Remote monitoring device, remote monitoring maintenance system, remote monitoring procedure and remote monitoring program

Abstract

Remote monitoring device (2) comprising: a failure probability calculation unit (261) for calculating a failure probability for each part of a monitoring target device (1) at a subsequent inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction unit (262) for correcting the probability of failure based on maintenance information obtained during a prior inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; a failure risk calculation unit (264) for calculating a failure risk at the next inspection based on the probability of failure corrected by the probability of failure correction unit; and a maintenance item selection unit (27) for selecting, from parts of the monitoring target device, a maintenance item, which relates to a part whose failure risk calculated by the failure risk calculation unit exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection work at the next inspection, wherein the failure risk calculation unit calculates a failure risk at one inspection after the next inspection for each part of the monitoring target device based on the device information and the maintenance information, and wherein the maintenance item selection unit selects the priority maintenance item based on the risk of failure at the next inspection, the risk of failure at the inspection after the next inspection, and the threshold.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote monitoring device, a remote monitoring maintenance system, a remote monitoring method and a remote monitoring program for calculating a failure probability of a part contained in a monitoring target device. State of the art

[0002] A conventional remote monitoring and maintenance system calculates the probability of future failure based on the elapsed service life and similar factors of a part contained in a monitoring target device, and calculates the maintenance costs for each part based on the calculated probability of failure. Based on these maintenance costs, a maintenance technician determines an inspection time for inspecting the monitoring target device (for example, patent document 1).

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses a device for preventive maintenance. The device extracts information about a plant based on plant management information and generates the plant's hazard level. The planning information for preventive maintenance includes a maintenance cycle for the plant based on the hazard level. A predictive device determines a failure mode and a failure cause based on plant inventory information.

[0004] Patent document 3 discloses a system for predicting equipment wear, equipped with: a storage unit for storing device attributes, which indicate attributes such as the number of years since installation and the device material, of the respective devices that make up the installation; fault records indicating the presence of previous faults in the respective devices; and inspection records indicating abnormalities found by inspection of the respective devices; and a device for predicting equipment deterioration for classifying the devices by a combination of the device attributes stored in the storage unit, for determining the presence of failures in the device selected from the classifications from the failure logs.to calculate a failure rate based on the presence of failures and to calculate the failure probability of the device with anomalies found by inspection as a failure rate using Bayes' theorem based on the failure rate of the device and the inspection record of the device. List of patent literature Patent Document 1: JP 2009-217718 A Patent document 2: KR 10 2011 0 076 451 A Patent document 3: JP 2010 - 97 392 A Summary of the invention: Technical problem

[0005] A technique described in patent document 1 does not calculate a failure probability based on information (hereinafter referred to as maintenance information) obtained by the maintenance person during a site visit and inspection of the monitoring target device. Generally, the failure probability predicted based on maintenance information obtained by the maintenance person during an inspection is more accurate than a failure probability predicted based on device information (for example, information about elapsed usage time and the like of a part) transmitted by the monitoring target device. However, if the maintenance person were to check all parts during each inspection, this would be costly and time-consuming, and it would not be possible to perform inspection work efficiently.On the other hand, if the inspection time of the monitoring target device is determined based on the probability of failure calculated solely from the device information, unnecessary inspection work or the like will occur, making it impossible to carry out the inspection work efficiently.

[0006] A remote monitoring device, a remote monitoring maintenance system, a remote monitoring method and a remote monitoring program according to the present invention have the objective of solving the problem described above and the objective of calculating a probability of failure using device information sent by a monitoring target device and maintenance information obtained by a maintenance person during an inspection. Solution to the problem

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Certain embodiments arise in conjunction with the dependent claims.

[0008] A remote monitoring device according to the present invention comprises a failure probability calculation unit for calculating a failure probability for each part of a monitoring target device at the next inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction unit for correcting the failure probability based on maintenance information from a previous inspection by a maintenance person who inspected the monitoring target device; and a failure hazard calculation unit for calculating a failure hazard at the next inspection based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction unit.

[0009] A remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the present invention comprises: a device information storage unit for storing device information acquired from a monitoring target device; a maintenance information storage unit for storing maintenance information from a previous inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; a failure probability calculation unit for calculating a failure probability for each part of the monitoring target device at a subsequent inspection based on the device information; a failure probability correction unit for correcting the failure probability based on the maintenance information; and a failure hazard calculation unit for calculating a failure hazard based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction unit.and a maintenance item selection unit for selecting a maintenance item from among parts of the maintenance target device whose failure risk calculated by the failure risk calculation unit exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection at the next inspection.

[0010] A remote monitoring method according to the present invention comprises: a failure probability calculation step for calculating a failure probability for each part at a subsequent inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction step for correcting the failure probability based on maintenance information from a previous inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; and a failure hazard calculation step for calculating a failure hazard based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction step.

[0011] A remote monitoring program according to the present invention causes a computer to perform: a failure probability calculation step for calculating a failure probability for each part of a monitoring target device at the next inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction step for correcting the failure probability based on maintenance information from a previous inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; and a failure hazard calculation step for calculating a failure hazard at the next inspection based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction step. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0012] Since a remote monitoring device, a remote monitoring maintenance system, a remote monitoring method, and a remote monitoring program according to the present invention calculate a failure probability based on maintenance information in addition to device information, it is possible to calculate a failure probability more accurately than a failure probability calculated solely from device information. Therefore, it is possible to determine an accurate inspection time and to perform inspection work efficiently. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring and maintenance system according to a first embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of a failure hazard processing unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 3 is an operational flow diagram of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 4 is an operational flow diagram in which a remote monitoring device according to the first embodiment calculates a probability of failure. Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram that illustrates one aspect of the implementation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 6 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring and maintenance system according to a second embodiment. Fig. Figure 7 is an operational flow diagram of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment. Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating one aspect of the implementation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment. Fig. Figure 9 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring and maintenance system according to a third embodiment. Fig. Figure 10 is an operational flow diagram at a time when the remote monitoring and maintenance system, according to the third embodiment, classifies device information. Fig. Figure 11 is an operational flow diagram at a time when the remote monitoring and maintenance system selects a priority maintenance item according to the third embodiment. Fig. Figure 12 is a hardware configuration diagram of a remote monitoring device according to the first to third embodiments. Description of exemplary embodiments: First exemplary embodiment

[0013] The following describes a remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment with reference to Fig. 1 described. Fig. Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment.

[0014] In Fig. The remote monitoring and maintenance system comprises a monitoring target device 1a, a monitoring target device 1b, and a remote monitoring device 2. Monitoring target devices 1a and 1b are connected to remote monitoring device 2 via a network 100. Monitoring target devices 1a and 1b are, for example, devices such as an elevator. Remote monitoring device 2 is a device that monitors monitoring target devices 1a and 1b and calculates a failure risk for each part of monitoring target devices 1a and 1b. The failure risk is described later. It should be noted that the following description is an example in which the number of monitoring target devices to be monitored by remote monitoring device 2 is two monitoring target devices, namely 1a and 1b.However, the remote monitoring and maintenance system can even be implemented with two or more monitoring target devices. Hereinafter, monitoring target devices 1a and 1b, and other monitoring target devices, are collectively referred to as one monitoring target device 1.

[0015] The remote monitoring device 2 includes a device information storage unit 23, a maintenance information storage unit 24, a monitoring information input unit 25, a failure hazard processing unit 26 and a maintenance item selection unit 27.

[0016] The device information storage unit 23 stores a device information database (DB). The device information DB contains device information transmitted by the monitoring target device 1. This device information, transmitted by the monitoring target device 1, corresponds, for example, to the number of activations, travel distance, accumulated operating time, and similar data for the elevator.

[0017] The maintenance information storage unit 24 stores a maintenance information database. This database contains maintenance information obtained by a maintenance person during a site visit and inspection of a part contained within the monitoring target device 1. Examples of maintenance information include the remaining thickness of a brake shoe, the quantity of gear oil, or the deterioration of a conveyor system, and similar components of the elevator.

[0018] The Maintenance Information Input Unit 25 is an input unit for entering the details of maintenance work performed by the maintenance person at any location as maintenance information.

[0019] Based on the details of the device information database and the maintenance information database, the failure risk processing unit 26 calculates the failure risk of the monitoring target device 1 at each location. The failure risk is an index for the maintenance person to determine whether or not a maintenance item is inspected with respect to any part of the components forming the monitoring target device 1, and is calculated for each component of the monitoring target device 1.

[0020] The failure risk is calculated as the product of a failure probability obtained from the device information and the maintenance information, and a hazard value predetermined for each part. The failure probability obtained from the device information and the maintenance information is calculated by the Failure Risk Processing Unit 26 by calculating a failure probability based on the device information and correcting this procedural probability based on the maintenance information obtained by the maintenance person during a previous inspection.

[0021] It is generally known that the probability of failure increases with the passage of time. The probability of failure calculated based on the device information can be determined using a general method such as the Weibull distribution. With regard to a method of correcting the probability of failure based on maintenance information, for example, a threshold value relating to the maintenance information from the previous inspection can be set, and the probability of failure can be corrected depending on whether a value shown in the maintenance information is equal to or greater than the threshold, or equal to or less than the threshold.More precisely, the failure probability processing unit 26 can operate such that if the maintenance information from the previous inspection is equal to or less than the threshold, the probability of failure is reduced by 10%, and if it is equal to or greater than the threshold, the probability of failure is increased by 10%. That is, the failure probability processing unit 26 corrects the probability of failure from the previous inspection, which was calculated based solely on the device information, with a correction value according to the threshold, and sets the corrected probability of failure as a failure probability for the next inspection.Therefore, if, based on the maintenance information obtained from the maintenance person during the previous inspection, it is determined that the degree of friction of a brake and cable is low and the clearances of the remaining parts are large, the failure probability related to the part is corrected to be low. It should be noted that, according to the present embodiment, the failure probability processing unit 26 does not necessarily have to calculate the failure probability using the threshold value; for example, a relationship expression between the maintenance information and the correction value of the failure probability is predefined, and the failure probability can be corrected based on the maintenance information. The aforementioned threshold value and the relationship expression can be determined based on simulation and an empirical rule.

[0022] The hazard value is a value predetermined for each part and is set according to a hazard at the time the part fails. The hazard value is a value that can be arbitrarily changed by a designer or administrator of the remote monitoring and maintenance system, and it can be set based on various considerations such as the risk to an owner, the extent of equipment damage, and the repair costs in the event of part failure. As just described, since the failure hazard processing unit 26 calculates the probability of failure based on maintenance information in addition to equipment information, it is possible to calculate the probability of failure more accurately than the probability of failure calculated based solely on equipment information.

[0023] A configuration of the failure hazard processing unit 26 is described in detail with reference to Fig. 2 described. Fig. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the failure hazard processing unit 26. Fig. 2 contains the failure hazard processing unit 26, a failure probability calculation unit 261, a failure probability correction unit 262, a hazard value storage unit 263 and a failure hazard calculation unit 264.

[0024] The failure probability calculation unit 261 acquires the device information from the device information DB in the device information storage unit 23 and calculates the failure probability for each part.

[0025] The failure probability correction unit 262 acquires the maintenance information from the maintenance information DB stored in the maintenance information storage unit 24 and also corrects the failure probability calculated by the failure probability calculation unit 261 on the basis of this maintenance information.

[0026] The hazard value storage unit 263 stores the hazard value for each part.

[0027] The failure hazard calculation unit 264 calculates the failure hazard on the basis of the failure probability for each part calculated by the failure probability correction unit 262 and the hazard value stored in the hazard value storage unit 263.

[0028] In Fig. 1. Based on the failure risk calculated by the failure risk processing unit 26, the maintenance item selection unit 27 selects a maintenance item (a priority maintenance item) relating to a part requiring inspection at the next inspection. In selecting the priority maintenance item, the maintenance item selection unit 27 chooses the maintenance item such that those with a high failure risk are preferably serviced. For example, the maintenance item selection unit 27 calculates a failure risk X at the next inspection and a failure risk Y at an inspection after the next inspection. Assuming that a failure risk requiring maintenance threshold is equal to A, the following three patterns exist. (1) X <Y<A, (2) X<A<Y, (3) A<X<Y.In case (1), the risk of failure is low, and it may be considered sufficient if the inspection is carried out during an inspection work following the next inspection work. For a current inspection work, the priority as a maintenance item is reduced. In case (2), the risk of failure is low for the next inspection work. However, since the risk of failure exceeds the threshold and maintenance is required during the inspection work following the next inspection work, the priority as a current maintenance item is increased. In case (3), since the maintenance item is required for the current inspection work, the priority is set to the highest priority.This means that the maintenance item selection unit 27 determines the priority of the maintenance item according to the failure risk and determines the priority maintenance item based on this priority and the threshold. As just described, the maintenance item selection unit 27 selects the priority maintenance item based on both failure risk X and failure risk Y. Thus, for example, after selecting the priority maintenance item for the next inspection, it is possible to select a priority maintenance item that is sufficient to be inspected at the inspection following the next inspection, so that it is possible to efficiently assign the maintenance personnel to the inspection work.

[0029] It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the maintenance item selection unit 27 is not necessarily limited to selecting the priority maintenance item based on both the failure risk X at the next inspection and the failure risk Y at the inspection after the next inspection, and it can select the priority maintenance item based solely on the failure risk X at the next inspection. That is, the maintenance item selection unit 27 compares the failure risk X at the next inspection, calculated by the failure risk processing unit 26, with the threshold A, and can select the maintenance item as the priority maintenance item for a part whose failure risk X exceeds the threshold.Furthermore, the maintenance item selection unit 27 does not necessarily need to select the priority maintenance item based on the failure risk threshold. For example, the maintenance item selection unit 27 selects the priority maintenance item in order of priority from an item relating to a part with a high failure risk and can determine an item to actually be inspected at the next inspection as required, depending on a constraint such as cost and the number of maintenance personnel.

[0030] Next, the operating mode of a remote monitoring device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 described. Fig. Figure 3 is an operational flow diagram of the remote monitoring device according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 4 is an operational flow diagram in which the remote monitoring device, according to the first embodiment, calculates the probability of failure. It should be noted that, as a prerequisite for the following description, it is assumed that the device information storage unit 23 stores the device information as the device information database, and the maintenance information storage unit 24 stores the maintenance information up to the previous inspection as the maintenance information database.

[0031] In ST1a, the failure probability calculation unit 261 acquires the device information from the device information storage unit 23 (a device information acquisition step).

[0032] In ST1b, the failure probability correction unit 262 acquires the maintenance information from the maintenance information storage unit 24 (a maintenance information acquisition step).

[0033] In ST2, the failure probability calculation unit 261 calculates a failure probability X at the next inspection for each part, based on the device information acquired from the device information storage unit 23 and the maintenance information acquired from the maintenance information storage unit 24. Details of ST2 are given with reference to (a) of Fig. 4 described. In ST21 of (a) of Fig. 4. The failure probability calculation unit 261 acquires the device information from the device information storage unit 23 and calculates the failure probability at the next inspection for each part (a failure probability calculation step). Based on the maintenance information for each part, the failure probability correction unit 262 corrects the failure probability calculated by the failure probability calculation unit 261 (a failure probability correction step).For example, the failure probability correction unit 262 has a threshold based on the maintenance information from the previous inspection, and according to this threshold, the failure probability correction unit 262 corrects the failure probability at the next inspection, which was calculated on the basis of only the device information, and calculates the failure probability X at the next inspection.

[0034] In ST3, the failure probability calculation unit 261 calculates a failure probability Y at the next inspection inspection for each part, based on the device information acquired from the device information storage unit 23 and the maintenance information acquired from the maintenance information storage unit 24. Details of ST3 are given with reference to (b) of Fig. 4 described. In ST31 of (b) of Fig. 4. Based on the device information acquired from the device information storage unit 23, the failure probability calculation unit 261 calculates the failure probability for each part at the inspection after the next inspection (one failure probability calculation step). In ST32, the failure probability correction unit 262 corrects the failure probability calculated by the failure probability calculation unit 261 based on the maintenance information for each part at the previous inspection (one failure probability correction step).For example, the failure probability correction unit 262 has a threshold based on the maintenance information from the previous inspection, and according to this threshold, the failure probability correction unit 262 corrects the failure probability at the inspection after the next inspection, which was calculated on the basis of only the device information, and calculates the failure probability Y at the inspection after the next inspection.

[0035] In ST4 of Fig. 3. The failure hazard calculation unit 264 acquires the hazard value of the part whose failure probability was calculated and calculates the failure hazard X by multiplying the acquired hazard value by the failure probability X at the next inspection, and the failure hazard Y by multiplying the acquired hazard value by the failure probability Y at the inspection after the next inspection (one failure hazard calculation step). Note that this failure hazard X and failure hazard Y are calculated for each part. The failure hazard calculation unit 264 outputs the calculated failure hazards X and Y to the maintenance item selection unit 27.

[0036] In ST5, the maintenance item selection unit 27 selects the priority maintenance item for each part based on the failure risk X at the next inspection and the failure risk Y at the inspection after the next inspection, calculated for each part, and the threshold A (a priority maintenance item selection step). The maintenance person visits the location where the monitoring target device 1 is installed and performs maintenance work related to the priority maintenance item selected by the maintenance item selection unit 27.

[0037] It should be noted that the order of ST2 and ST3 is not restricted to this and can be reversed. Furthermore, ST3 is not necessarily performed.

[0038] As described above, since the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the present invention calculates the probability of failure based on the maintenance information in addition to the device information, it is possible to calculate the probability of failure more accurately than the probability of failure calculated using only the device information. Therefore, it is possible to determine an accurate inspection time and to perform the inspection work efficiently.

[0039] In the present embodiment, although an example has been described in which the monitoring target device 1 is an elevator, the monitoring target device 1 is not limited to the elevator, but can be a device such as an automobile, a railway carriage and a factory.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system is not limited to the one described in Fig. 1 illustrated limited edition. Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating one aspect of the implementation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment. In (a) of Fig. 5 The maintenance item selection unit 27 is contained in an external maintenance item selection device 3. The maintenance item selection device 3 is, for example, a device managed by a maintenance company. In the case described in (a) of Fig. In the remote monitoring and maintenance system illustrated in Figure 5, the failure risk processing unit 26 calculates the failure risk based on the device information acquired from the device information database in the device information storage unit 23 and the maintenance information acquired from the maintenance information database in the maintenance information storage unit 24, and sends the calculated failure risk to the maintenance item selection unit 27 of the maintenance item selection device 3. In the case of the one described in (a) of Fig. In the remote monitoring and maintenance system illustrated in Figure 5, the maintenance information input unit 25 can be contained in either the remote monitoring device 2 or the maintenance item selection device 3. If the maintenance information input unit 25 is contained in the maintenance item selection device 3, it is necessary to send the maintenance information from the maintenance information input unit 25 to the maintenance information storage unit 24 of the remote monitoring device 2.

[0041] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system can be that described in (b) of Fig. 5 illustrated configuration. In (b) of Fig. 5. The device information storage unit 23 and the maintenance information storage unit 24 can be contained in an external server 4, which is installed outside the remote monitoring device 2. The failure risk processing unit 26 acquires the device information from the device information storage unit 23 of the external server 4, acquires the maintenance information from the maintenance information storage unit 24, and calculates the failure risk. It should be noted that in (b) of Fig. Figure 5 illustrates that the remote monitoring and maintenance system may contain the device information storage unit 23 and the maintenance information storage unit 24 on different servers. Regarding aspects of the implementation of the device information storage unit 23, the maintenance information storage unit 24, the failure hazard processing unit 26, and the maintenance item selection unit 27, which are shown in Figure 5, the device information storage unit 23, the maintenance information storage unit 24, the failure hazard processing unit 26, and the maintenance item selection unit 27 are described in Figure 5. Fig. As illustrated in Figure 5, the same aspects of the implementation are applicable to each configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the following examples. Second embodiment

[0042] A remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment is characterized in that a maintenance person to be assigned to an inspection task on a priority maintenance item is selected based on the maintenance person's skills. A configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment is described below with reference to... Fig. 6 described. Fig. Figure 6 is a configuration diagram of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment. In describing... Fig. 6. Those that correspond to the configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment are designated with the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted.

[0043] In Fig. 6 includes a maintenance work optimization device 5, a work capability level storage unit 51 and a maintenance work optimization unit 52.

[0044] The Skill Level Storage Unit 51 has a Skill Level Database. The Skill Level Database is a database that associates the maintenance person with their ability to perform maintenance work, determined by years of experience, an acquired skill level, or similar criteria. The acquired skill level could be, for example, a job qualification or similar. It is sufficient for the skill level to be provisionally set by an administrator or designer of the remote monitoring and maintenance system.

[0045] The maintenance work optimization unit 52 acquires the priority maintenance item from the maintenance item selection unit 27, also refers to the work capability level database in the work capability level storage unit 51, and selects the maintenance worker to be assigned to the inspection work on the priority maintenance item. Based on the failure risk of a part related to the priority maintenance item and the work capability of the maintenance worker, the maintenance work optimization unit 52 selects the maintenance worker to be assigned to the inspection work on the priority maintenance item.For example, for a part (part A) whose inspection work was not performed during a previous inspection and whose operating time after inspection is long, and a part (part B) whose inspection work was performed during the previous inspection and whose operating time after inspection is the same as that of part A, the failure risk is expected to be relatively higher for part A than for part B. Therefore, the maintenance item selection unit 27 selects maintenance personnel such that the skills of a maintenance personnel assigned the priority maintenance item for part A are higher than the skills of a maintenance personnel assigned to the inspection work for the priority maintenance item for part B.It should be noted that there is no restriction on the maintenance work optimization unit 52 selecting the maintenance worker assigned to the priority maintenance item based on the failure risk and the maintenance worker's skills, as described in the present embodiment. For example, the maintenance item selection unit 27 can obtain maintenance worker skills from an operational capability database and assign the maintenance worker with high skills to the inspection work for the priority maintenance item. As just described, since the maintenance work optimization unit 52 selects the maintenance worker assigned to the inspection work for the priority maintenance item according to the maintenance worker's skills, it is possible to preferentially assign the maintenance worker with high skills to the inspection work for the priority maintenance item.Furthermore, the Maintenance Work Optimization Unit 52 selects the maintenance worker assigned to the inspection work for the priority maintenance item based on the failure risk and the worker's skills. This makes it possible to select the maintenance worker with high skills for the inspection work on the priority maintenance item with a high failure risk, allowing the inspection work to be carried out more reliably and quickly than if performed by a maintenance worker with low skills, and thus enabling more efficient and appropriate maintenance.

[0046] Next, a mode of operation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7 described. Fig. Figure 7 is an operational flowchart of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment. In describing... Fig. 7. Those which correspond to the operation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment shall be designated with the same reference numerals, and the description thereof shall be omitted.

[0047] In ST6, the maintenance work optimization unit 52 acquires the priority maintenance item and the failure hazard from the maintenance item selection unit 27 (a priority maintenance item acquisition step). It should be noted that, according to the present embodiment, the maintenance work optimization unit 52 does not necessarily have to acquire the failure hazard, and it may acquire at least the priority maintenance item. In the following description, it is assumed that the maintenance work optimization unit 52 acquires both the priority maintenance item and the failure hazard.

[0048] In ST7, the Maintenance Work Optimization Unit 52 refers to the Work Ability Level Storage Unit 51 and acquires the skills of the maintenance person who can perform the inspection work at the next inspection (a capability acquisition step).

[0049] In ST8, the Maintenance Work Optimization Unit 52 selects the maintenance worker to be assigned to the inspection work for the part's priority maintenance item based on the maintenance worker's skills and the failure risk (a maintenance worker selection step). Specifically, Maintenance Work Optimization Unit 52 assigns the maintenance worker with the highest skills in order of priority maintenance items with a high failure risk for the part.

[0050] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the remote monitoring and maintenance system assigns the maintenance personnel to the inspection work for the priority maintenance item based on the personnel's skills. Thus, for example, it is possible to select the maintenance personnel with high skills for the priority maintenance item with a high risk of failure, enabling more reliable and faster inspection work than if performed by a maintenance personnel with low skills, and resulting in more efficient and appropriate maintenance.

[0051] In the present embodiment, the configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system is not limited to the one described in Fig. 6 illustrated limited edition. Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram that illustrates one aspect of the implementation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the second embodiment. As in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 8, the remote monitoring device 2 can contain the capability level storage unit 51 and the maintenance work optimization unit 52. It should be noted that the device information storage unit 23, the maintenance information storage unit 24, and the capability level storage unit 51 can be contained in the external server 4 (see Figure 8). Fig. 5). Third example

[0052] A remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the third embodiment is characterized in that a hazard value is determined based on a failure history of a part. A configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the third embodiment is described below with reference to... Fig. 9 described. Fig. Figure 9 is a configuration diagram of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the third embodiment. In the description of Fig. 9. Those that correspond to the configuration of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first or second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted. Furthermore, a configuration diagram of the failure hazard processing unit 26 is shown in Fig. 9 the same as the one in Fig. 2.

[0053] In Fig. According to the third embodiment, the remote monitoring and maintenance system comprises a similar device classification unit 28, several device information storage units 23a, 23b, and 23c, and a failure history storage unit 29. The similar device classification unit 28 groups monitoring target devices 1 for each similar device. The similar device used here refers to a monitoring target device whose operating state, such as specification and installation environment, is similar. As an example of grouping according to the environment in which the monitoring target device 1 is installed, it is considered, for instance, to classify an elevator installed in an apartment building occupied by people and an elevator installed in a commercial building.As an example of grouping according to the specification of monitoring target device 1, it is considered, for instance, to classify based on whether an elevator transports people or luggage. Since the time of occurrence of a failure and the probability of failure of similar devices are often similar, it is possible to calculate a more accurate failure hazard by managing the failure hazard for each similar device. It should be noted that at least one monitoring target device 1 can exist within a group of similar devices.

[0054] The device information storage units 23a, 23b, and 23c store device information about the monitoring target device 1 for each group classified by the classification unit 28 for similar devices. As with the device information storage unit 23 according to the first embodiment, each of the device information storage units 23a, 23b, and 23c has a device information database. It should be noted that the device information storage units 23a, 23b, and 23c are not necessarily configured by physically separate hardware but can be stored in a single storage device. That is, the device information storage units 23a, 23b, and 23c can be stored in such a way as to identify whether the device information of the monitoring target device 1 belongs to any group classified by the classification unit 28 for similar devices.

[0055] Failure history storage unit 29 contains a failure history database. The failure history database stores the failure history of each monitoring target device 1 for each group classified by the device information storage units 23a, 23b, and 23c. For example, a part that has failed and information associated with the monitoring target device 1 that failed are stored together in the failure history. The information that identifies the monitoring target device 1 could, for example, be an identification ID that is sent at the time the monitoring target device 1 sends the device information.

[0056] In a group to which the part whose failure risk is to be calculated belongs, the Failure Risk Processing Unit 26 searches for the failure history database with reference to the failure history that relates to the same part as the part whose failure risk is to be calculated. The Failure Risk Processing Unit 26 sets the risk value of the part based on the identified failure history. For example, the failure history corresponds to the number of times the part has failed. When the failure risk of part A contained in monitoring target 1a is calculated, the Process Risk Processing Unit 26 identifies the number of times part A of monitoring target 1a has failed and part A contained in another monitoring target (not illustrated) belonging to the same group as monitoring target 1a by searching for the failure history database.If the number of failures of the identified parts A exceeds a predetermined threshold, the failure hazard processing unit 26 increases the hazard value by a predetermined change value. If the number of failures of parts A is less than the threshold, the failure hazard processing unit 26 decreases the hazard value by the predetermined change value. Subsequently, the failure hazard processing unit 26 calculates the failure hazard by the product of the failure probability and the hazard value.

[0057] It can be noted that several threshold values ​​for the number of failures can be set in the failure hazard processing unit 26. In this case, the change value for the hazard value according to the threshold can be pre-stored in the hazard value storage unit 263.

[0058] Furthermore, the hazard value itself can be pre-stored in the hazard value storage unit 263 according to the threshold for the number of failures, and the failure hazard processing unit 26 can acquire the hazard value from the hazard value storage unit 263 according to the threshold for the number of failures in order to calculate the failure hazard. In this case, the failure hazard processing unit 26 can calculate the failure hazard by the product of the hazard value according to the part, the hazard value according to the number of failures, and the probability of failure.

[0059] The failure hazard processing unit 26 can set the hazard value or the change value of the hazard value based on a relationship expression between the predetermined number of failures and the hazard value or the change value of the hazard value. The aforementioned threshold and the relationship expression can be determined based on simulation and an empirical rule.

[0060] This means that, in the present embodiment, the failure hazard processing unit 26 can set the hazard value according to the failure history related to the part whose failure probability was calculated. As just described, since the failure hazard processing unit 26 determines the hazard value based on the failure history of the part in the similar device, it is possible to calculate the failure hazard according to the monitoring target device 1.

[0061] Next, an operation is performed at a time when the remote monitoring and maintenance system, according to the third embodiment, classifies the device information with reference to Fig. 10 described. Fig. Figure 10 is an operational flowchart at the time when the remote monitoring and maintenance system, according to the third embodiment, classifies the device information. It should be noted that the following description provides an example of setting the hazard value based on the number of failures as an example of the failure history.

[0062] In ST11 of Fig. 10 The classification unit 28 for similar devices acquires the device information and the identification ID of the monitoring target device that were sent by the monitoring target device 1 (a device information acquisition step).

[0063] In ST12, the Similar Device Classification Unit 28 determines, based on the identification ID, whether the monitoring target device 1, which sent the device information, belongs to any group classified for each similar device (a group determination step). In a group determination of the identification ID, the Similar Device Classification Unit 28 may contain a group database (not illustrated) in which the group to which the monitoring target device 1 belongs and the identification ID are associated. The Similar Device Classification Unit 28 refers to the group database and determines whether the acquired identification ID belongs to any group.The classification unit 28 for similar devices outputs the identification ID and device information to the device information storage units 23a, 23b or 23c according to the group obtained as a result of the determination.

[0064] In ST13, the device information storage units 23a, 23b, or 23c store the acquired identification ID and the device information associated with each other (a device information storage step). The remote monitoring device 2 performs the preceding operations ST11 to ST13 each time the device information is acquired from the monitoring target device 1.

[0065] Next, an operation is performed at a time when the remote monitoring and maintenance system selects the priority maintenance item according to the third embodiment, with reference to Fig. 11 described. Fig. Figure 11 is an operational flow diagram at the time when the remote monitoring and maintenance system, according to the third embodiment, selects the priority maintenance item. In describing Fig. 11. Those which correspond to the operation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first embodiment shall be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof shall be omitted.

[0066] In ST1c, the failure hazard calculation unit 264 searches for the failure history DB and identifies the number of times the part has failed in the monitoring target group 1 that contains the part whose failure probability was calculated in ST2 and ST3 (a failure history search step).

[0067] In ST1d, the failure risk calculation unit 264 sets the hazard value of the part based on the identified number of failures (a hazard value setting step). Then, as in the operation of the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the first or second embodiment, the failure risk calculation unit 264 calculates the failure risk based on the hazard value.

[0068] As described above, since the remote monitoring and maintenance system, according to the present embodiment, determines the hazard level based on the failure history of the part, it is possible to calculate the failure hazard according to the specification and installation environment of the monitoring target device 1. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the most appropriate failure hazard even if the specification and installation environment of the monitoring target device 1 differ.

[0069] It should be noted that the capability level storage unit 51 and the maintenance work optimization unit 52 according to the second embodiment can be used in the remote monitoring maintenance system according to the third embodiment.

[0070] Furthermore, although the example of setting the hazard value based on the number of failures was described as an example of the failure history in the preceding description, the remote monitoring and maintenance system according to the present embodiment can also set the hazard value based on a failure history that differs from the number of failures. That is, the failure history is not limited to the number of failures, as long as the failure history is an element that influences the hazard value.

[0071] The following describes a hardware configuration of the remote monitoring device 2 according to the first to third embodiments with reference to Fig. 12 described. Fig. Figure 12 is a hardware configuration diagram of the remote monitoring device according to the first to third embodiments. Fig. Figure 12 includes the remote monitoring device 2, comprising an input device 201, an output device 202, a storage device 203, and a processing device 204. The input device 201 is a device that inputs the device information sent by the monitoring target device 1, or the maintenance information output by the maintenance person or a device (not illustrated) of a maintenance company, into the remote monitoring device 2, or that inputs the maintenance information directly entered by the maintenance person into the remote monitoring device 2. The output device 202 is, for example, a device that sends information such as the risk of failure from the remote monitoring device 2 in a case where the remote monitoring device 2 and other devices (the maintenance item selection device 3 or the like), as shown in Figure 12, are not functioning correctly. Fig.Figure 5 illustrates the components separately. The storage device 203 is a device that performs the functions of the device information storage units 23, 23a, 23b, and 23c, the maintenance information storage unit 24, the failure history storage unit 29, the capability level storage unit 51, and the hazard level storage unit 263. The processing device 204, for example, is a central processing unit (CPU) and performs the functions of the failure hazard processing unit 26, the maintenance item selection unit 27, the similar device classification unit 28, the capability level storage unit 51, the maintenance work optimization unit 52, the failure probability calculation unit 261, the failure probability correction unit 262, and the failure hazard calculation unit 264.It should be noted that each function of the device information storage unit 23, the failure hazard processing unit 26, the maintenance item selection unit 27, the similar device classification unit 28, the maintenance work optimization unit 52, the failure probability calculation unit 261, the failure probability correction unit 262 and the failure hazard calculation unit 264 can be configured by hardware and can be implemented by enabling a computer such as the processing device 204 to execute a predetermined program. Reference symbol list

[0072] 1, 1a, 1b: Monitoring target device, 2: Remote monitoring device, 3: Maintenance item selection device, 4: External server, 23: Device information storage unit, 24: Maintenance information storage unit, 25: Maintenance information input unit, 26: Failure hazard processing unit, 27: Maintenance item selection unit, 28: Similar device classification unit, 29: Failure history storage unit, 51: Operational capability level storage unit, 52: Maintenance work optimization unit, 261: Failure probability calculation unit, 262: Failure probability correction unit, 263: Hazard value storage unit, 264: Failure hazard calculation unit, 100: Network, 201: Input device, 202: Output device, 203: Storage device, 204: Processing device

Claims

[1] Remote monitoring device (2) comprising: a failure probability calculation unit (261) for calculating a failure probability for each part of a monitoring target device (1) at a subsequent inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction unit (262) for correcting the probability of failure based on maintenance information obtained during a prior inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; a failure risk calculation unit (264) for calculating a failure risk at the next inspection based on the probability of failure corrected by the probability of failure correction unit; and a maintenance item selection unit (27) for selecting from parts of the monitoring target device, a maintenance item, which relates to a part whose failure risk calculated by the failure risk calculation unit exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection work at the next inspection, wherein the failure risk calculation unit calculates a failure risk at one inspection after the next inspection for each part of the monitoring target device based on the device information and the maintenance information, and wherein the maintenance item selection unit selects the priority maintenance item based on the risk of failure at the next inspection, the risk of failure at the inspection after the next inspection, and the threshold. [2] Remote monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the failure risk calculation unit calculates the failure risk on the basis of the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction unit and a hazard value of each part. [3] Remote monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising: a work ability level storage unit (54) for storing the abilities of maintenance personnel, wherein the maintenance item selection unit selects a maintenance person based on the skills of maintenance persons stored in the work ability level storage unit, which is allocated to the inspection work of the selected priority maintenance item. [4] Remote monitoring device according to claim 2, comprising: a failure history storage unit (29) for storing the failure history of each part, where the failure hazard calculation unit sets the hazard value based on the failure history stored in the failure history storage unit. [5] Remote monitoring and maintenance system, which includes: a device information storage unit (23) for storing device information acquired from a monitoring target device; a maintenance information storage unit (24) for storing maintenance information during a previous inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; a failure probability calculation unit for calculating a failure probability for each part of the monitoring target device at a subsequent inspection based on the device information; a failure probability correction unit for correcting the failure probability based on maintenance information; a failure risk calculation unit for calculating a failure risk based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction unit; a maintenance item selection unit for selecting, from parts of the monitoring target device, a maintenance item of a part whose failure risk calculated by the failure risk calculation unit exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection at the next inspection; and a maintenance item selection unit (27) for selecting from parts of the monitoring target device, a maintenance item, which relates to a part whose failure risk calculated by the failure risk calculation unit exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection work at the next inspection, wherein the failure risk calculation unit calculates a failure risk at one inspection after the next inspection for each part of the monitoring target device based on the device information and the maintenance information, and wherein the maintenance item selection unit selects the priority maintenance item based on the risk of failure at the next inspection, the risk of failure at the inspection after the next inspection, and the threshold. [6] Remote monitoring procedure which features: a failure probability calculation step to calculate a failure probability for each part of a monitoring target device at a subsequent inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction step to correct the failure probability based on maintenance information from a previous inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; a failure risk calculation step to calculate a failure risk based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction step; and a maintenance item selection step for selecting, from parts of the monitoring target device, a maintenance item, which relates to a part whose failure risk, calculated by the failure risk calculation step, exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection work at the next inspection, wherein the failure risk calculation step calculates a failure risk at one inspection after the next inspection for each part of the monitoring target device based on the device information and the maintenance information, and wherein the maintenance item selection step selects the priority maintenance item based on the risk of failure at the next inspection, the risk of failure at the inspection after the next inspection, and the threshold. [7] Remote monitoring program to cause a computer to perform: a failure probability calculation step to calculate a failure probability for each part of a monitoring target device at a subsequent inspection based on device information acquired from the monitoring target device; a failure probability correction step to correct the failure probability based on maintenance information from a previous inspection by a maintenance person inspecting the monitoring target device; a failure risk calculation step to calculate a failure risk at the next inspection based on the failure probability corrected by the failure probability correction step; and a maintenance item selection step for selecting, from parts of the monitoring target device, a maintenance item, which relates to a part whose failure risk, calculated by the failure risk calculation step, exceeds a threshold, as a priority maintenance item that requires inspection work at the next inspection, wherein the failure risk calculation step calculates a failure risk at one inspection after the next inspection for each part of the monitoring target device based on the device information and the maintenance information, and wherein the maintenance item selection step selects the priority maintenance item based on the risk of failure at the next inspection, the risk of failure at the inspection after the next inspection, and the threshold.

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