Information processing device, information processing method and program product

Abstract

A usage fee for each operator of a system utilizing a cloud service is appropriately determined. The information processing device comprises: a calculation unit that calculates a usage fee for each of the plurality of operators related to the cloud service based on information related to the number of devices for each of the plurality of operators that are managed using the cloud service and information related to the actual performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program product. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technology for constructing a system using a cloud service (public cloud service) (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] <Prior Art Literature>

[0004] <Patent Documents>

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-170715 Summary of the invention

[0006] <Problems to be Solved by the Invention>

[0007] However, in conventional technologies, for example, when multiple operators jointly use a system that utilizes a public cloud service, there is a problem that the operating cost of each operator cannot be appropriately determined. The present disclosure aims to provide a technology that can appropriately determine the usage fee of each operator of a system that utilizes a cloud service.

[0008] <Methods used to solve the problem>

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, an information processing device comprises: a calculation unit that calculates usage fees related to the cloud service for each of the plurality of operators based on information related to the number of devices that each of the plurality of operators manages using the cloud service and information related to the actual performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service. Thus, the usage fee for each operator of a system utilizing the cloud service can be appropriately determined.

[0010] In addition, the second aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the calculation unit determines information related to the number of devices managed by multiple operators using the cloud service based on information of each device contained in the cloud service through a first API (application programming interface) for registering the status of the device.

[0011] In addition, the third aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein the information related to the number of devices that multiple operators each manage using the cloud service includes at least one of the number of each device contained in the cloud service and the number of facilities where each device is installed.

[0012] In addition, the fourth aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the calculation unit adds weights to the number of devices managed by multiple operators using the cloud service based on the frequency with which information of each device contained in the cloud service is registered.

[0013] In addition, aspect 5 of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the information related to the performance of utilizing the cloud service includes information indicating at least one of the number of times the cloud service is utilized, the amount of data stored in the cloud service, the amount of communication data in the cloud service, the utilization time of the cloud service, and the specifications of the server used in the cloud service.

[0014] In addition, a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the information related to the performance of utilizing the cloud service is information related to a second API provided by each of the plurality of operators through the cloud service.

[0015] In addition, the 7th aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to the 6th aspect, wherein the second API has each API for providing each of multiple functions, and the information related to the performance of utilizing the cloud service is information related to each API contained in the second API.

[0016] In addition, an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the seventh aspect, wherein the calculation unit adds a weight to the performance of utilizing the cloud service based on the category of each API included in the second API.

[0017] In addition, aspect 9 of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the calculation unit calculates a first fee for the cloud service generated by utilizing a first API provided by the cloud service for registering the status of a device, and a second fee for the cloud service generated by utilizing a second API provided by the cloud service, and allocates the first fee to each of the multiple operators based on information related to the number of devices managed by each of the multiple operators using the cloud service, and allocates the second fee to each of the multiple operators based on the actual performance of each of the multiple operators in utilizing the cloud service.

[0018] According to the information processing method of aspect 10 of the present disclosure, the information processing device performs the following processing: based on information related to the number of devices for each operator that are managed by each of the multiple operators using the cloud service, and information related to the actual performance of each of the multiple operators in utilizing the cloud service, the usage fee associated with the cloud service is calculated for each of the multiple operators.

[0019] According to the 11th aspect of the present disclosure, the program product enables the information processing device to perform the following processing: based on information related to the number of devices for each operator that are managed by each of the multiple operators using the cloud service, and information related to the actual performance of each of the multiple operators in utilizing the cloud service, calculate the usage fee associated with the cloud service for each of the multiple operators. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 : is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 : is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an operator server, a server, a terminal, and a device according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a server according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating one example of a process for registering a status of a device according to an embodiment.

[0024] Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of information stored in a device DB according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6 is a sequence diagram showing one example of processing in the remote control function according to the embodiment.

[0026] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing one example of processing in the remote monitoring function according to the embodiment.

[0027] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing one example of processing of a server according to an embodiment.

[0028] Fig. 9 This is a diagram for explaining an example of processing of a server according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Hereinafter, various embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in this specification and the accompanying drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit repeated descriptions.

[0030] <System Configuration>

[0031] First, the system configuration of the communication system 1 will be described. Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the communication system 1 includes a carrier server 10A, a carrier server 10B, and a carrier server 10C (hereinafter, referred to simply as “carrier server 10 ” when no distinction is necessary).

[0032] In addition, the communication system 1 has a terminal 30A-1, a terminal 30A-2, a terminal 30A-3, a terminal 30B-1, a terminal 30B-2, a terminal 30B-3, a terminal 30C-1, a terminal 30C-2, and a terminal 30C-3 (hereinafter, referred to simply as "the terminal 30" when no distinction is necessary).

[0033] In addition, the communication system 1 includes devices 40A-1, 40A-2, 40A-3, 40B-1, 40B-2, 40B-3, 40C-1, 40C-2, and 40C-3 (hereinafter referred to as simply "devices 40" when no distinction is necessary).

[0034] In addition, the communication system 1 has a cloud system 200. The cloud system 200 has a server 20A-1, a server 20A-2, a server 20A-3, ... (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, they are simply referred to as "server 20A"), a server 20B-1, a server 20B-2, a server 20B-3, ... (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, they are simply referred to as "server 20B"), a server 20C-1, ... (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, they are simply referred to as "server 20C"), a server 20D-1, ... (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish, they are simply referred to as "server 20D"), and a server 20E. It should be noted that, hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the server 20A, the server 20B, the server 20C, the server 20D, and the server 20E, they are simply referred to as "server 20".

[0035] It should be noted that the number of the operator server 10, the server 20, the terminal 30 and the device 40 is not limited to Figure 1 It should be noted that the operator server 10 and the server 20 are examples of an “information processing device”.

[0036] The operator server 10, the server 20, the terminal 30, and the device 40 may be connected in a manner capable of communicating via a network NW (an example of a "second network") such as the Internet, a wireless LAN (local area network), and a mobile phone network. It should be noted that the mobile phone network may include wireless communication systems such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and 5G (fifth generation mobile communication system: 5th Generation).

[0037] The operator server 10 may be, for example, a personal computer or a server computer. The operator server 10 may be operated by, for example, an operator that provides a predetermined function (service) to users of the terminal 30 and the device 40 .

[0038] The operator server 10A, the operator server 10B, and the operator server 10C may be operated (managed) by the operator A, the operator B, and the operator C, respectively. In addition, the terminal 30A-1, the terminal 30A-2, and the terminal 30A-3 may be terminals of users of various services provided by the operator A, respectively. In addition, the terminal 30B-1, the terminal 30B-2, and the terminal 30B-3 may be terminals of users of various services provided by the operator B, respectively. In addition, the terminal 30C-1, the terminal 30C-2, and the terminal 30C-3 may be terminals of users of various services provided by the operator C, respectively.

[0039] Devices 40A-1, 40A-2, and 40A-3 may be devices of users of various services provided by operator A. Devices 40B-1, 40B-2, and 40B-3 may be devices of users of various services provided by operator B. Devices 40C-1, 40C-2, and 40C-3 may be devices of users of various services provided by operator C.

[0040] The operator A, the operator B, and the operator C may be, for example, operators that cooperate with a specific operator Z. In this case, the operator A, the operator B, and the operator C may be operators that operate in different countries, for example.

[0041] Each server 20 included in the cloud system 200 can be, for example, a server provided by a public cloud service operator. It should be noted that the server 20 can be a virtual computer (instance) in a public cloud service. In addition, the server 20 can be set to enable the values ​​of specifications such as CPU, memory, and storage size to be specified by operator Z, etc. Operator A, operator B, and operator C can also be referred to as users of the cloud system 200 (public cloud service). According to the disclosed technology, for example, operator Z, etc. can centrally manage various data in various countries and regions where each operator conducts business. In addition, each operator can jointly use the data of other operators. Therefore, for example, the operator can use the various data recorded in the cloud system 200 to develop the device 40 and maintain the device 40. In addition, each operator can also sell the various data recorded in the cloud system 200 to a predetermined operator. It should be noted that the predetermined operator can, for example, determine the time to deliver goods to the user's residence of the device 40 based on the operating status of the device 40 as an air conditioning device.

[0042] The server 20A may be an example of an API gateway service that provides functions such as publishing an API (Application Programming Interface), user authentication of the terminal 30 , and routing.

[0043] For example, the server 20B may be an instance of a service that executes a code (a program, a script, a compiled execution code) preset by a user of the public cloud service according to an event that occurs.

[0044] The server 20C may be an example of a database service, for example. The server 20D may be an example of an IoT service that provides authentication, data acquisition, and management of IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

[0045] The server 20E calculates the operation cost of the cloud service for each of the operators A, B, and C, for example.

[0046] The terminal 30 may be, for example, an information processing terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer used by a user. The device 40 may be, for example, an edge server, an air conditioner, or various sensors.

[0047] <Hardware Configuration>

[0048] Next, the hardware configuration of the operator server 10 , the server 20 , the terminal 30 , and the device 40 of the communication system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 21 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the operator server 10, the server 20, the terminal 30, and the device 40 according to the embodiment. Hereinafter, the server 20 is taken as an example for description. It should be noted that the hardware configuration of the operator server 10, the terminal 30, and the device 40 may be the same as the hardware configuration of the server 20.

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, the server 20 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103. In addition, the server 20 has an auxiliary storage device 104, a display device 105, an operation device 106, an I / F (Interface) device 107, and a drive device 108. The hardware of the server 20 is connected to each other via a bus B.

[0050] The CPU 101 is a computing device that executes various programs (such as machine learning programs) installed in the auxiliary storage device 104. The ROM 102 is a non-volatile memory. The ROM 102 functions as a main storage device and stores various programs and data required for the CPU 101 to execute various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 104. Specifically, the ROM 102 stores boot programs such as BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface).

[0051] The RAM 103 is a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and functions as a main storage device, providing a work area that is developed when the CPU 101 executes various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 104 .

[0052] The auxiliary storage device 104 stores various programs or information used when executing the various programs.

[0053] The display device 105 is a display device for displaying various information. The operation device 106 is an operation device for accepting various operations. The I / F device 107 is a communication device for communicating with external devices.

[0054] The drive device 108 is a device for setting the recording medium 110. The recording medium 110 mentioned here includes a medium that records information optically, electrically or magnetically, such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, an optical magnetic disk, etc. In addition, the recording medium 110 may include a semiconductor memory that records information electrically, such as a ROM, a flash memory, etc.

[0055] It should be noted that the various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 104 are installed by, for example, setting the distributed recording medium 110 in the drive device 108 and reading the various programs recorded in the recording medium 110 through the drive device 108. Alternatively, the various programs to be installed in the auxiliary storage device 104 may be installed by downloading from a network (not shown).

[0056] <Functional Configuration>

[0057] Next, refer to Figure 3 The functional configuration of the server 20E according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a server 20E according to an embodiment.

[0058] The server 20E includes an acquisition unit 21, a calculation unit 22, and an output unit 23. Each of these units can be realized by, for example, cooperation between one or more programs installed in the server 20E and hardware such as the CPU 101 of the server 20E.

[0059] The acquisition unit 21 acquires information from an external device such as the server 20. The calculation unit 22 calculates (determines) the usage fee of the cloud system 200 for a predetermined period (e.g., one month) for each operator that is a user of the cloud system 200. The output unit 23 performs display based on the usage fee of each operator determined by the calculation unit 22. The output unit 23 can display on a screen of an external device, for example.

[0060] <Processing>

[0061] Next, refer to Figures 4 to 8 An example of the process of the communication system 1 according to the embodiment will be described.

[0062] <<Registration of the status of device 40>>

[0063] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 An example of a process for registering (updating) the status of the device 40 will be described. Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing one example of a process for registering the state of the device 40 according to the embodiment. Figure 5is a diagram for explaining an example of information stored in the device DB 501 according to the embodiment.

[0064] In step S101, the operator server 10A sends a status registration setting request for the device 40 to the device 40 via the server 20A (e.g., server 20A-3), the server 20B (e.g., server 20B-3), and the server 20D-1. Here, the status registration setting request may include, for example, information such as the ID of the device 40 and the frequency of registering the status of the device 40. Here, the frequency of registering the status of the device 40 may be specified as, for example, every 1 hour.

[0065] The information such as the ID of the device 40 and the frequency of registering the status can be specified by, for example, the manager of the facility (property) where the device 40 is installed, or the user of the device 40. In this case, the operator server 10A can send a status registration setting request when receiving a request from the terminal 30A-1 that has received a predetermined operation from the user, for example.

[0066] Then, the device 40 records settings such as the frequency of registering the status of the device 40 (status registration frequency) included in the received status registration setting request (step S102 ).

[0067] Then, the device 40 uses the first API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the server 20D-1 of the cloud system 200 to send information (device data) indicating the status of the device 40 to the server 20C-1 via the server 20D-1 and the like at a specified frequency (step S103). Here, in the case where the device 40 is an air conditioning device, the device data may include, for example, various settings related to the operation of the device 40 and various information measured by the device 40. The various settings related to the operation of the device 40 may include, for example, an operation mode (e.g., heating, cooling, dehumidification, ventilation, etc.), air volume, set temperature, etc. The various settings related to the operation of the device 40 may be set by the user for the device 40 from, for example, the remote controller of the device 40 and the terminal 30A-1, etc. In addition, the various information measured by the device 40 may include, for example, indoor temperature and indoor humidity, etc.

[0068] Then, the server 20C-1 records the received device data of the device 40 in the device DB 501 of the server 20C-1 (step S104). In the device DB 501, information related to each device 40 accommodated in the cloud system 200 is recorded through the first API for registering the status of the device 40. Figure 5In the example of , in the device DB 501, the operator ID, facility ID, status registration frequency, and device data are recorded in association with the device ID. The device ID is identification information of the device 40. The operator ID is identification information of the operator that manages the device 40 through the cloud system 200. The facility ID is identification information of the facility (property) where the device 40 is installed.

[0069] Remote Control

[0070] Next, refer to Figure 6 An example of processing when the remote control function (an example of the “first function”) is provided will be described. Figure 6 is a sequence diagram showing one example of processing in the remote control function according to the embodiment.

[0071] In step S201, the terminal 30 receives an operation to control the device 40 from the user. Then, the terminal 30 uses an API for remote control (an example of a "second API of the first category") provided by the server 20A-1 of the cloud system 200 to send a control request corresponding to the operation to the server 20A-1 (step S202). Here, the terminal 30 can, for example, send an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request to the server 20A-1, and the HTTP request includes the API ID, the operator ID, the device ID, and information for specifying the control content in items (fields) such as the URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

[0072] Then, the server 20A-1 forwards the control request to the server 20B-1 corresponding to the received control request (step S203). Here, the server 20A-1 may determine the forwarding destination of the control request based on the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the control request received from the terminal 30, for example.

[0073] Then, based on the received control request, the server 20B-1 transmits a request (search query) for acquiring device data related to the device 40 stored in the device DB 501 to the server 20C-1 (step S204).

[0074] Then, the server 20C-1 transmits the requested device data to the server 20B-1 (step S205). Here, the server 20C-1 transmits the device data recorded in the device DB 501 of the server 20C-1 to the server 20B-1.

[0075] Then, the server 20B-1 transmits a control command corresponding to the data and the control request to the server 20D-1 (step S206).

[0076] Then, the server 20D-1 sends a control command to the device 40 (step S207). Then, the device 40 performs control according to the received control command (step S208). Thus, the user of the terminal 30 can remotely increase the set temperature of the air conditioner by 1°C, for example.

[0077] Remote Monitoring

[0078] Reference Figure 7 An example of processing when providing a remote monitoring function (an example of the “second function”) will be described. Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing one example of processing in the remote monitoring function according to the embodiment.

[0079] In step S301, the terminal 30 receives an operation from the user to remotely monitor the device 40. Then, the terminal 30 uses an API for remote monitoring (an example of a "second API of the second category") provided by the server 20A-2 of the cloud system 200 to send a monitoring request corresponding to the operation to the server 20A-2 (step S302). Here, the terminal 30 can, for example, send an HTTP request to the server 20A-2, and the HTTP request includes the API ID, the operator ID, the device ID, and information for specifying the monitoring content in items (fields) such as the URL.

[0080] Then, the server 20A-2 forwards the monitoring request to the server 20B-2 corresponding to the received monitoring request (step S303). Here, the server 20A-2 can determine the forwarding destination of the monitoring request based on the URL of the monitoring request received from the terminal 30, for example.

[0081] Then, based on the received monitoring request, the server 20B-2 transmits a request (query) for acquiring the device data of the device 40 stored in the device DB 501 to the server 20C-1 (step S304).

[0082] Then, the server 20C-1 transmits the requested device data to the server 20B-2 (step S305). Here, the server 20C-1 transmits the device data recorded in the device DB 501 in association with the device ID of the device 40 to the server 20B-1.

[0083] Then, the server 20B-2 sends the device data to the server 20A-2 (step S306). Then, the server 20A-2 sends the device data to the terminal 30 (step S307). Then, the terminal 30 displays the received device data on the screen (step S308). Thus, the user of the terminal 30 can remotely grasp the set temperature of the air conditioner and the indoor temperature, etc., for example.

[0084] 《Determination of usage fees for cloud system 200 for each operator》

[0085] Reference Figure 8 and Fig. 9 An example of processing performed by the server 20E when determining the usage fee (operating cost) for each operator's cloud system 200 during a predetermined period will be described. Figure 8 : is a flowchart showing one example of the processing of the server 20E according to the embodiment. Fig. 9 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the processing of the server 20E according to the embodiment.

[0086] In step S401, the calculation unit 22 divides the fees for a predetermined period of the cloud system 200 that the public cloud service operator is requested to pay into a first fee for the cloud system 200 generated by the device 40 due to the use of the first API and a second fee for the cloud system 200 generated by the terminal 30 due to the use of the second API (the second API of each category).

[0087] Then, the calculation unit 22 allocates (proportionately allocates) the first fee to each operator (operator A, operator B, operator C) as a user of the cloud system 200 based on information related to the number of devices 40 for each operator that use the cloud system 200 to manage (step S402).

[0088] Here, the calculation unit 22 may refer to, for example, Figure 5 The calculation unit 22 can also refer to the device DB 501 of each operator to calculate the number of devices 40 of each operator. Figure 5 The number of facilities where the equipment 40 is installed for each operator is calculated using the equipment DB 501 .

[0089] Furthermore, the calculation unit 22 may allocate the first fee to each operator based on at least one of the number of devices 40 of each operator and the number of facilities where the devices 40 of each operator are installed. In this case, for example, assuming that the number of devices 40 of operator A is 100, the number of devices 40 of operator B is 50, and the number of devices 40 of operator C is 20, the first fee is $340. In this case, the calculation unit 22 may allocate the first fee to each operator as follows: Fig. 9As shown, 200 (=100 / (100+50+20)×340) USD is allocated to operator A, 100 (=50 / (100+50+20)×340) USD is allocated to operator B, and 40 (=20 / (100+50+20)×340) USD is allocated to operator C.

[0090] In addition, the calculation unit 22 may calculate the frequency ( Figure 5 The calculation unit 22 assigns a weight to the number of devices 40 of each operator. In this case, for example, assuming that the number of devices 40 of operator A is 100, the number of devices 40 of operator B is 50, and the number of devices 40 of operator C is 20, and the first fee is 340 US dollars, the average value of the status registration frequency of the devices 40 of operator A is 1 (times / hour), the average value of the status registration frequency of the devices 40 of operator B is 2 (times / hour), and the average value of the status registration frequency of the devices 40 of operator C is 1 (times / hour). In this case, the calculation unit 22 can allocate a fee of 155 (≈100×1 / (100×1+50×2+20×1)×340) US dollars to operator A, 155 (≈50×2 / (100×1+50×2+20×1)×340) US dollars to operator B, and 31 (≈20×1 / (100×1+50×2+20×1)×340) US dollars to operator C.

[0091] Then, the calculation unit 22 distributes the second fee to each operator based on the information on the actual performance of each operator in utilizing the cloud system 200 (step S403 ).

[0092] Here, the performance-related information may include, for example, information indicating the number of times the cloud system 200 is used, the amount of data stored in the cloud system 200, the amount of communication data in the cloud system 200, the utilization time of the cloud system 200, and at least one of the specifications of each server 20 used in the cloud system 200.

[0093] The number of times the cloud system 200 of each operator is used may include, for example, the number of times the second API is used from the terminal 30 of the user of each operator. The amount of data stored in the cloud system 200 of each operator may include, for example, the amount of data stored in the device DB 501 of the server 20C-1. The amount of communication data in the cloud system 200 of each operator may include, for example, the amount of communication data between each device (e.g., the terminal 30, each server 20, and the device 40) generated by using the second API.

[0094] The utilization time of the cloud system 200 of each operator may include, for example, the utilization time of each server 20 generated by utilizing the second API (the time from the start to the end of the processing in the server 20). The specifications of each server 20 used in the cloud system 200 of each operator may include, for example, the specifications of the CPU, memory, and storage size of the server 20 when using a different server 20 for each operator.

[0095] For example, assuming that the number of times of use by operator A is 800, the number of times of use by operator B is 700, and the number of times of use by operator C is 300, the second fee is $540. In this case, when the second fee is allocated based on the number of times the second API is used from the terminal 30 of the user of each operator, the calculation unit 22 can calculate as follows: Fig. 9 As shown, 240 (=800 / (800+700+300)×540) USD is allocated to operator A, 210 (=700 / (800+700+300)×540) USD is allocated to operator B, and 90 (=300 / (800+700+300)×540) USD is allocated to operator C.

[0096] In addition, the calculation unit 22 can add weights to the performance of using the cloud system 200 based on the categories of each API included in the second API. In this case, a weight coefficient based on, for example, an estimate in the design phase, can be pre-set for each category of each API included in the second API. In this case, assuming that the weight coefficient of the second API of the first category is set to "1.5" and the weight coefficient of the second API of the second category is set to "1", the number of times the second API of the first category of operator A is used is 600 times, the number of times the second API of the second category of operator A is used is 200 times, the number of times the second API of the first category of operator B is used is 550 times, the number of times the second API of the second category of operator B is used is 150 times, the number of times the second API of the first category of operator C is used is 100 times, the number of times the second API of the second category of operator C is used is 200 times, and the second fee is $540. In this case, when allocating the second fee by adding weights to the number of times the second API is used from the terminal 30 of the user of each operator, the calculation unit 22 may allocate 245 (≈(600×1.5+200×1) / {(600×1.5+200×1)+(550×1.5+150×1)+(100×1.5+200×1)}×540) USD to operator A and 217 (≈(55 =0×1.5+150×1) / {(600×1.5+200×1)+(550×1.5+150×1)+(100×1.5+200×1)}×540) USD, and operator C is allocated a fee of 78(≈(100×1.5+200×1) / {(600×1.5+200×1)+(550×1.5+150×1)+(100×1.5+200×1)}×540) USD.

[0097] Then, the calculation unit 22 calculates (determines) the usage fee for each operator related to the cloud system 200 based on the amount allocated to each operator through the processing of step S402 and step S403 (hereinafter also appropriately referred to as "allocated amount") (step S404). As a result, for example, compared with the case where the fee requested to be paid from the public cloud service provider is accurately calculated based on the fee table specified by the public cloud service operator and the log of the cloud system 200, the usage fee for each operator can be determined by a relatively easy process. In addition, each operator can relatively easily verify whether there is a calculation error in the amount of the determined usage fee.

[0098] Here, the calculation unit 22 may, for example, add a predetermined amount (e.g., a fixed amount) to the allocated amount of each operator as the usage fee for each operator. In this case, the fixed amount for the predetermined period is $10 and the allocated amount is Fig. 9In the case of the amounts shown, the usage fee for operator A is 450 (=200+240+10) USD, the usage fee for operator B is 320 (=100+210+10) USD, and the usage fee for operator C is 140 (=40+90+10) USD.

[0099] In addition, the calculation unit 22 may, for example, deduct the specific amount from the allocated amount of each operator as the usage fee for each operator. It should be noted that the specific amount may include, for example, the profit amount (data usage fee) when other operators (such as operator B, operator Z, and distributors) use the data of a certain operator (such as operator A) managed by the cloud system 200.

[0100] <Modification>

[0101] The functional units of the server 20E may be provided in, for example, the operator server 10 or the like.

[0102] Although the embodiments have been described above, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0103] This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-020631 filed on February 12, 2021, and the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-020631 are hereby incorporated by reference in this international application.

[0104] Explanation of symbols

[0105] 1. Communication System

[0106] 10 Operator Servers

[0107] 20 servers

[0108] 20A Server

[0109] 20B Server

[0110] 20C Server

[0111] 20D Server

[0112] 20E Server

[0113] 21 Acquisition Department

[0114] 22Computing Department

[0115] 23 Output section

[0116] 30Terminal

[0117] 40 devices.

Claims

1. An information processing device, comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a usage fee for each of the plurality of operators related to the cloud service based on both information related to the amount of management by each of the plurality of operators using the cloud service and information related to actual performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service, in, building said cloud service using public cloud services, the calculation unit divides the fee requested to be paid from the public cloud service into a first fee for the cloud service incurred by using a first API for registering a status of a device in the cloud service and a second fee for the cloud service incurred by using a second API provided by the cloud service, allocating the first fee as the usage fees for each of the plurality of operators based on information related to the amount of management using the cloud service by each of the plurality of operators, The second fee is allocated as the usage fee to each of the plurality of operators based on information related to actual performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The calculation unit determines information related to a quantity managed using the cloud service based on information related to a state of each device accommodated in the cloud service registered through the first API.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The information on the quantity managed using the cloud service includes at least one of the number of each device accommodated in the cloud service and the number of facilities where the each device is installed.

4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein: The information related to the quantity managed using the cloud service includes the number of each device accommodated in the cloud service. The calculation unit adds a weight to information related to the quantity managed using the cloud service by multiplying an average value of frequencies at which the status of each device accommodated in the cloud service is registered by the number of each device accommodated in the cloud service.

5. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein: The information related to the performance of utilizing the cloud service includes information indicating at least one of the number of times the cloud service is utilized, the amount of data stored in the cloud service, the amount of communication data in the cloud service, the utilization time of the cloud service, and the specifications of the server used by the operator in the cloud service.

6. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein: The information related to the performance of using the cloud service includes information indicating the number of times each of the plurality of operators has executed the second API.

7. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein: The second API has respective APIs for providing each of a plurality of functions, The information related to the performance of utilizing the cloud service includes information indicating the number of times the second API has been executed.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7, wherein: The calculation unit adds weight to information related to performance of using the cloud service by multiplying a weight coefficient preset for each type of API included in the second API by the number of times the second API is executed.

9. An information processing method, wherein an information processing device performs the following processing: a calculation process for calculating usage fees related to the cloud service for each of the plurality of operators based on both information related to the amount of cloud service management by each of the plurality of operators and information related to the performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service, in, building said cloud service using public cloud services, In the calculation process, the fee requested to be paid from the public cloud service is divided into a first fee of the cloud service incurred by using a first API for registering a status of a device in the cloud service, and a second fee of the cloud service incurred by using a second API provided by the cloud service, allocating the first fee as the usage fees for each of the plurality of operators based on information related to the amount of management using the cloud service by each of the plurality of operators, The second fee is allocated as the usage fee to each of the plurality of operators based on information related to actual performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service.

10. A program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by the processor, the information processing device performs the following processing: a calculation process for calculating usage fees related to the cloud service for each of the plurality of operators based on both information related to the amount of cloud service management by each of the plurality of operators and information related to the performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service, wherein the cloud service is constructed using a public cloud service, In the calculation process, the fee requested to be paid from the public cloud service is divided into a first fee of the cloud service incurred by using a first API for registering a status of a device in the cloud service, and a second fee of the cloud service incurred by using a second API provided by the cloud service, allocating the first fee as the usage fees for each of the plurality of operators based on information related to the amount of management using the cloud service by each of the plurality of operators, The second fee is allocated as the usage fee to each of the plurality of operators based on information related to actual performance of each of the plurality of operators in utilizing the cloud service.

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