JP4531242B2 - Billing method in fault diagnosis system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charging method for a failure diagnosis program in an automatic failure diagnosis system such as a gas appliance, and in particular, evaluates the cost reduction effect by using the failure diagnosis program in the failure diagnosis system, and charges according to the cost reduction effect by the program. On how to do.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Gas appliances such as water heaters, bath water heaters that have a hot water supply function and a hot water bath function, and heat source equipment of a gas central heating system connected to multiple heating devices are composed of a microcomputer that controls the burner and heat exchanger. Built-in control device. This control device executes a combustion sequence in response to an operation command from a user, and performs hot water supply corresponding to the operation command. Briefly speaking, the combustion sequence is such that a predetermined actuator is driven in response to an operation command, the detection values of various sensors are monitored in response to this, and the next actuator is further driven. Therefore, the control device always knows how the internal devices are operating in response to the operation command.
[0003]
Due to the increase in the number of parts of gas equipment, the complexity of the combustion sequence, and the increase in the types of gas equipment, fault diagnosis methods that rely on the experience and intuition of conventional repair workers should respond appropriately to recent gas equipment. Is becoming difficult. Therefore, the present inventors have developed a failure diagnosis device that enables even a repair worker without long experience and skill to perform failure diagnosis of a plurality of gas appliances relatively easily. did. For example, JP-A-10-185189 and JP-A-10-196949.
[0004]
Such a failure diagnosis device is a dedicated device that performs failure diagnosis of a gas combustion device in which, for example, a failure diagnosis file corresponding to a plurality of devices of a plurality of manufacturers is installed in a portable information terminal. The repair worker specifies the fault location and the faulty part by making this fault diagnostic device communicable by connecting it to the control device of the gas combustion equipment, etc., and proceeding according to the fault diagnostic program in the fault diagnostic file. It can be performed.
[0005]
For example, when performing maintenance services for a plurality of gas appliances from a plurality of manufacturers, the failure diagnosis apparatus that can be used for general purposes as described above is very effective. However, the structure of gas equipment differs for each manufacturer and model, and the control sequence of the control device, software language system, command system, sensor data, etc. also differ. Therefore, in order to perform communication with the gas device to be diagnosed so as to perform failure diagnosis, a failure diagnosis file having a failure diagnosis program, data, communication program, data, etc. specific to each manufacturer and model is required.
[0006]
Accordingly, such a failure diagnosis file is generally developed by the manufacturer according to its own device information and failure history, and is provided to a supplier who provides a maintenance service for gas equipment. The maintenance service provider installs the failure diagnosis file in the failure diagnosis apparatus and performs failure diagnosis for the customer. In providing a failure diagnosis file, a maintenance service provider is required to pay some kind of consideration from the manufacturer, and the standard of this consideration has been vague in the past.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The failure diagnosis apparatus as described above is required to have higher efficiency than the failure diagnosis based on the experience and intuition of the conventional repair worker. As a result of using the failure diagnosis device, if the failure diagnosis time becomes longer or the number of misdiagnosis increases and the number of rediagnosis increases, there is no point in using the failure diagnosis device.
[0008]
On the other hand, gas equipment maintenance service providers depend on manufacturers for the development of failure diagnosis files, and it is difficult to improve the efficiency of failure diagnosis by making the failure diagnosis files of higher performance. In the worst case, a certain price is paid to a manufacturer that develops and provides a failure diagnosis file that does not improve the failure diagnosis efficiency.
[0009]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging method for a fault diagnosis program that can improve the function of the fault diagnosis program of the fault diagnosis system.
[0010]
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a billing method that can legitimately evaluate the value of a failure diagnosis program of a failure diagnosis system.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging method for a failure diagnosis program installed in a failure diagnosis apparatus that supports failure diagnosis of a gas device. A diagnosis result data file is generated and recorded, and a failure diagnosis is performed by the failure diagnosis apparatus in which the provided failure diagnosis program is installed, second failure diagnosis result data is generated and stored, and the first failure diagnosis data is stored every predetermined period. In addition, an effect of reducing the failure diagnosis cost by using the failure diagnosis device is obtained from the second failure diagnosis result data, and a charge amount for the failure diagnosis program is obtained according to the effect of reducing the failure diagnosis cost.
[0012]
Fault diagnosis cost reduction effects include, for example, the effect of shortening the fault diagnosis time when diagnosis is completed normally, the effect of reducing parts replacement costs due to misdiagnosis, the effect of reducing rediagnosis due to misdiagnosis, and the effect of reducing unsuccessful diagnosis It is calculated by appropriately quantifying the above. Preferably, the charge amount in that period is determined by multiplying the failure diagnosis cost reduction effect thus obtained by a predetermined ratio.
[0013]
In another aspect of the present invention, the second failure diagnosis result data is generated when the failure diagnosis by the failure diagnosis apparatus is completed or immediately thereafter, and is transmitted to the database file of the failure diagnosis file evaluation system at the remote center. And stored. In other words, the failure diagnosis device is installed with multiple failure diagnosis files for each manufacturer and corresponding to the gas model, and multiple repair workers perform failure diagnosis for multiple models at different sites in time and location. Used for Therefore, it is preferable that the second failure diagnosis result data is transmitted and recorded to the remote center at every failure diagnosis.
[0014]
Furthermore, in the above-mentioned invention, in a more preferred embodiment, the center fault diagnosis file evaluation system detects that a fault diagnosis has been made several times for the same gas equipment of the same customer in a short period of time. It is determined that a fault diagnosis has been performed. Only when two failure diagnosis data that are different in time (by different repair workers) are compared, it is determined that the previous failure diagnosis was a misdiagnosis. It is desirable not to be a worker but to be performed by the center's failure diagnosis file evaluation system.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, this embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of failure diagnosis using the failure diagnosis apparatus in the present embodiment. The failure diagnosis apparatus 50 is, for example, a notebook type or pen input type portable information terminal, as will be described later, and a plurality of failure diagnosis files 81, 82, 83 of gas equipment manufacturers are installed in the built-in recording medium 42. Further, failure diagnosis result data created by a repair worker when a failure diagnosis is made is recorded in the recording medium 44 built in the failure diagnosis apparatus 50.
[0017]
The failure diagnosis files 81 to 83 are used for communication so that each manufacturer can communicate with a failure diagnosis program optimum for failure diagnosis of each gas device and a control device including a microcomputer in the gas device. Data etc. are included. As will be described later, the failure diagnosis program can identify the cause of the failure and the failed part by using the error code output from the gas device or the state of the failure obtained from the user of the gas device.
[0018]
The repair worker makes the failure diagnosis device 50 communicable by connecting a communication line to the gas devices 86 to 88 which are failure diagnosis devices, and displays a failure diagnosis menu displayed according to the failure diagnosis program. It is possible to identify the cause of the failure and the faulty part by appropriately selecting and answering the question from the program or giving the operation to the fault diagnosis device in response to the instruction from the program.
[0019]
When the failure diagnosis is completed, the repair worker creates each failure diagnosis result data at the site or at the sales office. The failure diagnosis result data is created using the failure diagnosis device 50 and is recorded in the diagnosis result data file 44 which is the recording medium. The repair worker transmits the data of the created diagnosis result data file 44 to the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 installed in the center using an appropriate communication means such as e-mail or the Internet, 91.
[0020]
The failure diagnosis result data file 91 of the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 stores failure diagnosis result data for a certain period of time that a repair worker performed without using the conventional failure diagnosis device 50. Further, the failure diagnosis result data file 91 using the failure diagnosis apparatus 50 as described above is sequentially recorded in the failure diagnosis result data file 91.
[0021]
In the diagnosis result data file 91 of the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90, conventional failure diagnosis result data that has been performed without using the failure diagnosis apparatus 50 is stored in advance. That is, as a result of the failure diagnosis method relying on the experience and intuition of repair workers, information such as time required for failure diagnosis and replaced parts is accumulated as failure diagnosis result data and stored in the file 91 of the server 90. Is done.
[0022]
Then, the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 determines the failure diagnosis device 50 from the failure diagnosis result data by the conventional failure diagnosis method and the failure diagnosis result data by the failure diagnosis method using the failure diagnosis device 50 at regular intervals. Calculate the cost reduction effect of failure diagnosis (how the diagnosis efficiency has improved) by using the calculation formula described later and multiply it by a predetermined coefficient to charge data of failure diagnosis file for each manufacturer and each gas model Is calculated and stored in the accounting data file 92. Then, the maintenance service company pays a usage fee according to the billing data stored in the billing data file 92 to the manufacturer that provided the failure diagnosis file.
[0023]
In this way, by determining the fee for the failure diagnosis file according to the increase in efficiency of the failure diagnosis process by actually using the failure diagnosis, it is possible to realize an appropriate fee payment, Manufacturers that develop fault diagnosis files can be encouraged to develop better fault diagnosis programs.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the failure diagnosis apparatus and a gas water heater that is an example of the failure diagnosis apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, a failure diagnosis device 50 composed of a portable information terminal such as a notebook personal computer is connected to the control device 5 of the water heater 1 through a protocol conversion device 60. For this purpose, the water heater 1 is provided with a connector 71 for connecting a communication cable 70.
[0025]
The failure diagnosis apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment is a portable information terminal such as a general-purpose notebook personal computer, and is operated by a standard OS such as Windows 95 or Windows NT (both are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation), and its communication protocol. Is also a standard protocol. On the other hand, the control device 5 in the water heater 1 that is the target of failure diagnosis is configured with different specifications for each manufacturer, and the communication protocol is often a unique specification different from the standard protocol.
[0026]
Therefore, in this embodiment, a protocol conversion device 60 is interposed between the failure diagnosis device 50 and the water heater 5, and protocol conversion is performed between a message according to the standard protocol and a message according to a protocol unique to the water heater. To do. The protocol conversion device 60 includes connectors 61 and 62 and protocol conversion means 65 composed of a microcomputer or the like. The protocol conversion means 65 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM incorporating a program conversion program, an input / output buffer BUF, and the like. The memory area for communication control in the memory RAM is a memory area for communication control including predetermined registers. , The communication protocol parameters on the water heater side necessary for protocol conversion are recorded.
[0027]
The control device 5 of the water heater 1 incorporates a control program having, for example, a combustion control sequence program for controlling a desired combustion sequence and a communication control program for communicating with the failure diagnosis device 50. By having this communication control program, communication with the failure diagnosis apparatus 50 can be performed.
[0028]
When the control device 5 in the water heater 1 receives a predetermined command signal such as hot water supply from the remote controller 14 or the failure diagnosis device 50, for example, a flag indicating execution of the control program is recorded in the built-in RAM. The built-in combustion control sequence program executes the control program corresponding to the command signal with reference to the flag. In addition, the combustion control sequence program detects the state of the sensor from the sensor output data recorded in the built-in RAM, and writes the data for instructing driving of the actuator necessary for the combustion control to the corresponding area in the built-in RAM. . The control device 5 refers to the command data written in the built-in RAM and gives a command signal to the actuator.
[0029]
Therefore, the failure diagnosis device 50 instructs the desired combustion control necessary for failure diagnosis by rewriting the information in the RAM built in the control device 5 in the water heater 1 using the communication means. In addition, by reading out information from the RAM, it is possible to monitor the sensor output corresponding to the information and the state in the water heater. Therefore, the failure diagnosis apparatus 2 is provided with a keyboard 51 and a monitor screen 52 as input means, and further with a communication port 53.
[0030]
The communication port 53 of the failure diagnosis device 50 is connected to the protocol conversion device 60 via the RS232C cable 55. The protocol conversion device 60 is connected to the connector 71 of the water heater 1 via another cable 70.
[0031]
In recent years, combustion control by a general-purpose microcomputer is common in gas combustion equipment in recent years, and the above-described built-in RAM area and control program are the same. Therefore, what differs for each manufacturer or model is the details such as the type of parts in the water heater, the address of the built-in RAM, the entry / exit program for the built-in RAM area, the actuator drive program, and the sensor data input program. . Therefore, the failure diagnosis apparatus 50 corresponds to those parts that cannot be shared by different failure diagnosis files for each manufacturer or model. On the other hand, the failure diagnosis apparatus 50 has a general-purpose application program in which display and input control for the repair worker are made common so that a common display screen and operability can be provided to the repair worker.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware and software configuration of the failure diagnosis apparatus. The failure diagnosis apparatus 50 includes the above-described monitor screen 52, keyboard 51, connector terminal 53 as a communication port, CPU, RAM, and file device (not shown) as hardware.
[0033]
The software configuration in the failure diagnosis apparatus 50 includes a general-purpose middleware application 40 that operates universally regardless of the manufacturer or the type of gas device, a failure diagnosis file 42 that differs depending on the manufacturer or gas device, Failure diagnosis result data file 44 (see FIG. 1).
[0034]
The general-purpose middleware application 40 receives an input from the keyboard 51 together with an OS (not shown) and performs necessary display on the monitor screen 52. Therefore, the general-purpose middleware application 40 also includes data for providing a common failure diagnosis menu screen to repair workers. A communication control program for performing communication via a cable connected to the connector terminal 53 is also included. This communication control program creates a message format and communicates with the outside by a standard communication protocol according to a general-purpose OS.
[0035]
Further, the general-purpose middleware application 40 has an initial setting program for acquiring information on the manufacturer and model of the water heater to be diagnosed when the failure diagnosis apparatus is first connected to the water heater. By executing this initial setting program, it is possible to automatically determine the manufacturer and type of the gas equipment to be diagnosed.
[0036]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the failure diagnosis file 42 that differs for each manufacturer or for each gas appliance is composed of data / program files 42A and 42B that differ for each manufacturer. For example, in the case of the data program file 42A of the manufacturer A, the password A used in the inspection process of the manufacturer A, the parameter A of the communication protocol unique to the gas device of the manufacturer A, and the gas device of the manufacturer A It has unique diagnostic files 1 and 2 etc. The diagnostic file is, for example, a diagnostic program for each manufacturer or gas appliance that specifies a faulty part while executing a specific diagnostic operation command or specifies a faulty part by operating a specific part individually. Have
[0037]
The data / program file 42B of manufacturer B also has similar information. Although not shown, a plurality of similar data / program files are provided. The failure diagnosis file 42 is not limited to each manufacturer, and may be different for each gas model. The failure diagnosis file 42 is configured in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating failure diagnosis using a failure diagnosis program. In this example, the failure diagnosis is performed according to the diagnosis sequence of the failure diagnosis program, the repair worker answers YES and NO to the question displayed on the display screen of the failure diagnosis device 50, and the operation shown on the display screen Failure diagnosis such as identification of a faulty part can be performed simply by performing necessary operations according to the instructions.
[0039]
Therefore, in the example of FIG. 4, the fault diagnosis program is a relational program having a hierarchical structure as shown in the figure, but what is displayed on the fault diagnosis apparatus is the message shown in the lowest layer 125 or 128 and YES. , NO selection buttons, operation instruction messages (not shown), and finally identified failed parts.
[0040]
As an example, if the error code “1” is stored in the EEPROM 48 in the water heater and displayed on the display unit or remote control of the water heater, it indicates from which of the plurality of systems in the water heater the fault diagnosis should be performed. In accordance with the order table 121, the system to be checked first is automatically selected. This order table 121 is included in the failure diagnosis program. In the example of FIG. 4, it is shown in the order table 121 that the diagnosis is initially performed from the fan system among the three systems of the fan system, the gas valve system, and the igniter system. The order table 121 is variably set by the manufacturer so that failure diagnosis is performed in order from the system that is most likely to fail in the model according to the past failure rate, for example.
[0041]
Then, for the fan system as indicated by 122 in the figure, the part to be first subjected to the failure diagnosis check is selected by the order table 123 again. For example, when the combustion fan motor is selected as shown in FIG. 124, a message or a question message is displayed on the monitor screen together with YES and NO buttons.
[0042]
In the example of FIG. 4, when no abnormality is found in the combustion fan motor and the a sensor in the fan system, the failure diagnosis of the fan system ends. Then, returning to the upper layer, the system to be subjected to the next failure diagnosis is selected according to the order table 121. According to the table 121, the gas valve system is selected as the next failure diagnosis target. Further, the order table 126 for the four valves that are the part to be diagnosed in the gas valve system is referred to, and for example, a proportional valve is selected as shown in the table. A message or question such as 128 in the figure and a YES / NO button are displayed for failure diagnosis of the proportional valve.
[0043]
Depending on the answer from the repair worker, the next message or question is displayed, or a command command is given to the water heater.
[0044]
If the failure diagnosis of the proportional valve is finished and no abnormality is detected, the next failure diagnosis target part is selected according to the sequence table 126 again.
[0045]
As described above, the failure diagnosis flow is hierarchized, and the diagnosis target in each hierarchy is reciprocated between the lower hierarchy and the upper hierarchy while selecting the diagnosis target in the order table indicating the priority. Then, as a result of the failure diagnosis, the part causing the failure is identified. Accordingly, the repair worker replaces the parts, gives an operation command from the failure diagnosis device, confirms whether the device operates normally, and finishes the repair work. If the cause of the failure is unknown even after diagnosis by the failure diagnosis program, a message such as the failure cause is displayed.
[0046]
When the failure diagnosis is performed based on a device failure, a failure diagnosis program similar to that shown in FIG. 4 is used for the failure to identify the component causing the failure.
[0047]
As described above, some fault diagnosis programs can perform fault diagnosis efficiently due to the superiority or inferiority of the fault diagnosis sequence incorporated therein, and others do not improve the efficiency so much. In some cases, the diagnosis efficiency may be inferior to the conventional failure diagnosis based on the experience and intuition of workers. Or the number of misdiagnosis cases may decrease or increase. Therefore, it is desirable that the billing amount to be paid by the maintenance service company is determined by the failure of the failure diagnosis program provided by the manufacturer.
[0048]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a charging process of the failure diagnosis program. In order to calculate the charge amount of the failure diagnosis program provided by the manufacturer, first, a plurality of failure diagnosis result data when the conventional failure diagnosis device is not used is recorded in the storage means of the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90. The failure diagnosis result data file 91 is created (S10).
[0049]
FIG. 6 shows an example of failure diagnosis result data. FIG. 6 (2) shows an example of failure diagnosis result data by a conventional method. Each time failure diagnosis is performed, failure diagnosis result data as shown in the figure is created by a repair worker. The failure diagnosis result data includes diagnosis number, customer information (ID), diagnosed device information (ID), diagnosis date, diagnosis time, success / failure information of diagnosis judgment, replacement part information, failure phenomenon information (for example, error code) Etc.).
[0050]
Next, the maintenance service company receives the failure diagnosis file from the manufacturer of the gas equipment with the introduction of the failure diagnosis device, and installs it in the failure diagnosis device (S12). As a result, the failure diagnosis apparatus of the maintenance service company can perform failure diagnosis of the gas equipment of the manufacturer. At the same time, a failure diagnosis result data file corresponding to the installed failure diagnosis file is created in the memory of the failure diagnosis device, and an area 44 for storing failure diagnosis result data created at the time of failure diagnosis is secured (S14). . Similarly, the failure diagnosis result data file 91 in the memory of the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 also secures an area for storing failure diagnosis result data when the failure diagnosis apparatus is used.
[0051]
Therefore, a maintenance service company uses a failure diagnosis device installed with failure diagnosis files provided by multiple manufacturers to perform failure diagnosis for the failed gas equipment, identify the cause of the failure, and if necessary, Parts replacement is performed (S16). When the failure diagnosis is completed, the repair worker creates failure diagnosis result data at the site or at the nearest sales office and stores the failure diagnosis result data in the failure diagnosis result data file 44. At the same time, the failure diagnosis result data is transmitted to the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 using available communication means such as e-mail and the Internet, and stored in the memory 91 (S16).
[0052]
The above-described failure diagnosis by the repair worker and the result data creation, transmission, and storage step S16 are repeated until a predetermined period of time elapses (S18). As a result, the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 sequentially accumulates result data of failure diagnosis that differs in time and region.
[0053]
FIG. 6A shows an example of failure diagnosis result data when the failure diagnosis apparatus is used. The failure diagnosis result data includes a diagnosis number, customer information (ID), diagnosed device information (ID), diagnosis date, diagnosis time, replacement part information, failure phenomenon information (for example, error code), and diagnosis determination hit, Miss hit (success / unsuccess) information is included. The diagnosis judgment hit / mishit information is information indicating whether or not the failure cause could be finally identified when the repair worker tried to identify the cause or part of the failure in a conversational manner using the failure diagnosis device. Yes, this is also created as failure diagnosis result data.
[0054]
When the above-described failure diagnosis result data is accumulated over a certain period, the failure diagnosis file evaluation server 90 calculates the charge amount within that period (S20). For example, the charge amount is calculated as follows.
[0055]
The server 90 extracts data on which the same diagnosis device of the same customer is continuously diagnosed within a predetermined period, for example, within one month, using the diagnosis date of the conventional failure diagnosis result data as a clue. Thus, the preceding failure diagnosis is determined as a misdiagnosis. Then, an average value A1 of diagnosis times other than the conventional erroneous diagnosis is obtained.
[0056]
Similarly, the server 90 continuously diagnoses the same customer and the same device to be diagnosed within a predetermined period using the diagnosis date of the failure diagnosis result data when the failure diagnosis device is used as a clue. Data is extracted and the preceding failure diagnosis is determined as a misdiagnosis. Then, an average value B1 of the diagnosis time by the failure diagnosis device other than the erroneous diagnosis in a certain period is obtained. Then, the diagnosis time reduction effect X1 is calculated by the following calculation formula.
[0057]
Diagnosis time reduction effect (X1) = hour unit price × (A1-B1) × number of times of failure diagnosis
(The number of times of failure diagnosis is the number of times of diagnosis using a failure diagnosis device)
Next, the server 90 obtains the total cost A2 of replacement parts that has been conventionally performed at the time of the erroneous diagnosis. Similarly, the server 90 obtains the total cost B2 of replacement parts performed at the time of erroneous diagnosis when the failure diagnosis apparatus is used. Then, the replacement part reduction effect X2 of misdiagnosis is calculated by the following calculation formula.
[0058]
Replacement parts reduction effect of misdiagnosis (X2) = A2-B2
It should be noted that the total costs A2 and B2 are preferably normalized by the conventional total diagnosis count and the total diagnosis count using the fault diagnosis apparatus. That is, for example, it is preferable to use the difference in the total number of replacement parts due to erroneous diagnosis per 1000 times of diagnosis.
[0059]
Further, the server 90 obtains the total diagnosis time A3 of the misdiagnosis and the total cost B3 of the replacement parts that were performed at the time of the misdiagnosis when the failure diagnosis apparatus is used. The total diagnosis times A3 and B3 are preferably normalized by the total number of times of diagnosis. That is, for example, the total diagnosis time of misdiagnosis per 1000 times of diagnosis is obtained. And the misdiagnosis reduction effect X3 is calculated by the following calculation formula.
[0060]
Misdiagnosis reduction effect (X3) = time unit × (A3-B3)
Furthermore, the server 90 obtains the total diagnosis times A4 and B4 of the diagnosis for which the diagnosis determination is unsuccessful. This total diagnosis time is preferably normalized by the total number of times of diagnosis. If the ratio of misjudgment (unsuccessful) in diagnosis determination when using the failure diagnosis device is increased, it is a negative factor due to the use of the failure diagnosis file. Calculated by the formula.
[0061]
Unsuccessful diagnosis reduction effect X4 = time unit × (A4-B4)
By charging the various effects X1 to X4 obtained above with predetermined weighting coefficients a1 to a4 and multiplying by the predetermined coefficient y, the charge amount Z in a certain period is obtained as follows.
[0062]
Z = y × (a1, X1 + a2, X2 + a3, X3 + a4, X4)
By appropriately changing the weighting factors a1 to a4, it is possible to change the priority target of the effect for a certain period of the billing target.
[0063]
The billing amount obtained by the above calculation is stored in the billing data file 92 by the server 90. Then, the billing amount is transmitted to each maker by e-mail as a billing amount notice or printed out and distributed to each maker. Each manufacturer bills the maintenance service company for an amount corresponding to this billing amount. Therefore, manufacturers that develop fault diagnosis files that include fault diagnosis programs will endeavor to improve the programs so that they can earn more bills, and realize fault diagnosis devices that are more cost-effective. be able to. In addition, maintenance service companies can determine usage fees according to the degree of efficiency improvement of failure diagnosis for failure diagnosis programs, so there is no need to pay usage fees independently of performance as in the past. Absent.
[0064]
In the above-described embodiment, it has been explained that the charge amount of the failure diagnosis program of the failure diagnosis device is obtained by taking the gas device as an example. However, the failure diagnosis device of the present invention controls the microcomputer in addition to the gas device. It can also be used for various devices.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a failure diagnosis program of a failure diagnosis apparatus that can be used for a plurality of manufacturers and models is paid according to the contribution to the efficiency improvement of failure diagnosis provided by the program. Can do.
[0066]
As described above, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but extends to the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of failure diagnosis using a failure diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a failure diagnosis apparatus and a gas water heater that is an example of a failure diagnosis device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware and software configuration of a failure diagnosis apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating failure diagnosis using a failure diagnosis program.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a charging process of a failure diagnosis program.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of failure diagnosis result data.
[Explanation of symbols]
50 Fault diagnosis device
42 Fault diagnosis file
44 Fault diagnosis result data file
90 Failure diagnosis file evaluation server
91 Failure diagnosis result data file
92 Billing data file

Claims (6)

In a charging method for a failure diagnosis program installed in a failure diagnosis device that supports failure diagnosis of a device to be diagnosed,
A first failure diagnosis result data file having data for each failure diagnosis including at least customer information, diagnosis device information, diagnosis date, diagnosis time, and diagnosis result information in the past of the diagnosed device is a failure diagnosis file evaluation server. Recorded in
A failure diagnosis is performed on the device to be diagnosed by the failure diagnosis apparatus installed with the provided failure diagnosis program, and includes at least customer information, device information to be diagnosed, diagnosis date, diagnosis time, and diagnosis result information. Failure diagnosis result data is transmitted to the failure diagnosis file evaluation server and recorded,
The failure diagnosis file evaluation server obtains an effect of reducing the failure diagnosis cost by using the failure diagnosis device according to the first and second failure diagnosis result data every predetermined period, and the failure diagnosis cost reduction effect According to the method, a charge amount for the failure diagnosis program is obtained. In claim 1,
The failure diagnosis file evaluation server extracts failure diagnosis result data for the same customer and the device to be diagnosed in the first and second failure diagnosis result data files, and a plurality of continuous failure diagnosis result data within a predetermined number of days. And a failure diagnosis program charging method, wherein the preceding failure diagnosis result data is determined to be erroneous diagnosis. In claim 2,
The failure diagnosis file evaluation server obtains a first average value of failure diagnosis times excluding the erroneous diagnosis from the first failure diagnosis result data file, and removes the erroneous diagnosis from the second failure diagnosis result data file. According to a value obtained by calculating a second average value of the failure diagnosis time, subtracting the second average time from the first average time, and multiplying by the number of failure diagnosis excluding the erroneous diagnosis of the second failure diagnosis result data file. A failure diagnosis program billing method characterized in that a failure diagnosis time reduction effect is obtained, and the failure diagnosis cost reduction effect is obtained according to the failure diagnosis time reduction effect. In claim 2,
The diagnosis result information includes replacement part information at the time of failure diagnosis,
The failure diagnosis file evaluation server obtains a first total amount of replacement parts costs in the misdiagnosis from the first failure diagnosis result data file, and replaces in the misdiagnosis from the second failure diagnosis result data file. A charging method for a failure diagnosis program, wherein a second total amount of component costs is obtained, and the failure diagnosis cost reduction effect is obtained according to a value obtained by subtracting the second total amount from the first total amount. In claim 2,
The failure diagnosis file evaluation server obtains the total diagnosis time of the misdiagnosis from the first failure diagnosis result data file, obtains the total diagnosis time of the misdiagnosis from the second failure diagnosis result data file, A charging method for a failure diagnosis program, wherein the failure diagnosis cost reduction effect is obtained according to a difference in total diagnosis time. In claim 1,
The diagnosis result information includes failure cause identification presence / absence information indicating whether the failure cause could be identified or not identified,
The failure diagnosis file evaluation server obtains a total diagnosis time of failure diagnosis in which the cause of the failure could not be specified from the first and second failure diagnosis result data files, and according to the difference between the two total diagnosis times, A charging method for a failure diagnosis program, wherein the effect of reducing the failure diagnosis cost is obtained.

Images