JavaPOS
Encyclopedia
JavaPOS is a standard for interfacing point of sale (POS)
software, written in Java
, with the specialized hardware peripherals typically used to create a point of sales system. The advantages are reduced POS terminal costs, platform independence, and reduced administrative costs. JavaPOS was based on a Windows POS device driver standard known as OPOS
. JavaPOS and OPOS
have since been folded into a common UnifiedPOS
standard.
JavaPOS consists standard includes definitions for "Control Objects" and "Service Objects". The POS software communicates with the Control Objects. The Control Objects load and communicate with appropriate Service Objects. The Service Objects are sometimes referred to as the "JavaPOS drivers."
connection. The hardware vendors will typically create JavaPOS drivers that will work with Windows. The majority of vendors will also create drivers for at least one flavor of Linux, but not as many. Since there is not nearly as much marketshare to capture for Apple computers used as POS systems, only a few JavaPOS drivers would be expected to work with Mac OS X. (And those would be more likely due to happy circumstance rather than careful design.)
, IBM
, and NCR
to help integrate POS hardware into applications for any operating system
that supports Java
.
The first JavaPOS meeting was convened in April, 1997. In order to encourage adoption of the standard, the interface was based on the already existing OPOS
standard. The first production release, 1.2, was made in March, 1998. The final release as a separate standard was version 1.6 in July 2001. Beginning with release 1.7, a single standards document was released by a UnifiedPOS
committee. That standards document is then used to create the common JavaPOS libraries for the release.
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
software, written in Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
, with the specialized hardware peripherals typically used to create a point of sales system. The advantages are reduced POS terminal costs, platform independence, and reduced administrative costs. JavaPOS was based on a Windows POS device driver standard known as OPOS
OPOS
OPOS or OLE for Retail POS consists of an architecture for Win32-based POS device access. OPOS is currently deployed on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows CE. It also consists of a set of POS device interfaces sufficient...
. JavaPOS and OPOS
OPOS
OPOS or OLE for Retail POS consists of an architecture for Win32-based POS device access. OPOS is currently deployed on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows CE. It also consists of a set of POS device interfaces sufficient...
have since been folded into a common UnifiedPOS
UnifiedPOS
UnifiedPOS or UPOS is a world wide vendor and retailer driven Open Standard's initiative under the National Retail Federation, Association of Retail Technology Standards to provide vendor...
standard.
Types of hardware
JavaPOS can be used to access various types of POS hardware. A few of the hardware types that can be controlled using JavaPOS are- POS Printers (for receipts, check printing, and document frankingFrankingFranking are any and all devices or markings such as postage stamps , printed or stamped impressions, codings, labels, manuscript writings , and/or any other authorized form of markings affixed or applied to mails to qualify them to be postally serviced.-Franking types and...
) - Magnetic stripe readers (MSRs)
- Magnetic ink character recognition readers (MICRs)Magnetic ink character recognitionMagnetic Ink Character Recognition, or MICR, is a character recognition technology used primarily by the banking industry to facilitate the processing of cheques and makes up the routing number and account number at the bottom of a check. The technology allows computers to read information off...
- Barcode scanners/readersBarcode readerA barcode reader is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones...
- Cash drawerCash drawerA cash drawer is generally a compartment underneath a cash register in which the cash from transactions is kept. The drawer typically contains a removable till. The till is usually divided into compartments used to store each denomination of bank notes and coins separately to make counting easier...
s - Coin dispensers
- Pole displays
- PINpadPINpadA PIN pad is an electronic device used in a debit or smart card-based transaction to input and encrypt the cardholder's PIN. PIN pads are normally used with integrated point of sale devices in which an electronic cash register is responsible for taking the sale amount and initiating/handling the...
s - Electronic scales
Parts
In addition to referring to the standard, the term "JavaPOS" is used to refer to the application programming interface (API)Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
JavaPOS consists standard includes definitions for "Control Objects" and "Service Objects". The POS software communicates with the Control Objects. The Control Objects load and communicate with appropriate Service Objects. The Service Objects are sometimes referred to as the "JavaPOS drivers."
Control Objects
The POS software interacts with the control object to control the hardware device. A common JavaPOS library is published by the standards organization with an implementation of the Control Objects of the JavaPOS standard.Service Objects
Each hardware vendor is responsible for providing Service Objects, or "JavaPOS drivers" for the hardware they sell. Depending on the vendor, drivers may be available that can communicate over USB, RS232, RS485, or even an EthernetEthernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
connection. The hardware vendors will typically create JavaPOS drivers that will work with Windows. The majority of vendors will also create drivers for at least one flavor of Linux, but not as many. Since there is not nearly as much marketshare to capture for Apple computers used as POS systems, only a few JavaPOS drivers would be expected to work with Mac OS X. (And those would be more likely due to happy circumstance rather than careful design.)
Historical background
JavaPOS was initiated by Sun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, and NCR
NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation is an American technology company specializing in kiosk products for the retail, financial, travel, healthcare, food service, entertainment, gaming and public sector industries. Its main products are self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check...
to help integrate POS hardware into applications for any operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
that supports Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
.
The first JavaPOS meeting was convened in April, 1997. In order to encourage adoption of the standard, the interface was based on the already existing OPOS
OPOS
OPOS or OLE for Retail POS consists of an architecture for Win32-based POS device access. OPOS is currently deployed on Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows CE. It also consists of a set of POS device interfaces sufficient...
standard. The first production release, 1.2, was made in March, 1998. The final release as a separate standard was version 1.6 in July 2001. Beginning with release 1.7, a single standards document was released by a UnifiedPOS
UnifiedPOS
UnifiedPOS or UPOS is a world wide vendor and retailer driven Open Standard's initiative under the National Retail Federation, Association of Retail Technology Standards to provide vendor...
committee. That standards document is then used to create the common JavaPOS libraries for the release.