Device management apparatus, device management system, and device management method

• US 9,769,019 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Maruyama, Yoshiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Chong G
• Application Number:
  US14/267,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20140337514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 709224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events

Abstract

A device management apparatus is connected to a plurality of devices and a plurality of information processing apparatuses using the devices, through a network. The device management apparatus includes: an obtaining unit that obtains usage amount information about usage amounts from the devices; a calculation unit that calculates unit usage amounts that are usage amounts of the respective devices per unit period, using the usage amount information about the respective devices; an analysis unit that analyzes use of the devices using the unit usage amounts of the respective devices; a change unit that changes allocation of the information processing apparatuses to the devices based on an analysis result in order to equalize use of the devices; and a notification unit that notifies the information processing apparatus for which an allocated device has been changed, of usage information required to use the device.

Claims

1. A device management apparatus connected to a plurality of devices and a plurality of information processing apparatuses using the devices, through a network, the device management apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

obtain usage amount information about usage amounts from the plurality of devices,

calculate unit usage amounts that are usage amounts of the plurality of devices per unit period, using the usage amount information about the plurality of devices,

select, based on a set flag, an analysis method from a plurality of analysis methods, the plurality of analysis methods being based on an operation of the plurality of devices,

analyze, using the selected analysis method, use of the plurality of devices using the unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices,

change allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices based on an analysis result, in order to equalize use of the plurality of devices, and

notify an information processing apparatus for which an allocated device has been changed, of usage information required to use a newly allocated device,

wherein an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a first analysis method is different from an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a second analysis method, and wherein an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a third analysis method is different from an allocation of the plurality of information processes apparatuses based on the first analysis method and the second analysis method.

2. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to notify an information processing apparatus for which an allocated device has been changed, of the usage information based on a fact that the allocation of the information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices has been changed.

3. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive inquires about whether allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices has been changed, from the plurality of information processing apparatus and notify an information processing apparatus of the usage information when a device allocated to the information processing apparatus has been changed.

4. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a type of the newly allocated device allocated to an information processing apparatus is identical to a type of a device before allocation change, the circuitry is further configured to notify the information processing apparatus of setting information about a setting of the newly allocated device as the usage information.

5. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a type of the newly allocated device allocated to an information processing apparatus is different from a type of a device before allocation change, the circuitry is further configured to notify the information processing apparatus of setting information about a setting of the newly allocate device and a control program to control the device as the usage information.

6. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

determined whether to change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices based on the analysis result, and

when it has been determined to change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices, change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the devices based on the analysis result in order to equalize use of the devices.

7. The device management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

calculate an average unit usage amount based on a selected analysis method using the average unit usage amount that is an average of the unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices in order to calculate absolute values of a differences of unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices from the average unit usage amount,

determine that the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices is to be changed when at least one of the absolute values of the differences for the devices is equal to or larger than a first threshold, and

change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices such that all the absolute values of the differences for the plurality of devices are smaller than the first threshold when it has been determined to change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the devices.

8. The device management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry is further configured to reduces a number of information processing apparatuses allocated to a device for which an absolute value of a difference is equal to or larger than the first threshold and for which a unit usage amount is larger than the average unit usage amount, and increases a number of information processing apparatuses allocated to a device for which an absolute value of a difference is equal to or larger than the first threshold and for which a unit usage amount is smaller than the average unit usage amount.

9. The device management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

calculates, based on an selected analysis method using contractual unit usage amounts that are usage amounts per unit period determined in a contract for the plurality of devices, absolute values of differences of unit usage amounts from the contractual unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices,

determine that the allocation of the plurality of the information processing apparatuses the plurality of devices is to be changed when at least one of the absolute values of the differences for the plurality of devices is equal to or larger than a second threshold, and

change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices such that all the absolute values of the differences are smaller than the second threshold when it has been determined to change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices.

10. The device management apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further configured to reduce number of information processing apparatuses allocated to a device for which an absolute value of a difference is equal to or larger than the second threshold and for which a unit usage amount is larger than the contractual unit usage amount, and increases a number of information processing apparatuses allocated to a device for which an absolute value of a difference is equal to or larger than the second threshold and for which a unit usage amount is smaller than the contractual unit usage amount.

11. The device management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

calculates, based on a selected analysis method using an average operation rate that is an average of operation rates of the devices, the operation rates of the plurality of devices and the average operation rate using performance values and the unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices in order to calculate absolute values of differences of the operation rates of the plurality of devices from the average operation rate,

determine that the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices is to be changed when at least one of the absolute values of the differences for the plurality of devices is equal to or larger than a third threshold, and

change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices such that all the absolute values of the differences are smaller than the second threshold when it has been determined to change the allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices.

12. The device management apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the circuitry is further configured to reduce a number of information processing apparatuses allocated to a device for which an absolute value of a difference is equal to or larger than the third threshold and for which operation rate is higher than the average operation rate, and increases number of information processing apparatuses allocated to a device for which an absolute value of a difference is equal to or larger than the third threshold and for which an operation rate is lower than the average operation rate.

19. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analysis result is reflective of the selected analysis method.

13. A device management system comprising:

a plurality of devices;

a plurality of information processing apparatuses using the plurality of devices; and

a device management apparatus connected to the plurality of devices and the plurality of information processing apparatuses through a network, wherein

the device management apparatus includes circuitry configured to

obtain usage amount information about usage amounts from the plurality of devices,

calculate unit usage amounts that are usage amounts of the plurality of devices per unit period, using the usage amount information about the plurality of devices,

select, based on a set flag, an analysis method from a plurality of analysis methods, the plurality of analysis methods being based on an operation of the plurality of devices,

analyze, using the selected analysis method, use of the plurality of devices using the unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices,

change allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices based on an analysis result, in order to equalize use of the plurality of devices, and

notify an information processing apparatus for which an allocated device has been changed, of usage information required to use a newly allocated device,

wherein each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses includes usage setting circuitry that configures a setting for use of a newly allocated device based on the notified usage information, and

wherein an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a first analysis method is different from an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a second analysis method, and wherein an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a third analysis method is different from an allocation of the plurality of information processes apparatuses based on the first analysis method and the second analysis method.

14. The device management system according to claim 13, wherein the circuitry is further configured to notify an information processing apparatus for which an allocated device has been changed, of the usage information based on a fact that the allocation of the information processing apparatuses to the devices has been changed.

15. The device management system according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses further includes inquiry circuitry that periodically sends the device management apparatus an inquiry about whether allocation of that information processing apparatus to the plurality of devices has been changed, and

wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive inquiries about whether allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices has been changed from the plurality of information processing apparatuses and, when a device allocated to an information processing apparatus has been changed, notifies the information processing apparatus of the usage information.

16. The device management system according to claim 13, wherein, when a type of the newly allocated device allocated to an information processing apparatus is identical to a type before allocation change, the circuitry is configured to notify the notification processing apparatus of setting information about a setting of the newly allocated device as the usage information.

17. The device management system according to claim 13, wherein, when a type of a device allocated to an information processing apparatus is different from a type before the allocation change, the circuitry is configured to notify the notification processing apparatus of setting information about a setting of the device and a control program to control the device as the usage information.

18. A device management method performed in a device management system, the device management method comprising:

obtaining usage amount information about usage amounts from a plurality of devices;

calculating unit usage amounts that are usage amounts of the plurality of devices per unit period, using the usage amount information about the plurality of devices;

selecting, based on a set flag, an analysis method from a plurality of analysis methods, the plurality of analysis methods being based on an operation of the plurality of devices,

analyzing, using the selected analysis method, use of the plurality of devices using the unit usage amounts of the plurality of devices;

changing allocation of plurality of information processing apparatuses to the plurality of devices based on an analysis result, in order to equalize use of the plurality of devices;

notifying an information processing apparatus for which an allocated device has been changed, of usage information required to use a newly allocated device; and

configuring a setting for use of the newly allocated device based on the notified usage information,

an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a first analysis method being different from an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a second analysis method, and an allocation of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on a third analysis method being different from an allocation of the plurality of information processes apparatuses based on the first analysis method and the second analysis method.