JP2016048440A - Device management apparatus, device management system, device management method, and device management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remotely manage each function of instruments with communication traffic more decreased and usability of the instruments improved.SOLUTION: An instrument managing system 1 includes an instrument managing device KS. The instrument managing device KS communicates with instruments K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed to acquire and store instrument information for each function of the instruments K1 to Kn. The instrument managing device KS stores use/non-use information of each function showing a necessity of management for each function of the instruments K1 to Kn, and latest information for each function of the instruments K1 to Kn. The instrument managing device KS further controls acquisition of the instrument information from the instruments K1 to Kn on the basis of the use/non-use information for each instrument K1 to Kn and each function, and after the acquisition of the instrument information controls management processing for the functions on the basis of the acquired instrument information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a device management apparatus, a device management system, a device management method, and a device management program, and more particularly to a device management device, a device management system, a device management method, and a device management program for remotely managing devices.

  There is an equipment management system that acquires the status of equipment such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a composite machine and remotely manages the equipment.

  For example, in a conventional device management system, one or a plurality of user-installed devices are connected to a device management apparatus via a network such as a public line or the Internet for each user. The device management apparatus performs device security, firmware version management, and the like.

  However, in such a device management system, if the device management device and the device frequently communicate to obtain management information, send firmware, etc., network communication traffic increases, and other communication is performed. Not only will this be a problem, but the downtime for temporarily suspending the use of the device will increase, reducing the usability of the device.

  Conventionally, in a software automatic update system of an Internet terminal that executes processing provided by software downloaded from a server via an Internet line and manages the software and version information thereof, use of the software downloaded from the server side The means for measuring the frequency and the means for comparing the version information of the software whose measured use frequency has reached a certain numerical value with the version information of the latest version of software managed on the server side are inconsistent. In this case, an automatic software update system has been proposed that includes means for transferring the latest software on the server side to the Internet terminal side and automatically downloading it (see Patent Document 1).

  In other words, this conventional technology attempts to suppress an increase in communication traffic in the network by automatically downloading the latest version of software with a certain frequency of use.

  However, in the above prior art, the software upgrade is controlled only for the frequency of use of the software, so the network communication traffic is further reduced and the device is upgrading the software. In order to reduce the downtime during the management process, etc., there was a need for improvement.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform remote management for each function of a device while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the device management apparatus according to claim 1, communication means for communicating with a device having one or more functions to be managed, and usage information for each function of the device, The usage information acquisition means acquired from the device via the communication means, the usage information storage means for storing the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition means, and the necessity of management for the function of the device Use / non-use information storage means for storing use / non-use information for each function, latest information storage means for storing the latest information on the function for each function of the device, and use / non-use for each device and each function Based on the information, the acquisition of the usage information by the usage information acquisition means is controlled, and when the usage information is acquired, the management performed on the function based on the acquired usage information and the latest information It is characterized by comprising control means for controlling the physical and.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, remote management for every function of an apparatus can be performed, improving the usability of an apparatus, further reducing communication traffic.

1 is a configuration diagram of a device management system to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. Device block diagram. Functional block diagram of the device. The block diagram of an apparatus management apparatus. The figure which shows an example of apparatus information. The figure which shows an example of policy information. The figure which shows an example of the newest information. The functional block diagram of an apparatus management apparatus. The flowchart which shows an apparatus management process. The functional block diagram of the apparatus management apparatus of 2nd Example. The flowchart which shows the apparatus management process of 2nd Example. The figure which shows an example of the acquired apparatus information. Explanatory drawing of the usage information setting change process of policy information. Explanatory drawing of the latest version management of the function of “not used” setting.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 9 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a device management apparatus, a device management system, a device management method, and a device management program according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a device management apparatus and a device management system according to the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a device management system 1 to which a first embodiment of a device management method and a device management program is applied.

  In FIG. 1, in a device management system 1, a device management apparatus KS and a network NW of an office OF are connected via an Internet IN as a network. The network NW of the office OF is connected to the Internet IN via a router or the like (not shown), and devices K1 to Kn installed in a plurality of offices OF are connected to the network NW.

  The devices K1 to Kn are, for example, a composite device, a printer, a projector, a scanner device, and the like, each of which has one or a plurality of functions and a hardware configuration and a software configuration for executing each of the mounted functions. It has.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the devices K1 to Kn generally include a communication I / F 11, a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, a UI (User Interface) unit 14, an engine unit 15, and the like. They are connected by a bus 16.

  The communication I / F 11 is connected to the network NW via a router or the like, and communicates with the device management apparatus KS via the Internet IN under the control of the control unit 12.

  The storage unit 13 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The storage unit 13 stores a basic program as the devices K1 to Kn and a device management program of a part to be executed by the devices K1 to Kn among the device management program of the present invention, and the work memory of the control unit 12 Used as

  The control unit 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. The control unit 12 executes basic processing as the devices K1 to Kn based on the program in the storage unit 13, and among the device management processing of the present invention, the device management processing of the portion that the devices K1 to Kn should execute. Execute.

  The UI unit 14 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display). The UI unit 14 is operated to input commands necessary for causing the devices K1 to Kn to perform various operations from the operation keys, and displays various kinds of information notified from the devices K1 to Kn to the user.

  The engine unit 15 is a general term for engines that execute main operation functions of the devices K1 to Kn. For example, when the devices K1 to Kn are complex devices, the engine unit 15 includes a printer engine, a scanner engine, a facsimile engine, a projector engine, and the like. The printer engine forms (prints) an image on a recording medium such as paper or film (hereinafter referred to as paper as appropriate) based on image data by an appropriate printer method (electrophotographic method, ink ejection method, etc.). Image processing is performed. The scanner engine performs image processing in which a document is main-scanned and sub-scanned, an image of the document is read at a predetermined resolution, and image data is output. The facsimile engine receives the facsimile data transmitted from the partner facsimile machine, and the printer engine forms and outputs an image based on the facsimile data. Further, the facsimile engine transmits the image data of the original read by the scanner engine by facsimile to the other facsimile machine. The projector engine projects an image on a screen based on the image data.

  The communication I / F 11, the UI unit 14, and the engine unit 15 are loaded with programs such as firmware and software necessary for executing the functions, and function as function units that execute the respective functions.

  The control unit 12 acquires usage states of the communication I / F 11, the UI unit 14, and the engine unit 15, which are functional units, and transmits usage information to the device management apparatus KS via the communication I / F 11.

  Each of the devices K1 to Kn includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD ( Among the device management methods of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital versatile disk (USB), a universal serial bus (USB) memory, an SD (secure digital) card, and a magneto-optical disc (MO), By reading a device management program for executing a device management method of a portion to be executed by the devices K1 to Kn and introducing the device management program into the storage unit 13, remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, which will be described later, can further increase communication traffic. It is constructed as a device that executes a device management method performed while improving the usability of the device while reducing it. This device management program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  And each apparatus K1-Kn builds a functional block as shown in FIG. 3 by introducing the said apparatus management program. That is, each of the devices K1 to Kn is configured with the communication management unit 21, the information providing function unit 22, and a processing execution function unit (not shown) as functional blocks by introducing the device management program.

  The communication function unit 21 is constructed by the communication I / F 11, communicates with the device management apparatus KS via the network NW as a network and the Internet IN, and functions as a communication unit.

  The information providing function unit 22 is constructed by the control unit 12, collects the usage state for each function that the own device has, and passes it to the device management apparatus KS via the communication function unit 21. Therefore, the information provision function part 22 functions as an information provision means.

  The device management apparatus KS includes a maintenance server HS and a cloud server CS, and the maintenance server HS and the cloud server HS are connected via the Internet IN.

  The maintenance server HS includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a UI unit 33, a communication I / F 34, and the like, and each unit is connected by a bus 35.

  The cloud server HS includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a UI unit 43, a communication I / F 44, and the like, and each unit is connected by a bus 45.

  First, the maintenance server HS will be described. The maintenance server HS performs normal maintenance management processing of the devices K1 to Kn connected to the network NW of the office OF from a remote location, and executes the device management method of the present invention.

  The storage unit 32 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The storage unit 32 stores a part of the device management program to be executed by the maintenance server HS of the device management apparatus KS in the basic program as the maintenance server HS and the device management program of the present invention. It is used as work memory.

  In particular, the storage unit 32 stores device information (including usage information) KJ as shown in FIG. 5 in order to manage the devices K1 to Kn. The device information KJ includes a device ID (10000001, 10000101, etc.), a customer ID (101, 201, etc.), a version (1.01) of each function program (function A, function B,...). , 1.02... The device information KJ is the latest device information (usage information) in the devices K1 to Kn acquired from the devices K1 to Kn for the devices K1 to Kn, and the function version in FIG. This is the version of the program when the usage status is obtained from.

  Further, the storage unit 32 stores policy information PJ as shown in FIG. 6 in order to perform management processing of the devices K1 to Kn, and the policy information PJ is stored in all devices K1 installed for each customer. Information regarding a security policy common to .about.Kn. The policy information PJ includes “customer ID”, “use” and “do not use” use / non-use information indicating the necessity of management processing for each function, and behavior when detecting an old version as “report”. Only "," automatic update + result report ", etc. are registered. Here, the use presence / absence information is information set by the user or the administrator as appropriate, and is setting information indicating whether to use or not use the management process of the function selected and set for each function of the devices K1 to Kn. . The behavior at the time of detecting the old version is a corresponding process when the maintenance server HS acquires the usage status from the devices K1 to Kn when the program version of the function is older than the latest version. It is selected and set by the administrator. “Report only” in the behavior when detecting the old version only indicates that a report indicating that the version of the program is old is generated. Further, “automatic update + result report” indicates that the program is automatically updated and a report of the result is generated.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 32 stores the latest information SJ for each function, and the latest information SJ is a function (function A, function B, etc.) provided in the devices K1 to Kn. The version information of the latest version of the program (firmware or the like) for each.

  5 to 7 show two functions, function A and function B, as functions, but the number of functions is not limited to two.

  The control unit 31 is composed of a CPU or the like, and executes basic processing as the maintenance server HS and executes device management processing of the present invention based on a program stored in the storage unit 32.

  The UI unit 33 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and the like. Various operations necessary for a user (such as an administrator) to use the maintenance server HS are performed, and various types of information notified to the user from the maintenance server HS are displayed. Output.

  The communication I / F 34 is connected to the Internet IN, communicates with the cloud server CS via the Internet IN under the control of the control unit 31, and communicates with the devices K1 to Kn via the Internet IN and the network NW of the office OF. connect.

  The control unit 31 transmits the maintenance management processing results of the devices K1 to Kn, particularly the device management processing results of the present invention, to the cloud server CS for storage.

  Next, the cloud server CS will be described. The cloud server CS receives and stores the maintenance management processing result and the device management processing result of the maintenance server HS, and provides the result information in response to requests from the devices K1 to Kn as necessary.

  The storage unit 42 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The storage unit 42 stores a part of the device management program to be executed by the cloud server CS of the device management apparatus KS among the basic program as the cloud server CS and the device management program of the present invention. It is used as work memory.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU and the like, and executes basic processing as the cloud server CS based on a program stored in the storage unit 42 and also executes device management processing of the present invention.

  The UI unit 43 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and the like. Various operations necessary for a user (such as an administrator) to use the cloud server CS are performed, and various types of information to be notified to the user from the cloud server CS. Output.

  The communication I / F 44 is connected to the Internet IN, communicates with the maintenance server HS via the Internet IN under the control of the control unit 41, and communicates with the devices K1 to Kn via the Internet IN and the network NW of the office OF. connect.

  The control unit 41 receives the maintenance management processing results of the devices K1 to Kn, in particular, the device management processing results of the present invention from the maintenance server HS, stores them in the storage unit 42, and performs maintenance management in response to requests from the devices K1 to Kn. Provides processing results and device management processing results.

  The user can access the cloud server CS using a browser such as a computer, and can perform report download, setting change, policy change, and the like.

  The maintenance server HS and the cloud server CS function as a device management apparatus KS as a whole.

  That is, the device management server SV includes a maintenance server HS and a cloud server PS, and computers such as a ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, USB memory, SD card, and MO. Of the device management method of the present invention recorded on a readable recording medium, the device management program for executing the device management method of the portion to be executed by the device management apparatus KS is read and introduced into the storage units 32 and 42. Thus, remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, which will be described later, is constructed as a device management apparatus that executes a device management method that further improves the usability of the device while further reducing communication traffic. This device management program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  In the device management apparatus KS, a functional block as shown in FIG. 8 is constructed by introducing the device management program. That is, the device management apparatus KS introduces the device management program, and as a functional block, the communication function unit 51, the use information acquisition function unit 52, the use information storage function unit 53, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54, A latest information storage function unit 55, a control function unit 56, and a processing result provision function unit 57 are constructed.

  The communication function unit 51 is constructed by the communication I / F 34 of the maintenance server HS, and communicates with devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions that perform management processing as management targets. Therefore, the communication function unit 51 functions as a communication unit.

  The usage information acquisition function unit 52 is constructed by the control unit 31 of the maintenance server HS, and uses the device information (usage information) KJ, which is usage information for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, via the communication function unit 51. Obtained from ~ Kn. Therefore, the usage information acquisition function unit 52 functions as usage information acquisition means.

  The usage information storage function unit 53 is constructed by the storage unit 32 of the maintenance server HS and / or the storage unit 42 of the cloud server CS, and stores the device information KJ acquired by the usage information acquisition function unit 52. Therefore, the usage information storage function unit 53 functions as a usage information storage unit that stores the device information KJ that is the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition function unit 52.

  The use presence / absence information storage function unit 54 is constructed by the storage unit 32 of the maintenance server HS and / or the storage unit 42 of the cloud server CS, and indicates whether or not each function is used and indicates whether or not management is required for each function. The policy information PJ including information is stored. The user or administrator can appropriately update the registration contents of the usage information on the usage information storage function unit 54 in response to a request from the devices K1 to Kn or the computer to the device management apparatus KS. Therefore, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54 functions as use presence / absence information storage means.

  The latest information storage function unit 55 is constructed by the storage unit 32 of the maintenance server HS and / or the storage unit 42 of the cloud server CS, and stores the latest information SJ of the function for each function of the devices K1 to Kn. The device management apparatus KS appropriately acquires the latest information SJ from a provider that provides information on the functions of the devices K1 to Kn such as programs, and stores the latest information SJ in the latest information storage function unit 55. Therefore, the latest information storage function unit 55 functions as the latest information storage unit.

  The control function unit 56 is constructed by the control unit 31 of the maintenance server HS. The control function unit 56 includes the acquisition of the usage status by the usage information acquisition function unit 52 based on the usage information on the policy information PJ and the latest information SJ for each of the devices K1 to Kn and each function. Control the management processing to be performed for .about.Kn. Therefore, the control function unit 56 functions as a control unit.

  In addition, the control function unit 56 makes a comparison determination between the usage information (device information KJ) acquired by the usage information acquisition function unit 52 and the latest information SJ, and generates a processing result as the comparison determination result as a report.

  The processing result providing function unit 57 is constructed by the control unit 41, the storage unit 42, the communication I / F 44, and the like of the cloud server PS. The processing result providing function unit 57 receives the processing result of the management process controlled by the control function unit 56, stores it in the storage unit 42, and provides information on the processing result in response to a request from the devices K1 to Kn. It functions as a processing result providing means.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The device management system 1 according to the present embodiment performs remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  That is, in the device management system 1, the device management apparatus KS is connected to the devices K1 to Kn set in the office OF or the like via the Internet IN, and remotely manages the states of the devices K1 to Kn. In particular, the device management apparatus KS performs management of security functions such as program versions for the functions of the devices K1 to Kn as shown in FIG.

  The device management apparatus KS executes the device management process shown in FIG. 9 at every predetermined timing (for example, every month). When the device management apparatus KS shifts to the device management process, it first acquires a customer ID registered in the device information KJ and designates it as a processing target (step S101).

  Next, the device management apparatus KS acquires a list of devices K1 to Kn corresponding to the customer ID, that is, a device ID of the devices K1 to Kn installed by the customer (step S102).

  The device management apparatus KS obtains device IDs in an appropriate order in the list of device IDs, for example, ascending order of the device information KJ, and the device ID has already been managed among the device IDs corresponding to the customer IDs. It is checked whether it is the last device ID (step S103).

If it is not the last device ID in step S103 (NO in step S103), the device management apparatus KS acquires the function from the device information KJ for the device ID in an appropriate order, for example, ascending order. To do. The device management apparatus KS checks whether the acquired function is the last function among the functions registered for the device ID (step S104).
If it is not the last processed function in step S104, the device management apparatus KS refers to the function use column of the device ID in the policy information PJ and sets the function (function X) to “use”. It is checked whether it is (step S105).

  If the setting is to use the function in step S105 (YES in step S105), the device management apparatus KS indicates that the version of the program of the corresponding function of the corresponding device K1 to Kn is higher than the latest version of the program of the function. Is also older (step S106). That is, the device management apparatus KS refers to the latest information SJ, and compares the program version of the device information KJ with the program version of the latest information SJ for the function to be compared. Then, the device management apparatus KS determines whether the version of the function to be processed in the current devices K1 to Kn is the latest version.

  In step S106, if the function version of the current devices K1 to Kn is not the latest version (NO in step S106), the device management apparatus KS refers to the policy information PJ and detects the old version. The behavior is determined (step S107).

  In step S107, if the behavior when the old version is detected is “update + result report”, the device management apparatus KS automatically updates the program (firmware or the like) of the function (step S108). In this case, the device management apparatus KS transmits the corresponding program to the corresponding devices K1 to Kn via the Internet IN, and requests the devices K1 to Kn to update the program. The devices K1 to Kn perform a program update process of the corresponding function through a user or administrator operation or automatically in response to the program update request.

  When the device management apparatus KS performs the program update process, the device management apparatus KS reflects the update result in the report information of the corresponding device (step S109). The device management apparatus KS creates this report information by the maintenance server HS, passes it to the cloud server CS, stores it in the cloud server CS, and provides it appropriately according to requests from the devices K1 to Kn.

  Note that the user can use a browser such as a computer to access the device management apparatus KS and perform report download, setting change, policy change, and the like.

  When creating the report information, the device management apparatus KS obtains information on the next function from the device information KJ (step S110), proceeds to step S104, and performs the same process as described above from the process indicating whether the last function has been processed. (Steps S104 to S110).

  In step S107, if the behavior at the time of detecting the old version is “report only”, the device management apparatus KS reflects the version check result of the program (firmware or the like) in the report information of the corresponding devices K1 to Kn (step S107). S111).

  When creating the report information, the device management apparatus KS obtains information on the next function from the device information KJ (step S110), proceeds to step S104, and performs the same process as described above from the process indicating whether the last function has been processed. (Steps S104 to S110).

  In step S106, if the version of the function in the corresponding devices K1 to Kn is the latest version (YES in step S106), the device management apparatus KS acquires information on the next function from the device information KJ ( Step S110). When the device management apparatus KS acquires information on the next function, the device management apparatus KS proceeds to step S104 and performs the same processing as described above from the processing of whether it is the last processed function (steps S104 to S111).

  If it is not set to use a function in step S105 (NO in step S105), the device management apparatus KS acquires information on the next function from the device information KJ (step S110). When the device management apparatus KS acquires information on the next function, the device management apparatus KS proceeds to step S104 and performs the same processing as described above from the processing of whether it is the last processed function (steps S104 to S111).

  If it is the last device K1 to Kn that has been processed in step S103 (YES in step S103), the device management apparatus KS creates a report of the corresponding customer ID, and the cloud server CS The process is finished (step S112).

  Then, the device management apparatus KS ends the device management process when the above processing is executed for the customers of all customer IDs.

  In the above description, the case where security information is taken up as usage information (device information KJ) has been described, but the usage information is not limited to security information.

  In the above description, the case where the device management apparatus KS is configured by the maintenance server HS and the cloud server CS has been described. However, the configuration of the device management apparatus KS is not limited to the above configuration. The server HS may also have the function of the cloud server CS, and the maintenance server HS may function as the device management apparatus KS.

  As described above, the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a communication function unit (communication unit) 51 in which the device management apparatus KS communicates with devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed. , Device information (usage information) KJ for each function of the devices K1 to Kn is obtained from the devices K1 to Kn via the communication function unit 51; A usage information storage function unit (usage information storage unit) 53 that stores the device information KJ acquired by the usage information acquisition function unit 52, and a function-specific information indicating whether management of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn is necessary. A use / non-use information storage function unit (use / non-use information storage means) 54 for storing use / non-use information and a latest information storage function unit (latest information) for storing the latest information SJ of the function for each of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn. Storage Step 55), for each of the devices K1 to Kn and for each function, controlling the acquisition of the usage information by the usage information acquisition function unit 52 based on the usage presence / absence information, and acquiring the usage information, And a control function unit (control means) 56 that controls management processing performed on the function based on the acquired device information KJ and the latest information SJ.

  Therefore, maintenance management such as program upgrade of the devices K1 to Kn can be controlled based on the usage information and based on the device information KJ and the latest information SJ. As a result, remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  In addition, the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment has a device management in which devices K1 to Kn having at least one function and a device management apparatus KS that manages the devices K1 to Kn are connected via the Internet IN as a network. In the system, the devices K1 to Kn communicate with the device management apparatus KS via the Internet IN, and device information that is usage information for each function of the device itself. An information providing function unit (information providing means) 22 that provides KJ to the device management apparatus KS via the communication function unit 21, and the device management apparatus KS communicates with the devices K1 to Kn. Means) and device information KJ, which is usage information for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, is acquired from the information providing function unit 22 of the devices K1 to Kn via the communication function unit 51. A usage information acquisition function unit (utilization information acquisition unit) 52, a usage information storage function unit (usage information storage unit) 53 that stores the device information KJ acquired by the usage information acquisition function unit 52, and devices K1 to Kn. Use / non-use information storage function unit (use / non-use information storage means) 54 that stores use / non-use information for each function indicating whether or not the function needs to be managed, and the latest information of the function for each of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn. Acquisition of the use information by the use information acquisition function unit 52 based on the use presence / absence information for the latest information storage function unit (latest information storage unit) 55 for storing the SJ, and for each of the devices K1 to Kn and for each function. And a control function unit (control means) 56 for controlling a management process performed on the function based on the acquired usage information and the latest information when the usage information is acquired. To have.

  Therefore, maintenance management such as program upgrade of the devices K1 to Kn can be controlled based on the usage information and based on the device information KJ and the latest information SJ. As a result, remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  Furthermore, the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a communication processing step in which the device management apparatus KS communicates with devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions that are targets of management processing, and the devices K1 to Kn. Usage information acquisition processing step for acquiring device information KJ, which is usage information for each function, from the devices K1 to Kn in the communication processing step, and usage information storage function for acquiring the device information KJ acquired in the usage information acquisition processing step A usage information storage processing step stored in the unit 53; a storage processing step for storing usage information for each function indicating whether management of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn is necessary in the usage information storage function unit 54; For each of the functions K1 to Kn, the latest information storage processing step for storing the latest information SJ of the function in the latest information storage function unit 55; For each performance, the acquisition of the usage information by the usage information acquisition processing step is controlled based on the usage information, and when the usage information is acquired, based on the acquired usage information and the latest information, A device management method having control processing steps for controlling management processing performed on the function.

  Therefore, maintenance management such as program upgrade of the devices K1 to Kn can be controlled based on the usage information and based on the device information KJ and the latest information SJ. As a result, remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  Further, in the device management system 1 of this embodiment, the device management apparatus KS has devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed by a computer such as a CPU constituting the control units 31 and 34. Is acquired in the communication processing, the usage information acquisition processing for acquiring the device information KJ, which is the usage information for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, from the devices K1 to Kn in the communication processing, and the usage information acquisition processing. The usage information storage function unit 54 stores the usage information storage process for storing the device information KJ in the usage information storage function unit 53 and the usage information for each function indicating the necessity of management of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn. Use information storage processing stored in the device, the latest information storage processing for storing the latest information SJ of the function in the latest information storage function unit 55, and the devices K1 to Kn for each of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn. For each function, based on the use presence / absence information, controlling the acquisition of the use information by the use information acquisition process, and acquiring the use information, based on the acquired use information and the latest information, A device management program that executes a control process for controlling a management process performed on the function is installed.

  Therefore, maintenance management such as program upgrade of the devices K1 to Kn can be controlled based on the usage information and based on the device information KJ and the latest information SJ. As a result, remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  Further, in the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the control function unit 56 of the device management apparatus KS makes a comparison between the device information KJ that is the usage information and the latest information SJ, and the comparison is performed as the management process. Generate a report of the judgment results.

  Therefore, the necessity of management processing can be provided as a report for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, and the remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can further reduce communication traffic, and the devices K1 to Kn. This can be performed while further improving the usability.

  Further, in the device management system 1 of the present embodiment, the usage information acquisition function unit 52 of the device management apparatus KS acquires information about the function-related program as the device information KJ as the usage information, and stores the latest information. The function unit 55 stores the latest program related to the function and information about the program as the latest information SJ, and the control function unit 56 performs the management process based on the usage information and the latest information SJ. The update processing of the program of the function in the devices K1 to Kn is controlled.

  Therefore, for each function of the devices K1 to Kn, the necessity of updating the program used by the function is appropriately determined, and the necessary program is updated while reducing communication traffic, thereby improving the usability. be able to.

  Furthermore, the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a processing result providing function unit (processing result) in which the device management apparatus KS provides the processing result of the management process controlled by the control function unit 56 to the devices K1 to Kn. Providing means) 57 is further provided.

  Therefore, it is possible to notify the user of the result of maintenance management such as program upgrade of the devices K1 to Kn, and remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn while further reducing communication traffic, the devices K1 to Kn. This can be carried out while further improving the usability of Kn.

  In addition, in the device management system 1 of the present embodiment, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54 of the device management apparatus KS uses the use / non-use information of the security function commonly used in the plurality of devices K1 to Kn as the use presence / absence information. Is remembered.

  Therefore, remote maintenance management regarding the security functions of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing the communication traffic and further improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  Furthermore, in the device management system 1 of this embodiment, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54 of the device management apparatus KS includes, in addition to the use presence / absence information, presence / absence information on a version upgrade notification of a program used to execute the function Of the presence / absence information in the processing result notification when the program upgrade process is executed, the selected information is also stored, and the control function unit 56 is based on the presence / absence information in the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54. Then, the management process is controlled, and the process result notification process is controlled.

  Therefore, it is possible to upgrade the program according to the user's intention while further reducing the communication traffic, and to further improve the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  10 to 13 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the device management apparatus, device management system, device management method and device management program of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is the device management device and device management system of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the device management apparatus KS in the device management system 1 to which the second embodiment of the device management method and the device management program is applied.

  The device management system 1 according to the present embodiment is applied to a device management system similar to the device management system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the description of the present embodiment, the same as the first embodiment. The components will be described using the same reference numerals.

  In the device management system 1 of the present embodiment, the devices K1 to Kn of the network NW of the office OF and the device management device KS are connected via the network NW, as in the first embodiment.

  Each device K1 to Kn of the office OF has the same hardware configuration, software configuration and functional block configuration as in the first embodiment.

  However, in the devices K1 to Kn, the information providing function unit 22 of the function block provides the device management apparatus KS via the communication function unit 21 with the availability setting for each function that the device has.

  Further, the device management apparatus KS is configured with hardware by the maintenance server HS and the cloud server CS as in the first embodiment, but may be configured by a single apparatus. In the following description, it is assumed that the server is composed of the maintenance server HS and the cloud server CS.

  The device management device KS is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, USB memory, SD card, MO, etc. Among the device management methods of the present invention, the functions of the devices K1 to Kn are obtained by reading the device management program for executing the device management method of the portion to be executed by the device management apparatus KS and introducing it into the storage units 32, 42, etc. It is constructed as a device management apparatus that executes a device management method for performing remote management for each device while further reducing communication traffic and improving device usability. This device management program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  In the device management apparatus KS, a functional block as shown in FIG. 10 is constructed by introducing the device management program. That is, the device management apparatus KS includes the communication function unit 101, the setting acquisition function unit 102, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 103, the use presence / absence control function unit 104, etc. as functional blocks by introducing the device management program. Built.

  The communication function unit 101 is constructed by the communication I / F 34 of the maintenance server HS, and communicates with devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed. Therefore, the communication function unit 101 functions as a communication unit.

  The use / non-use information storage function unit 103 is constructed by the storage unit 32 of the maintenance server HS and stores the policy information PJ including use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn. To do. Therefore, the usage information storage function unit 103 functions as usage information storage means.

  The setting acquisition function unit 102 is constructed by the control unit 31 of the maintenance server HS, and acquires usage information including availability setting for each function of the devices K1 to Kn from the devices K1 to Kn via the communication function unit 101. . In practice, the setting acquisition function unit 102 receives, for example, usage information transmitted regularly or irregularly from each of the devices K1 to Kn, and uses the internal storage function unit or the usage presence / absence information storage function. For example, it is stored in the unit 103 as device information JK2 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the setting acquisition function unit 102 functions as a setting acquisition unit.

  The use presence / absence control function unit 104 uses the function of the use presence / absence information storage function unit 103 based on the availability setting of the function acquired by the setting acquisition function unit 102 for each device K1 to Kn and for each function. Control the updating of information. Therefore, the use presence / absence control function unit 104 functions as a use presence / absence control means.

  Although not shown in FIG. 10, the device management apparatus KS includes the latest information storage function unit 55 as in the first embodiment, and the latest information storage function unit 55 stores the latest information SJ. .

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The device management system 1 according to the present embodiment performs remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn while further reducing the communication traffic and improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn. Then, in the device management system 1 of the present embodiment, the device management apparatus KS uses the usage information on the function of the usage information storage function unit 103 for each function for each customer based on the actual device settings. Set automatically.

  That is, in the devices K1 to Kn, for example, in order to suppress the risk of information leakage on security, the availability setting such as prohibiting execution of a specific function is performed. For example, the device management apparatus KS prohibits the use of scan-to-media (scan to media: a function for copying information obtained by scanning paper to a portable storage medium such as a USB memory or an SD card). In “”, “unusable” setting is performed.

  Thus, in the devices K1 to Kn, “usable” and “unusable” can be set for each function, and are set by the user or the administrator.

  The device management apparatus KS appropriately processes the use / non-use information of the policy information by the automatic change or the change request based on the use / non-use setting (use / non-use setting) for each function.

  That is, the device management apparatus KS executes the device management process shown in FIG. 12 at every predetermined timing. At the device management processing timing, the device management apparatus KS first designates the customer ID of the device information KJ2 from a predetermined order, for example, the head order (step S201).

  In the device management apparatus KS, the setting acquisition function unit 102 acquires the device information KJ2 of all the devices K1 to Kn corresponding to the specified customer ID from the cloud server CS via the communication function unit 101 (step S202). The acquisition of the device information KJ2 may be periodically transmitted from the devices K1 to Kn to the device management device KS as described above, or the devices K1 to Kn are accessed from the device management device KS. You may get it.

  The device management apparatus KS checks whether or not acquisition of all device information KJ2, particularly usable / unusable settings has been completed (step S203). If not completed (NO in step S203), the process proceeds to step S201. It returns and processes similarly from the process which designates the next customer ID (step S201-S203).

  When the acquisition of all device information KJ2 is completed in step S203 (when YES in step S203), the device management apparatus KS can use the device information KJ2 for each customer and for every function of the customer. A determination is made as to whether or not the function can be used in the disabled information (step S204).

  Next, the device management apparatus KS calculates, for each function, a ratio in which “unusable” is set in the device information KJ2 usable / unusable information for the devices K1 to Kn of the function (Step S1). S205).

  For example, it is assumed that the function A in the acquired device information KJ2 has a result as shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, for the customer ID “101”, it is shown that “unusable” is set for the corresponding devices K1 to Kn for all device IDs. FIG. 11 also shows that “usable” is set for all device IDs for the customer ID “201”. In the device information KJ2 shown in FIG. 11, the number of uses of the function A when acquired this time and the number of uses of the function A during a predetermined period (one year ago in FIG. 11) are registered.

  Now, in the policy information PJ of the device management apparatus KS, as shown in FIG. 13, “use” is registered as usage information on the function A for the customer IDs “101” and “201”. It shall be.

  Next, the device management apparatus KS checks whether the usage information of the policy information PJ of the function is “use” or “do not use” (step S206).

  In step S206, if it is “use”, the device management apparatus KS checks whether the ratio of all the devices K1 to Kn that are “unusable” in the acquired device information KJ2 is equal to or greater than a preset threshold ratio. (Step S207). The threshold ratio can be set as appropriate by the user or the administrator, for example, 80%, 100%, or the like can be set as appropriate.

  In step S207, if the ratio of “unusable” is equal to or greater than the threshold ratio (YES in step S207), the device management apparatus KS changes the usage information of the policy information PJ from “used” to “not used”. Is changed to "" (step S208). That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the device management apparatus KS indicates that the use setting of the function A is “unusable” for all device IDs (“101”) of the customer ID in the acquired device information KJ2. is there. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the device management apparatus KS changes the setting that has been “used” for the function A of the customer ID to the “not used” setting in the usage information of the policy information PJ. change.

  Next, for the function A of the customer ID, the device management apparatus KS creates a report of the customer ID indicating that the usage information of the policy information PJ has been changed from “used” to “not used” (step) S209).

  In the above description, the device management apparatus KS creates a report after changing the function usage information, but when the automatic usage information cannot be automatically changed, A report that prompts the user to change the usage information of the policy information PJ may be created.

  When creating the report, the device management apparatus KS checks whether all functions have been processed (step S210).

  If the processing of all functions is not completed in step S210 (NO in step S210), the device management apparatus KS acquires the next function information (step S211), returns to step S206, The same processing as above (steps S206 to S211).

  In step S207, if the percentage of “unusable” is less than the threshold percentage (NO in step S207), the device management apparatus KS completes the processing of all functions without changing the usage information. It is checked whether it has been done (step S210). If the processing of all functions is not completed in step S210 (NO in step S210), the device management apparatus KS acquires the next function information (step S211), returns to step S206, The same processing as above (steps S206 to S211).

  In step S206, if the usage information of the policy information of the function is “not used”, the device management apparatus KS calculates the usage record of the function for a predetermined period (step S212). For example, in the customer ID shown in FIG. 11, the device management apparatus KS uses the functions used in all the devices K1 to Kn acquired this time and uses the functions in all the devices K1 to Kn acquired before a predetermined period. The usage record is calculated from

  The device management apparatus KS checks whether the usage record is equal to or greater than a preset threshold record (step S213). This threshold record can be set to an appropriate value by the user or administrator.

  In step S213, if the usage record is greater than or equal to the threshold record (when YES in step S213), the device management apparatus KS changes the setting information of the policy information PJ from “not used” to “used”. (Step S214).

  Next, for the function A of the customer ID, the device management apparatus KS creates a report of the customer ID indicating that the usage information of the policy information PJ has been changed from “not used” to “used” (step) S215).

  When creating the report, the device management apparatus KS checks whether all functions have been processed (step S210).

  If the processing of all functions is not completed in step S210 (NO in step S210), the device management apparatus KS acquires the next function information (step S211), returns to step S206, The same processing as above is performed (steps S206 to S215).

  If the usage record is less than the threshold record in step S213 (NO in step S213), the device management apparatus KS checks whether all functions have been processed (step S210). If the processing of all functions is not completed in step S210 (NO in step S210), the device management apparatus KS acquires the next function information (step S211), returns to step S206, The same processing as above is performed (steps S206 to S215).

  Then, when the processing of all functions is completed in step S210 (YES in step S210), the device management apparatus KS ends the device management processing.

  Then, the device management apparatus KS according to the present embodiment performs device management processing such as version upgrade of the program of the function based on the usage information of the policy information PJ set by the automatic setting or the like, as in the first embodiment. To control.

  As described above, the device management system 1 according to this embodiment includes the communication function unit (communication unit) 101 that communicates with the devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed, and the devices K1 to Kn. A use / non-use information storage function unit (use / non-use information storage unit) 103 that stores use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management for the function, and a use / non-use setting for each function of the devices K1 to Kn. The setting acquisition function unit (setting acquisition means) 102 acquired from the devices K1 to Kn via the unit 101, and the availability of the function acquired by the setting acquisition function unit 102 for each of the devices K1 to Kn and for each function A use presence / absence control function unit (use presence / absence control means) 104 that controls the update of the use presence / absence information of the function of the use presence / absence information storage function unit 103 based on the setting.

  Therefore, the use presence / absence information can be updated based on the availability setting for each of the devices K1 to Kn, and the remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing communication traffic. This can be done while improving the usability of Kn.

  In addition, the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment has a device management in which devices K1 to Kn having at least one function and a device management apparatus KS that manages the devices K1 to Kn are connected via the Internet IN as a network. In the system, the devices K1 to Kn set a communication function unit (communication means) 21 that communicates with the device management apparatus KS via the Internet IN, and the availability setting for each function that the own device has. An information providing function unit (information providing unit) 22 provided to the device management apparatus KS via the communication function unit 21, and the device management apparatus KS communicates with the devices K1 to Kn. ) 101 and a use / non-use information storage function unit (use / presence information storage unit) that stores use / non-use information for each function indicating whether or not the functions of the devices K1 to Kn are required to be managed. 03, a setting acquisition function unit (setting acquisition means) 102 for acquiring the availability setting for each function of the devices K1 to Kn from the devices K1 to Kn via the communication function unit 101, and the devices K1 to Kn. For each function and for each function, based on the availability setting of the function acquired by the setting acquisition function unit 102, the presence / absence of use for controlling the update of the usage information of the function in the usage information storage function unit 103 And a control function unit (use / non-use control means) 104.

  Therefore, the use presence / absence information can be updated based on the availability setting for each of the devices K1 to Kn, and the remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing communication traffic. This can be done while improving the usability of Kn.

  Furthermore, the device management system 1 of the present embodiment includes a communication processing step in which the device management apparatus KS communicates with devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed, and the devices K1 to Kn. Utilization presence / absence information storage processing step (usage presence / absence information storage means) 103 for storing the presence / absence information for each function indicating the necessity of management for the function, and for each function of the devices K1 to Kn. The setting acquisition processing step of acquiring the availability setting of the device from the devices K1 to Kn in the communication processing step, and the use of the function acquired in the setting acquisition processing step for each of the devices K1 to Kn and for each function. A use presence / absence control processing step for controlling updating of the use presence / absence information of the function of the use presence / absence information storage function unit 103 based on availability setting. To perform the method.

  Therefore, the use presence / absence information can be updated based on the availability setting for each of the devices K1 to Kn, and the remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing communication traffic. This can be done while improving the usability of Kn.

  Further, in the device management system 1 of this embodiment, the device management apparatus KS has devices K1 to Kn having one or more functions to be managed by a computer such as a CPU constituting the control units 31 and 34. Use presence / absence information storage for storing in the use presence / absence information storage function unit (use presence / absence information storage means) 103, the use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management of the functions of the devices K1 to Kn. Processing, setting acquisition processing for acquiring the availability setting for each function of the devices K1 to Kn from the devices K1 to Kn in the communication processing, and the setting acquisition processing for each of the devices K1 to Kn and each function. Device management for executing the use presence / absence control processing for controlling the update of the use presence / absence information of the function of the use presence / absence information storage function unit 103 based on the acquired availability setting of the function It is equipped with a processor.

  Therefore, the use presence / absence information can be updated based on the availability setting for each of the devices K1 to Kn, and the remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing communication traffic. This can be done while improving the usability of Kn.

  Further, in the device management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the use presence / absence control function unit 104 stores the use presence / absence information having contents different from the use availability setting acquired by the setting acquisition function unit 102 among the use presence / absence information. And updating based on the acquired availability setting.

  Therefore, the use presence / absence information can be efficiently updated based on the availability setting for each of the devices K1 to Kn, and the remote management for each function of the devices K1 to Kn can further reduce communication traffic, This can be performed while further improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  Also in the device management system 1 of the present embodiment, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54 of the device management apparatus KS uses the security function commonly used in the plurality of devices K1 to Kn as the use presence / absence information. I remember information.

  Therefore, remote maintenance management regarding the security functions of the devices K1 to Kn can be performed while further reducing the communication traffic and further improving the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  Further, also in the device management system 1 of the present embodiment, the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54 of the device management apparatus KS includes, in addition to the use presence / absence information, presence / absence information of a version upgrade notification of a program used to execute the function , The selected information among the presence / absence information of the processing result notification when the program upgrade process is executed is also stored, and the control function unit 56 stores the information on the presence / absence information of the use presence / absence information storage function unit 54. Based on this, the management process is controlled, and the process result notification process is controlled.

  Therefore, it is possible to upgrade the program according to the user's intention while further reducing the communication traffic, and to further improve the usability of the devices K1 to Kn.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the “not used” setting of the usage information of the policy information PJ is changed to the “used” setting, the program of the function is used while the setting is “not used”. If the version of is changed, it is not preferable for security.

  Therefore, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the device management apparatus KS includes, among the functions of the devices K1 to Kn to be managed, the functions whose policy information PJ usage setting is set to “not used”. The latest version may be managed.

  The device management apparatus KS acquires the current version of the function of the devices K1 to Kn when the use / non-use information of the function set to “not used” is changed to “use”, and is not the latest version. In some cases, the version may be upgraded before the use is started.

  If it does in this way, utilization of a function can be performed to apparatus K1-Kn safely and appropriately.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

1 device management system KS device management device HS maintenance server CS cloud server OF office NW network IN Internet K1-Kn device 11 communication I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Control part 13 Memory | storage part 14 UI part 15 Engine part 16 Bus 21 Communication function part 22 Information provision function part 31 Control part 32 Storage part 33 UI part 34 Communication I / F
35 Bus 41 Control unit 42 Storage unit 43 UI unit 44 Communication I / F
45 Bus KJ Device information PJ Policy information SJ Latest information 51 Communication function section 52 Usage information acquisition function section 53 Usage information storage function section 54 Usage information storage function section 55 Latest information storage function section 56 Control function section 57 Processing result provision function section 101 Communication Function Unit 102 Setting Acquisition Function Unit 103 Usage Presence Information Storage Function Unit 104 Usage Presence Control Function Unit

JP 2003-216430 A

Claims (13)

A communication means for communicating with a device having one or more functions to be managed;
Usage information acquisition means for acquiring usage information for each function of the device from the device via the communication means;
Usage information storage means for storing the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition means;
Use / non-use information storage means for storing use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management of the function of the device;
Latest information storage means for storing the latest information of the function for each function of the device;
For each device and each function, the acquisition of the usage information by the usage information acquisition unit is controlled based on the usage presence / absence information, and when the usage information is acquired, the acquired usage information and the latest information are updated. Based on the control means for controlling the management processing to be performed on the function,
A device management apparatus comprising: The control means includes
The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the use information and the latest information are compared and a report of the comparison determination result is generated as the management process. The usage information acquisition means includes
Obtain information about the program related to the function as the usage information,
The latest information storage means includes:
Storing the latest program related to the function and information about the program as the latest information;
The control means includes
The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an update process of the program of the function in the device as the management process is controlled based on the usage information and the latest information. The device management apparatus
Processing result providing means for providing the processing result of the management processing controlled by the control means to the device;
The device management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A communication means for communicating with a device having one or more functions to be managed;
Use / non-use information storage means for storing use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management of the function of the device;
Setting acquisition means for acquiring availability setting for each function of the device from the device via the communication means;
Utilization presence / absence control means for controlling updating of the utilization presence / absence information of the function in the utilization presence / absence information storage means based on the availability setting of the function acquired by the setting acquisition means for each device and for each function. When,
A device management apparatus comprising: The use presence / absence control means includes:
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, in the use presence / absence information, the use presence / absence information having a content different from the use availability setting acquired by the setting acquisition unit is updated based on the acquired use availability setting. Management device. The use presence / absence information storage means includes:
The device management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein as the use presence / absence information, use / non-use information of a security function commonly used in a plurality of devices is stored. The use presence / absence information storage means includes:
In addition to the use presence / absence information, also stores selected information among the presence / absence information of the program upgrade notification used for executing the function and the processing result notification presence / absence information when the program upgrade process is executed. And
The control means includes
8. The device management according to claim 1, wherein the management process is controlled based on the presence / absence information stored in the use presence / absence information storage unit, and the process result notification process is controlled. apparatus. A device management system in which a device having at least one function and a device management apparatus for managing the device are connected via a network,
The equipment is
Communication means for communicating with the device management apparatus via the network;
Information providing means for providing usage information for each function possessed by the own device to the device management apparatus via the communication means;
With
The device management apparatus
Communication means for communicating with the device;
Usage information acquisition means for acquiring usage information for each function of the device from the information providing means of the device via the communication means;
Usage information storage means for storing the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition means;
Use / non-use information storage means for storing use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management of the function of the device;
Latest information storage means for storing the latest information of the function for each function of the device;
For each device and each function, the acquisition of the usage information by the usage information acquisition unit is controlled based on the usage presence / absence information, and when the usage information is acquired, the acquired usage information and the latest information are updated. Based on the control means for controlling the management processing to be performed on the function,
A device management system comprising: A device management system in which a device having at least one function and a device management apparatus for managing the device are connected via a network,
The equipment is
Communication means for communicating with the device management apparatus via the network;
Information providing means for providing the device management apparatus with the availability setting for each of the functions possessed by the own device via the communication means;
With
The device management apparatus
Communication means for communicating with the device;
Use / non-use information storage means for storing use / non-use information for each function indicating the necessity of management of the function of the device;
Setting acquisition means for acquiring availability setting for each function of the device from the device via the communication means;
Utilization presence / absence control means for controlling updating of the utilization presence / absence information of the function in the utilization presence / absence information storage means based on the availability setting of the function acquired by the setting acquisition means for each device and for each function. When,
A device management system comprising: A communication processing step for communicating with a device having one or more functions to be managed;
Usage information acquisition processing step for acquiring usage information for each function of the device from the device in the communication processing step;
A usage information storage processing step of storing the usage information acquired in the usage information acquisition processing step in a usage information storage means;
Use presence / absence information storage processing step of storing use / non-use information for each function indicating whether or not management of the function of the device is necessary in a use / non-use information storage unit;
For each function of the device, the latest information storage processing step of storing the latest information of the function in the latest information storage means;
For each device and each function, based on the use presence / absence information, the acquisition of the use information by the use information acquisition processing step is controlled, and when the use information is acquired, the acquired use information and the latest information A control processing step for controlling the management processing to be performed on the function based on
A device management method characterized by comprising: A communication processing step for communicating with a device having one or more functions to be managed;
Use presence / absence information storage processing step of storing use / non-use information for each function indicating whether or not management of the function of the device is necessary in a use / non-use information storage unit;
A setting acquisition processing step of acquiring the availability setting for each function of the device from the device in the communication processing step;
For each device and each function, based on the availability setting of the function acquired in the setting acquisition processing step, the presence / absence of use for controlling the updating of the usage information on the function in the usage information storage unit Control processing steps;
A device management method characterized by comprising: On the computer,
A communication process for communicating with a device having one or more functions to be managed;
Usage information acquisition processing for acquiring usage information for each function of the device from the device in the communication processing;
Usage information storage processing for storing the usage information acquired in the usage information acquisition processing in usage information storage means;
Use presence / absence information storage processing for storing use presence / absence information for each function indicating whether or not management of the function of the device is necessary;
Latest information storage processing for storing the latest information of the function in the latest information storage means for each function of the device;
For each device and each function, the acquisition of the usage information by the usage information acquisition process is controlled based on the usage presence / absence information, and when the usage information is acquired, the acquired usage information and the latest information are Control processing for controlling the management processing to be performed on the function,
A device management program characterized in that

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