JP5163352B2 - Management device, device management system, device management method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a management apparatus, a device management system, a device management method, a program, and a recording medium that manage at least one device among a plurality of devices connected to a network.

  Conventionally, there is a technique for managing the states of a plurality of devices connected to a network (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). Patent Document 1 discloses a device management system that reduces the load of state management processing when a failure occurs in a device management function on a LAN. However, in this type of system, since the device status is collected by polling, the device status cannot be grasped in real time. Patent Document 2 discloses a device management system that uses an SNMP trap to grasp in real time the status of a device to be managed (referred to as a management target device) even on a Web browser and does not waste network resources. Yes. Thereby, it is possible to display the state of the management target device on the display in real time. However, in the technology of Patent Document 2, when the next error information is notified, the previous error information display is erased, so that the user has to remember the error information that occurred before that. there were. Patent Document 3 discloses a device management system that accumulates error information notified by an SNMP trap in a storage memory and notifies the history of errors that have occurred in managed devices in an easy-to-understand manner. Thereby, the above-mentioned problem in the technique of Patent Document 2 can be solved. That is, according to the technique of Patent Document 3, it is possible to display the state of the management target device in real time, and to refer to a plurality of errors occurring at the same time.

JP 2002-244828 A JP 2000-347975 A JP-A-10-293705

  However, the techniques of Patent Documents 2 to 3 are limited to SNMP traps. Therefore, there is no problem when all devices are compatible with SNMP traps, but it is difficult to manage devices that are not compatible with SNMP traps using the techniques of Patent Documents 2 and 3. In a device management system that collects and manages device states by polling, it is possible to grasp the device state in a state close to real time by shortening the polling interval. However, in this case, the number of polling times increases, which causes a problem that the amount of packets flowing through the network increases. Also, if the number of managed devices increases, the polling time increases accordingly. For this reason, there is also a problem that it is difficult to grasp the state of the device in real time.

  In addition, when it is necessary to acquire information that is not supported by the SNMP trap, information necessary for polling may be acquired when triggered by the notification of the SNMP trap. Even in this case, if the number of managed devices increases, it is difficult to grasp the status of the devices in real time. In such a case, it may be possible to deal with a large-scale environment by installing a plurality of management devices for managing the state of the device and distributing the management function to the plurality of devices. However, in such a case, there is a problem that it is difficult to appropriately distribute the number of devices managed by each management apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network, a management device and a device capable of managing an appropriate number of managed devices It is an object to provide a management system, a device management method, a program, and a recording medium.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention manages at least one managed device to be managed among the plurality of devices in a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network. A management device that collects device status information indicating the status of the managed device from each managed device; a storage device that stores the device status information collected by the collecting device ; A first detection unit that detects a collection time for collecting the device status information from the managed device, and a determination that determines whether the collection time detected by the first detection unit satisfies a first criterion And when the determination unit determines that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion, the device status information of a part of the management target devices among the management target devices Transfer management means for dynamically transferring the management of a part of the management target devices to the other management device by transmitting the management target device to another management device capable of managing the management target device. .

The present invention is a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network, and at least one management device of the plurality of management devices is a management target of the plurality of devices. A first collection unit that collects device status information indicating a status of at least one management target device from each of the management target devices; a first storage unit that stores the device status information collected by the first collection unit; First detection means for detecting the collection time taken for collecting the device status information from one or more managed devices, and whether the collection time detected by the first detection means satisfies a first criterion And when the determination unit determines that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion, the device status information of some of the managed devices among the managed devices is Transfer management means for dynamically transferring the management of the some managed device to the other managing device by transmitting the managed device to another managing device capable of managing the managed device; The management apparatus includes: a second collection unit that collects device status information indicating a status of at least one management target device to be managed among the plurality of devices from each of the management target devices; and a new one of the plurality of devices. A receiving unit that receives device status information of a part of management target devices to be managed from the management device, the device status information collected by the second collecting unit, and the device status information received by the receiving unit. A second storage unit that stores at least one of the plurality of management devices, wherein the management target device indicates a status of the management target device to a management device that manages the management target device among the plurality of management devices. Characterized in that it comprises a transmitting means for transmitting the device status information.

Further, the present invention is executed in a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network, and the management device manages at least one management target device to be managed among the plurality of devices. A device management method for collecting device state information indicating a state of the device to be managed from each of the devices to be managed, and storage control for storing the device state information collected in the collecting step in a storage unit A first detection step for detecting a collection time taken for collecting the device status information from one or more managed devices, and whether the collection time detected in the first detection step satisfies a first criterion A determination step for determining whether or not a part of the managed devices is determined when it is determined that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion. By transferring device status information of managed devices to other management devices that can manage the managed devices, the management of the managed devices is dynamically transferred to the other managed devices. And a transfer management step.

  In addition, the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute the device management method described above.

  In addition, the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that stores the above computer program.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to manage an appropriate number of devices to be managed in a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network.

  Exemplary embodiments of a management device, a device management system, a device management method, a program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First embodiment]
(1) Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a device management system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the device management system includes a plurality of printing devices 50_A1 to 50_Am and 50_B1 to 50_Bm that are managed devices, management devices 60A to 60C that manage the status of these managed devices, and a client device 70. They are connected to each other via a network NT. In accordance with a print instruction from the client device 70, a designated printing device among the printing devices 50_A1 to 50Am and 50_B1 to 50_Bm performs a printing process. Each of the printing devices 50_A1 to 50Am and 50_B1 to 50_Bm is managed by one of the management devices 60A to 60C. For example, the printing devices 50_A1 to 50Am are managed by the management device 60A, and the printing devices 50_B1 to 50_Bm are managed by the management device 60B. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish each printing apparatus 50_A1-50Am and 50_B1-50_Bm, these are only described as the printing apparatus 50. Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the management devices 60A to 60C, they are simply referred to as the management device 60. The management device 60 manages the printing device 50 by collecting device status information indicating the status of the printing device 50 from the management-target printing device 50 or according to the status indicated by the collected device status information. Or output a message. Details of the device status information will be described later.

  Here, the hardware configuration of the management apparatus 60 will be described. The management device 60 includes a control device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the entire device, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores various data and various programs, and various types. It has an external storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or CD (Compact Disk) drive device that stores data and various programs, and a bus that connects them, and has a hardware configuration that uses a normal computer. ing. In addition, the management device 60 includes a display device for displaying information, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for accepting user instruction input, and a communication I / F (interface) for controlling communication with an external device. Are connected to each other.

  Next, in the hardware configuration described above, various functions realized by the CPU of the management device 60 executing various programs stored in the storage device or the external storage device will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the management device 60. Each unit shown in the figure is generated on a storage device such as a RAM when the CPU executes a program. The management device 60 includes a collection unit 61, a detection unit 62, a determination unit 63, and a transfer management unit 64.

  The collection unit 61 collects the device status information of the printing device 50 that is the management target device managed by itself among the printing devices 50 connected to the device management system from each printing device 50 by polling, and collects the collected device The state information is stored in a storage device such as an external storage device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of device status information collected for each printing apparatus 50. In addition, as a form which memorize | stores apparatus status information, the form of a database may be sufficient and the form of a file may be sufficient. As shown in FIG. 3, the device status information includes information such as a device name, a device IP address, a MAC address, a device status, and an occurrence date and time. The device name is for identifying the printing apparatus 50, and here, for convenience, the device name is shown using the reference numerals shown in FIG. The device state is, for example, a state in which the printing apparatus 50 can perform a printing process (Operational), a paper jam in the printing apparatus 50 (Paper Jam), a state in which toner is out or maintenance is required (Serviceman Call), or the like. It indicates whether it is in an error state. The collection unit 61 causes the storage device to store the currently collected device state information when the device state included in the device state information changes from the device state included in the previously collected device state information. Is preferred. In the figure, it is shown that device status information is stored as history for each occurrence date and time and device name when the device status changes.

  After collecting the device state information, the detection unit 62 calculates a time (referred to as a collection time) required for polling performed during the collection. The determination unit 63 determines whether or not the collection time calculated by the detection unit 62 satisfies a certain criterion (first criterion). Specifically, the determination unit 63 determines whether or not the collection time calculated by the detection unit 62 is within a time (referred to as a reference time) preset as a reference value. If the determination result is negative, the collection time does not satisfy a certain standard, that is, the management capability of collecting and managing device status information by polling in the management device 60 does not satisfy the standard. This means that the management device 60 does not have enough management capability to manage all the devices to be managed. In this case, the determination unit 63 performs a management transfer determination process in order to transfer a part of the management target device to another management device 60.

  In the management transfer determination process, the determination unit 63 first queries the other management device 60 about the management capability of the other management device 60 in order to determine the management capability of the other management device 60. That is, the determination unit 63 requests management capability information indicating the management capability from the other management device 60. Here, the management ability to be inquired is, for example, the number of managed devices managed by other management devices 60 and the average of the collection time required for collecting the device status information (collected average time). is there. When the determination unit 63 acquires the management capability information transmitted from the other management device 60 in response to this request, the management capability of the other management device 60 satisfies a certain standard using the management capability information. Determine whether or not. For example, when the collection average time is within the above-described reference time, the determination unit 63 determines that the management capability of the other management device 60 satisfies a certain standard. On the other hand, when the collection average time exceeds the reference time, the determination unit 63 determines that the management capability of the other management device 60 does not satisfy a certain standard. In this case, the determination unit 63 requests management capability information from the other management device 60, and determines whether or not the management capability satisfies a certain standard in the same manner as described above. If there is no other management device 60 for which management capability information is requested, the determination unit 63 terminates the management transfer determination process, assuming that there is no other management device 60 to which management can be transferred. As a result, the management device 60 manages the management target device as it is.

  When the determination unit 63 determines that the management capability of the other management device 60 satisfies a certain standard, the transfer management unit 64 manages part of the management target devices of the management device 60 to the other management device 60. In order to transfer, device status information of a management target device to be transferred is transmitted to the management device 60. It should be noted that selection of a management target device whose management is to be delegated to another management device 60 may be performed by an arbitrary method or a predetermined method. Then, the transfer management unit 64 deletes the device status information of the managed device to which management has been transferred from the storage device.

  In addition, when the management capability information is requested from another management device 60, the transfer management unit 64 transmits management capability information indicating its management capability to the other management device 60 in response to the request. Further, the transfer management unit 64 receives the device management information of the printing apparatus 50 that the other management apparatus 60 has determined to delegate management to the management apparatus 60 from the other management apparatus 60, and stores this in the storage device. . Then, the transfer management unit 64 notifies the collection unit 61 of the managed device that has been delegated and is newly managed. By this notification, the collection unit 61 collects device status information from a new managed device by polling.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the management device 60 has a user interface for enabling the user to perform various settings for managing the printing device 50 and operations such as referring to device status information from a browser or the like.

(2) Operation Next, a procedure of processing performed by the management device 60 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the management device 60A will be described as an example. The management device 60A collects device status information from each printing device 50 (for example, the printing devices 50_A1 to 50_Am) (step S1), and stores the collected device status information in the storage device (step S2). Next, the management device 60 calculates the collection time (step S3), and determines whether or not the calculated collection time is within the reference time (step S4). If the determination result is affirmative, the management device 60 collects and manages the device status information by polling, and the management capability satisfies the standard. Therefore, the process returns to step S1, and the management device 60 returns the device status information. Continue collection. On the other hand, if the determination result in step S4 is negative, the management device 60 does not satisfy the standard for management capability of collecting and managing device status information by polling in the management device 60. Processing is performed (step S5).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the management transfer typeface process. The management device 60A inquires about the management capability of the management device 60B by requesting management capability information from another management device 60 (for example, the management device 60B) (step S10). Next, when the management device 60A acquires the management capability information from the management device 60B, the management device 60A then determines whether or not the management capability of the management device 60B satisfies a certain standard using the management capability information (step S11). ). For example, as described above, when the collection average time included in the management capability information is within the reference time described above, the management device 60A determines that the management capability satisfies a certain standard. In this case (step S11: YES), the management device 60A manages the device status information of the management target device to be transferred in order to transfer the management of a part of the management target devices 50_A1 to 50_Am to the management device 60B. 60 (step S12). Then, the management device 60A deletes the device status information of the managed device to which management has been transferred from the storage device (step S13), and then returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, although not shown, when the management device 60B receives the device management information transmitted from the management device 60A in step S12, the management device 60B stores the device management information in the storage device. Then, the management device 60B collects device state information by polling from the management target device that has been delegated and newly becomes a management target.

  When the management device 60A determines in step S11 that the management capability of the management device 60B does not satisfy a certain standard (step S11: NO), the other management device 60 (for example, the management device 60C). The management ability is inquired, and in the same manner as described above, it is determined whether or not the management ability satisfies a certain standard (step S14). If there is no other management device 60 for which the management capability is to be inquired (step S14: NO), the management device 60A ends the management transfer determination process, assuming that there is no other management device 60 to which management can be transferred. To do.

  As described above, in a device management system in which a plurality of management devices 60 are connected, when the management capability of the management device 60 for managing the management target devices is insufficient, management of some of the management target devices is managed by other management. Transfer to device 60. As a result, it is possible to allocate an appropriate number of management target devices to each management device 60. For this reason, the load on each management device 60 can be reduced.

[Modification]
Note that 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. Moreover, 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, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. Further, various modifications as exemplified below are possible.

<Modification 1>
In each embodiment described above, various programs executed by the management device 60 may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The various programs are recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in a file in an installable or executable format. May be configured to be provided.

<Modification 2>
In the above-described embodiment, the management target device is a printing apparatus that realizes a printing function, but is not limited to this. A copying machine that realizes a copying function, a scanner that realizes a scanner function, A facsimile that realizes a facsimile function may be used. Further, the management target device may be a multifunction device having a plurality of functions among a printing function, a copying function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. In this case, each managed device has an image forming engine corresponding to each function.

<Modification 3>
In the embodiment described above, the management device 60 has a user interface for enabling the user to perform various settings for managing the printing device 50 and operations such as referring to device status information from a browser or the like. However, a configuration without this may be used. In this case, the client device 70 may be configured to have the user interface, or the device management system may be separately provided with a client device having the user interface. The user may refer to the settings for managing the printing apparatus 50 connected to the network NT and the device status information via the client apparatus 70.

<Modification 4>
In the above-described embodiment, the management capability inquired from the management device 60 to the other management device 60 is not limited to the above-described one, and may be any index indicating the capability of the management device 60 to manage the management target device. For example, the resource of the management device 60 or the performance of the CPU of the management device 60 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the management device 60 inquires about the management capability of the other management device 60 and performs the management delegation determination process using this. However, the management device 60 inquires about the management capability. It may be configured such that management of a part of the management target device is delegated to another management device 60 without performing management delegation determination processing.

<Modification 5>
In the embodiment described above, the management device 60 is configured to collect the device status information by polling. However, this may be performed regularly or irregularly. . In addition, the collection of device status information may be performed by a trap, not by polling, that is, by issuing an event from the printing apparatus 50, or by polling triggered by an event issuance from the printing apparatus 50. You may make it do.

  In addition, when collecting device status information periodically, the number of times of collection per unit time may be predetermined or may be changed, for example, can be set as appropriate by the user. You may do it. Further, the management device 60 itself may dynamically change the number of times of collection per unit time according to its own load state or network load state.

<Modification 6>
In the embodiment described above, the management device 60 is configured so that the reference time used for comparison with the collection time is determined in advance, but may be arbitrarily set. For example, a time desired by the user may be set as the reference time. According to such a configuration, a more flexible device management system can be provided.

  In addition, since the collection time greatly depends on the load status of the management apparatus and the network load status, in step S4, instead of using the collection time itself, an average value of the collection times within a predetermined period is used. Also good. In this case, a value considering the average value of the collection time may be set as the reference time.

<Modification 7>
In the above-described embodiment, the collection time is used for determining whether to delegate management to another management apparatus 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and management of some managed devices may be delegated to other management devices according to the load state of the management device 60. In this case, the management device 60 further includes a detection unit that detects its own load state. The determination unit 63 determines whether or not the load state detected by the detection unit satisfies a certain standard (second standard). When the determination result is negative, the transfer management unit 64 transmits the device status information of some managed devices to the other management device 60 to manage the management of some managed devices. Delegate to the device.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when the CPU power is used by another program such as anti-virus software, the polling operation cannot be completed within the user's desired time. The device 60 can manage an appropriate number of devices to be managed on the network NT.

  Further, the management device 60 may delegate the management of some managed devices to other management devices according to the load state of the network NT. In this case, the management device 60 further includes a detection unit that detects a load state of the network. The determination unit 63 determines whether or not the load state detected by the detection unit satisfies a certain standard (third standard). When the determination result is negative, the transfer management unit 64 transmits device state information of some managed devices to other management devices, and manages the management of some managed devices. Delegate to.

  As described above, when collecting device state information by polling, the collection time may vary greatly depending on the load state of the network NT connecting the management device 60 and the printing device 50. In such a case, polling may not be completed within the time desired by the user. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present modification, even in such a case, the management device 60 can manage an appropriate number of devices to be managed on the network NT.

  The first reference, the second reference, and the third reference described above may be the same value or different values.

<Modification 8>
In the embodiment described above, the management device 60 stores the device status information as a history. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the management device 60 may be configured to store only the latest device status information. In this case, the collection unit 61 stores device status information (hereinafter referred to as the latest device status information) having the latest occurrence date and time for each device name in the storage device, and every time the latest device status information is stored, other devices are stored. The state information may be deleted from the storage device for each device name.

  Further, the device state is not limited to the state of the printing apparatus 50 itself, and may be an error state that has occurred in the entire device management system. In this case, in order to distinguish the type of error status, the device status may be included in the device status information for each field.

It is a figure which illustrates the composition of the device management system concerning one embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the functional structure of the management apparatus 60 concerning the embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of apparatus status information. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which the management apparatus 60 concerning the embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the management transfer typeface process concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

50 Printing devices 60, 60A, 60B, 60C Management device 61 Collection unit 62 Detection unit 63 Determination unit 64 Transfer management unit 70 Client device NT network

Claims (16)

In a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network, the management device manages at least one management target device to be managed among the plurality of devices,
Collection means for collecting device status information indicating the status of the managed device from each managed device;
Storage means for storing the device status information collected by the collection means;
First detection means for detecting a collection time taken to collect the device status information from one or more managed devices ;
Determination means for determining whether or not the collection time detected by the first detection means satisfies a first reference;
When the determination unit determines that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion, device status information of some managed devices among the managed devices can be managed. A management apparatus comprising: transfer management means for dynamically transferring management of the part of management target devices to the other management apparatus by transmitting to the other management apparatus. The management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes the device status information transmitted to the other management apparatus from the storage unit. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collection unit collects the device state information from the management target device by polling. The collecting means collects the device status information from the managed device by issuing an event from the managed device, or collects the device status information from the managed device by polling when the event is issued. The management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that 5. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the collection time satisfies a first reference by determining whether or not the collection time is within a reference time. The management apparatus as described in any one. 6. The management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the collection time is within a reference time that can be arbitrarily set. The determination means determines whether or not the collection time satisfies the first reference by determining whether or not the average value of the collection times detected by the first detection means within the predetermined period is within the reference time. The management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the management device is determined. When the determination unit determines that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion, a request unit that requests management capability information indicating the management capability of the other management device to the other management device;
Receiving means for receiving the management capability information transmitted from the other management device in response to a request from the request means;
The transfer management unit determines whether or not to transmit the device status information of the part of management target devices to the other management device according to the management capability indicated by the management capability information received by the reception unit. And when the determination result is affirmative, it is determined that the other management apparatus can manage the part of management target devices, and the device status information is managed by the other management device. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management apparatus transmits the information to the apparatus. The request means includes management capability information indicating at least one of a resource of the other management device, a performance of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the other management device, and the collection time detected in the other management device. The management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the management apparatus requests the other management apparatus. Second detection means for detecting a load state of the management device;
A first load determination means for determining whether or not the load condition detected by the second detection means satisfies a second criterion;
The transfer management means, when the first load determination means determines that the load state does not satisfy the second standard, device status information of some managed devices among the managed devices, The management device according to claim 1, wherein the management device is transmitted to another management device capable of managing the device to be managed. Third detecting means for detecting a load state of the network;
A second load determination means for determining whether or not the load state detected by the third detection means satisfies a third criterion;
The transfer management means, when the second load determination means determines that the load state does not satisfy the third standard, device status information of some managed devices among the managed devices, The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management apparatus is transmitted to another management apparatus capable of managing the management target device. Receiving means for receiving, from other management devices, device status information of some managed devices that are newly managed among the plurality of devices,
The management device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the device status information received by the reception unit. A device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network,
At least one management device among the plurality of management devices is
First collection means for collecting device status information indicating the status of at least one managed device to be managed among the plurality of devices from each managed device;
First storage means for storing the device status information collected by the first collection means;
First detection means for detecting a collection time taken to collect the device status information from one or more managed devices ;
Determination means for determining whether or not the collection time detected by the first detection means satisfies a first reference;
When the determination unit determines that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion, device status information of some managed devices among the managed devices can be managed. A transfer management means for dynamically transferring the management of the part of the management target devices to the other management device by transmitting to the other management device;
The other management device is:
Second collection means for collecting device state information indicating the state of at least one managed device to be managed among the plurality of devices from each managed device;
Receiving means for receiving, from the management device, device status information of a part of management target devices that are newly managed among the plurality of devices, and receiving the device status information collected by the second collecting means and the receiving means. Second storage means for storing at least one of the device status information,
The managed device is
A device management system comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit device state information indicating a state of the management target device to a management device that manages the management target device among the plurality of management devices. In a device management system in which a plurality of management devices and a plurality of devices are connected to a network, the device management method is executed by a management device that manages at least one device to be managed among the plurality of devices. And
A collection step of collecting device status information indicating the status of the managed device from each managed device;
A storage control step of storing the device status information collected in the collection step in a storage means;
A first detection step of detecting a collection time taken to collect the device status information from one or more managed devices ;
A determination step for determining whether or not the collection time detected in the first detection step satisfies a first criterion;
When it is determined that the collection time does not satisfy the first criterion, the device status information of some managed devices among the managed devices is managed, and other management capable of managing the some managed devices A device management method comprising: a transfer management step of dynamically transferring the management of the part of management target devices to the other management device by transmitting to the device.   A program for causing a computer to execute the device management method according to claim 14.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 15.

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