JP7331397B2 - Information processing device, information processing system and information processing program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing program.

As a conventional technology, IT environment full support service maintenance system for building IT (= Information Technology) environment with hardware and software that make up a computer system and providing maintenance in full support service for managing it is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the maintenance system of this IT environment full support service, a self-diagnostic tool is built into the customer's prescribed equipment, and the self-diagnostic tool functions to self-diagnose the cause of failure when a failure occurs, and the self-diagnostic result data is sent to the computer system. Send.

JP-A-2003-58618

In such maintenance systems for IT environment full support services, for example, if the number of connected devices continues to increase and self-diagnosis result data is sent at regular intervals, the concentration of self-diagnosis result data will increase the processing load on the computer system. is a problem that continues to increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, an information processing system, and an information processing program capable of suppressing an increase in processing load associated with continuous collection of information groups.

[1] Acquisition means for acquiring the information group from a device that collects the information group by a predetermined collection method;
Based on the information group acquired by the acquisition means, the information group newly collected by the device and the information group collected in the past by the device are compared to determine whether a predetermined reduction request has been achieved. an analysis means for analyzing whether or not
A collection method for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information of the information group to be collected from now on is reduced from the amount of information in the past when the predetermined reduction request has been achieved. a means of change ;
Information processing device with
[2] The collection method changing means changes the collection method of the information group by changing a predetermined collection interval for collecting the information group to a longer collection interval.
The information processing device according to [1].
[3] The collection method changing means selects information from the information group for which continuation of achievement of the predetermined reduction request can be confirmed, and reduces the number of information in the information group to be collected. change the method of collection;
The information processing apparatus according to [1] or [2].
[4] The collection method changing means changes the collection method of the information group of the device for which the predetermined reduction request has been achieved among the plurality of devices that collect the information group.
The information processing device according to [1].
[5] The collection method changing means changes a predetermined collection interval for collecting the information group to a longer collection interval for the device for which the predetermined reduction request has been achieved. changing the method of collecting the information group;
The information processing device according to [4] above.
[6] The collection method changing means selects and collects information for which continuation of achievement of the predetermined reduction request can be confirmed from the information group of the device for which the predetermined reduction request has been achieved. changing the collection method of the information group by reducing the number of information in the information group;
The information processing apparatus according to [4] or [5].
[7] The predetermined reduction request is an achievement target set for at least one information of the information group.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6].
[8] A device that collects information groups by a predetermined collection method ;
an acquisition unit for acquiring the information group from the device; and based on the information group acquired by the acquisition unit, the information group newly collected by the device and the information group collected in the past by the device . analysis means for comparing and analyzing whether or not a predetermined reduction request has been achieved ; an information processing apparatus comprising : collection method changing means for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information in the information group is reduced from the amount of information in the past ;
Information processing system with
[9] Acquisition means for acquiring the information group from a device that collects the information group by a predetermined collection method;
Based on the information group acquired by the acquisition means, the information group newly collected by the device and the information group collected in the past by the device are compared to determine whether a predetermined reduction request has been achieved. an analysis means for analyzing whether or not
A collection method for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information of the information group to be collected from now on is reduced from the amount of information in the past when the predetermined reduction request has been achieved. As a means of change
An information processing program that causes a computer to run.

According to the inventions according to claims 1, 8, and 9, it is possible to suppress an increase in the processing load associated with continuous collection of information groups.
According to the inventions according to claims 2 and 5, it is possible to alleviate the concentration of information groups to be continuously collected.
According to the third and sixth aspects of the invention, it is possible to reduce the number of pieces of information in the group of information to be continuously collected, thereby suppressing an increase in the processing load.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in the processing load while monitoring the fulfillment of the request of the device whose predetermined request has not been fulfilled.
According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to monitor achievement of a predetermined request by continuously collecting a group of information.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram of a server device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for selecting information collected by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a group of information output by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a confirmation image displayed by the product software according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is an example of collection intervals of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the information processing system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an information processing system according to a second embodiment; FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a group of information output by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment; FIG. 11 is an example of a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[First embodiment]
(Outline of information processing system 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram of a server device according to the first embodiment. In FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 11, arrows indicate the flow of main signals and information.

The information processing system 1 compares a device that collects and outputs a group of information at a predetermined collection interval, and a group of information collected from the device and a group of information collected in the past to meet a predetermined request. and an information processing apparatus comprising a collection method changing means for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information of the information group to be collected from now on is smaller than the amount of information in the past when the .

A device according to the present embodiment is, for example, the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. The device may be a personal computer or the like.

Further, the information processing apparatus of this embodiment is, for example, the server apparatus 6 shown in FIG. Server device 6 is electromagnetically connected to at least one image forming device 2 via network 4 . Server device 6 of the present embodiment is electromagnetically connected to a plurality of image forming devices 2 . Note that the information processing apparatus may be a personal computer.

This network 4 is, for example, a computer network such as a LAN (=Local Area Network) or the Internet. The network 4 of this embodiment is, for example, the Internet. Note that the electromagnetic connection indicates connection using at least one of conductor connection, light connection, and radio wave connection, that is, connection using at least one of wired and wireless connections.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus 2)
The image forming apparatus 2 is, for example, a multifunction device having multiple functions such as a copy function, a scan function, a print function, an e-mail transmission/reception function, and a facsimile function.

The image forming apparatus 2 includes, for example, an operation panel 21, an image input section 22, an image output section 23, a communication section 24, a storage section 25, and a control section 26, as shown in FIG. It is roughly configured.

The operation panel 21 has, for example, a configuration in which a touch panel is placed over a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The operation panel 21 displays information such as a setting screen on the display screen of the display, and accepts user operations on the touch panel. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 21 outputs operation information _S21 , which is information on the received user's operation, to the control unit 26 . Further, the operation panel 21 displays an image on the display based on the display control signal _S22 output from the control section 26, for example.

The image input section 22 has a schematic configuration including, for example, a scanner section, a document feeding section, a reading section, and the like. The scanner section has a function of reading, as an image, a document placed on, for example, a document platen or a document feeding section. The document feeding section has a function of sending a document placed on the table of the document feeding section to the document table and returning the document sent to the document table to the table of the document feeding section. The reading unit has a function of reading an image from a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a multifunctional mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or a connected external storage device.

The image input unit 22 outputs information of the read image to the control unit ₂₆ as image information S23. The control unit 26 prints an image based on the acquired image information _S23 , outputs an image to a personal computer or the like connected via the communication unit 24, or outputs an image to an external storage device connected via the reading unit. Output the image to etc.

The image output unit 23 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper using an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like based on the image formation information _S24 output from the control unit 26, and outputs the image. The image formation information _S24 includes, for example, information about the image to be output and information about the form of the image to be output.

The communication unit 24 has a function of sending/receiving e-mails to/from a mobile device or the like, sending/receiving a facsimile, and exchanging signals and information with a server device 6 connected to the network 4 or the like. . Facsimile is hereinafter referred to as Fax.

The storage unit 25 is, for example, a storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (=Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 25 stores, for example, a program 250, product software 251, and history information 252, as shown in FIG.

The program 250 is, for example, system software including an OS (=Operating System) for operating the image forming apparatus 2 . The commercial product software 251 is, for example, software provided by the administrator of the information processing system 1 in order to fulfill the user's request. This administrator is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 and the server apparatus 6 via the management system 8 and the network 4, for example, as shown in FIG. This management system 8 includes at least a computer.

The administrator of the information processing system 1 refers to a plurality of pieces of information in the history information 252 to determine the commercial product software 251 necessary for achieving the user's request (=predetermined request). This predetermined request is an achievement goal set for at least one piece of information in the information group 253 . The administrator then provides the user with product software 251 that fulfills the user's request. This product software 251 will be described in the first and second embodiments, which will be described later.

The history information 252 is, for example, operation history information such as the number of printed copies of the same title to be collected and the number of printed pages. Information to be collected is output to the storage unit 27 as collected information 27 .

The control unit 26, for example, according to the program 250 read from the storage unit 25, a CPU (=Central Processing Unit) that performs calculation, processing, etc. on the acquired data, RAM (=Random Access Memory) and ROM (= It is a microcomputer composed of Read Only Memory). The RAM stores, for example, the program 250 read from the storage unit 25 and is used as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results and the like. The control unit 26 also has a means for generating a clock signal therein, and operates based on this clock signal.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 26 operates an operation unit 260, an input unit 261, an output unit 262, a communication unit 263, a storage unit 264, an information encryption unit 265, and a collection target determination unit 266 according to the read program 250. , the aggregation processing means 267 and the information control means 268 .

The operation means 260 controls the operation panel 21 to display an image on the display screen and accepts an input operation. The input means 261 controls the image input section 22 and receives image input. The output means 262 controls the image output section 23 to output an image. The communication means 263 controls the communication section 24 to mutually exchange information and signals. The storage unit 264 controls the storage unit 25 to store the history information 252 and the like. The information encryption means 265 encrypts information output from the communication section 24 .

The collection target determining means 266 determines the information to be collected according to the information to be collected and the instruction given by the operation panel 21 . The information to be collected includes, for example, billing data (=accounting data), the number of prints, the number of prints for each side (=single-sided/double-sided), the number of Nups, and the like. Billing data is the number of times a function that charges is used is used. The number of prints is the number of recording media output by copying or printing. The number of sheets for each print surface is the number of sheets printed on one side of the recording medium and the number of sheets printed on both sides. The number of sheets of Nup is the number of sheets in which a plurality of images are collectively printed on one sheet.

Aggregation processing means 267 collects the information determined by collection target determination means 266 , aggregates the collected information, and stores it in storage unit 25 as history information 252 .

The information control means 268 generates an information group 253 from the history information 252 according to a predetermined collection interval, and outputs the information group 253 to the server device 6 . The information control means 268 also controls the collection method of the information group 253 to be output to the server device 6 according to the change information 634 a received from the server device 6 .

Here, the control unit 26 functions as a product executing means 269 by reading the product software 251 .

(Configuration of server device 6)
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the server device 6 has a schematic configuration including a communication section 61, a storage section 62, and a control section 63. As shown in FIG.

The communication unit 61 has a function of mutually exchanging signals and information with a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 connected via the network 4 .

The storage unit 62 is, for example, a storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD. The storage unit 62 stores, for example, a program 620 and accumulated information 621 as shown in FIG.

The program 620 is, for example, system software including an OS for the server apparatus 6 to operate.

The accumulated information 621 is, for example, information obtained by accumulating the acquired information group 253 for each image forming apparatus 2 in chronological order.

The control unit 63 is, for example, a microcomputer composed of a CPU that performs calculations and processing on acquired data according to a program 620 read from the storage unit 62, and semiconductor memories such as RAM and ROM. The RAM stores, for example, the program 620 read from the storage unit 62 and is used as a storage area for temporarily storing calculation results and the like. The control unit 63 also has means for generating a clock signal therein, and performs operation and time measurement based on this clock signal.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 63 functions as communication means 630, storage means 631, information decoding means 632, analysis means 633, and collection method change means 634 according to the read program 620. FIG.

The communication means 630 controls the communication section 61 to mutually exchange information and signals. The storage unit 631 controls the storage unit 62 to store the received information group 253 as the accumulated information 621 . The information decoding means 632 decodes the received information group 253 .

The analysis means 633 compares the newly collected information group 253 with the previously collected information group 253, and analyzes whether the predetermined request has been achieved. The information group 253 collected in the past is stored as accumulated information 621 .

As described above, when the predetermined request has been achieved, the collection method changing means 634 changes the collection method of the information group 253 so that the amount of information in the information group 253 to be collected is less than the amount of information in the past. change. The collection method change unit 634 of this embodiment changes the collection method of the information group 253 by changing the predetermined collection interval for collecting the information group 253 to a longer collection interval.

The collection method change unit 634 does not change the collection method of all the image forming devices 2 connected to the server device 6, but rather selects a predetermined collection method among the plurality of image forming devices 2 that output the information group 253. The collection method of the information group 253 of the image forming apparatus 2 for which the request has been fulfilled is changed. Note that the image forming apparatuses 2 that meet the predetermined requirements are not limited to apparatuses provided with the same product software 251 .

Then, the collection method change unit 634 changes the predetermined collection interval for collecting the information group 253 to a long collection interval for the image forming apparatus 2 that has fulfilled the predetermined request, thereby increasing the information group. Change the collection method of H.253.

The predetermined request is, for example, a request to reduce the number of copies to be printed, a request to reduce the number of copies to be printed in color, a request to shorten the time required to confirm a fax sent to the image forming apparatus 2, and the like.

The predetermined collection interval is predetermined, for example, by an administrator of the information processing system 1 . The collection method changing unit 634 generates and outputs change information 634a instructing the image forming apparatus 2 to change the collection interval to a longer collection interval in order to confirm the continuation of the effect of the product software 251 . The server device 6 reduces the concentration of information due to acquiring the information group 253 from a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 by lengthening the collection interval of the information group 253 .

The collection method changing means 634 also selects information from the information group 253 for which it is possible to confirm the continuation of the achievement of the predetermined request, and changes the collection method of the information group 253 by reducing the number of information in the information group 253 to be collected. do.

Specifically, the collection method changing unit 634 selects and collects information for which continuation of fulfillment of the predetermined request can be confirmed from the information group 253 of the image forming apparatus 2 that has fulfilled the predetermined request. By reducing the number of information in the information group 253, the collection method of the information group 253 is changed. By reducing the number of pieces of information to be collected, the server device 6 alleviates information concentration caused by acquiring the information group 253 from the plurality of image forming devices 2 .

Example 1 of the present embodiment will be described below.

(Example 1)
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for selecting information collected by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a group of information output by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a confirmation image displayed by the product software according to the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the predetermined request specified by the user is to reduce the current number of prints by 20%. In this first embodiment, the predetermined request is an achievement goal set in at least one piece of information in the information group 253 . Therefore, the administrator of the information processing system 1 selects information to be collected in order to know the current situation, and guesses the reason why the number of prints is excessive. Information to be collected at this time is selected by the operation panel 21 of the image forming apparatus 2 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Note that the administrator may connect to the image forming apparatus 2 from the management system 8 via the network 4 to select information to be collected and guess the reason.

The display screen 210 shown in FIG. 4 includes, for example, an upper icon 211 for scrolling the item list 213 upward, a lower icon 212 for scrolling the item list 213 downward, and a list of information that the image forming apparatus 2 can collect. and a check box 214 for designating information to be collected are displayed.

The item list 213 displays names of information that can be collected. A slanted line attached to the check box 214 indicates that it has been selected as a collection target. An icon is an image to which a function is assigned. When the image forming apparatus 2 receives an operation on the icon displayed on the display screen 210, the image forming apparatus 2 executes the function assigned to the icon.

As an example, the image forming apparatus 2 of the first embodiment collects the following selected information and stores it in the storage unit 25 as history information 252, as shown in FIG.
Information on billing data (=first information 252a)
・Information on the number of prints (=second information 252b)
・Single-sided/double-sided information (=third information 252c)
・Nup information (=fourth information 252d)
・Information of print starting point (=fifth information 252e)
・Information on the number of copies of the same subject (=sixth information 252f)
・Information on the number of printed pages with the same subject (=seventh information 252g)
・Information on the number of print requests for the same subject (=8th information 252h)
・Information on the number of print cancellation requests with the same subject (= ninth information 252i)
・Information on the number of prints (=tenth information 252j) starting from http (=Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
- Counter value information for each document format (=eleventh information 252k)
・Information of the print instructor (=12th information 252l)
・Information on the number of prints for each print instruction (= 13th information 252m)
・Information on the amount of data in the print file (=14th information 252n)
・Information on enlargement/reduction setting (= fifteenth information 252o)
・Information on the number of discarded prints (=16th information 252p)
Note that the first information 252a to the fourth information 252d are, for example, basic information and are always collected.

The information on the starting point of printing (=fifth information 252e) is information on the starting point at which a print instruction is issued. This starting point is, for example, the image forming apparatus 2, a personal computer or a mobile terminal connected to the image forming apparatus 2, or the like.

Information on the number of copies printed with the same title and the number of pages thereof (=sixth information 252f and seventh information 252g) is information on the number of copies printed with the same name and the number of pages to be printed. be. Information on the number of print requests and the number of print cancellation requests (=eighth information 252h and ninth information 252i) with the same subject includes the number of print instructions (=print requests) and print cancellation instructions (=print cancellation). request).

The information on the number of prints starting from http (=tenth information 252j) is information on the number of prints of the web page. The information on the counter value for each document format (=eleventh information 252k) is information on the number of prints for each file format to be printed.

The information on the person instructing printing and the number of prints (=twelfth information 252l and thirteenth information 252m) is information on the person who instructed printing and the number of prints. Information on the amount of data in the print file (=fourteenth information 252n) is information on the amount of data to be printed. The enlargement/reduction setting information (=fifteenth information 252o) is information on print enlargement or print reduction set at the time of printing. Information on the number of discarded prints (=sixteenth information 252p) is information on the number of discarded prints that have been output.

The administrator of the information processing system 1 uses the management system 8 or the operation panel 21 to read and analyze the selected information from the history information 252 of the image forming apparatus 2 . For example, since the number of print requests with the same subject is large and the number of print cancellation requests with the same subject is small, the administrator presumes that the number of prints is excessive because the print cannot be canceled after being instructed. Therefore, the administrator provided the user with product software 251 that adds a process for checking whether there are any errors in the output print.

This confirmation process is, for example, a process of displaying on the operation panel 21 as a message image 215, "Is the document to be printed correct?", as shown in FIG. In this process, for example, icon 216 indicating “yes” and icon 217 indicating “no” are displayed along with message image 215 . When the user operates "yes", printing is performed. Also, if the user operates "No", printing is canceled. That is, by selecting "No", the number of print cancellation requests for the same subject is increased by +1. If the starting point of printing is not the image forming apparatus 2, for example, a message image 215 or the like is displayed on a display device such as a personal computer serving as the starting point.

The administrator of the information processing system 1 instructs the image forming apparatus 2 to periodically collect information in order to confirm the effects of the product software 251 . The administrator sets the initial collection interval to one month, and instructs the image forming apparatus 2 to collect the above-described first information 252a to sixteenth information 252p. The first information 252a to 16th information 252p form an information group 253 collected at the initial collection interval.

FIG. 7 is an example of collection intervals of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the information processing system according to the first embodiment; In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis is time. In FIG. 7, _t0 is the time when the effect is first confirmed. The timing chart of FIG. 8 describes the operation after the effect of the product software 251 is confirmed.

An example of the operations of the image forming apparatus 2 and the server apparatus 6 after the product software 251 of the first embodiment is provided and the effects thereof are first confirmed will be described below with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

(motion)
The information control means 268 of the image forming apparatus 2, when the collection interval T (=t ₁ −t ₀ ) has elapsed since the collection of the previous information group 253 whose effect was first confirmed (Step 1), the history information 252 is newly updated. An information group 253 is generated and output to the server device 6 via the communication unit 24 and the network 4 (Step 2). Information group 253 is encrypted by information encryption means 265 .

The analysis means 633 of the server device 6 acquires the information group 253 via the communication section 61 and analyzes the information group 253 (Step 3). The information group 253 has been decoded by the information decoding means 632 .

The analysis means 633 confirms the duration of the effect of the product software 251 . Specifically, the analysis unit 633 extracts information on the number of prints (=second information 252 b ) from the acquired information group 253 and compares it with the information on the number of prints to be compared extracted from the accumulated information 621 . The information on the number of prints to be compared is information before the product software 251 is provided.

As a result of the comparison, if the number of printed sheets can be reduced by 20% or more, the analyzing means 633 determines that the effect of the product software 251 has been maintained (Step 4). If the number of prints has not been reduced by 20% or more, the analysis unit 633 determines that the number of prints has increased and the problem has reoccurred.

The collection method changing means 634 changes the collection method of the information group 253 so that the information amount of the information group 253 output to the server device 6 is reduced when the persistence of the effect is confirmed (Step 5). Since a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are connected to the server apparatus 6, if the information group 253 is output from all the image forming apparatuses 2 at regular intervals, the information group 253 to be input as the number of image forming apparatuses 2 increases. increases and the processing load increases. However, since the server apparatus 6 reduces the information amount of the information group 253 of the image forming apparatuses 2 for which the predetermined request has been fulfilled, the processing load is suppressed even if the number of connected image forming apparatuses 2 increases.

In the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the predetermined collection interval T is changed to a long collection interval T ₁ (=t ₂ −t ₁ , t ₃ −t ₂ ), and the information group 253 Change the number of information. When the number of connected image forming apparatuses 2 is less than or equal to the predetermined number, the collection method changing unit 634 increases only the collection interval of the information group 253, and when the number exceeds the predetermined number, A change may be made so that the collection interval is lengthened and the number of pieces of information is reduced.

This predetermined collection interval T is, for example, one month. Also, the changed collection interval _T1 is, for example, two months. Note that the collection interval is changed to be longer than the previous collection interval while the effect continues. Also, when the collection interval becomes longer, the longer information group 253 is output at once. That is, when the collection interval is two months, the information group 253 for two months is output to the server device 6 .

In the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the collection interval is long, such as collection interval T (=one month) and collection interval T ₁ (=two months). Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the collection method changing means 634, when it is confirmed that the information group 253 collected at the collection interval T ₁ (=t ₂ −t ₁ ) continues the effect, the next collection interval Let T ₁ (=t ₃ −t ₂ ). Then, _{the collection method changing means 634 further changes the collection interval to T 2 (} = Set as long as 4 months, t ₄ -t ₃ ). At this time, the collection method changing unit 634 outputs to the image forming apparatus 2 the change information 634a that sets the collection interval to _T2 .

Furthermore, the collection method change unit 634 of the first embodiment changes the number of information in the information group 253 . The collection method changing means 634 collects, for example, basic information (=first information 252a to fourth information 252d) and information added to confirm the effect of reducing the number of prints as an information group 253. change the collection method to

The added information is, for example, information on the number of print requests with the same subject (=eighth information 252h) and information on the number of print cancellation requests with the same subject (=ninth information 252i).

The image forming apparatus 2 changes the collection method of the information group 253 based on the change information 634a output from the server apparatus 6 (Step 6).

Here, in step 4, if the effect does not last, that is, if the problem reoccurs, the collection method changing means 634 restores the number of pieces of information to be collected to the original number of pieces of information and sets the collection interval to the initial collection interval of one month. The change information 634 a to be returned is output to the image forming apparatus 2 .

Next, Example 2 of this embodiment will be described.

(Example 2)
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an information processing system according to a second embodiment; FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a group of information output by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment; In the second embodiment, the fax received by the image forming apparatus 2 can be confirmed on the go, and the average time until the recipient confirms the fax received by the image forming apparatus 2 can be set within 30 minutes. It is a predetermined request specified by the user. For example, the destination person is an employee of the company to which the user belongs.

Therefore, the administrator of the information processing system 1 provided commercial product software 251 to meet the user's request. This merchandise software 251 has the following functions.
・Function to recognize the destination of received faxes (=OCR: Optical Character Recognition)
- A function of storing received faxes in a storage device connected via the network 4 - A function of notifying an employee who is the destination that the fax has been stored in the storage device Executed by execution means 269 .

The storage device of the second embodiment is the storage unit 62 of the server device 6, but is not limited to this, and may be a cloud connected to the network 4. FIG. The received fax is stored as fax information 622 in the storage unit 62 of the server device 6 . The fax information 622 stored in the storage device may be an image file or a text file converted from an image to text by OCR.

Further, the information processing system 1 of the second embodiment is connected to an employee's terminal 9 via a network 4, for example, as shown in FIG.

As an example, the image forming apparatus 2 of the second embodiment collects the following selected information and stores it in the storage unit 25 as history information 252, as shown in FIG.
・Information on the number of received faxes (=first information 252s)
Information on the number of fax reception notifications (=second information 252t)
・Information on the number of faxes to the same destination (=third information 252u)
Information on the number of destination recognition failures (=fourth information 252v)
・Information on the number of unconfirmed faxes (= fifth information 252w)
・Information on the average time from notification transmission to notification confirmation (=sixth information 252x)
Information on the average time from notification confirmation to access to the fax information stored in the server device (=seventh information 252y)
Information on total average time from transmission of notification to access to Fax information stored in server device (= eighth information 252z)

Information on the number of fax reception notifications (=second information 252t) is information on the number of reception notifications. The information on the number of destination recognition failures (=fourth information 252v) is information on the number of times the product software 251 fails to recognize the destination. Information on the number of unconfirmed faxes (=fifth information 252w) is information on the number of faxes for which 24 hours or more have elapsed since the notification was sent until the notification was confirmed. Information on the average time from transmission of the notification to confirmation of the notification (=sixth information 252x) is information on the average time from transmission of the notification to the employee to the confirmation of the notification by the employee.

Information on the average time from notification confirmation to access to the fax information stored in the server device (=seventh information 252y) is the fax information 622 stored in the server device 6 after the destination employee confirmed the notification. This is information on the average time to access the Information on the total average time from transmission of the notification to access to the fax information stored in the server device (=eighth information 252z) is stored in the server device 6 after the notification is transmitted to the destination employee. This is information on the total average time until the Fax information 622 is accessed.

By outputting the notification information 635 to the terminal 9 of the employee to whom the fax is addressed, the product execution means 269 notifies the employee of the reception of the fax. When the employee confirms the notification, the terminal 9 outputs a notification confirmation signal 90 to the server device 6 via the network 4 . When the employee instructs to read the fax information 622 stored in the server device 6 , a read signal 91 is output from the terminal 9 to the server device 6 via the network 4 . When the read signal 91 is input, the server device 6 outputs the fax information 622 addressed to the employee to the terminal 9 via the network 4 . The terminal 9 is a mobile phone, a multifunctional mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a portable personal computer, or the like.

The administrator of the information processing system 1 instructs the image forming apparatus 2 to periodically collect information in order to confirm the effects of the product software 251 . The administrator sets the initial collection interval to one month, and instructs the image forming apparatus 2 to collect the above-mentioned first information 252s to eighth information 252z. The first information 252s to the eighth information 252z form the information group 253 collected at the initial collection interval.

An example of the operations of the image forming apparatus 2 and the server apparatus 6 after the product software 251 of the second embodiment is provided and the effects thereof are first confirmed will be described below with reference to the timing chart of the first embodiment. Immediately after receiving the fax, product execution unit 269 of image forming apparatus 2 performs OCR on the fax to generate fax information 622 and outputs it to server device 6 via network 4 . Also, the collection interval T is, for example, one month.

(motion)
The information control means 268 of the image forming apparatus 2 generates a new information group 253 from the history information 252 when the collection interval T has elapsed since the previous collection of the information group 253 whose effect was first confirmed (Step 1), and communicates It outputs to the server device 6 via the unit 24 and the network 4 (Step 2). Information group 253 is encrypted by information encryption means 265 .

The analysis means 633 of the server device 6 acquires the information group 253 via the communication section 61 and analyzes the information group 253 (Step 3). The information group 253 has been decoded by the information decoding means 632 .

The analysis means 633 confirms the duration of the effect of the product software 251 . Specifically, the analysis means 633 extracts information (=sixth information 252x) of the average time from notification confirmation to access to the Fax information 622 stored in the server device 6 from the acquired information group 253, Check if this average time is within 30 minutes.

If the average time is within 30 minutes, the analysis means 633 determines that the effect of the product software 251 continues (Step 4). Note that the analysis means 633 determines that the problem has recurred when the average time exceeds 30 minutes.

The collection method change means 634 changes the collection method of the information group 253 so that the amount of information of the information group 253 output to the server device 6 is reduced when the effect continues (Step 5).

If the persistence of the effect is confirmed, the collection interval is changed from one month to two months. Also, after two months, that is, after five months from the fulfillment of the request, if the persistence of the effect is confirmed, the collection interval will be extended from two months to four months, and the collection method will be changed.

The image forming apparatus 2 changes the collection method of the information group 253 based on the change information 634a output from the server apparatus 6 (Step 6).

[Second embodiment]
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an example of a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the embodiments described below, portions having the same functions and configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 2 compares the collected information group 253 with the information group 253 collected in the past, and if the predetermined request has been achieved, the information group to be collected from now on. 253 is roughly configured with collection method changing means 271 for changing the collection method of the information group 253 so that the amount of information in 253 is less than the amount of information in the past.

The image forming apparatus 2 of the present embodiment includes analysis means 270 corresponding to the analysis means 633 of the first embodiment. In the image forming apparatus 2 , the collection method change unit 271 changes the collection method of the information group 253 when the analysis unit 270 analyzes that the predetermined request has been achieved.

This change in collection method is a change in the collection interval or a change in which the number of information in the information group 253 is reduced, as described above. If the effect continues, the image forming apparatus 2 changes the collection method so as to reduce the amount of information in order to reduce the processing load on the server apparatus 6 .

As another embodiment, when the collected information group 253 and the information group 253 collected in the past are compared and a predetermined request has been achieved, the information amount of the information group 253 to be collected from now on is compared with that of the past. An information processing program may be provided that causes a computer to change the collection method of the information group 253 so as to reduce the amount of information.

This information processing program is stored in the storage unit 25 when installed in the image forming apparatus 2, for example. For example, when the information processing program is installed in the server device 6, the information processing program is stored in the storage unit 62. FIG.

The image forming apparatus 2 and the server apparatus 6 according to the above-described embodiments and examples are, for example, partly composed of a computer-executed program, an ASIC (=Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and an FPGA (=Field Programmable Gate Array). ) or the like.

Although several embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and examples are merely examples and do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. These novel embodiments and examples can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, etc. can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and examples are essential for solving the problems of the invention. Furthermore, these embodiments and examples are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 information processing system 2 image forming apparatus 4 network 6 server device 8 management system 9 terminal 21 operation panel 22 image input unit 23 image output unit 24 communication Unit 25 Storage unit 26 Control unit 27 Collected information 61 Communication unit 62 Storage unit 63 Control unit 90 Notification confirmation signal 91 Readout signal 210 Display screen 211 Upper icon 212...Lower icon 213...Item list 214...Check box 215...Message image 216, 217...Icon 250...Program 251...Product software 252...History information 252a to 252p...First information to 16th information, 252s to 252z... first information to eighth information, 253... information group, 260... operation means, 261... input means, 262... output means, 263... communication means, 264... storage means, 265... information encryption means, 266... collection target determination means, 267... aggregation processing means, 268... information control means, 269... product execution means, 270... analysis means, 271... collection method change means, 620... program, 621... Accumulated information 622... Fax information 630... Communication means 631... Storage means 632... Information decoding means 633... Analysis means 634... Collection method change means 634a... Change information 635... Notification information

Claims (9)

Acquisition means for acquiring the information group from a device that collects the information group by a predetermined collection method;
Based on the information group acquired by the acquisition means, the information group newly collected by the device and the information group collected in the past by the device are compared to determine whether a predetermined reduction request has been achieved. an analysis means for analyzing whether or not
A collection method for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information of the information group to be collected from now on is reduced from the amount of information in the past when the predetermined reduction request has been achieved. a means of change ;
Information processing device with The collection method changing means changes the collection method of the information group by changing a predetermined collection interval for collecting the information group to a longer collection interval.
The information processing device according to claim 1 . The collection method changing means selects from the information group information for which continuation of achievement of the predetermined reduction request can be confirmed, and reduces the number of information in the information group to be collected, thereby changing the collection method of the information group. change,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The collection method changing means changes the collection method of the information group of the device for which the predetermined reduction request has been achieved among the plurality of devices that collect the information group.
The information processing device according to claim 1 . The collection method change means changes a predetermined collection interval at the time of collecting the information group to a longer collection interval for the device for which the predetermined reduction request has been achieved, thereby reducing the information group. change how we collect
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4. The collection method changing means selects and collects, from the information group of the device for which the predetermined reduction request has been achieved, information for which continuation of achievement of the predetermined reduction request can be confirmed. changing the collection method of the information group by reducing the number of information in
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. The predetermined reduction request is an achievement target set for at least one information of the information group,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. a device that collects a group of information by a predetermined collection method ;
an acquisition unit for acquiring the information group from the device; and based on the information group acquired by the acquisition unit, the information group newly collected by the device and the information group collected in the past by the device . analysis means for comparing and analyzing whether or not a predetermined reduction request has been achieved ; an information processing apparatus comprising : collection method changing means for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information in the information group is reduced from the amount of information in the past ;
Information processing system with Acquisition means for acquiring the information group from a device that collects the information group by a predetermined collection method;
Based on the information group acquired by the acquisition means, the information group newly collected by the device and the information group collected in the past by the device are compared to determine whether a predetermined reduction request has been achieved. an analysis means for analyzing whether or not
A collection method for changing the collection method of the information group so that the amount of information of the information group to be collected from now on is reduced from the amount of information in the past when the predetermined reduction request has been achieved. As a means of change
An information processing program that causes a computer to run.

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