JP2008209964A - Equipment management apparatus, equipment management system and equipment management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an equipment management apparatus, an equipment management system and an equipment management program which can automatically take in the positional information of equipment in a power saving mode. <P>SOLUTION: The equipment management apparatus is provided with a positional information storage means (IC tag 200) for storing the positional information D1 of its own installation place, a receiving means (RFID reader) for receiving the positional information D1 from the IC tag 200 at a prescribed time, a storage means (storage part 105) for storing the received positional information D1, and a display means (position display device 300) for displaying the positional information stored in the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device management apparatus, a device management system, and a device management program.

  In recent years, information processing systems for processing various tasks by connecting information processing devices such as workstations and personal computers to a network (communication network) such as a LAN have been widely used in various businesses.

  In addition, the number of information processing devices connected to the network tends to increase for the purpose of improving the efficiency of various devices due to technological advancement and further improving operational efficiency. The management of the number and installation position has become complicated.

  Therefore, in order to efficiently manage multiple information processing devices connected to the network, a mechanism for setting and storing the device name, installation location, etc. has been established and connected to the network using this. A management device that manages a plurality of information processing devices is known.

  In addition, two-dimensional layout is displayed on the display panel, and the layout of various information processing devices in the office is displayed on the layout along with the display showing the shape of the device, making it easy to manage information processing devices. Some of them have a function to make them.

  By the way, when managing the connection configuration with such a management device, the logical configuration can be automatically grasped, but the installation location is often not grasped, and the management information is maintained and maintained. Time and effort.

  Therefore, in order to be able to automatically grasp the physical position of the information processing device connected to the network, in the device location recognition method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3163522, the information processing device to be managed A position holding device that stores the position information of the outlet is provided in the outlet section for supplying the power supply voltage to the information processing apparatus. The position information is read and stored from the information processing apparatus to be managed, and in response to a request from another apparatus. The position information is transmitted.

  However, in the above-described prior art, the position information stored in the position holding device is not the installation location of the managed device itself but the position information of the outlet for supplying the power supply voltage to the managed device. Therefore, for example, when the outlet and the managed device are separated, or when multiple managed information processing devices with different installation locations are connected to a single outlet, the installation location of the managed device is accurately identified. There is a problem that you can not.

In addition, since the connection between the management target device and the position holding device is configured by two systems of the power cable and the signal cable, there is a problem that the cable is complicated when the number of the management target devices is large. Furthermore, although the management target device reads position information from the position holding device only when the power is turned on, the position holding device does not know the timing thereof, and there is a problem that it is necessary to be always energized.
Japanese Patent No. 3163522

  An object of the present invention is to provide a device management apparatus, a device management system, and a device management program capable of automatically capturing information on a position where an information processing device is installed with power saving.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an apparatus management apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is provided in a position information storage unit that stores position information of its own installation location, and the position information is predetermined from the position information storage unit. Receiving means for receiving at the time, storage means for storing the received position information, and display means for displaying the position information stored in the storage means.

  The device management apparatus according to claim 2 is characterized in that the devices are connected via a communication network.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the device management apparatus, wherein the position information storage means is constituted by an IC chip with an antenna, and the receiving means is constituted by a reading device for the IC chip with an antenna. To do.

  The device management apparatus according to claim 4 is characterized in that the predetermined time is when the device is powered on.

  The device management apparatus according to claim 5 is characterized in that the predetermined time is when the device is connected to the communication network.

  In the device management apparatus according to the invention of claim 6, the position information is two-dimensional position information of the X and Y coordinates of the installation location, or a tertiary of the X, Y and Z coordinates of the installation location. It is the original position information.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the device management apparatus, wherein the display means displays a device arrangement position as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement map based on the position information.

  The device management apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is further characterized by further comprising writing means for writing location position information in the location information storage means.

  In the device management apparatus according to claim 9, the writing unit designates a display unit capable of displaying a layout map of a place where the device can be installed, and predetermined coordinates on the layout map. And a control means for controlling to write the coordinate information in the position information storage means.

  The device management apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is further characterized by further comprising transmission means for transmitting the position information stored in the storage means to a predetermined device via the communication network.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device management system according to the present invention, wherein the device management system is provided in a device, and stores position information from the position information storage device at a predetermined time. Receiving means; storage means for storing received position information; transmitting means for transmitting position information stored in the storage means to a predetermined information processing apparatus via the communication network; and the predetermined information. And display means for displaying the position information received by the processing device.

  The device management system according to the invention of claim 12 is characterized in that the position information storage means is constituted by an IC chip with an antenna, and the reception means is constituted by a reading device for the IC chip with an antenna. To do.

  The device management system according to the invention of claim 13 is characterized in that the predetermined time is when the device is turned on.

  The device management system according to claim 14 is characterized in that the predetermined time is when the device is connected to the communication network.

  In addition, in the device management system according to the invention of claim 15, the position information is two-dimensional position information of the X and Y coordinates of the installation place, or a tertiary of the X, Y and Z coordinates of the installation place. It is the original position information.

  The device management system according to the invention of claim 16 is characterized in that the display means displays the arrangement position of the device as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement map based on the position information.

  The device management system according to the invention of claim 17 further comprises a writing means for writing location position information in the location information storage means.

  In the device management system according to the invention of claim 18, the writing means designates display means capable of displaying a layout map of a place where the device can be installed, and predetermined coordinates on the layout map. And a control means for controlling to write the coordinate information in the position information storage means.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device management program for storing position information of a location where a device connected to a communication network can be installed, and position information from the position information storing step as predetermined information. It is characterized by causing the calculation means to execute a reception process for receiving at a time, a storage process for storing the received position information, and a display process for displaying the position information stored in the storage process.

  The device management program according to the invention of claim 20 is characterized in that the predetermined time is when the device is powered on.

  The device management program according to the invention of claim 21 is characterized in that the predetermined time is when the device is connected to the communication network.

  The device management program according to the invention of claim 22 is characterized in that the position information is two-dimensional position information of the X and Y coordinates of the installation location, or a tertiary of the X, Y and Z coordinates of the installation location. It is the original position information.

  The device management program according to the invention of claim 23 is characterized in that, in the display step, the device arrangement position is displayed as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement map based on the position information.

  A device management program according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention further includes a transmission step of transmitting the position information stored in the storage step to a predetermined device.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, there is an excellent effect that the position information of the device can be automatically taken in with power saving.

  In addition, according to the second aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, there is an effect that the position information can be automatically captured for the devices connected to the communication network with power saving. is there.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, there is an effect that it can be automatically taken in with power saving as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, there is an effect that it can be automatically taken in when the device is turned on with power saving, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, there is an effect that it can be automatically taken in when the device is connected to the communication network with power saving as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, there is an effect that an accurate position of the device can be taken in as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Moreover, according to the invention of Claim 7, compared with the case where this structure is not provided, there exists an effect that the exact position of an apparatus can be grasped | ascertained.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, there is an effect that the position of the device can be easily written as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the position of the device can be written more easily as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 10, there is an effect that the position information of the device can be grasped by the external device as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 11, there is an excellent effect that the position information of the device can be automatically taken in with power saving.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 12, there is an effect that it can be automatically taken in with power saving as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 13, there is an effect that, when compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, it is possible to automatically take in the device when the power is turned on with power saving.

  In addition, according to the invention described in claim 14, there is an effect that it can be automatically taken in when the device is connected to the communication network with power saving as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the invention as set forth in claim 15, there is an effect that an accurate position of the device can be taken in as compared with a case where this configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 16, there is an effect that an accurate position of the device can be grasped as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 17, there is an effect that the position of the device can be easily written as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 18, there is an effect that the position of the device can be written more easily as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the position information of the device can be automatically taken in with power saving as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  In addition, according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that, when compared with a case where the present configuration is not provided, power can be saved automatically when the device is turned on.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 21, there is an effect that it can be automatically taken in when the device is connected to the communication network with power saving as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 22, there is an effect that an accurate position of the device can be taken in compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 23, there is an effect that the positions of various places can be grasped as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 24, there is an effect that the position information of the device can be grasped by the external device as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment as an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same members, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In addition, since description here is the best form by which this invention is implemented, this invention is not limited to the said form.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration example of an IC tag, FIG. 3 is a block diagram explaining a mechanism of the IC tag, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the position information writing device, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the coordinates indicating the position of the device (A) and the position. A table (B) illustrating information, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of position information reading processing.

  The configuration of the device management system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The device management system S includes a network device 100 connected to a communication network (network) N such as a LAN, an IC tag (position information storage means, an IC chip with an antenna, an RFID (Radio)
(Frequency IDentification) tag) 200 and a position display device (device management device) that displays the position of the network device 100 on a layout diagram (layout diagram: a specific example will be described later) based on the position information received via the network N 300.

  The network device 100 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a hub, a switch, and a router that constitute a network, a server device having a network connection function, a personal computer, a printer device, a facsimile device, and a copying machine.

  The functional unit 101 of the network device 100 differs depending on the devices as described above. For example, when the network device 100 is a printer device, the basic configuration of the printer device including a controller that executes print processing, a printer engine, and the like corresponds to the function unit 101.

  In the network device 100, the portion that reads and stores the position information D1 from the IC tag 200 includes an RFID reader 102 that constitutes a reading device (reception unit), a reader control unit 103 that controls the RFID reader 102, and an RFID reader 102. The storage unit 105 configured by a flash memory or the like that stores the position information D1 received in the above, and external communication that transmits the position information D1 stored in the storage unit 105 to the position display device 300 via the network N Part (transmission means) 106.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID reader 102 includes a receiving antenna 102a.

  Control information D <b> 2 is stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 105.

  The reader control unit 103, the storage unit 105, and the external communication unit 106 may be configured by individual devices, but their functions may be realized by a microcomputer or the like.

  Here, the IC tag 200 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The configuration of the IC tag 200 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, in which an IC chip 202 arranged on a label-like sheet material 201 that can be attached as a tag is surrounded by a spiral antenna 203.

  The IC chip 202 is produced in a very small size, and for example, there is one having one side of 1 mm or less.

  Some IC chips 202 have a built-in arithmetic processor (CPU), for example, but in this embodiment, a chip having a memory 202a such as an EEPROM as shown in FIG. 3 is used. Further, a logic circuit 202b for writing and reading data such as position information and a RF circuit 202c for transmitting data are mounted on the memory 202a.

  Although not particularly limited, most IC tags 200 do not have a battery (referred to as passive tags), receive radio waves emitted by a reader (RFID or RFID writer), and generate a small amount of power in the circuit by a mechanism such as electromagnetic induction. The memory 202a, the logic circuit 202b, and the RF circuit 202c are driven by the power.

  By not mounting a battery in this way, downsizing is realized. There are IC tags (active tags) that are equipped with a battery so that more complicated applications can be used.

  Note that the size of the antenna 203 affects the communication distance, and the communication distance decreases as the antenna size decreases.

  In addition, it is necessary to bring the IC tag 200 and the RFID reader 102 close to each other from the relationship of the usable radio wave output (the frequency is 135 KHz, 13.56 MHz, UHF band (860 to 960 MHz), 2.45 GHz, etc.). It is not necessary to make contact, and the position information D1 can be exchanged without contact.

  Further, the shape of the IC tag 200 is not limited to the label shape shown in FIG. 2, and there are a coin shape, a rod shape, a card shape, and the like.

  The position display device 300 can be configured as a dedicated display device including, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, a control device (for example, a microcomputer), or the like, but is a notebook personal computer or the like into which software such as a device management program is installed. It can also be configured.

  Here, an example of a layout diagram (layout diagram) M displayed on the position display device 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows a state in which only the installation position of the IC tag 200 is displayed on the layout drawing M.

  First, on the layout drawing M, desks T1 to T8 arranged as installation equipment for the equipment 100, a rack R1 as storage equipment, a floor F1 on which equipment is installed, and the like are graphically displayed.

  The locations where the IC tag 200 is previously attached or embedded are P1a to P1c in the vicinity of the desk T1, P2 in the desk T2, P3 in the desk T3, P4 in the desk T4, and P5a in the vicinity of the desk T5. ~ P5i, P6 for the desk T6, P7 for the desk T7, and P8 for the desk T8, respectively, are indicated by “●” marks.

  In addition, regarding the floor F1 as a space for installing a relatively large printer or facsimile as the device 100, a total of eight IC tags 200 are attached or embedded at positions F1a to F1h. Each location is displayed with a “●” mark.

  The mark “●” is shown as two-dimensional position information composed of a combination of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate.

  Moreover, about the rack R1 as the accommodation equipment of the apparatus 100, the place installed by attaching the IC tag 200 to four places P10a-P10d is displayed by, for example, a gray circle.

  Note that P10a to P10d are indicated as three-dimensional position information including a combination of the Z coordinate in the height direction in addition to the X coordinate and the Y coordinate.

  A method of writing the position information D1 to each IC tag 200 will be described later.

  Next, FIG. 4B shows a state in which the arrangement status of various devices 100 is displayed.

  That is, the situation when the position information of the IC tags 200 installed in the above-described places is read by the device 100 installed in the vicinity of the IC tags 200 is shown.

  Specifically, when the desktop personal computer PC1 is installed on the desk T1, the position information D1 of the IC tag 200 at the position P1a is read by the RFID reader 102 mounted on the personal computer PC1. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), for example, “PC1” is displayed in a circle.

  Similarly, the installation status of the desktop personal computers PC2 to PC5, the notebook personal computers NP1 to NP3, the printer PR, and the facsimile machine FAX is displayed.

  In addition, the display method of an apparatus is arbitrary, For example, you may make it display the icon imitating the shape of a personal computer, a printer apparatus, etc.

  In FIG. 4B, the notebook personal computer NP1 stored in the rack R1 reads the position information of the IC tag 200 at the location P10d, and uses the three-dimensional position information including the height, In this example, it can be seen that a notebook personal computer NP1 is stored at the top of the rack.

  In this way, by confirming the display of the layout diagram (layout diagram) in FIG. 4B, it is possible to easily grasp which device 100 is disposed where.

  Note that the RFID reader 102 of the device 100 reads the position information D1 of the IC tag 200, for example, when the power switch of the device 100 is turned on or when the device 100 is connected to the network by a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. It can be done.

  Next, a writing device (writing means) 500 for writing position information D1 to the IC tag 200 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the position information writing apparatus 500 includes a microcomputer and the like, a writing control unit 501 that controls writing, an RFID writer 502 as a communication unit that executes writing, and a network such as a LAN. An input unit 503 for inputting office layout information via N, a display unit 504 configured by a liquid crystal display panel or the like for displaying the layout of a desk or the like based on the input layout information, and the input layout information. Analyzing and specifying an X-coordinate, Y-coordinate or Z-coordinate and other related information, a storage unit 506 including a flash memory for storing the analyzed data (position information), and a keyboard It is composed of a position designation unit 507 for inputting X coordinate, Y coordinate or Z coordinate as necessary. That.

  Note that when a touch panel liquid crystal display device or the like is used as the display unit 504, the display unit 504 itself can be used as the position specifying unit 507 instead of the keyboard. In this case, it is possible to input only by pressing the screen of the position where the IC tag 200 is to be installed with a finger or a stylus pen by looking at the layout displayed on the display unit 504. D1 can be written easily and quickly.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 6, an example of input of coordinates designated by the analysis unit 505 and the position designation unit 507 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the X coordinate can specify five positions A to E, for example, and the Y coordinate can specify two positions 1, 2, for example.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 6B, three positions, for example, a low position (L), an intermediate position (M), and a high position (H) are designated as the Z coordinate in the height direction. Can be done.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6 (a), the positions where the IC tag 200 is installed on the shelf R2 are A-1, A-2, the desk T10 is B-1, the desk T11 is C-1. The machine T12 is designated as D-1, and the printer PR2 is designated as E-1.

  As for the Z coordinate, all of the desks T10 to T12 have an intermediate position M, and the shelf A2 of the shelf R2 has a high position H and an intermediate position M (that is, the positions of the A-1 have different heights). (It is assumed that there are two stages), but the low position L is designated for A-2 of the shelf R2, and the low position L is designated for the printer PR2 because it is installed on the floor (see FIG. 6B). .

  In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the positions of the desks T10 to T12 and the printer PR2 can be recognized by the group 1 and the installation positions of the respective stages of the shelf R can be recognized by the identifier of the group 2 according to the arrangement. ing.

  In addition, an attribute item is provided to classify the installation position of the device 100 by a desk, a floor, and a shelf.

  Such position information is input by pressing predetermined keys in the order of X coordinate → Y coordinate → Z coordinate, for example, when the position specifying unit 507 is configured with a keyboard.

  When the position specifying unit 507 is configured with a touch panel type liquid crystal display device or the like as described above, for example, the X coordinate and the Y coordinate can be input by pressing a predetermined position on the display unit 504, and the Z coordinate can be input. Can be designated from designated items prepared separately.

  Then, after inputting the information of the position where the IC tag 200 is installed as described above, writing is instructed by a predetermined key operation or the like. As a result, the position information D1 is written to a predetermined area of the storage unit 506, and the RFID writer 502 is activated under the control of the write control unit 501, and the position information D1 is written to the memory 202a of the IC tag 200. In this case, it is desirable that the RFID writer 502 and the IC tag 200 be close to each other within a predetermined distance in order to prevent a writing error.

  Such a writing operation is performed for all the IC tags 200 to be installed.

  Note that, when the position information is written to the IC tag 200, the position information D1 may be written in the IC tag 200 in advance and then pasted or embedded in the place, or the floor or the like. The IC tag 200 may be embedded in the position information D1 afterwards.

  Further, in order to avoid interference in which the RFID reader 102 of the device 100 to be installed erroneously acquires position information from a plurality of IC tags 200, each IC tag 200 is pasted or embedded at a predetermined distance. It is desirable.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process procedure of the positional information reading process performed with the apparatus management system S is demonstrated.

  When the position information reading process is started, the RFID reader 102 is first turned on in step S10, and then the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, it is determined whether or not the RFID reader 102 has successfully read the position information D1 from the IC tag 200 at the position where the device 100 is to be installed. If the determination result is “No”, the process proceeds to step S12 and returns to step S11 until a predetermined number of times to retry, and if the predetermined number is exceeded, the process proceeds to step S15 and the RFID reader 102 is turned off. The process ends.

  On the other hand, if the reading is successful in step S11, the process proceeds to step S13 to determine whether the position information is the same as the existing position information. If the determination result is “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S15. The RFID reader 102 is turned off and the process ends.

  If the determination result is “No” in step S13, the process proceeds to step S14 to additionally register position information, and then the process proceeds to step S15 to turn off the RFID reader 102 and the process is terminated.

  Accordingly, for example, according to the example of FIG. 4B, when the device 100 is a desktop personal computer PC1, the personal computer PC1 is installed in the vicinity of the position P1a of the desk T1, and then the above-described positional information. By executing the reading process, the position information D1 stored in the IC tag 200 installed at the position P1a is read and registered.

  Then, by transmitting the position information D1 to the position display device 300 via the network N, the display indicating “PC1” is the position of P1a on the layout diagram (layout diagram) M displayed on the position display device 300. Appear in

  By performing such processing on the device, as shown in FIG. 4B, a layout diagram (layout diagram) M indicating where the device exists in the office can be displayed.

  Accordingly, by referring to the layout diagram (layout diagram) M, a device manager or the like can easily and quickly grasp which device is used and where.

  Further, in the device 100, it is sufficient to read the position information D1 from the IC tag 200 only when the power is turned on or when it is connected to the network N, so that it is not necessary to keep the RFID reader 102 on all the time, thereby saving power. You can also.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limited to the disclosed technology. Should not be considered. That is, the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed restrictively based on the description in the above embodiment, but should be construed according to the description of the scope of claims. All modifications that fall within the scope of the claims and the equivalent technology are included.

  When using a program, it can be provided via a network or stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  The device management system according to the present invention can be applied to manage the location of various devices such as various printers, fax machines, copiers, personal computers, host computers, and network configuration devices.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structural example of an IC tag. It is a block diagram explaining the mechanism of an IC tag. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the layout displayed on a position display apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a positional information writing device. It is explanatory drawing (b) which illustrates the coordinate which shows the position of an apparatus, and the table | surface (b) which illustrates positional information. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a positional information reading process.

Explanation of symbols

S Device management system 100 Network device (device)
101 functional unit 102 RFID reader (reception means)
102a Antenna 103 Reader control unit 105 Storage unit (storage unit)
106 External communication unit (transmission means)
200 IC tag (location information storage means)
201 Sheet material 202 IC chip 202a Memory 202b Logic circuit 202c RF circuit 203 Antenna 300 Position display device (device management device, display means)

Claims (24)

Location information storage means for storing location information of its own installation location;
A receiving means provided in the device for receiving the position information from the position information storage means at a predetermined time;
Storage means for storing the received position information;
Display means for displaying position information stored in the storage means;
A device management apparatus comprising:   The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the devices are connected via a communication network. The position information storage means is composed of an IC chip with an antenna,
3. The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is configured by a reading device for the IC chip with an antenna.   The device management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is when the device is powered on.   4. The device management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is when the device is connected to the communication network.   The position information is two-dimensional position information of X and Y coordinates of each installation location or three-dimensional position information of X, Y and Z coordinates of each installation location. The apparatus management apparatus in any one of Claims 1-5.   The device management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display unit displays a device arrangement position as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement map based on the position information.   The device management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a writing unit that writes the location information of the location in the location information storage unit. The writing means includes
Display means capable of displaying a layout drawing of a place where the device can be installed;
Control means for designating predetermined coordinates on the layout drawing and controlling to write the coordinate information in the position information storage means;
The device management apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:   The device management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits the position information stored in the storage unit to a predetermined device via the communication network. . Location information storage means for storing location information of its own installation location;
A receiving means provided in the device for receiving the position information from the position information storage means at a predetermined time;
Storage means for storing the received position information;
Transmitting means for transmitting the position information stored in the storage means to a predetermined information processing apparatus via the communication network;
Display means for displaying the position information received in the predetermined information processing apparatus;
A device management system comprising: The position information storage means is composed of an IC chip with an antenna,
The device management system according to claim 11, wherein the receiving unit includes a reading device for the IC chip with an antenna.   The device management system according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is when the device is powered on.   14. The device management system according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is when the device is connected to the communication network.   12. The position information is two-dimensional position information of X and Y coordinates of the installation location, or three-dimensional position information of X, Y and Z coordinates of the installation location. The device management system according to claim 14.   16. The device management system according to claim 15, wherein the display unit displays a device arrangement position as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement map based on the position information.   The apparatus management system according to claim 11, further comprising a writing unit that writes location position information into the position information storage unit. The writing means includes
Display means capable of displaying a layout drawing of a place where the device can be installed;
Control means for designating predetermined coordinates on the layout drawing and controlling to write the coordinate information in the position information storage means;
The apparatus management system according to claim 17, further comprising: A location information storage process for storing location information of locations where devices connected to the communication network can be installed;
A receiving process for receiving the position information from the position information storing process at a predetermined time;
A storage process for storing the received location information;
A display process for displaying the position information stored in the storage process;
An apparatus management program that causes a computing means to execute the above.   The device management program according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined time is when the device is powered on.   The device management program according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined time is when the device is connected to the communication network.   21. The position information is two-dimensional position information of the X and Y coordinates of the installation location, or three-dimensional position information of the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the installation location. Or the apparatus management program in any one of Claim 21.   23. The device management program according to claim 22, wherein the display step displays a device arrangement position as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement map based on the position information.   The apparatus management program according to any one of claims 19 to 23, further comprising a transmission process of transmitting the position information stored in the storage process to a predetermined device.