JP6079246B2 - Information processing system and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are computers (hereinafter referred to as “device management apparatuses”) that collectively manage a plurality of image forming apparatuses installed in an office or the like via a network. The device management apparatus can collectively set values for setting items, install applications, and the like for a plurality of image forming apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as “batch setting”). The user can improve the convenience of each image forming apparatus by collectively setting setting values suitable for his or her usage pattern.

  However, recent image forming apparatuses have various functions and the number of setting items is increasing. As a result, it is difficult for the user to determine what setting is suitable for his / her usage pattern.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to present a recommended value of setting information for a device.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is an information processing system including one or more computers, and a setting information storage unit that stores setting information of devices in the organization for each organization including one or more devices. A configuration information storage unit that stores configuration information of the device for each organization, a receiving unit that receives a request to present a recommended value of setting information for a device from a computer in any organization, and a transmission source of the presentation request said configuration information organization based on a comparison between the configuration information for other organizations, an extraction unit for extracting a portion of tissue from the other tissues, the setting for some organizations information storage A reply unit that returns the setting information stored by the unit as a recommended value in a response to the presentation request.

  The recommended value of the setting information for the device can be presented.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the apparatus management system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information management apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of each apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating an example of the process sequence performed in an apparatus management system. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a request input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an inquiry screen. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence of the determination process of recommendation information. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure information table which a structure information storage part memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the model information table which a structure information storage part memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of a coincidence degree. It is a figure which shows the example of each comparison information regarding each user environment in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an apparatus information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a cost information storage part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the device management system 1 includes a plurality of user environments E such as user environments Ea to Ed, a remote management device 20, an information management device 10, and the like.

  Each user environment E is a system environment for a user of the device 40 (for example, a corporate user), and includes a device management apparatus 30 and one or more devices 40. In this embodiment, for convenience, it is assumed that each user environment E is a system environment in a different company. However, the organization to which the user environment E corresponds is not limited to a company unit. A department or a department in one company may be associated with the user environment E.

  Each user environment E includes one or more devices 40 and, if necessary, a device management apparatus 30. The device 40 is an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, for example. The device management apparatus 30 is a computer that collects device information from each device 40 belonging to the same user environment E, uploads the collected device information to the remote management device 20, and the like. That is, the device management apparatus 30 is connected to each device 40 belonging to the same user environment E via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). The device management apparatus 30 is connected to the remote management apparatus 20 via a network such as a WAN (Wide Area Network). However, there may be a device 40 that can directly communicate with the remote management device 20, such as the device 40a5 in the user environment Ea. Such device information of the device 40 may be uploaded to the remote management device 20 without going through the device management device 30. The device information is information including attribute information of the device 40, status information of the device 40, setting information for the device 40, and the like.

  The device management apparatus 30 also sets values for the setting items of each device 40 belonging to the same user environment E as the device management apparatus 30. For example, the device management apparatus 30 can collectively set values for setting items for a plurality of devices 40.

  On the other hand, the remote management device 20 and the information management device 10 are operated by an organization in charge of maintenance of the device 40, for example.

  The remote management device 20 is a computer that centrally receives device information and the like uploaded from the device management device 30 or the device 40 of a plurality of user environments E. Note that the timing of uploading device information includes, for example, when the device configuration in the user environment E changes, or when the device information of any device 40 changes. However, the device information may be uploaded at another timing, for example, periodically.

  The information management device 10 is a computer that manages device information received by the remote management device 20 and executes processing for providing a predetermined service to the user environment E using the device information. In the present embodiment, the information management apparatus 10 provides a service for presenting recommended values of setting information for the device 40.

  The remote management device 20 and the information management device 10 are connected by a network such as a LAN or WAN, for example. However, the remote management device 20 and the information management device 10 may be realized by a single computer.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The information management apparatus 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the information management apparatus 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 storing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 executes functions related to the information management apparatus 10 in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  Note that the device management apparatus 30 and the remote management apparatus 20 may have the same hardware configuration.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of each device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3, the device management apparatus 30 includes a UI unit 31, a device information collection unit 32, a device information transmission unit 33, a recommended information request unit 34, a recommended information reception unit 35, a setting information application unit 36, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that a program installed in the device management apparatus 30 causes the CPU of the device management apparatus 30 to execute. The device management apparatus 30 also uses the device information storage unit 37. The device information storage unit 37 can be realized by using a storage device included in the device management device 30 or a storage device connected to the device management device 30 via a network.

  The UI unit 31 provides a user interface. For example, when the device management apparatus 30 includes a display device and an input device, the UI unit 31 displays a screen on the display device or receives an instruction from the user via the input device. Alternatively, the UI unit 31 provides screen data such as a web page to a terminal connected to the device management apparatus 30 via a network, or input information for a screen displayed on the terminal based on the screen data. May be received. Examples of terminals connected to the device management apparatus 30 via a network include a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet-type terminal, a smartphone, and a mobile phone.

  The device information collection unit 32 collects device information from each device 40 belonging to the same user environment E as the device management apparatus 30. The device information collected by the device information collection unit 32 is stored in the device information storage unit 37. The device information transmission unit 33 transmits (uploads) the device information stored in the device information storage unit 37 to the remote management device 20.

  The recommended information request unit 34 transmits a presentation request for setting information (hereinafter referred to as “recommended information”) recommended to the device 40 of the user environment E to which the device management apparatus 30 belongs to the remote management device 20. . The recommended information receiving unit 35 receives recommended information returned in response to a recommendation information presentation request (hereinafter referred to as “recommended information presentation request”). The setting information application unit 36 executes setting information application processing (setting processing) for each device 40 belonging to the same user environment E as the device management apparatus 30. In the present embodiment, recommended information is set as a setting target.

  The remote management device 20 includes a device information transfer unit 21 and a request relay unit 22. Each of these units is realized by processing that a program installed in the remote management device 20 causes the CPU of the remote management device 20 to execute.

  The device information transfer unit 21 transfers device information transmitted (uploaded) from the device management apparatus 30 to the information management apparatus 10. The request relay unit 22 transfers the recommended information presentation request transmitted from the device management apparatus 30 to the information management apparatus 10. The request relay unit 22 also transfers a response returned from the information management apparatus 10 to the presentation request to the device management apparatus 30.

  The information management apparatus 10 includes a device information reception unit 11, a cost value calculation unit 12, a request reception unit 13, a similar environment extraction unit 14, a recommended information determination unit 15, a response reply unit 16, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 104 by a program installed in the information management apparatus 10. The information management apparatus 10 also uses a device information storage unit 17, a configuration information storage unit 18, a cost information storage unit 19, and the like.

  The device information receiving unit 11 receives device information transferred by the remote management device 20. The device information received by the device information receiving unit 11 is stored in the device information storage unit 17 for each user environment E. The cost value calculation unit 12 calculates an index value (hereinafter referred to as “cost value”) indicating the amount of cost required when the device 40 is operated based on the setting information included in the device information. The case where the device 40 is activated is, for example, a case where the device 40 executes some job. The cost may be monetary or may have an impact on the environment. The cost information storage unit 19 is used for calculating the cost value. The cost information storage unit 19 stores a coefficient for calculating a cost value for each value of each setting item constituting the setting information.

  The request receiving unit 13 receives the recommended information presentation request transferred by the remote management device 20. The similar environment extraction unit 14 extracts another user environment E similar to the user environment E of the recommended information presentation request source. The similarity between the user environments E is determined based on the configuration of the device 40 included in the user environment E. The configuration of the device 40 can be specified with reference to the configuration information storage unit 18. The configuration information storage unit 18 stores configuration information of the device 40 for each user environment E.

  The recommended information determination unit 15 determines setting information to be recommended information based on the setting information stored in the device information storage unit 17 for the user environment E extracted by the similar environment extraction unit 14. The response reply unit 16 returns the recommended information as a determination result by the recommended information determination unit 15.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed in the device management system 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed in the device management system.

  In step S101, the UI unit 31 of the device management apparatus 30 receives a recommendation information presentation request. Here, for convenience, it is assumed that a recommendation information presentation request is input in the user environment Ea. The presentation request may be input via a screen as shown in FIG. 5 displayed on a terminal connected to the device management apparatus 30 via a network, for example.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the request input screen. In FIG. 5, the request input screen 510 includes radio buttons 511 and an execution button 512 for selecting what kind of recommended information is desired.

  In FIG. 5, options 511a and 511b are shown as examples of options of the radio button 511. The option 511a is an option that uses “settings frequently used in the same network as the company network” as recommended information. Also, the option 511b is an option having “recommended setting with a network similar to the company network and low cost” as recommended information. The “network” here corresponds to the user environment E.

  When any option is selected with the radio button 511 and the execution button 512 is pressed, a recommendation information presentation request including identification information of the selected option (hereinafter referred to as “selection information”) is displayed. It is transmitted to the UI unit 31 of the management apparatus 30. In step S101, the UI unit 31 receives such a presentation request.

  Subsequently, the recommended information request unit 34 of the device management apparatus 30 transmits a recommended information presentation request to the remote management apparatus 20 in response to the received presentation request (S102). In the presentation request, in addition to the selection information, identification information of the user environment Ea (hereinafter referred to as “site ID”) is designated. Subsequently, the request relay unit 22 of the remote management device 20 transfers the presentation request to the information management device 10 (S103). The request receiving unit 13 of the information management apparatus 10 receives the presentation request.

  Subsequently, the similar environment extraction unit 14 and the recommended information determination unit 15 of the information management apparatus 10 execute a recommended information determination process (S104). In the determination process, if there is setting information determined to correspond to the recommended information, the setting information is specified as the recommended information. The details of the recommended information determination process will be described later. Subsequently, the response reply unit 16 returns the determination result in step S104 to the remote management device 20 (S105). When the recommended information is specified, the determination result includes recommended information. When the recommended information is not specified, the determination result includes, for example, information indicating that there is no recommended information.

  The request relay unit 22 of the remote management device 20 transfers the determination result to the device management device 30 that has requested the recommendation information presentation (S106). The recommended information receiving unit 35 of the device management apparatus 30 receives the determination result. Subsequently, when the recommended information is included in the determination result, the UI unit 31 inquires of the user whether or not the recommended information should be applied (S107). For example, the UI unit 31 displays an inquiry screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the terminal.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an inquiry screen. The inquiry screen 520 shown in FIG. 6 shows a setting value included in the recommended information for each setting item constituting the setting information of the device 40, and includes a message for inquiring whether to apply the setting value. Further, the inquiry screen 520 includes buttons 521 and 522 for accepting a recommendation by the user.

  When the user presses the button 521 via the inquiry screen 520 to input a recommended information application instruction, the setting information application unit 36 performs the setting for each device 40 in the user environment Ea. Then, the setting values included in the recommended information are collectively set (S108). The address information of each device 40 in the user environment Ea is stored in the device information storage unit 37, for example.

  Note that step S108 may be executed without executing step S107. That is, the recommended information may be automatically set in each device 40 without asking the user whether or not to set the recommended information.

  Next, details of step S104 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure of recommended information determination processing. FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure executed when the option 511b is selected on the request input screen 510 (FIG. 5).

  In step S <b> 201, the similar environment extraction unit 14 generates comparison information for each user environment E. The comparison information is information used to compare the similarity of the device configurations of the user environments E. Information stored in the configuration information storage unit 18 is used to generate the comparison information.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration information table stored in the configuration information storage unit. The configuration information table 18a illustrated in FIG. 8 stores, for each user environment E, a site ID, the number of installed devices for each model (model) of the device 40, and the like. That is, “MFP 4000” and the like shown in FIG. The site ID is identification information for each user environment E. Assume that the site IDs of the user environments Ea, Eb, Ec, and Ed are site A, site B, site C, and site D, respectively.

  In FIG. 8, for example, the user environment Ea shows that five MFPs 4000, ten MFPs 3000, and five MFPs 2000 are installed.

  The contents of the configuration information table 18a may be generated based on, for example, device information collected from each user environment E.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a model information table stored in the configuration information storage unit. In FIG. 9, the model information table 18 b stores specification information or performance information of the device 40 configured by items such as the model name, the printing speed, the paper size, and the presence / absence of the scanner for each model of the device 40.

  The model name is an identification name of each model. The printing speed is, for example, the number of printed sheets per minute. The paper size is the maximum paper size that can be handled. The presence or absence of a scanner indicates the presence or absence of a scanner function.

  The comparison information for each user environment E is generated for each printing speed, paper size, and scanner presence / absence.

  The printing speed comparison information for one user environment E is calculated by the following equation.

Σ (print speed of model i × number of models i) ÷ number of all devices 40 That is, the value in parentheses is calculated for each model, and the value obtained by dividing the sum by the number of devices 40 is print speed comparison information. It becomes. For example, the print speed comparison information regarding the user environment Ea is calculated as follows.

(40 × 5 + 30 × 10 + 20 × 5) ÷ (5 + 10 + 5) = 600 ÷ 20 = 30
The paper size comparison information regarding one user environment E is the ratio of the number of devices 40 for each paper size that can be handled in the user environment E. For example, the paper size comparison information regarding the user environment Ea is calculated as follows.

Ratio of the number of devices 40 that can support A4 = {5 ÷ (5 + 10 + 5)} × 100 = 25%
Ratio of the number of devices 40 that can support A3 = {15 ÷ (5 + 10 + 5)} × 100 = 75%
The comparison information on the presence / absence of the scanner for one user environment E is the ratio of the number of devices 40 having a scanner function and the ratio of the number of devices 40 having no scanner function in the user environment E. For example, the comparison information on the presence / absence of the scanner relating to the user environment Ea is calculated as follows.

Ratio of the number of devices 40 having no scanner function = {(5 + 10 + 5) ÷ (5 + 10 + 5)} × 100 = 100%
Ratio of the number of devices 40 having a scanner function = {0 ÷ (5 + 10 + 5)} × 100 = 0%
The comparison of the comparison information calculated regarding the user environment Ea that is the request source of the recommended information is compared with the comparison information calculated regarding each of the other user environments E, thereby determining the user environment E most similar to the user environment Ea. Is done. Specifically, it is determined that the user environment E related to the comparison information most similar to the comparison information of the user environment Ea is the user environment E most similar to the user environment Ea. It is determined based on the site ID specified in the recommended information presentation request received in step S103, for example, that the recommended information presentation request source is the user environment Ea.

  The similarity of the comparison information is determined for each comparison information, and is expressed by an index called “matching degree”. The degree of match is a value assigned for each difference range of the compared values (comparison information), and indicates the degree of match or similarity of the compared values in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the degree of match. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the difference range is divided into less than 5, less than 10, and 10 or more, and the degree of match corresponding to each difference range is set to 5, 2, 0. The method of dividing the difference range and the value of the degree of match for each difference range may be changed as appropriate.

  Based on the values shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the degree of matching of the comparison information regarding each user environment E and the comparison information of the other user environment E with the comparison information of the user environment Ea in the present embodiment is as shown in FIG. As shown in

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of each comparison information regarding each user environment according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, (A) shows the calculation result of the comparison information of the printing speed of each user environment E. Further, (A) also shows the degree of match of the printing speed comparison information of the user environments Eb (site B) to Ed (site D) with respect to the printing speed comparison information of the user environment Ea (site A). . For example, the difference of the comparison information between the user environment Ea and the user environment Eb is 16. Therefore, the degree of match is 0 based on the table shown in FIG. The difference of the comparison information between the user environment Ea and the user environment Ec is 0. Therefore, the degree of match is 5 based on the table shown in FIG. The difference of the comparison information between the user environment Ea and the user environment Ed is 1.25. Therefore, the degree of match is 5 based on the table shown in FIG.

  (B) shows the calculation result of the paper size comparison information for each user environment E. Further, (B) also shows the degree of matching of the paper size comparison information of the user environments Eb (site B) to Ed (site D) with respect to the paper size comparison information of the user environment Ea (site A). . Note that the degree of coincidence with the paper size comparison information is an average of the degree of coincidence of the comparison information for each paper size. For example, the difference of the comparison information of A3 between the user environment Ea and the user environment Eb is 15 (%), and the difference of the comparison information of A4 is 85 (%). Therefore, the average of the difference between the comparison information A3 and the difference between the comparison information A4 is 50. Therefore, the degree of match is 0 based on the table shown in FIG. The difference of the comparison information of A3 between the user environment Ea and the user environment Ec is 0 (%), and the difference of the comparison information of A4 is 0 (%). Therefore, the average of the difference between the comparison information A3 and the difference between the comparison information A4 is zero. Therefore, the degree of match is 5 based on the table shown in FIG. The difference of the comparison information of A3 between the user environment Ea and the user environment Ed is 17 (%), and the difference of the comparison information of A4 is 17 (%). Therefore, the average of the difference between the comparison information for A3 and the difference between the comparison information for A4 is 17. Therefore, the degree of match is 0 based on the table shown in FIG.

  (C) shows the calculation result of the comparison information of the presence / absence of the scanner of each user environment E. Also, (C) shows the degree of matching of the comparison information on the presence / absence of the scanner in the user environment Ea (site A) with respect to the comparison information on the presence / absence of the scanner in the user environments Eb (site B) to Ed (site D). . Note that the degree of coincidence with the comparison information with and without the scanner is an average of the degree of coincidence of the comparison information with and without the scanner. For example, the difference between the comparison information with the scanner between the user environment Ea and the user environment Eb is 60 (%), and the difference between the comparison information without the scanner is 60 (%). Therefore, the average of the difference between the comparison information with the scanner and the difference between the comparison information without the scanner is 60. Therefore, the degree of match is 0 based on the table shown in FIG. The difference between the comparison information with the scanner between the user environment Ea and the user environment Ec is 0 (%), and the difference between the comparison information without the scanner is 0 (%). Therefore, the average of the difference between the comparison information with the scanner and the difference between the comparison information without the scanner is zero. Therefore, the degree of match is 5 based on the table shown in FIG. The difference between the comparison information with the scanner between the user environment Ea and the user environment Ed is 8 (%), and the difference between the comparison information without the scanner is 8 (%). Therefore, the average of the difference between the comparison information with the scanner and the difference between the comparison information without the scanner is 8. Therefore, based on the table shown in FIG.

  Further, (D) of FIG. 11 shows the total sum of the matching degrees calculated by the similar environment extracting unit 14. The similar environment extraction unit 14 determines that the user environment Ec (site C) having the maximum sum is the user environment E that is most similar to the user environment Ea. Hereinafter, the user environment Ec determined to be the most similar is referred to as “similar environment”. In addition, the user environment Ea that is a request source of recommended information is referred to as a “request source environment”.

  Note that the user environment E similar to a certain user environment E may be determined by a method other than the above. For example, the similarity between the user environments E may be determined based on the similarity or commonality of the ratio (ratio) of the number of devices 40 by model name, by performance, or by specification.

  Subsequently, the recommended information determination unit 15 calculates the cost value of the setting information of the device 40 in the request source environment and the cost value of the setting information of the device 40 in the similar environment (S203). For the calculation of these cost values, the device information storage unit 17 and the cost information storage unit 19 are referred to.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the device information storage unit. In FIG. 12, the device information storage unit 17 stores a default value of setting information that is commonly applied to each device 40 in the user environment E in association with the site ID of each user environment E. For example, FIG. 12 shows that for each device 40 in the user environment Ea, one side, no aggregation, color, and image quality priority are set as default values of setting information at the time of printing.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the cost information storage unit. As shown in FIG. 13, the cost information storage unit 19 stores a coefficient (weighting coefficient) for the cost value for each setting item value (setting item value).

  The cost value of the setting information for each user environment E is calculated by multiplying the coefficient for the setting item value of the setting information. For example, the cost value of the setting information of the user environment Ea that is the request source environment and the cost value of the setting information of the user environment Ec that is the similar environment are respectively calculated as follows.

Cost value of setting information of the user environment Ea = one-side coefficient × non-aggregation coefficient × color coefficient × image quality priority coefficient = 2 × 1 × 4 × 2 = 16
Cost value of setting information of user environment Ec = double-sided coefficient × aggregation (two-sided) coefficient × color coefficient × image quality priority coefficient = 1 × 0.5 × 4 × 2 = 4
The timing at which the cost value is calculated may not be step S203. For example, the cost value of the setting information for each user environment E may be calculated and stored in advance.

  Subsequently, the recommended information determination unit 15 determines whether or not the cost value of the similar environment is less than the cost value of the request source environment (S204). When the cost value of the similar environment is less than the cost value of the request source environment (Yes in S204), the recommended information determination unit 15 determines the setting information of the similar environment as recommended information (S205). In the present embodiment, the setting information stored in the device information storage unit 17 regarding the user environment Ec is determined as recommended information for the user environment Ea. Therefore, in step S105 of FIG. 4, the response reply unit 16 returns setting information for the user environment Ec.

  On the other hand, when the cost value of the similar environment is equal to or higher than the cost value of the request source environment (No in S204), it is determined that there is no recommended information.

  In the present embodiment, the setting item related to printing has been described as an example of the setting item that constitutes the recommended information. However, the present embodiment may be applied to various setting items related to the device 40.

  When the option 511a is selected on the request input screen 510 (FIG. 5), a similar environment may be extracted by substantially the same processing as steps S201 and S202. In this case, a plurality of similar environments may be extracted, such as the matching degree up to the top Nth. Subsequently, the setting information that is most frequently used in the plurality of similar environments may be determined as recommended information. In this embodiment, for convenience, there are four user environments E, and there is no user environment E with common setting information. However, when a larger number of user environments E are managed, the setting information is common. There is a possibility that the user environment E exists. In that case, setting information that is most frequently used in a plurality of similar environments may occur.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, setting information actually used in a plurality of user environments E managed centrally in the information management apparatus 10 is used to create a certain user environment E. It is possible to present recommended setting information (recommended information). By presenting the setting information that is actually used, it is possible to increase the possibility of presenting the setting information in consideration of convenience as well as cost reduction.

  That is, the setting information with the lowest cost is highly likely to be uniquely determined. In general, the device 40 in which setting information with low cost is set tends to be less convenient. Therefore, when the setting information with the lowest cost is simply used as the recommended information, there is a possibility that the recommended information is likely to be setting information that is less convenient for the user. According to the present embodiment, the setting information that is actually used in the user environment E having a similar configuration of the device 40 is recommended. Therefore, the setting information considering the balance between convenience and cost is recommended. Can increase the possibility of being.

  In extracting similar user environments E, commonality of business types of each user environment E, commonality of location areas, and the like may be considered. There is a possibility that there is a commonality in the usage of the device 40 between the user environments E with the same type of business or between the user environments E with the same location area (particularly the country, etc.). This is because when there is commonality, it is considered that highly convenient setting information is likely to be common.

  In the extraction of the similar user environment E, when the commonality of business types, the commonality of location areas, and the like are taken into account, for example, the identification information of the business type and the region is stored in the information management apparatus 10 for each user environment E. It only has to be memorized. The similar environment extraction unit 14 may extract a similar environment from the user environment E related to the business type or region that matches or is similar to the business type or region of the request source environment.

  Further, the present embodiment may be applied to devices other than the image forming apparatus such as a projector, a video conference device, or a digital camera.

  In the present embodiment, the device information storage unit 17 is an example of a setting information storage unit. The request receiving unit 13 is an example of a receiving unit. The similar environment extraction unit 14 is an example of an extraction unit. The response reply unit 16 is an example of a reply unit. The recommended information determination unit 15 is an example of a calculation unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device management system 10 Information management apparatus 11 Device information receiving part 12 Cost value calculation part 13 Request receiving part 14 Similar environment extraction part 15 Recommended information determination part 16 Response reply part 17 Equipment information storage part 18 Configuration information storage part 19 Cost information storage Unit 20 Remote management device 21 Device information transfer unit 22 Request relay unit 30 Device management device 31 UI unit 32 Device information collection unit 33 Device information transmission unit 34 Recommended information request unit 35 Recommended information reception unit 36 Setting information application unit 37 Device information storage Unit 40 Device 100 Drive device 101 Recording medium 102 Auxiliary storage device 103 Memory device 104 CPU
105 Interface device B bus

Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-251347

Claims (4)

An information processing system including one or more computers,
For each organization that includes one or more devices, a setting information storage unit that stores device setting information in the organization;
A configuration information storage unit that stores device configuration information for each organization;
A receiving unit that receives a request for a recommended value of setting information for a device from a computer in any organization;
Said configuration information of the transmission source tissue of the presentation request, an extraction unit based on a comparison between the configuration information for other organizations, to extract a portion of tissue from the other tissues,
An information processing system comprising: a reply unit that returns the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit for the part of the organization as the recommended value in a response to the presentation request. Based on a coefficient set for each value of the setting item constituting the setting information of the device, the calculation unit calculates an index value indicating the amount of expense required for the operation of the device,
The reply unit sends the response to the partial organization according to a comparison result between the index value based on the setting information for the partial organization and the index value based on the setting information for the organization of the transmission request. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit is returned as the recommended value included in a response to the presentation request. The extraction section, the ratio of performance different equipment to be calculated based on the percentage of the performance by the equipment to be calculated based on the configuration information of the transmission source tissue of the presentation request, the configuration information of other tissues The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein a part of the tissue is extracted from the other organizations based on a comparison with the information processing system. For each organization including one or more computers, each of which includes one or more devices, a setting information storage unit that stores device setting information in the organization, and a configuration information storage unit that stores device configuration information for each organization Information processing system
A reception procedure for receiving a request for presenting a recommended value of setting information for a device from a computer in any organization;
Said configuration information of the transmission source tissue of the presentation request, the extraction procedure based on a comparison between the configuration information for other organizations, to extract a portion of tissue from the other tissues,
An information processing method for executing a reply procedure in which setting information stored in a setting information storage unit for the part of the organization is included in a response to the presentation request as a recommended value.

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