ACT  18 ; Yes), the processing ends. The end time prediction unit  152  may notify the end of the update processing by visible light communication in cooperation with the transmission unit  153  and the first modulation unit  154  along with the end of the update processing. 
     Next, an operation example of the server device  20  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by the server device  20 . 
     First, the receiving unit  251  waits until the end time is transmitted from the POS terminal  10  (ACT  21 ; No). Upon receiving the end time from the POS terminal  10  (ACT  21 ; Yes), the receiving unit  251  causes the process to proceed to ACT  22 . 
     Subsequently, the second modulation unit  252  generates a control signal for visible light communication on which the end time received in ACT  21  is superimposed (ACT  22 ). Next, the second light source control unit  253  controls the light emission of the lighting device  40  based on the control signal generated in ACT  22  (ACT  23 ), thereby transmitting the end time by visible light communication via the lighting device  40  (ACT  24 ). Then, the second light source control unit  253  returns the process to ACT  21 . 
     Next, an operation example of the maintenance terminal  30  will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed by the maintenance terminal  30 . 
     First, the receiving unit  351  determines whether the end time based on the image data captured by the imaging unit  311  was received (ACT  31 ). Here, when it is determined that the end time was not received (ACT  31 ; No), the process proceeds to ACT  36 . 
     If the receiving unit  351  determines that the end time was received (ACT  31 ; Yes), the process proceeds to ACT  32 . Next, the alarm setting unit  352  determines whether or not an alarm was set (ACT  32 ). If the alarm was not set, the alarm setting unit  352  sets the alarm at the time corresponding to the end time received in ACT  31  (ACT  33 ). In addition, the notification unit  353  notifies the maintenance person of the end time of the update processing by displaying the time when the alarm is set on the display unit  309  (ACT  34 ), and the process proceeds to ACT  36 . 
     If the alarm setting unit  352  determines that the alarm was set in ACT  32  (ACT  32 ; Yes), the alarm setting unit  352  determines whether or not the difference between the set time and the time corresponding to the end time newly received in ACT  32  is within a threshold (for example, one minute) (ACT  35 ). 
     Here, if the time difference exceeds the threshold (ACT  35 ; No), the alarm setting unit  352  proceeds to ACT  33  and resets the alarm based on the newly received end time, thereby updating the time to set the alarm. If the time difference is within the threshold (ACT  35 ; Yes), the time at which the alarm is set is maintained and the process proceeds to ACT  36 . 
     Subsequently, in ACT  36 , the notification unit  353  determines whether or not the current time reached the time when the alarm was set (ACT  36 ). Here, when the alarm itself was not set or when the alarm did not reach the set time (ACT  36 ; No), the notification unit  353  returns the process to ACT  31 . 
     On the other hand, when it is determined that the time at which the alarm was set was reached (ACT  36 ; Yes), the notification unit  353  notifies the maintenance person via the audio output unit  310  or the like that the end time of update processing was reached (ACT  37 ) and the processing ends. 
     As described above, in the maintenance system  1 , when the update processing is executed on the POS terminal  10 , the end time at which the update processing ends is predicted, and the predicted end time is transmitted by the visible light communication via the backlight  1101  or the lighting device  40 . Further, in the maintenance system  1 , when the maintenance terminal  30  receives the end time transmitted by the visible light communication, the maintenance terminal  30  sets an alarm at a time corresponding to the end time and notifies when the time is reached. 
     According to such a maintenance system.  1 , it is possible to notify the maintenance person who owns the maintenance terminal  30  of the end time of the update processing being executed on the POS terminal  10  and the timing at which the end time is reached. Thereby, the maintenance system  1  can improve the convenience when the maintenance person waits for the end of the update processing or when other work is performed in parallel, and thus, the efficiency of the maintenance work can be improved. 
     Further, according to the maintenance system  1 , by performing visible light communication using the backlight  1101  or the lighting device  40 , it is possible to transmit the end time predicted by the POS terminal  10  to the maintenance terminal  30  without connecting the maintenance terminal  30  to the network N 1 . Thus, even in an environment where the maintenance terminal  30  cannot be connected to the network N 1  or the POS terminal  10 , the end time predicted by the POS terminal  10  can be transmitted to the maintenance terminal  30 . Therefore, the maintenance person can acquire the end time predicted by the POS terminal  10  at the maintenance terminal  30  by imaging the clerk display unit  110  and the lighting device without performing the procedure related to the communication with the POS terminal  10 . Therefore, the efficiency of maintenance work can be improved. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the case where the POS terminal  10  transmits the end time to the server device  20  via the network N 1  is described. However, the method of transmitting the end time to the server device  20  is not limited thereto. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a mode in which the end time is transmitted to the server device  20  using visible light communication will be described as an example of another transmission method. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a maintenance system according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 9 , a maintenance system  2  includes the POS terminal  10 , a server device  50 , the maintenance terminal  30 , and the lighting device  40 . Further, the maintenance system  2  includes an imaging device  60 . Here, the server device  50  and the lighting device  40  are connected via the cable N 2  such as a control line. The server device  50  and the imaging device  60  are connected via a cable N 3  such as a data transmission line. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the server device  50  is disconnected from the network N 1 . 
     The imaging device  60  is an imaging device including an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS. The imaging device  60  is, for example, a monitoring camera or the like installed on the ceiling or the like in an area where the POS terminal  10  is provided, and can image at least the clerk display unit  110  provided in the POS terminal  10 . 
     In the present embodiment, the imaging device  60  captures a moving image as image data. The imaging device  60  is used for receiving light emitted by the clerk display unit  110  (backlight  1101 ). Instead of the imaging device  60 , a light receiving device for visible light communication may be included. 
     The server device  50  is a device corresponding to the server device  20  of the first embodiment described above. The server device  50  has, for example, a hardware configuration illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Here,  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server device  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the server device  50  includes the control unit  200  having a computer configuration such as the CPU  201 , the ROM  202 , and the RAM  203 . Further, the storage unit  205  and the communication unit  206  are connected to the control unit  200  via the bus  204 . The lighting device  40  and the imaging device  60  are connected to the control unit  200  via the bus  204  and the input and output controller  207  and the like. Image data captured by the imaging device  60  is input to the control unit  200 . 
     The server device  50  has, for example, a functional configuration illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Here,  FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the server device  50 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the server device  50  includes a receiving unit  551 , the second modulation unit  252 , and the second light source control unit  253  as functional units. 
     Here, the receiving unit  551  is a functional unit replacing the receiving unit  251  described above. The receiving unit  551  receives information transmitted by visible light communication by analyzing the image data captured by the imaging device  60 . Specifically, the receiving unit  551  receives the information superimposed on the light by analyzing the intensity (vibration) of the light received by the imaging device  60 . 
     For example, the receiving unit  551  receives the end time superimposed on the light by analyzing the intensity of light emitted from the backlight  1101  of the clerk display unit  110  from the image data of the clerk display unit  110  captured by the imaging device  60 . That is, the POS terminal  10  and the server device  50  of this embodiment exchange the end time by visible light communication. 
     The second modulation unit  252  performs the same operation as that of the above-described first embodiment based on the end time received by the receiving unit  551 . Thus, the server device  50  can transmit the end time of the update processing being executed on the POS terminal  10  to the maintenance terminal  30  by visible light communication via the lighting device  40 , similarly to the server device  20 . 
     Next, an operation example of the server device  50  will be described with reference to the above-described flowchart of  FIG. 7 . 
     First, the receiving unit  551  monitors the image data captured by the imaging device  60  and waits until an end time is transmitted by visible light communication (ACT  21 ; No). Upon receiving the end time from the imaging result of the imaging device  60  (ACT  21 ; Yes), the receiving unit  551  shifts the process to ACT  22 . Subsequent processes in ACT  22  to ACT  24  are the same as those in  FIG. 7 . 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the end time information can be transmitted from the POS terminal  10  to the server device  50  using visible light communication. Thus, for example, even when the POS terminal  10  operates in a stand-alone manner in accordance with the updating processing, it is possible to notify the server device  50  of the end time information. Thus, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained. 
     Further, when the configuration of the present embodiment is adopted, the transmission unit  153  of the POS terminal  10  becomes unnecessary, and thus, the transmission unit  153  may be made invalid or removed from the POS terminal  10 . 
     The above-described embodiments (first and second embodiments) can be appropriately modified and implemented by partially changing the configuration or function of each device described above. Therefore, hereinafter, some modifications related to the above-described embodiments will be described as other embodiments. In the following, points different from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and the detailed descriptions of points common to the already described contents will be omitted. Further, the modifications described below may be implemented individually or may be implemented in combination as appropriate. 
     (Modification 1) 
     In the above-described embodiment, an example in which LEDs are used as the light sources of the backlight  1101  and the lighting device  40  is described, but the type of the light source is not limited thereto. However, it is preferable to use a light source that can be modulated in a high frequency band where human eyes do not sense flickering. 
     In the above-described embodiment, an example in which visible light communication is performed using the backlight  1101  of the clerk display unit  110  is described. However, the light source of the POS terminal  10  used for visible light communication is not limited thereto. For example, visible light communication may be performed using the backlight of the customer display unit  111 . For example, visible light communication may be performed using a light source such as an indicator lamp included in a device such as the printer  112 . 
     (Modification 2) 
     In the above-described embodiment, the POS terminal  10  performs the visible light communication using both the clerk display unit  110  (backlight  1101 ) and the light source device of the lighting device  40  connected to the own device. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration, and the POS terminal  10  may be configured to perform visible light communication using one of the light source devices of the clerk display unit  110  (backlight  1101 ) and the lighting device  40 . 
     In this case, for example, the control unit  100  of the POS terminal  10  may cause the clerk display unit  110  to display a selection screen for selecting a light source device used for visible light communication from the light source devices such as the backlight  1101  and the lighting device  40  connected to the own device. Then, the transmission unit  153 , the first modulation unit  154 , and the first light source control unit  155  may perform control such that visible light communication is performed using the light source device selected on the selection screen. 
     (Modification 3) 
     In the above-described embodiment, the case where the data update of one POS terminal  10  is performed is described. However, the same can be applied to the case where the data update of a plurality of POS terminals  10  is performed. In this case, it is assumed that each of the POS terminals  10  transmits the terminal ID capable of identifying the own POS terminal  10 , together with the end time. In addition, the alarm setting unit  352  of the maintenance terminal  30  sets an alarm for each terminal ID transmitted together with the end time, thereby individually notifying the end time of the update processing being executed in each of the POS terminals  10 . 
     (Modification 4) 
     In the above-described embodiment, the case where the data update processing is performed is described as an example, but the processing to be executed is not limited to the data update processing. Specifically, the type of the processing is not particularly limited as long as the processing is automatically executed by the POS terminal  10  for a relatively long time after the maintenance person performs the operation to start the processing. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the processing executed by the POS terminal  10  is described as an example. However, the information processing device that executes the processing is not limited to the POS terminal  10 . For example, the same system configuration and device configuration as in the above-described embodiment may be adopted for the data update processing and other processing executed by the server device  20  or an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) (not shown). 
     (Modification 5) 
     In the above-described embodiment, the POS terminal  10  performs the visible light communication by the lighting device  40  via the server device  20 . However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the POS terminal  10  may directly control the light emission of the lighting device  40 . In this case, for example, the POS terminal  10  and the lighting device  40  are connected via a control line or the like, and the first modulation unit  154  and the first light source control unit  155  perform visible light communication using the lighting device  40 . Thereby, since the setting contents of the setting change operation performed by the POS terminal  10  can be transmitted to the maintenance terminal  30  by visible light communication by the lighting device  40 , the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained. 
     When the configuration of the present modification is adopted, the transmission unit  153  of the POS terminal  10  is not required, and thus the transmission unit  153  may be invalidated or removed from the POS terminal  10 . 
     The program executed by each device of the above-described embodiments is provided by being incorporated in a ROM or the like in advance. The program executed by each device of the above-described embodiments may be provided by being recorded on a computer readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CDR, and a digital versatile disk (DVD) in an installable format or an executable format file. 
     Furthermore, the program executed by each device of the above-described embodiments may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and may be provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by each device of the above-described embodiments may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.