Apparatus unit replacement assisting method and system

• US 20040230504A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagata, Kiyoshi, Rifu, Toshihiro, Katada, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

By providing an apparatus unit replacement assisting method, in which, upon receipt of a request from a first user to replace a first unit comprising part of an apparatus with a second unit, the second unit is offered to the first user at a price after the deduction of the trade-in price of the first unit, and maintenance is performed on the first unit taken from the first user for trade-in, so that the first unit in maintenance status is offered to a second user who wishes replacement with the first unit at a price lower than the price of the first unit when newly purchased, it is possible to reduce the cost incurred when replacing a unit in a CT apparatus or the like on the part of the user, such as a hospital, and facilitate the management of the production line of the apparatus and the dispatch of service persons on the part of the manufacturer while making a contribution to environmental improvement.

Claims

1. An apparatus unit replacement assisting method, characterized by comprising:

a step of receiving, from a first user, request information expressing a wish to replace a first unit comprising part of a first apparatus owned by said first user with a second unit;

a step of receiving, from a second user different from said first user, release information informing release of a second unit comprising part of a second apparatus owned by said second user and usable in said first apparatus; and

a step of presenting inquiry information to said first user, asking whether said first user is going to use said second unit released from said second user as a replacement unit for said first apparatus.

2. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of making a provisional contract with said first user when information expressing a wish to use said second unit is received from said first user in response to the inquiry.

3. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first unit and said second unit are units having substantially a same capability that need to be replaced by a worker.

4. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of performing maintenance on said second unit released from said second user.

5. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of presenting the inquiry information is a step of offering said second unit taken from said second user and done with maintenance.

6. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of calculating and presenting a trade-in price of said second unit to said second user in a case where said second user wishes to replace said second unit with a third unit.

7. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 6, wherein:

said step of presenting the trade-in price is a step of presenting said second user a price of said third unit after deduction of the trade-in price of said second unit.

8. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 6, wherein:

said step of presenting the trade-in price includes, making a trial calculation of the trade-in price by adding expenses needed for replacement including a transportation fee to a trade-in base price, judging a value of a trade-in from the trial calculation, and presenting the trade-in price to the second user when the trade-in is judged as profitable.

9. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a step of having said second user wishing to trade in said second unit present operation history information through an on-line or off-line transmission in a case where said apparatus is configured to automatically record the operation history information during use, and judging a value of a trade-in with understanding of a use status of said unit for trade-in from the operation history information,

wherein said step of presenting the trade-in price includes determining the trade-in price based on a result of the value judgment.

10. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of presenting the inquiry information is a step of presenting said first user a replacement cost lower than a price of said second unit when newly purchased.

11. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of confirming with said first user whether said second unit as a desired replacement unit is a new unit or a secondhand unit or whether a secondhand unit is acceptable.

12. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of confirming with said second user about information related to post-treatment of said second unit.

13. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of presenting information about a maintenance fee of said second unit to said second user.

14. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of presenting expenses needed for replacement with said second unit to said first user.

15. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of presenting a dispatch date of a service person who performs unit replacement to said first user.

16. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a step of confirming a reply from said first user; and

a step of managing at least one of a production line in a factory, a unit maintenance line, and dispatch of a service person, depending on the reply from said first user.

17. The apparatus unit replacement assisting method according to claim 1, wherein:

said first apparatus and said second apparatus are X-ray computed tomography apparatus and said units are detectors, X-ray tubes, or diagnostic table apparatuses.

18. An apparatus unit replacing method, comprising:

a step of notifying, from a user to a unit provider and manager, a replacement request of a unit comprising part of an apparatus;

a step of notifying, from said user to said unit provider and manager, a specific target replacement unit; and

a step of notifying, from said user to said unit provider and manager, whether said user wishes a new unit or a secondhand unit for the target replacement unit.

19. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 18, wherein:

said unit is a unit that needs to be replaced by a worker.

20. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 18, further comprising:

a step of confirming whether the unit specified by said user is replaceable in said apparatus.

21. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 18, further comprising:

a step of fixing a date when a worker replaces said unit with the target replacement.

22. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 18, further comprising:

a step of confirming with said user whether said unit to be replaced is for trade-in.

23. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 22, further comprising:

a step of confirming a trade-in price or an assessed price of said unit for trade-in when said user wishes a trade-in.

24. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 23, wherein:

said step of confirming the trade-in price or the assessed price includes, making a trial calculation of the trade-in price or the assessed price by adding expenses needed for replacement including a transportation fee to a trade-in base price, and judging a value of the trade-in from or assessed the trial calculation.

25. The apparatus unit replacing method according to claim 23, further comprising:

a step of having said user wishing to trade in said unit present operation history information through an on-line or off-line transmission in a case where said apparatus is configured to automatically record the operation history information during use, and judging a value of the trade-in with understanding of a use status of said unit for trade-in from the operation history information,

wherein said step of confirming the trade-in price or the assessed price includes determining the trade-in price or the assessed price based on a result of the value judgment.

26. An apparatus unit replacement assisting system, comprising:

a plurality of user apparatuses owned by a plurality of apparatus users; and

one or more management apparatus owned by an apparatus manager,

wherein said management apparatus includes;

communication means for enabling communications with said plurality of user apparatuses;

request information managing means for managing request information received from a first user apparatus among said plurality of user apparatuses through said communication means, said request information expressing a wish to replace a first unit comprising part of a first apparatus owned by an apparatus user of said first user apparatus with a second unit;

release information managing means for managing release information received from a second user apparatus, different from said first user apparatus, among said plurality of user apparatuses through said communication means, said release information informing release of a second unit comprising part of a second apparatus owned by an apparatus user of said second user apparatus and usable in said first apparatus; and

inquiry information notifying means for notifying, through said communication means, said first user apparatus of inquiry information, asking whether the second unit in said second apparatus is going to be used as a replacement unit for said first apparatus, and

wherein each user apparatus includes;

communication means enabling communications with any one of the one or more management apparatuses;

information notifying means for notifying said management apparatus of said unit replacement request information and said unit release information through said communication means; and

information presenting means for presenting said inquiry information received from said management apparatus through said communication means.

27. A management apparatus used in an apparatus unit replacement assisting system comprising a plurality of user apparatuses owned by a plurality of apparatus users and one or more management apparatus owned by an apparatus manager, said management apparatus being characterized by comprising:

communication means for enabling communications with said plurality of user apparatuses;

request information managing means for managing request information received from a first user apparatus among said plurality of user apparatuses through said communication means, said request information expressing a wish to replace a first unit comprising part of a first apparatus owned by an apparatus user of said first user apparatus with a second unit;

release information managing means for managing release information received from a second user apparatus, different from said first user apparatus, among said plurality of user apparatuses through said communication means, said release information informing release of a second unit comprising part of a second apparatus owned by an apparatus user of said second user apparatus and usable in said first apparatus; and

inquiry information notifying means for notifying, through said communication means, said first user apparatus of inquiry information, asking whether the second unit in said second apparatus is going to be used as a replacement unit for said first apparatus.

28. The management apparatus in the apparatus unit replacement assisting system according to claim 27, further comprising:

status managing means for managing at least any one of a production line status in a production factory of said apparatus, a maintenance line status of said unit, and a dispatch status of a service person who performs a replacement work, according to the replacement request information from said first user apparatus.

29. A user apparatus used in an apparatus unit replacement assisting system comprising a plurality of user apparatuses owned by a plurality of apparatus users and one or more management apparatus owned by an apparatus manager, said user apparatus being characterized by comprising:

communication means enabling communications with any one of the one or more management apparatuses;

information notifying means for notifying said management apparatus of said unit replacement request information and unit release information through said communication means; and

information presenting means for presenting inquiry information received from said management apparatus through said communication means.

30. An apparatus unit replacement assisting system, characterized by comprising:

managing means for managing information of a unit comprising part of an apparatus for each of apparatuses installed at a plurality of sites; and

confirming means for confirming, in response to information related to a request to replace said unit in an apparatus installed at any one of said plurality of sites, whether a secondhand unit is acceptable as a target replacement unit for said unit.

31. An apparatus unit replacement assisting system, characterized by comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining information of a unit comprising part of an apparatus for each of apparatuses installed at a plurality of sites; and

managing means for managing, in response to information related to a request to replace said unit in an apparatus installed at any one of said plurality of sites, at least one of a production line in a production factory of said apparatus, a maintenance line of said unit, dispatch of a service person who performs a replacement work of said unit.

32. An apparatus unit replacement assisting system, characterized by comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining information of a unit comprising part of an apparatus for each of apparatuses installed at a plurality of sites; and

presenting means for presenting, in response to information related to a request to replace a first unit with a second unit in an apparatus installed at one of said plurality of sites, a sales price of said second unit after deduction of a trade-in price of said first unit to a request sender site.

33. The apparatus unit replacement assisting system according to claim 32, wherein:

said presenting means makes a trial calculation of the trade-in price by adding expenses needed for replacement including a transportation fee to a trade-in base price, judges a value of a trade-in from the trial calculation, and presents the trade-in price when the trade-in is judged as profitable.

34. The apparatus unit replacement assisting system according to claim 32, wherein:

said obtaining means is operation history information during use that is automatically recorded by said apparatus; and

said presenting means judges a value of a trade-in with understanding of a use status of the unit for trade-in from the operation history information, and determines the trade-in price based on a result of the value judgment.