JP2020107936A - Communication system, management server, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a communication system capable of preventing similar failures which may occur in other communication devices when a failure occurs in one communication device, a management server, and a program.SOLUTION: A communication system 1 includes a plurality of communication devices 20a to 20c, and a management server 10 which can communicate with the plurality of communication devices. When it receives device information from the communication devices 20a to 20c, the management server 10 polls a communication device for which communication connection is established between itself and an own machine. When there is no response to the polling, the management server 10 assumes that a failure occurred in the first communication device, determines a second communication device in which a failure similar to the failure which occurred in the first communication device may occur as a similar device, and transmits a warning notification request to the similar device. When receiving the warning notification request, the communication devices 20a to 20c notify a user that a failure may occur in the own machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system, a management server and a program, and more particularly to a communication system, a management server and a program for managing a plurality of communication devices.

Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for detecting a failure of a communication device. For example, in the home electric appliance maintenance management system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a home master causes each home electric appliance to execute a hardware self-diagnosis and a software self-diagnosis, collects maintenance data at the time of self-diagnosis, and then a manufacturer Send. The manufacturer analyzes these maintenance data to determine whether there is an abnormality. If there is an abnormality, it is determined whether the cause is hardware or software, and a coping method according to the cause is determined.

JP, 2002-354554, A

However, the home electric appliance maintenance management system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is impossible to identify another communication device that may cause the same failure and prevent the failure in the other communication device. there were.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to manage a communication system capable of preventing a failure in another communication device, which may cause a similar failure, when a failure occurs in the communication device. To provide a server and a program.

A communication system of the present invention includes a plurality of communication devices and a management server capable of communicating with the plurality of communication devices. When the communication device receives a device information providing unit that provides device information about the device to the management server, and a warning notification request for notifying that a failure may occur from the management server, the communication device itself. And a warning notification unit that notifies the user that there is a possibility that a failure will occur. The management server, a communication unit that receives device information about the communication device from the plurality of communication devices, and a polling unit that polls the plurality of communication devices with which communication connection is established between itself and the communication device. And a failure occurs in the first communication device that does not respond to the polling, and a second communication device that may have the same failure as the failure that occurs in the first communication device is replaced by a similar device. And a warning notification unit that transmits the warning notification request to the similar device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication system, a management server, and a program capable of preventing a failure in another communication apparatus that may cause a similar failure when a failure occurs in the communication apparatus. it can.

It is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a communication system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the management server which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of an apparatus information table. It is a figure which shows an example of a failure information table. It is a block diagram which shows the main components which the management server and communication apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment have. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the process which the management server and communication apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment perform. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the process which the communication apparatus, the management server, and the external server which concern on 1st Embodiment perform.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a communication system 1 of the present invention. The communication system 1 includes a management server 10, communication devices 20a to 20c, and terminal devices 31a to 31c and 32a to 32c. Various routers and the like can be cited as specific examples of the communication devices 20a to 20c. Further, as specific examples of the terminal devices 31a to 31c and 32a to 32c, various devices such as a smartphone, a tablet type terminal, a PC, a sensor, and a home electric appliance can be cited.

A communication device 20a and terminal devices 31a and 32a are installed in the user A's house, and these devices can perform data communication with each other via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. Further, the communication device 20a can perform data communication with the management server 10 via the Internet 40.

A communication device 20b and terminal devices 31b and 32b are installed in the user B's house, and these devices can perform data communication with each other via a wireless LAN or a wired LAN. Further, the communication device 20b can perform data communication with the management server 10 via the Internet 40.

A communication device 20c and terminal devices 31c and 32c are installed in the home of the user C, and these devices can perform data communication with each other via a wireless LAN or a wired LAN. Further, the communication device 20c can perform data communication with the management server 10 via the Internet 40. Although only three communication devices are shown in FIG. 1 for convenience of description, the communication system 1 may include any number of communication devices. Although only two terminal devices are shown in each user's house, each communication device can communicate with any number of terminal devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the management server 10 according to the first embodiment. The management server 10 is an information processing device that analyzes logs from the terminal devices 31a to 31c and 32a to 32c and executes various processes. The management server 10 includes a control unit 100, a communication interface (I/F) 110, and a storage device 120.

The control unit 100 is an arithmetic device that executes the program of the present invention to control the devices and logic circuits included in the management server 10. The control unit 100 executes a monitoring unit 101 which is a program module, a database processing unit 102, a polling unit 103, a similar device specifying unit 104, a warning notification requesting unit 105, and a device information providing unit 106.

The monitoring unit 101 is a program module that determines whether or not initial registration information, a positive response (Ack), a predetermined log, a disconnection notification, and a connection notification have been received from the communication devices 20a to 20c. The initial registration information includes a serial number and a MAC address that are identification information of the communication device 20a, identification information of an IC chip used by the communication device 20a, a manufacturing lot number of the IC chip, and the like. The disconnection notification is a notification that the communication between the management server 10 and the communication devices 20a to 20c is disconnected. The reconnection notice is a notice that the management server 10 and the communication device 20a are reconnected.

The database processing unit 102 is a program module that processes the device information table and the failure information table stored in the storage device 120. The device information table is a data table in which device information about the communication devices 20a to 20c (hereinafter referred to as "device information") is registered, and as shown in FIG. 4, the communication device identification information and the hardware. Information, log identification information, and terminal device information are registered. As the identification information of the communication device, for example, the serial number and MAC address of the communication device can be used. The hardware information is the identification information of the hardware (for example, IC chip etc.) provided in the communication device and the manufacturing lot number. The log identification information is identification information of the self-diagnosis log and identification information of the event occurrence log. The terminal device information is information regarding the terminal device connected to the communication devices 20a to 20c, and is the name and identification information of the terminal device, and the communication method between the communication devices 20a to 20c and the terminal device.

As shown in FIG. 5, the failure information table is a data table in which device information regarding a communication device in which a failure has occurred is registered.

The polling unit 103 is a program module that polls the communication devices 20a to 20c with which a communication connection is established with the management server 10. The polling unit 103 performs polling by periodically transmitting an acknowledgment request to the communication devices 20a to 20c.

The similar device identifying unit 104 determines that a communication device that does not respond to polling has a failure, and a communication device that may have a failure similar to the failure that has occurred in the communication device (hereinafter referred to as “similar device”). The similar device specifying process for specifying

The warning notification requesting unit 105 is a program module that sends a warning notification request for notifying a similar device that a failure may occur. The device information providing unit 106 is a program module that transmits information about a failed communication device and information about a similar device to a server (not shown) of a manufacturer or factory of the communication devices 20a to 20c via the Internet 40. Is.

The communication I/F 110 is a device that transmits and receives various data to and from the communication devices 20a to 20c via the Internet 40. The storage device 120 is a storage device in which the device information table, the failure information table, the logs provided by the communication devices 20a to 20c, and the program of the present invention are stored.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the communication devices 20a to 20c according to the first embodiment. The configuration of the communication device 20a will be described below. Note that the configurations of the communication devices 20b and 20c are the same as the configuration of the communication device 20a, so description thereof will be omitted.

The communication device 20a includes a control unit 200, a communication interface (I/F) 210, and a storage device 220. The control unit 200 is an arithmetic device that executes the program of the present invention to control the device and the logic circuit included in the communication device 20a. The control unit 200 executes a monitoring unit 201 that is a program module, a device information providing unit 202, a log generation unit 203, and a warning notification unit 204.

The monitoring unit 201 is a program module that monitors and detects various events that occur in the communication device 20a and requests and notifications from the management server 10. The event includes an event instructing transmission of initial registration information due to a user operation, an event indicating power ON or power OFF of the communication device 20a due to a user operation, and an event in which the terminal device information may be changed ( For example, various events such as link up and link down with the terminal device, restart of the communication I/F 210 having a wireless communication function, firmware update of the communication device 20a, etc. are included.

The device information providing unit 202 is a program module that provides the initial registration information, the terminal device information, and the log to the management server 10. The terminal device information provided by the device information providing unit 202 is information such as the name and identification information (ID) of the terminal device with which the communication device 20a communicates, and the communication method with the terminal device.

The log generation unit 203 is a program module that generates a log of the own device. The log generation unit 203 periodically generates a log (hereinafter, referred to as “self-diagnosis log”), and logs when an event that may change the terminal device information occurs (hereinafter, “event”). It is called "log at occurrence".) is generated. The log generation unit 203 generates identification information of the log (for example, log generation time) when the log is generated. These logs include information indicating the total number of operating days of the communication device 20a and information indicating the temperature of the hardware (IC chip or the like) included in the communication device 20a.

The warning notifying unit 204 is a program module that notifies the user that a failure may occur in the own device. The warning notification unit 204 can notify the user that a failure may occur by turning on, blinking, or turning off the lighting device such as the LED lighting of the own device. Further, the warning notification unit 204 may notify the user that a failure may occur by generating a warning sound.

The communication I/F 110 is a device that transmits and receives various data to and from the management server 10 and the terminal devices 31a and 32a via WAN and LAN, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing main components included in the management server 10 and the communication device 20a according to the first embodiment. The management server 10 includes a monitoring unit 101, a polling unit 103, a similar device identifying unit 104, and a warning notification requesting unit 105 as main components. The communication device 20a includes a device information providing unit 202 and a warning notification unit 204 as main components.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing executed by the management server 10 and the communication device 20a according to this embodiment. When the communication device 20a performs the data communication with the management server 10 for the first time, the device information providing unit 202 transmits the initial registration information to the management server 10 in step S101. When the management server 10 receives the initial registration information from the communication device 20a, the database processing unit 102 registers the initial registration information in the device information table in step S102, and transmits the registration completion notification to the communication device 20a in step S103. ..

When the communication between the management server 10 and the communication device 20a is established, the polling unit 103 transmits a positive response request to the communication device 20a to perform polling in step S104. Upon receiving the positive response request from the management server 10, the communication device 20a transmits the positive response and the self-diagnosis log to the management server 10 in step S105. When the management server 10 receives the positive response and the self-diagnosis log from the communication device 20a, the database processing unit 102 stores the self-diagnosis log in the storage device 120 in step S106, and the identification information of the self-diagnosis log is stored in the device information table. Registration is performed, and a registration completion notification is transmitted to the communication device 20a in step S107.

When an event in which the terminal device information may be changed occurs in the communication device 20a, the log generation unit 203 generates an event occurrence log in step S108, and the device information provision unit 202 causes the event occurrence event to occur in step S109. The time log and the terminal device information of the terminal device with which the communication with the own device is established are transmitted to the management server 10. In step S110, the database processing unit 102 of the management server 10 saves the event occurrence log in the storage device 120, registers the terminal device information in the device information table, and transmits a registration completion notification to the communication device 20a in step S111. To do.

When the user gives an instruction to turn off the power of the communication device 20a, the communication device 20a transmits a disconnection notification to the management server 10 in step S112. When the management server 10 receives the disconnection notification from the communication device 20a, the polling unit 103 stops polling for the communication device 20a in step S113.

Next, when the user turns on the power of the communication device 20a, the communication device 20a transmits a reconnection notification to the management server 10 in step S114. When the management server 10 receives the reconnection notification from the communication device 20a, the polling unit 103 restarts polling for the communication device 20a in step S115.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the processing executed by the management server 10 and the communication devices 20a and 20b according to this embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 8, a process when a failure occurs in the communication device 20a will be described.

In step S201, the polling unit 103 of the management server 10 transmits an affirmative response request to the communication device 20a to perform polling. When the polling unit 103 determines that the positive response has not been received from the communication device 20a for a certain period of time after transmitting the positive response request, the database processing unit 102 causes the communication device 20a registered in the device information table in step S202. The device information related to this is stored in the failure information table as failure information. Next, in step S203, the similar device identification unit 104 executes similar device identification processing.

Specifically, the similar device identifying unit 104 associates a device information table, hardware type information, and a plurality of pieces of hardware identification information belonging to the type (hereinafter, referred to as “hardware list”). , A communication device having the same type of hardware as that of a communication device that does not respond to polling (hereinafter, referred to as “non-response communication device”) can be specified as a similar device. .. In this case, the polling unit 103 stores the type information of the hardware in the storage device each time it determines that there is no response to the polling from the communication device, and the number of times the type information of the hardware is stored is predetermined. Even if the similar device identification unit 104 identifies the communication device including the same type of hardware as the hardware included in the non-responsive communication device as the similar device when the number of times exceeds (arbitrary number). Good.

In addition, the similar device identifying unit 104 refers to the device information table and determines that the communication device including the hardware to which the same manufacturing lot number as the manufacturing lot number of the hardware included in the non-responsive communication device is assigned It can be specified as a device. In this case, each time the polling unit 103 determines that there is no response to the polling from the communication device, the polling unit 103 associates the manufacturing lot number of the hardware included in the communication device with the identification information of the unresponsive communication device in the storage device. When the number of times that the manufacturing lot number has been saved exceeds a predetermined number (arbitrary number), the similar device identifying unit 104 refers to the device information table and identifies the same manufacturing lot number as the manufacturing lot number. Another communication device having hardware to which a production lot number is assigned may be specified as a similar device.

Further, the similar device identifying unit 104 refers to the device information table, and has a manufacturing lot number that has a predetermined relationship with the manufacturing lot number of the hardware included in the non-responsive communication device (for example, the communication device that does not respond has the manufacturing lot number). A production lot number indicating a lot immediately before the production of the hardware on the same production line as the hardware, a production lot number indicating a lot immediately after the production of the hardware on the production line, and a lot of the hardware on the production line. A communication device including hardware to which a production lot number indicating a lot having the same production date is assigned can be specified as a similar device.

Further, the similar device identification unit 104 can refer to the log of the non-responsive communication device stored in the storage device 120 and specify another communication device having the operating days of the communication device or more as a similar device. ..

Further, the similar device identifying unit 104 refers to the log of the non-responsive communication device stored in the storage device 120, and includes hardware having a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature of the hardware (IC chip or the like) included in the communication device. Can be specified as a similar device.

Furthermore, the similar device identifying unit 104 includes information indicating possible behaviors before a failure occurs in the log of the unresponsive communication device (for example, intermittent link-up or link-down with the terminal device). When an event indicating that the event has occurred over several days is included, the communication device that has transmitted the log including the information indicating the behavior can be specified as a similar device.

Further, the similar device identification unit 104 refers to the device information table, the hardware list, the terminal device list in which the type information of the terminal device and the identification information of the plurality of terminal devices belonging to the type are associated with each other, and there is no response. A communication device that includes the same type of hardware as that included in the communication device and that is connected to the terminal device that is the same type as the terminal device that is connected to the communication device can be specified as a similar device. In this case, the polling unit 103 saves the type information of the hardware and the type information of the terminal device in the storage device each time it determines that there is no response to the polling from the communication device, and the type information is saved. When the number of times of occurrence exceeds a predetermined number (arbitrary number), the similar device identifying unit 104 includes the same type of hardware as the hardware included in the non-responsive communication device, and connects to the communication device. A communication device to which a terminal device of the same type as the created terminal device is connected may be specified as a similar device.

As a result of such similar device identification processing, when the similar device identification unit 104 determines that a similar device exists, the polling unit 103 transmits an affirmative response request to the similar device in step S204. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that the communication device 20b is a similar device.

When the communication device 20b receives the positive response request from the management server 10, the device information providing unit 202 transmits the positive response and the self-diagnosis log to the management server 10 in step S205. When the management server 10 receives the positive response and the self-diagnosis log from the communication device 20a, the database processing unit 102 registers the identification information of the self-diagnosis log in the device information table and stores the self-diagnosis log in the storage device 120 in step S206. The registration completion notification is transmitted to the communication device 20b in step S207.

Next, in step S208, the warning notification requesting unit 105 transmits a warning notification request to the communication device 20b. When the communication device 20b receives the warning notification request, the warning notification unit 204 notifies the user that a failure may occur in step S209, and transmits a warning completion notification to the management server 10 in step S210.

When the management server 10 receives the warning completion notification from the communication device 20b, the device information providing unit 106 refers to the device information table in step S211, and the device information regarding the unresponsive communication device 20a and a communication device that is a similar device. The device information (including the serial number) about 20b is acquired, and the device information is transmitted to the server of the manufacturer or factory 50. Thereby, the person in charge of the maker or factory can deliver the new communication device 20b to the user B's home of the communication device 20b based on the customer information related to the serial number of the similar device.

When the new communication device 20b is delivered to the home of the user B and the new communication device 20b performs the data communication with the management server 10 for the first time, the new communication device 20b sends the initial registration information to the management server 10 in step S212. Send to. When the management server 10 receives the initial registration information from the new communication device 20b, the database processing unit 102 deletes the information about the communication device 20b before the exchange registered in the device information table and the failure information table in step S213. In the embodiment in which the communication device 20b before the exchange and the new communication device 20b after the exchange use the same MAC address, the database processing unit 102 uses the MAC address transmitted by the communication device 20b after the exchange to perform the exchange. Information regarding the previous communication device 20b can be identified. In step S214, the database processing unit 102 registers the initial registration information received from the new communication device 20b after the exchange in the device information table, and in step S215 sends the registration completion notification to the communication device 20b.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
It is assumed that the management server 10 polls a plurality of communication devices with which communication connection is established with itself, and a failure occurs in the non-responsive communication device. Then, the management server 10 identifies a similar device in which the same failure as the failure in the communication device may occur, and notifies the similar device that the failure may occur. Send a notification request. The communication device that has received the warning notification request notifies the user that a failure may occur in the communication device. This allows the user to know in advance that there is a high possibility that a failure will occur in the communication device that he or she uses, and can take measures to prevent the failure.

In addition, the management server 10 includes a communication device including the same type of hardware as the hardware included in the non-responsive communication device, or a communication device including a terminal device of the same type as the terminal device connected to the communication device. Is specified as a similar device. This allows the user to know in advance that there is a high possibility that a failure will occur due to the hardware provided in the communication device or the terminal device connected to the communication device, and take measures to prevent the failure in advance. Can be taken.

Further, the management server 10 resembles a communication device including hardware to which the same production lot number as the hardware production lot number included in the non-responsive communication device or a production lot number having a predetermined relationship is assigned. Specify as a device. This allows the user to know in advance that a failure due to the hardware included in the communication device is likely to occur, and can take measures to prevent the failure.

Further, the management server 10 identifies another communication device having a non-responsive communication device operating days or more as a similar device. This allows the user to know in advance that there is a high possibility that a failure due to the number of operating days of the communication device will occur, and take measures to prevent the failure in advance.

Further, the management server 10 identifies another communication device having hardware whose temperature is equal to or higher than the hardware of the non-responsive communication device as a similar device. With this, the user can know in advance that a failure due to the temperature of the hardware included in the communication device is likely to occur, and can take measures to prevent the failure.

Further, when the device information of the non-responsive communication device includes the information indicating the behavior that may occur before the failure occurs, the management server 10 transmits the device information including the information indicating the behavior. The communication device is specified as a similar device. With this, the user can understand that there is a high possibility that a failure will occur at the stage where the communication device behaves before the failure occurs, and can take measures to prevent the failure.

Further, the management server 10 provides the information on the similar device to the server of the manufacturer or factory which is the external device. Thereby, the person in charge of the manufacturer of the similar device can understand in advance that the similar device manufactured by the company is likely to have a failure, and can take measures to prevent the failure.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the management server 10 transmits the device information table and the failure information table to the manufacturer or factory server. The person in charge of the manufacturer or factory can register the information on the cause of the failure in the failure information table received from the management server 10. Specifically, information on the cause of failure (for example, lightning, static electricity, lot defects of IC chips, etc.) is registered in association with the hardware information and terminal device information in the failure information table. As a result, the person in charge of the manufacturer or factory can comprehensively understand the cause of the failure in the communication device.

In addition, in the second embodiment, in addition to the information on the cause of failure, information on the installation area of the communication devices 20a to 20c can be registered in the failure information table. Thereby, the person in charge of the manufacturer or factory can recognize the communication device that may be damaged by lightning and notify the user of the communication device.

In the above example, the program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable media and provided to the computer. Non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media are magnetic recording media (eg, flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (eg, magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-Rs. /W, semiconductor memory (for example, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM). In addition, the program may be provided to the computer by various types of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer-readable medium can supply the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber, or a wireless communication path.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the similar device identification unit 104 is installed in the management server 10, but in other embodiments, the communication devices 20a to 20c may implement the similar device identification unit 104. In this case, the communication devices 20a to 20c acquire the device information table and the polling result from the management server 10 and execute the similar device specifying process. Further, in another embodiment, a server included in the manufacturer or factory 50 may implement the function of the management server 10, and a server included in the manufacturer or factory 50 may execute the similar device identifying process described above.

1 Communication System 10 Management Servers 20a-20c Communication Devices 30a-30c Terminal Devices 31a-31c Terminal Device 40 Internet

Claims (10)

A plurality of communication devices,
A management server capable of communicating with the plurality of communication devices;
Including
The communication device is
A device information providing unit that provides the management server with device information about the device itself;
When a warning notification request for notifying that a failure may occur is received from the management server, including a warning notification unit for notifying the user that a failure may occur in the own device,
The management server is
A communication unit that receives device information about the communication devices from the plurality of communication devices;
A polling unit that polls the plurality of communication devices with which a communication connection is established with itself,
It is assumed that a failure has occurred in the first communication apparatus that does not respond to the polling, and a second communication apparatus that may have the same failure as the failure that has occurred in the first communication apparatus is identified as a similar apparatus. And a similar device specifying unit,
A warning notification requesting unit for transmitting the warning notification request to the similar device;
Communications system. The similar device identification unit is connected to a communication device including the same type of hardware as the hardware included in the first communication device, or a terminal device of the same type as the terminal device connected to the first communication device. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein another communication device is specified as the similar device. The similar device identifying unit may include a communication device including hardware to which a manufacturing lot number that is the same as the manufacturing lot number of the hardware included in the first communication device or a manufacturing lot number that has a predetermined relationship is assigned. The communication system according to claim 1, which is specified as a similar device. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the similar device identification unit identifies, as the similar device, another communication device having the number of operating days of the first communication device or more. The said similar apparatus specific|specification part specifies the other communication apparatus provided with the hardware more than the temperature of the hardware with which the said 1st communication apparatus was provided as the similar apparatus, In any one of Claims 1-4. The communication system described. When the device information of the first communication device includes information indicating possible behavior before a failure occurs, the similar device identifying unit transmits device information including the information indicating the behavior. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is specified as the similar device. The management server is
The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a device information providing unit that provides information about the similar device to the outside. A communication unit that receives device information about the communication device from a plurality of communication devices;
A polling unit that polls the plurality of communication devices with which a communication connection is established with itself,
It is assumed that a failure has occurred in the first communication apparatus that does not respond to the polling, and a second communication apparatus that may have the same failure as the failure that occurred in the first communication apparatus is identified as a similar apparatus. And a similar device specifying unit,
And a warning notification requesting unit for sending a warning notification request for notifying that there is a possibility that a failure will occur to the similar device. The management server according to claim 8, further comprising a device information providing unit that provides information about the similar device to the outside. A program executed in a management server having an arithmetic device, wherein:
Receiving device information about the communication device from a plurality of communication devices;
A step of performing polling on the plurality of communication devices with which a communication connection is established with the own device;
It is assumed that a failure has occurred in the first communication apparatus that does not respond to the polling, and a second communication apparatus that may have the same failure as the failure that has occurred in the first communication apparatus is identified as a similar apparatus. The steps to
Sending a warning notification request for notifying that a failure may occur to the similar device.

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