Managing method of electrical device, management apparatus, electrical device, communications device, program therefor, and management system of electrical device
First Claim
1. A managing method of an electrical device, comprising the steps of:
- sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices from a management apparatus via the Internet either to a communications device connected to the electrical device being managed or to the electrical device itself being managed;
returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction of the electrical device, to the management apparatus from the communications device or the electrical device itself, in response to the request for malfunction information from the management apparatus; and
setting, by the management apparatus, a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications processing section of a management apparatus sends a request for malfunction information via the Internet to one or more electrical devices being managed. A database manager of the management apparatus refers to data stored in a database and updates the record of the electrical device therein. A timing control section of the management apparatus carries out control so that the number of electrical devices requested upon by the management apparatus does not exceed a predetermined value. In this way, despite the management apparatus centrally manages the malfunction information of each electrical device, a peak quantity of the malfunction information received by the management apparatus can be suppressed and the workload on the management apparatus can be relieved, as opposed to the case where each electrical device sends the malfunction information at its own timing. As a result, a management system of electrical devices is provided, which is capable of managing malfunction information of electrical devices without putting a heavy workload on the management apparatus.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A managing method of an electrical device, comprising the steps of:
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sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices from a management apparatus via the Internet either to a communications device connected to the electrical device being managed or to the electrical device itself being managed;
returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction of the electrical device, to the management apparatus from the communications device or the electrical device itself, in response to the request for malfunction information from the management apparatus; and
setting, by the management apparatus, a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A management apparatus, comprising:
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sending means for sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices via the Internet either to a communications device connected to the electrical device being managed or to the electrical device itself being managed;
updating means, in receipt of the malfunction information indicative of a malfunction of the electrical device from the communications device or the electrical device itself, for updating a database that stores the malfunction information of the electrical device, based on the malfunction information; and
timing setting means for setting a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices from the sending means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer-program for causing a computer to execute procedures as:
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sending means for sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices via the Internet either to a communications device connected to the electrical device being managed or to the electrical device itself being managed;
updating means, in receipt of the malfunction information indicative of a malfunction of the electrical device from the communications device or the electrical device itself, for updating a database that stores the malfunction information of the electrical device, based on the malfunction information; and
timing setting means for setting a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices from the sending means.
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17. An electrical device, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving a request for malfunction information via the Internet from a management apparatus that includes timing setting means for setting a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices being managed; and
reply means, in response to the request for malfunction information, for returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction, to the management apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute procedures as:
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receiving means for receiving a request for malfunction information via the Internet from a management apparatus that includes timing setting means for setting a timing of sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices being managed; and
reply means, in response to the request for malfunction information, for returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction, to the management apparatus.
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23. A communications device, connectable to an electrical device, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving a request for malfunction information via the Internet from a management apparatus that includes timing setting means for setting a timing of sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices being managed; and
reply means, in response to the request for malfunction information, for returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction of an electrical device connected to the communications device, to the management apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-program for causing a computer that is connectable to an electrical device to operate as a communications device,
said computer-program causing the computer to execute procedures as: -
receiving means for receiving a request for malfunction information via the Internet from a management apparatus that includes timing setting means for setting a timing of sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices being managed; and
reply means, in response to the request for malfunction information, for returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction of an electrical device connected to the communications device, to the management apparatus.
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29. A management system of an electrical device, comprising:
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a management apparatus; and
an electrical device to be managed by the management apparatus, the management apparatus including;
sending means for sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices via the Internet to the electrical device;
updating means, in receipt of the malfunction information indicative of a malfunction in the electrical device from the electrical device, for updating a database that stores the malfunction information of the electrical device, based on the malfunction information; and
timing setting means for setting a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices from the sending means, the electrical device including;
receiving means for receiving the request from the communications apparatus via the Internet; and
reply means, in response to the request for malfunction information, for returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction, to the management apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A management system of an electrical device, comprising:
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a management apparatus; and
a communications apparatus, connected to an electrical device to be managed by the management apparatus, the management apparatus including;
sending means for sending a request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices via the Internet to the communications device;
updating means, in receipt of the malfunction information indicative of a malfunction in the electrical device from the communications device, for updating a database that stores the malfunction information of the electrical device, based on the malfunction information; and
timing setting means for setting a timing of sending the request for malfunction information with respect to one or more electrical devices from the sending means, the communications device including;
receiving means for receiving the request from the communications apparatus via the Internet; and
reply means, in response to the request for malfunction information, for returning the malfunction information, indicative of a malfunction, to the management apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification