JP2002010302A - Monitor apparatus and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitor apparatus whereby a controller can grasp easily abnormalities in a communication system having multiple equipment. SOLUTION: This monitor apparatus displays the monitored result of the communication system arranged so that multiple equipment can form a tree structure through wiring branched in a part of equipment at least. And then, this monitor apparatus displays simultaneously both the tree view screen 200a which contains the displaying pattern corresponding to the equipment to branch in wiring and abbreviates the display of display pattern corresponding to the equipment not to branch in wiring among the multiple equipment, and the block view screen 200b which contains the display pattern corresponding to the equipment to branch and the equipment not to branch through arranging in a predetermined extent within the communication system displayed in the tree view screen 200a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for displaying monitoring results of devices of a predetermined communication system and a method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a CATV (CAble TeleVision) system or the like, in order to be able to immediately respond to any occurrence of an abnormality, the operation state of a repeater, a power supply and the like constituting the CATV system is changed. Monitoring is performed collectively using a predetermined monitoring device. In such a monitoring device, the location where an abnormality occurs in the CATV system, the type of the abnormality, and the like are displayed on a display.

[0003]

By the way, in a CATV system, since a large number of devices are connected in a tree structure via wiring, displaying information on all devices on a display requires a complicated screen. In other words, there is a problem that it is not easy for the administrator to grasp the abnormal part even by looking at the screen. Further, even when only a device in which an abnormality has occurred is displayed on the display, in a CATV system in which a large number of devices are connected in a tree structure as described above, if an abnormality occurs in an upstream device, Since the abnormality also affects downstream devices, there is a possibility that an abnormality may occur in many devices, and there is a similar problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a monitoring device and a method thereof that allow an administrator to easily grasp an abnormality that has occurred in a communication system having a plurality of devices. I do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to achieve the above-mentioned object, a monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of devices provided by wiring branched at least in part. A monitoring device for displaying a monitoring result of a communication system arranged to form a tree structure, comprising a display pattern corresponding to a device that branches wiring among the plurality of devices, Screen that does not display a display pattern corresponding to a device that does not perform the process, a device that performs the branch and is disposed in a predetermined range in the communication system displayed on the first screen, and the branch Display means for simultaneously displaying a second screen including a display pattern corresponding to a device that does not perform the above.

[0006] The monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises:
The display means displays, on the second screen, a display pattern of a device located on the downstream side of the route with a device specified by a user on the first screen as a route.

[0007] The monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises
The display means is provided when the device that performs the branch branches the wiring into a first wiring and a second wiring, and the first wiring has a higher priority than the second wiring. The display pattern of the device on the first wiring is displayed on the second screen, and the display of the display pattern of the device on the second wiring is omitted on the second screen.

[0008] Further, the monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises:
The display means is responsive to an instruction from a user,
Is displayed on the second screen.

The monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises:
The display means, when an abnormality occurs in a device that does not branch the wiring, the first screen using a predetermined abnormality display pattern as a display pattern corresponding to the device that immediately branches the wiring. Is displayed.

[0010] The monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises:
The display means may use a second abnormality display pattern as a display pattern corresponding to the device in which the abnormality has occurred.
Display the screen of.

[0011] The monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises:
The display means, when a required number of display patterns cannot be displayed on the same line on the second screen,
A third screen displaying a plurality of display patterns to be displayed on the same line using the plurality of lines is displayed.

The monitoring device of the present invention preferably comprises
Further comprising an operation unit, wherein the display unit displays a third screen including information about the device of the communication system searched based on the search condition specified by the operation unit, and displays the third screen on the searched device. Displaying the first screen and the second screen including a corresponding display pattern;

A monitoring method according to the present invention is a monitoring method for displaying a monitoring result of a communication system in which a plurality of devices are arranged so as to form a tree structure by wiring branched from at least a part of the devices. A first screen including a display pattern corresponding to a device that branches wiring among the plurality of devices, and omitting display of a display pattern corresponding to a device that does not branch wiring; and A second screen including a display pattern corresponding to the device that performs the branch and the device that does not perform the branch, which is arranged in a predetermined range in the communication system and is displayed on the screen, is simultaneously displayed.

Further, the monitoring method of the present invention provides a monitoring result of a communication system in which a plurality of devices are arranged so as to form a tree structure by wiring branched from at least some of the devices, and a predetermined map information. A common key for the device is set between the devices, and using the common key, a map screen showing the device indicated by the monitoring result at a position specified by the map information is displayed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a CATV monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a CATV monitoring device 1 according to the present embodiment. First, CAT
The CATV system 2 to be monitored by the V monitoring device 1 will be described. Here, the CATV monitoring device 1 corresponds to the monitoring device of the present invention, and the CATV system 2 corresponds to the communication system of the present invention.

[CATV system 2] FIG.
FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of a system 2. As shown in FIG.
In the ATV system 2, for example, the relay devices A, B, C,
E, F, J, K and power supply devices D, I are connected via cables to form a tree structure. here,
In the relay devices A, C, and J, the cables are branched.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the relay device A, a cable is branched toward the relay device B and the power supply device I toward the downstream side. The relay device B is connected to the relay device C on the downstream side. In the relay device C, the cable is branched toward the power supply device D and the relay device F toward the downstream side. A relay device E is provided downstream of the power supply device D. A relay device J is provided downstream of the power supply device I. In the relay device J, the cable is branched toward the downstream side, and one of the cables is connected to the relay device K. Each home terminal device is connected to a cable downstream of the corresponding relay device.

In the CATV system 2, bidirectional communication is performed between a center device (not shown) provided on the upstream side of the relay device A, a home device, and a terminal device via the relay device.
The relay devices A, B, C, E, F, J, K and the power supply devices D, I store operation state information indicating their own operation states. The operation state information includes, for example, information about the type of abnormality that has occurred in the device, the time when the abnormality occurred, and whether or not the abnormality has been recovered. The operation state information is read as monitoring information by the CATV monitoring device 1 as described later.

Hereinafter, the CATV monitoring device 1 will be described. [CATV Monitoring Apparatus 1] As shown in FIG. 1, the CATV monitoring apparatus 1 includes a monitoring unit 3, a storage unit 4, an image generation unit 5, an operation unit 6, and a display unit 7. And so on. Here, the image generation unit 5 and the display unit 7 correspond to the display unit of the present invention, and the operation unit 6 corresponds to the operation unit of the present invention. For example, the monitoring unit 3 transmits the relay devices A, B, C, E, and
F, J, K and power supply devices D, I are accessed, and their operation state information is read out as monitoring information.

The storage unit 4 stores, as monitoring information, operating state information read from the relay devices A, B, C, E, F, J, K and power supply devices D, I of the CATV system 2 by the monitoring unit 3. .

The image generation unit 5 generates an image signal such as a monitor screen based on the operation signal from the operation unit 6 using the monitoring information read from the storage unit 4 and displays the image signal on the display unit 7.
Output to The screen generated by the image generation unit 5 will be described later in detail.

The operation section 6 is an input means such as a mouse, a touch panel, and a keyboard, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to a user operation to the image generation section 5.

The display unit 7 performs image display according to the image signal input from the image generation unit 5.

Hereinafter, the display screen of the display unit 7 according to the processing in the image generation unit 5 will be described in detail in association with the operation of the operation unit 6 by the user. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a plurality of screens displayed on the display unit 7.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of menu bars are displayed on the monitoring menu screen 100. By clicking the menu bar with a mouse or the like, a tree view / menu is displayed.
The block diagram screen 200, the device list screen 300, and the history screen 400 are activated and displayed as windows.
Note that all and part of the tree view / block diagram screen 200, the device list screen 300, and the history screen 400 are displayed.
The monitoring menu screen 100 may be automatically activated.

The tree view / block diagram screen 20
By right-clicking a display pattern on the block diagram with a mouse on the block diagram 0, a block diagram auxiliary screen 500 is activated. Further, on the block diagram auxiliary screen 500, by left-clicking the display pattern on the block diagram with the mouse, the device individual screen 600 is activated. Device list screen 3
At 00, by right-clicking an arbitrary line on the list with a mouse, the device individual screen 600 is activated. Also,
By right-clicking an arbitrary line on the list with the mouse on the history screen 400, the device individual screen 600 is activated.

<Tree View / Block Diagram Screen 200>
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the tree view / block diagram screen 200. As shown in FIG.
On the block diagram screen 200, a tree view screen 200a
And the block diagram screen 200b are displayed in one window. Here, the tree view screen 200a corresponds to the first screen of the present invention, and the block diagram screen 200b corresponds to the second screen of the present invention.

On the tree view screen 200a, only the display pattern corresponding to the device that branches the cable is displayed, and the display pattern corresponding to the device that does not branch the cable is not displayed. By doing so, when the user looks at the tree view screen 200a, the CATV system 2
Can be easily grasped. Tree view screen 200
In a, the name or abbreviation of the corresponding device is displayed together with the display pattern of each device. The size of the display pattern of each device on the tree view screen 200a is smaller than the display pattern of each device on the block diagram screen 200b. In the example shown in FIG.
0a, display patterns corresponding to the relay devices A, C, and J that branch the cable and the devices ST1 and ST2 that branch the cable located upstream of the relay device A among the devices shown in FIG. Have been.

On the tree view screen 200a, CATV
When an abnormality occurs in a device that branches a cable in the system 2, based on an image signal from the image generation unit 5,
A display pattern corresponding to the device in which the abnormality has occurred is displayed in a predetermined abnormality display pattern. The abnormality display pattern is a display pattern for notifying the user of the abnormality using, for example, at least one of the shape, the size, and the color. The abnormality display pattern may be displayed differently depending on the type of abnormality and the abnormality level (weight of abnormality).

On the tree view screen 200a, C
If an abnormality occurs in a device in the ATV system 2 that does not branch the cable, a cable located closest to the upstream side of the device in which the abnormality has occurred is branched based on an image signal from the image generation unit 5. A display pattern corresponding to the device is displayed in a predetermined abnormality display pattern. In this case, in the CATV system 2, when an abnormality occurs in a plurality of devices that do not branch the cable between the device that branches the cable and the device that next branches the cable downstream of the device, the abnormality occurs. An abnormal display pattern corresponding to an abnormality of a device having a high abnormality level is used as a display pattern corresponding to a device that branches a cable located closest to the upstream side of a plurality of devices. For example, the CATV shown in FIG.
In the system 2, an abnormality occurs in the relay devices E and F,
When the abnormality level of the relay device E is higher than the abnormality level of the relay device F, an abnormality display pattern corresponding to the abnormality of the relay device E is used as the display pattern corresponding to the relay device C.

Further, when the user enters the tree view screen 200a
When a device is specified using a mouse or the like above, the specified device is set as a root, and the first device downstream of the specified device is designated.
A block diagram screen 200b including a display pattern corresponding to the device located on the priority path is displayed. Here, the first
The priority path is one path that is displayed most preferentially on the basis of a predetermined device in the tree structure as shown in FIG. 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, for example, the relay devices A, B, C, the path of the power supply device D and the path of the relay device E. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
In 0b, display patterns corresponding to the relay devices A, B, and C, the power supply device D, and the relay device E are displayed. Each display pattern on the block diagram screen 200b is given a different color according to, for example, the abnormal level of the corresponding device. For example, red is given for a severe abnormality, yellow for a moderate abnormality, yellow-green for a minor abnormality, and green for a normal abnormality. In each display pattern, a symbol or the like indicating the type of the corresponding device is displayed.

On the block diagram screen 200b, icons for displaying a display pattern corresponding to a device for which a display pattern is not displayed are displayed in a display pattern corresponding to a device for branching a cable. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, buttons 210 and 211 are displayed in a display pattern corresponding to the devices A and C on the block diagram screen 200b. When the user designates (clicks on) the button 211 on the block diagram screen 200b using a mouse or the like, as shown in FIG. 5, the button 211 shown in FIG. 2 is located on a cable other than the first priority path branched from the relay device C. A display pattern corresponding to the indicated relay device F is displayed. That is, an expanded display is performed. Also, the block diagram screen 2 shown in FIG.
00b, the user presses the button 210 using a mouse or the like.
Is designated, as shown in FIG. 6, a display pattern corresponding to the power supply device I and the relay devices J and K shown in FIG. 2 located on the cable other than the first priority path branched from the relay device A is displayed. You. On the other hand, if the user designates the button 211 using a mouse or the like in the state shown in FIG. 5, display patterns other than the display pattern corresponding to the device on the first priority path are deleted, and the state returns to the state shown in FIG.

On the block diagram screen 200b, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, one of the cables branched from the relay device A is not displayed, and the power supply device I is not displayed. When an abnormality occurs, the power supply device I is displayed with respect to the display pattern corresponding to the relay device A.
Is colored according to the abnormal level that has occurred.

When the user gives a mouse pointer on the display pattern of each device in the block diagram screen 200b, information on the device such as the device name, device ID, model name, and comment of the device is displayed. You. For example, when the user gives a mouse pointer on the display pattern of the power supply device I in the block diagram screen 200b,
As shown in FIG. 7, information 2 on the power supply device I
20 is displayed.

On the block diagram screen 200b,
From the viewpoint of the user's viewability, for example, the number of display patterns of devices displayed on one line is limited in advance,
In order to display the display pattern of the subsequent device, it is necessary to scroll the screen horizontally. However, in this case, since an operation using a mouse or the like by the user is required, in this embodiment, apart from the block diagram screen 200b, for example, as shown in FIG. A block diagram auxiliary screen 500 displaying the pattern on a different line located in parallel with the line of the display pattern of the device on the upstream side is displayed. By viewing the block diagram auxiliary screen 500, the user can grasp the state of many devices connected in series on one screen.

<Device List Screen 300> FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the device list screen 300. As shown in FIG. 9, the device list screen 300 includes search condition input fields 310 and 3.
11, 312, a search button 313, and a search result display field 314. Search condition input fields 310, 311,
The input to 312 and the designation of the search button 313 are performed by operating the mouse or keyboard by the user. The search condition input column 310 is used for selecting one of normal devices only, abnormal devices only, and both normal and abnormal devices as search targets.

The search condition input column 311 is used to select which of the following items is to be searched for, for each cross-border item, for each transmission line system to which the device belongs, and for each model. Search condition input field 312
Is used to input the device name and address of a specific device when the user wants to know the monitoring result of the device. A search button 313 is specified when starting a search after inputting search conditions. Search result display field 3
14 displays a search result. The search results displayed in the search result display column 314 are sorted under predetermined conditions by clicking on each display item.

<History Screen 400> FIG.
It is a figure for explaining 00. As shown in FIG.
The history screen 400 has a history display condition input column 410 and a history result display column 411. History display condition input field 41
0 is used for inputting conditions for history display, such as an occurrence event (abnormal item), a device name, and an abnormality occurrence date and time. By doing so, the history result display column 4
11 can be suppressed, and the user can easily find the history information requested by the user. The history result display column 411 displays a history result obtained according to the condition input in the history display condition input column 410. The history results displayed in the history result display column 411 are sorted under predetermined conditions by clicking each display item.

<Equipment Individual Screen 600> FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the equipment individual screen 600. As shown in FIG. 11, the device individual screen 600 displays, for each device, the monitoring status of the device in detail, and allows the user to perform control settings for the device. In addition, by using the device status continuous reading function of the monitoring unit 3 shown in FIG.
The monitoring results such as the normal count, no response, and transmission error obtained during continuous reading are displayed on the device individual screen 600.
, A simple evaluation of the transmission line (cable) and the device is realized.

The operation and effect of the CATV monitoring device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. C shown in FIG.
In the ATV monitoring device 1, for example, 1
Every minute, the relay devices A, B, C,
E, F, J, K and the power supply devices D, I are accessed, and their operation state information is read out as monitoring information and stored in the storage unit 4. Then, based on an operation signal from the operation unit 6 corresponding to the operation by the user, the storage unit 4
, The monitoring information is read out to the image generation unit 5, and the image generation unit 5 generates an image signal such as a monitoring screen. The generated image signal is output from the image generation unit 5 to the display unit 7, and an image corresponding to the image signal is displayed on the display unit 7.

As described above, the CATV monitoring apparatus 1 simultaneously displays the tree view screen 200a and the block diagram screen 200b in the same window on the tree view / block diagram screen 200 as shown in FIG. A general overview of the CATV system 2 is displayed on the tree view screen 200a, and devices in a specific range specified on the tree view screen 200a or the like are displayed on the block diagram screen 200b. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in a device in the CATV system 2, the user grasps where the abnormality has occurred in the CATV system 2 by using the tree view screen 200a, and based on the information, the block diagram screen 200b. , Detailed information about the abnormality can be obtained.

In the CATV monitoring device 1, the CATV
When an abnormality occurs frequently in the system 2, it is inefficient to specify an abnormal part using the tree view / block diagram screen 200 described above. Check whether it has occurred. At this time, on the device list screen 300, the result of analyzing the occurrence of an abnormality by searching by sorting records only for each field is displayed. And
When the user selects a device on the device list screen 300, a location corresponding to the device is automatically expanded on the tree view / block diagram screen 200. Thus, the user can easily grasp the position of the device in which the abnormality has occurred on the CATV system 2 and the status of the devices before and after the device without performing useless work.

In addition, the CAT is used during the part-time hours such as night holidays.
When an abnormality has occurred in the V system 2 and the luther uses the CATV monitoring device 1, the abnormality may have already been recovered. In such a case, the information related to the abnormality is not displayed on the tree view / block diagram screen 200, the device list screen 300, and the like, but the user activates the history screen 400 to display the content and occurrence of the abnormality. You can know the time.

The tree view / block diagram screen 20
For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the devices A to M form a tree structure, the device list screen 300 and the history screen 400
When a device F which is not a priority path is designated by a mouse or the like, the device C having a branch immediately before the device F is set as the head (root), and as shown in FIG.
The display is performed so as to display the G and H display patterns. At this time, the display patterns of the devices D and E on the priority path branched from the device C are displayed together with the display patterns of the paths of the devices G and H including the device F. By doing this,
The state of the device on the upstream side of the device F can be easily grasped. Further, when the device D on the priority path is designated with the mouse or the like on the device list screen 300 and the history screen 400, the device C having the branch immediately before the device D is set to the top (root).
As shown in FIG. 14, devices C,
The display patterns of D and E are displayed on the block diagram screen 200b.

In the CATV monitoring device 1, for example,
As shown in FIG. 15, by outputting the monitoring information stored in the storage unit 4 shown in FIG.
Data sharing with the map information screen 710 may be realized.
At this time, a common key for each device is set between the information for displaying the map information screen 710 and the information for displaying the screen of the CATV monitoring device 1 described above. Then, the external file 7 output from the CATV monitoring device 1
The common key is specified from the information on the occurrence of the abnormality and the recovery from the abnormality described in No. 00, and a map information screen 710 including a display for specifying the abnormal location on the map is created and displayed. In this case, the map information screen 710 displays the CATV
The information may be displayed on the display unit 7 of the monitoring device 1 or may be displayed on the display unit of another device.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a monitoring device and a monitoring method that allow an administrator to easily grasp an abnormality that has occurred in a communication system having a plurality of devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a CATV monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of the CATV system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a plurality of screens displayed on a display unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a block diagram auxiliary screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the device list screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a history screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the device individual screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the tree view / block diagram screen shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a map information screen created using the monitoring information of the CATV monitoring device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CATV monitoring apparatus 3 ... Monitoring part 4 ... Storage part 5 ... Image generation part 6 ... Operation part 7 ... Display part 2 ... CATV system 100 ... Monitoring menu screen 200 ... Tree view / block diagram screen 200a ... Tree view screen 200b ... Block diagram screen 300 ... Device list screen 400 ... History screen 500 ... Block diagram auxiliary screen 600 ... Device individual screen

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A monitoring device for displaying a monitoring result of a communication system in which a plurality of devices are arranged so as to form a tree structure by wiring branched from at least a part of the devices, the monitoring device comprising: A first screen including a display pattern corresponding to a device that branches wiring, and omitting display of a display pattern corresponding to a device that does not branch wiring; and the communication displayed on the first screen. A monitoring device having display means for simultaneously displaying a second screen including a display pattern corresponding to a device performing the branch and a device not performing the branch provided in a predetermined range in the system. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a display pattern of a device located on a downstream side of the route on a device specified by a user on the first screen as a route on the second screen. The monitoring device according to claim 1. 3. The display means, wherein the wiring is branched into a first wiring and a second wiring by the branching device, and the first wiring has a higher priority than the second wiring. The display pattern of the device on the first wiring is displayed on the second screen, and the display of the display pattern of the device on the second wiring is displayed on the second screen. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is omitted. 4. The display means displays a display pattern of a device on the second wiring on the second screen in response to an instruction from a user.
The monitoring device according to claim 1. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means uses a predetermined abnormal display pattern as a display pattern corresponding to the device immediately preceding said branching when an abnormality occurs in the device not branching said wiring. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device displays the first screen. 6. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means displays said second screen using a predetermined abnormality display pattern as a display pattern corresponding to a device in which an abnormality has occurred. . 7. When the required number of display patterns cannot be displayed on the same line on the second screen, the display means displays a plurality of display patterns to be displayed on the same line. The monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a third screen displayed by using the line is displayed. 8. An operation unit, further comprising: a display unit configured to display a third screen including information on a device of the communication system searched based on a search condition specified by the operation unit; The first screen and the second screen including a display pattern corresponding to the searched device are displayed.
The monitoring device according to any one of claims 7 to 10. 9. A monitoring method for displaying a monitoring result of a communication system in which a plurality of devices are arranged so as to form a tree structure by wiring branched by at least a part of the plurality of devices, the monitoring method comprising: A first screen including a display pattern corresponding to a device that branches wiring, and omitting display of a display pattern corresponding to a device that does not branch wiring; and the communication displayed on the first screen. A monitoring method for simultaneously displaying a second screen including a display pattern corresponding to a device performing the branch and a device not performing the branch disposed in a predetermined range in a system. 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of devices are arranged so as to form a tree structure by a wiring branched from at least some of the devices. A monitoring method for setting a common key and displaying a map screen showing a device indicated by the monitoring result at a position specified by the map information using the common key.