POS peripherals in plain language?

Question

Do it yourself

Good day,
I would like to learn more about POS-peripherals, namely: how the receipt printer and information collection terminals are connected (what ports and connectors) to the cash register, how the interaction between devices takes place, how you can program the touch screen cash register and what language programming for this is used as such systems are created.
In general, more detailed than Google gives "buy a cash register."
This is a simple interest, I'm not a business owner, but it's very interesting how it all works from the inside.
Many thanks for any information/links!

Answer 1

I understand that this is necrophilia, but if someone suddenly looks into this question :)
Firstly, there are single complexes from a system unit, a fiscal registrar (FR), a monitor and, possibly, something else, assembled in one case or in common modules. Are put on the account in tax a uniform piece. And there is a hodgepodge of anything, only one FR is registered. Although, again, the division is often very conditional ...
The main types of peripherals and interfaces used at points of sale (cashier's workstation):
There are many manufacturers of equipment, but Posiflex stands out, making everything right down to calls to the kitchen.
Ukrainian POSUA makes very nice keyboards and card readers.
ChipherLab, Metroligic, Honeywell make good barcode scanners.
Some protocols are standardized, in particular OPOS, JPOS. Other protocols have already settled down over the years as informal standards.

Answer 2

Of the universal standards covering all types of equipment, today there are two:
But there are still standards that have become de facto universal for a particular type of device. For example, ESC/POS for receipt printers and customer displays. At the same time, each equipment manufacturer has a set of its own commands that are universal for the entire range of devices produced. For example, these are Atol and Shtrikh-M protocols for fiscal registrars.
If you know Java, then I can recommend to look at my project https://github.com/nordpos It has a separate code package for trading equipment https://github.com/nordpos/nordpos/tree/master/src... in which contains examples for receipt and etiquette printers, customer displays, fiscal registrars, scales, cash registers, etc. Look, try, maybe it will become clearer.

Answer 3

There are no uniform standards.
Each manufacturer uses its own protocols/firmware. So there are about a dozen variations.
Often it's just Windows with .net.
For specific devices, you can look for docks from the manufacturer.

Answer 4

POS-terminal is connected via COM-port or its emulation via USB.