JP2008234036A - Information collection system and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To integrally collect and manage information related to an operation situation of different items arbitrarily settable for each electronic equipment by using a management device. <P>SOLUTION: The equipment includes a collection setting information table 52 storing: information specifying an originator of information for each item of information to be collected; and information specifying a collection frequency and a transmission frequency of the information. The equipment collects information from areas designated as originators of information to be collected in accordance with the collection frequency of the item for each information item stored in the table 52, and transmits the information in accordance with the transmission frequency of the item for each information item stored in the table 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information collection system that collects information on the operating status of electronic devices such as POS (Point Of Sales) terminals and credit terminals through a network, and an electronic device used in the system.

Conventionally, a pachinko machine rented from a gaming machine manufacturer to a pachinko store is provided with operation information storage means, and operation information of the pachinko machine, for example, the number of repetitions of a predetermined operation within a predetermined period, the operation of a predetermined operation within a predetermined period The operation information storage server collects the operation information stored in the operation information storage means from each pachinko machine by polling, and the telecommunications carrier's billing server collects the operation information by polling. There has been a technique in which a fee collection server collects from a collection server and determines and charges a rental fee for a pachinko machine based on the collected operation information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-105717 A

  As described above, a management device, for example, an operation information collection server, can collect information on the operation status of the same item from a plurality of electronic devices, for example, pachinko machines, but can be arbitrarily set for each electronic device. An information collection system that can collect and manage information related to the operation status of possible different items with a management device has not been realized.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to collect and manage information related to the operation status of different items that can be arbitrarily set for each electronic device in a centralized manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information collection system capable of performing the above and an electronic device used in this system.

  The information collection system of the present invention is provided in each of a plurality of electronic devices to be managed, and information collection means for collecting information related to the operating status of the electronic device, and provided in each electronic device and collected by the information collection means Information transmitting means for transmitting the received information to a management device connected to the electronic device via a network, and an information storage provided in the management device for accumulating and storing information sent from each electronic device via the network Each electronic device stores information specifying a collection destination for each item of information to be collected and information for specifying the collection frequency and transmission frequency of the information A setting information table is provided. Then, the information collection means of each electronic device collects information from the area designated as the collection destination according to the collection frequency for each information item stored in the collection setting information table, and the information transmission means Information is transmitted for each information item stored in the setting information table in accordance with the transmission frequency for that item.

  The electronic device according to the present invention includes a collection setting information table storing information specifying a collection destination for each item of information to be collected, information specifying the collection frequency and transmission frequency of the information, and a collection setting information table. For each stored information item, information collecting means for collecting information from an area designated as a collection destination according to the collection frequency for that item, and for each information item stored in the collection setting information table, information is transmitted according to the transmission frequency for that item. And an information transmission means for transmitting to an external device connected via a network.

  According to the present invention in which such measures are taken, an information collection system capable of centrally collecting and managing information on the operation status of different items that can be arbitrarily set for each electronic device and used in this system Electronic equipment can be provided.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to an information collection system of a POS terminal which is an aspect of an electronic device.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the information collection system in the present embodiment. This system includes a plurality of (two in the figure) POS terminals 1A1, 1A2 installed in the first store A and a plurality (two in the figure) POS terminals 1B1 installed in the second store B. , 1B2 is collected and managed by the information collection management server 2 installed in the headquarters or service center that supervises the stores A and B.

  In the present embodiment, for example, the number of transactions processed by the POS terminal 1 (hereinafter, the POS terminals 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, and 1B2 are collectively referred to as the POS terminal 1). Collects various information related to the operating status of the POS terminal 1, such as the sales amount of the transaction, the number of times the specific button is pressed, the operation start time of the POS terminal 1, the used capacity and the free capacity of the hard disk mounted on the POS terminal 1. It becomes the target information.

  The POS terminals 1A1 and 1A2 in the store A are connected to a store server 4A for the store A via a LAN (Local Area Network) 3, respectively. Then, the sales data of each product processed by each POS terminal 1A1, 1A2 is transmitted to the store server 4A via the LAN 3A, and is aggregated as sales performance data of the store A.

  The POS terminals 1B1 and 1B2 in the store B are connected to the store server 4B for the store A via the LAN 3B. Then, the sales data of each product processed by each POS terminal 1B1, 1B2 is transmitted to the store server 4B via the LAN 3B, and is aggregated as sales performance data of the store B.

  Here, a POS system is constructed by the POS terminals 1A1, 1A2 and the store server 4A in the store A. Similarly, a POS system is constructed by the POS terminals 1B1 and 1B2 in the store B and the store server 4B. Note that the configuration of the POS system constructed in each of the stores A and B is not necessarily limited to that of the present embodiment.

  The information collection management server 2 is connected to store servers 4A and 4B of the stores A and B via a network 5 such as an intranet. The store server 4A has a data relay function between the POS terminals 1A1 and 1A2 in the store and the information collection management server 2. Similarly, the store server 4B has a data relay function between the POS terminals 1B1 and 1B2 in the store and the information collection management server 2. Thus, the POS terminals 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, and 1B2 can transmit and receive data to and from the information collection management server 2 via the LANs 3A and 3B, the store servers 4A and 4B, and the network 5, respectively.

  The information collection management server 2 includes a collection setting information database 6 in which data related to the collection conditions of the information items to be collected is set and stored for each POS terminal 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2 of each store A, B There is provided a collection result information database 7 in which information collected from each POS terminal 1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2 is accumulated and stored based on the collected conditions. Further, the information collection management server 2 is a computer for adding, changing, and deleting data to the collection setting information database 6 and for displaying or printing out information stored in the collection result information database 7. A terminal 8 is connected.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of data stored in the collection setting information database 6. As shown in the drawing, the collection setting information database 6 includes, for each item of information to be collected, data corresponding to a store number identifying a store and a terminal number identifying a POS terminal 1 installed in the store. The collection location information for specifying the item name, the collection destination, and the collection / transmission frequency information for specifying the collection frequency and transmission frequency of the information are stored.

  In the figure, the store number [0001] is the identification number of the store A, the corresponding terminal number [001] is the identification number of the POS terminal 1A1, and [002] is the identification number of the POS terminal 1A2. The store number [0001] is the identification number of the store A, the terminal number [001] corresponding to the store number [001] is the identification number of the POS terminal 1A1, and [002] is the identification number of the POS terminal 1A2.

  The collection / transmission frequency information includes item information of an hourly flag, a daily flag, a weekly flag, a monthly flag, a collection time, and a transmission time. The hourly flag is set to “1” when information on the corresponding collection item is collected and transmitted every hour. In this case, both the collection time and the transmission time indicate the hourly minutes at which collection and transmission are performed. For example, when collecting every hour at 00 minutes, the collection time is [00:00], and when collecting at every hour 30 minutes, the collection time is [00:30].

  The daily flag is set to “1” when information on the corresponding collection item is collected and transmitted every day. Similarly, the weekly flag is set to “1” when information on the corresponding collection item is collected and transmitted on a collection day (for example, Monday) determined every week, and the monthly flag is set on the corresponding collection item information. It is set to “1” when collecting and transmitting on a collection day (for example, one day) determined every month. In these cases, the collection time and the transmission time indicate the time at which collection and transmission are performed.

  In addition, by adding day information to the collection / transmission frequency information, when collecting / transmitting information of a corresponding collection item for each week, the day of the week may be arbitrarily set. Further, by adding date information to the collection / transmission frequency information, when collecting / transmitting information of the corresponding collection item every month, the date may be arbitrarily set.

  The collection location information is information that designates an area in which a corresponding information item is stored. For example, when collecting the value of a field of a table in a predetermined database schema, information specifying the field is set as the collection location information. When data at a predetermined address of a predetermined registry file is collected, information specifying the file name and address of the registry file is set as the collection location information. Further, when collecting the latest four lines of data in the log file, information specifying the file name of the log file and the address of the four lines from the bottom is set as the collection location information.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of data stored in the collection result information database 7. As shown in the drawing, the collection result information database 7 includes collection result information consisting of items such as a store number, a terminal number, a collection item, a collection result (operation information), and a collection date (year / month / day / hour). It is stored in order from the oldest.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the POS terminal 1. The POS terminal 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as a control unit main body. Also, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 that is a read-only memory, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 that is a rewritable memory, a clock unit 14 that measures the current date and time, and a LAN 3 (hereinafter referred to as LANs 3A and 3B). A communication controller 15 that controls data communication with the store server 4 (hereinafter referred to as the store server 4 when collectively referred to as the store server 4A, 4B) via the LAN 3) (Hard Disk Drive) HDD controller 17 that controls writing and reading of data to and from the device 16, a key controller 19 that captures key signals corresponding to operation keys of the keyboard 18, a display controller 21 that controls screen display on the display 20, a receipt, and the like Send print data to a printer (not shown) for printing Printer interface 22, are equipped with scanner interface 23 or the like for receiving the read data from the scanner for reading bar codes or the like to the optical (not shown). The CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the clock unit 14, the communication controller 15, the HDD controller 17, the key controller 19, the display controller 21, the printer interface 22, and the scanner interface 23 are connected by a bus line 24 such as an address bus or a data bus. ing.

  The HDD device 16 stores a program for operating the POS terminal 1 as a merchandise sales data processing device, and actual operation information processed by this program. Further, operation information not directly related to the program, such as MIB information and WMI information in SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), is also stored.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the HDD device 16 has storage areas for the collection agent 51, the collection setting information table 52, the collection result information file 53, and the retention period file 54. In the storage area of the collection agent 51, a collection agent 51, which is a software module for causing the CPU 11 to execute setting, collection, and transmission processes described later, is stored in advance.

  In the storage area of the collection setting information table 52, setting information related to the operation of the collection agent 51 is stored. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, collection location information for specifying a collection destination and collection / transmission frequency information for specifying the collection frequency and transmission frequency of the information are set for each item of information to be collected. The collected setting information table 52 data is stored.

  In the collection result information file 53, data of the collection result executed by the collection agent 51 is stored. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, information indicating a store number, a terminal number, a collection item, and a collection result (operation information) is stored in association with information related to the collection date (year / month / day / hour). Result information storage means).

  The retention period file 54 temporarily stores the collection result information when the collection result information stored in the collection result information file 53 cannot be transmitted to the information collection management server 2 due to a communication error or the like. The longest storage period is stored. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the number-of-days data indicating the longest storage period is stored (storage period storage means).

  The collection agent 51 is a resident program. Accordingly, the CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1 executes the following setting process, collection process, and transmission process in accordance with the collection agent 51.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the main processing procedure of the setting process. This setting process is executed once a day, for example, at midnight. First, the CPU 11 reads the current time from the clock unit 14 as ST (step) 1. Then, as ST2, it is determined whether or not the current time has reached a preset collection information setting time. The collection information setting time is desirably a closing time period from the closing of the store to the opening of the next day. In addition, in the case of a store that is open 24 hours, a time zone with few customers is desirable, such as late at night.

  If the current time has not reached the collection information setting time, the process returns to ST1. Thus, if the current time reaches the collection information set time, the CPU 11 instructs the store server 4 to connect to the information collection management server 2 via the LAN 3 as ST3.

  Upon receiving this command, the store server 4 attempts line connection with the information collection management server 2 via the network 5. Then, a response indicating the line connection result is notified to the request transmission source POS terminal 1 via the LAN 3.

  Therefore, the CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1 that has instructed the line connection request waits for a line connection result response from the store server 4 as ST4. Then, if a response to the effect of connection is received (YES in ST4), the collection setting information database 6 is stored in the information collection management server 2 using the store number and the terminal number set in advance as self as ST5 as a search condition. Command search. Each POS terminal 1 is preset with a store number for identifying the store where the POS terminal 1 is installed and a terminal number for identifying the POS terminal 1 in the store. Yes.

  In the information collection management server 2, the collection setting information database 6 is searched using the search conditions given from the POS terminal 1. Then, data (collection item, collection location, collection / transmission frequency) that matches the search condition, the store number, and the terminal number is extracted and downloaded to the POS terminal 1 as the request source via the network 5.

  Therefore, the CPU 1 of the POS terminal 1 that has instructed the retrieval of the collection setting information database 6 temporarily stores in the RAM 13 data (collection item, collection location, collection / transmission frequency) downloaded via the network 5 as ST6. To do. If a search end command is received from the information collection management server 2 in ST7, the CPU 1 instructs the store server 4 to disconnect the line from the information collection management server 2 in ST8. Thereafter, the collection setting information table 52 is created in the HDD device 16 based on the data downloaded to the RAM 13 as ST9, and the current setting process is terminated (collection information setting means).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the main processing procedure of the collection process. This collection process is repeatedly executed after the system is started up. First, in step ST11, the CPU 11 determines the next collection execution time and its collection item from the collection frequency information (hourly flag, daily flag, weekly flag, monthly flag, collection time) for each collection item in the collection setting information table 52.

  Specifically, when the collection / transmission frequency information with the monthly flag set to “1” is stored in the collection setting information table 52, the next collection time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information Is the time stored as the collection time in the collection setting information table 52 on the collection date set in advance. If collection / transmission frequency information with the weekly flag set to “1” is stored, the next collection time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information is the collection on the preset collection day of the week. This is the time stored in the setting information table 52 as the collection time. If the collection / transmission frequency information with the daily flag set to “1” is stored, the next collection time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information is stored in the collection setting information table 52 on the current day. This is the time stored as the collection time. When the collection / transmission frequency information with the hourly flag set to “1” is stored, the next collection time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information is stored in the collection setting information table 52 as the collection time. Among the stored times, it is the closest time before the current time. The CPU 11 compares the next collection time for each collection item, and determines the closest collection time before the current time as the next collection execution time. Further, the collection item corresponding to the next collection execution time is determined as the next collection item.

  If the next collection item and its collection execution time are determined, the CPU 11 reads the current time from the clock unit 14 as ST12. Then, in ST13, it is determined whether or not the current time has reached the next collection execution time. If the current time has not reached the next collection execution time, the process returns to ST12.

  Thus, if the current time reaches the next collection execution time, the CPU 11 reads the collection location information of the item determined as the next collection item from the collection setting information table 52 in ST14. Then, data is collected from the area of the HDD device 16 designated by the collection location information. For example, when the collection location information specifies a field of a table in a predetermined database schema, the data of the field is collected. When the collection location information specifies a predetermined address of a predetermined registry file, data is collected from that address. When the collection location information specifies the file name and address of the log file, data is collected from the address (information collecting means).

  In step ST15, the CPU 11 determines whether data has been collected from the area corresponding to the collection location information. When the data can be normally collected (YES in ST15), the CPU 11 stores the collected data as a collection result in the collection result information file 53 as ST16. At this time, the current date and time information is stored as the collection date and time together with the collection item information and the store number and terminal number preset in the POS terminal 1.

On the other hand, if the data cannot be collected normally (NO in ST15), the CPU 11 stores predetermined collection error data in the collection result information file 53 as a collection result in ST17. Also at this time, the current date and time information is stored as the collection date and time together with the collection item information and the store number and terminal number preset in the POS terminal 1.
This completes one cycle of the collection process.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the main processing procedure of the transmission process. This transmission process is repeatedly executed after the system is started up. First, in step ST21, the CPU 11 determines the next transmission execution time and its transmission item from the transmission frequency information (hourly flag, daily flag, weekly flag, monthly flag, transmission time) for each collection item in the collection setting information table 52.

  Specifically, when the collection / transmission frequency information with the monthly flag set to “1” is stored in the collection setting information table 52, the next transmission time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information Is the time stored as the transmission time in the collection setting information table 52 on the collection date set in advance. When collection / transmission frequency information with the weekly flag set to “1” is stored, the next transmission time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information is the collection on the preset collection day of the week. This is the time stored in the setting information table 52 as the transmission time. If the collection / transmission frequency information with the daily flag set to “1” is stored, the next transmission time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information is stored in the collection setting information table 52 on the current day. This is the time stored as the transmission time. If the collection / transmission frequency information with the hourly flag set to “1” is stored, the transmission collection time of the collection item corresponding to the collection / transmission frequency information is stored in the collection setting information table 52 as the transmission time. Among the stored times, it is the closest time before the current time. The CPU 11 compares the next transmission time for each collection item, and determines the time closest to the current time as the next transmission execution time. Further, the collection item corresponding to the next transmission execution time is determined as the next transmission item.

  If the next transmission item and its transmission execution time are determined, the CPU 11 reads the current time from the clock unit 14 as ST22. Then, in ST23, it is determined whether or not the current time has reached the next transmission execution time. If the current time has not reached the next transmission execution time, the process returns to ST23.

  Thus, if the current time reaches the next transmission execution time, the CPU 11 instructs the store server 4 to make a line connection request with the information collection management server 2 via the LAN 3 in ST24. In ST25, the line connection result response from the store server 4 is waited. As a result, if a response to the effect of connection is received (YES in ST25), the CPU 11 sends the data stored in the collection result information file 53 to the information collection management server 2 via the connected line. (Information transmitting means).

  The information collection management server 2 that has received the data of the collection result information file 53 stores the received data in the collection result information database 7. When the storage is completed normally, a response indicating that transmission is normally completed is transmitted to the POS terminal 1 that is the data transmission source.

  Therefore, the CPU 11 of the POS terminal 1 that has transmitted the data of the collection result information file 53 waits for a response from the information collection management server 2 as ST27. Then, if a transmission normal completion response is received (YES in ST27), the CPU 11 clears data in the collection result information file 53 (transmission information deleting means) in ST28.

  On the other hand, when a response indicating that transmission is normally completed cannot be received (NO in ST27), and when the line with the information collection management server 2 cannot be connected to the political situation (NO in ST25), the CPU 11 determines in ST29. The storage period data stored in the storage period file 54 is read out. Then, the data whose elapsed time from the collection date and time exceeds the storage period is searched, and when the data exceeding the storage period is searched, the data is deleted from the collection result information file 53 (untransmitted information deleting means).

  This completes one cycle of the transmission process.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the information collection management server 2 is provided with the collection setting information database for storing the data of the collection setting information table 52 for each POS terminal 1. In addition, the setting information database 6 of the information collection management server 2 is searched via the network, and the data of the collection setting information table 52 for itself is downloaded.

  Each POS terminal 1 collects information from the area designated as the collection destination according to the collection frequency for each information item stored in the collection setting information table 52. Similarly, information collected according to the transmission frequency for each information item stored in the collection setting information table 52 is transmitted to the information collection management server 2. Thus, the information transmitted from each POS terminal 1 to the information collection management server 2 is accumulated and stored in the collection result information database 7.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, an information collection system capable of centrally collecting and managing information on the operation status of different items that can be arbitrarily set for each POS terminal 1 by the information collection management server 2 is constructed. Can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the execution frequency of the setting process is once a day, but is not limited to this, and the setting process may be executed a plurality of times a day. Alternatively, it may be once every two days or once a week.

  In the embodiment, the hourly flag, the daily flag, the weekly flag, and the monthly flag are commonly used for the collection time and the transmission time of the collection / transmission frequency information. However, for the collection time and the transmission time, respectively. The flag may be provided to change the information collection interval and the information transmission interval. Further, the collection time and the transmission time are not necessarily matched.

  In the embodiment, information that could not be transmitted to the information collection management server 2 is stored in the collection result information file 53. If the information cannot be transmitted even after a predetermined storage period has elapsed, the information is collected from the collection result information file 53. However, the condition for deleting unsent data is not limited to the period. For example, when the data amount of the collection result information file 53 exceeds a preset allowable amount, the collection date and time are in chronological order. It may be deleted.

  The present invention is not limited to the information collection system of the POS terminal 1, but can be applied to an information collection system for all electronic devices such as a credit terminal and an electronic fee scale. It is also possible to configure a single information collection management server 2 to collect any different item information from different models such as a POS terminal and a credit terminal in an integrated manner.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.

The figure which shows notionally the structure of the information collection system in one embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the data preserve | saved in the collection setting information database of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the data preserve | saved in the collection result information database of the embodiment The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the POS terminal in the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the main data areas formed in the HDD apparatus of the POS terminal in the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure memorize | stored in the collection setting information table of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure memorize | stored in the collection result information file of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure memorize | stored in the retention period file of the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the setting process performed according to the collection agent mounted in the POS terminal of the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the collection process performed according to the collection agent mounted in the POS terminal of the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the transmission process performed according to the collection agent mounted in the POS terminal of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 (1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 1B2) ... POS terminal, 2 ... Information collection management server, 3 (3A, 3B) ... LAN, 4 (4A, 4B) ... Store server, 5 ... Network, 6 ... Collection setting information database 7 ... Collection result information database, 11 ... CPU, 16 ... HDD device, 51 ... Collection agent, 52 ... Collection setting information table, 53 ... Collection result information file, 54 ... Retention period file.

Claims (7)

Information collecting means provided in each of a plurality of electronic devices to be managed and collecting information on the operation status of the electronic devices;
Information transmitting means that is provided in each of the electronic devices and transmits the information collected by the information collecting means to a management apparatus connected to the electronic device via a network;
Information storage means provided in the management device for accumulating and storing the information sent from the electronic devices via the network;
In an information collection system comprising:
Each electronic device includes a collection setting information table that stores information for specifying a collection destination for each item of information to be collected, and information for specifying a collection frequency and a transmission frequency of the information,
The information collection means collects the information from the area designated as the collection destination according to the collection frequency for each information item stored in the collection setting information table,
The information transmission unit transmits the information according to a transmission frequency for each item of information stored in the collection setting information table. The management device further comprises a collection setting information database for storing data of the collection setting information table for each electronic device,
Each of the electronic devices further includes a collection information setting unit that periodically searches a setting information database of the management apparatus via the network and downloads data of a collection setting information table for itself. Item 1. The information collection system according to Item 1.   Each of the electronic devices stores a result information storage unit that stores information collected by the information collection unit in association with information related to the collection date and time, and stores information transmitted to the management device by the information transmission unit. 2. The information collection system according to claim 1, further comprising transmission information deleting means for deleting from the means.   Each of the electronic devices includes a storage period storage unit that stores the longest storage period of information stored in the result information storage unit, and information on the collection date and time corresponding to the information stored in the result information storage unit. It further comprises an unsent information deletion unit that calculates a storage period and deletes from the result information storage unit information that has reached the longest storage period stored in the storage period storage unit. The information collection system according to claim 3. A collection setting information table for storing information for specifying a collection destination for each item of information to be collected and information for specifying the collection frequency and transmission frequency of the information;
Information collecting means for collecting the information from an area designated as a collection destination according to a collection frequency for each information item stored in the collection setting information table;
Information transmitting means for transmitting the information to an external device connected via a network according to the transmission frequency for each information item stored in the collection setting information table;
An electronic apparatus comprising:   Result information storage means for storing information collected by the information collection means in association with information related to the collection date and time, and transmission information for deleting information transmitted to the external device by the information transmission means from the result information storage means 6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a deleting unit.   A storage period storage unit that stores the longest storage period of information stored in the result information storage unit, and a storage period of the information is calculated from information related to the collection date and time corresponding to the information stored in the result information storage unit, 7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising unsent information deletion means for deleting information whose storage period has reached the longest storage period stored by the storage period storage means from the result information storage means. machine.

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