Information processing system and program

Abstract

To acquire information about the latest state of an information processing device even before synchronized communication between the information processing device being a management target and a management device is performed when an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device being the management target.SOLUTION: A management control unit 33 stores data periodically synchronized by performing synchronized communication with a state of an image formation device 20 being a management target in a device state management DB 34. The management control unit 33, upon receiving a trap notification to the effect that an abnormality has occurred via asynchronous communication from the image formation device 20, notifies a mobile terminal device 40 capable of communicating with the image formation device 20 of the occurrence of the abnormality in the image formation device 20. The management control unit 33, upon receiving information about the latest state of the image formation device 20 from the mobile terminal device 40, updates a content of the data stored in the device state management DB 34 on the basis of the received information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses that in a device monitoring system in which a monitoring device that monitors devices connected via a network can communicate with a management server, the monitoring device inquires of the management server whether an update execution command has been saved, and when the monitoring device receives a response indicating that the update execution command has been saved, it obtains a list from the management server and updates the contents of the stored list.

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses an information processing system in which an information processing device connects via a firewall to a program to be executed by a computer outside the firewall, and if data collected from equipment inside the firewall meets set conditions, the frequency of queries to the computer is increased, thereby ensuring real-time control of equipment from outside the firewall.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a system for remotely managing controlled devices such as electrical appliances and household objects by using device shadows. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-108195 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-156493 A [Patent Document 3] Special Publication No. 2020-502643 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system and program that, when data that is periodically synchronized with the state of a managed information processing device through synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and a management device is stored and managed in the management device, is capable of obtaining information regarding the latest state of the information processing device if an abnormality occurs in the information processing device, even before synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is performed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing system of the first aspect includes a processor and a storage unit, The processor, storing data periodically synchronized with the state of the information processing device to be managed by performing synchronous communication in the storage unit; When receiving a notification that an abnormality has occurred due to asynchronous communication from the information processing device, notifying a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device; When information regarding the state of the information processing device is received from the terminal device, the contents of the data stored in the storage unit are updated based on the received information.

[0008] In the information processing system of the second aspect, when the information processing system of the first aspect is set to acquire data periodically synchronized with the information processing device at a preset time and store the data in the storage unit, If the time when the processor receives a notification from the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred is within a predetermined period of time before the time when data is obtained from the information processing device by periodic synchronization, the processor does not notify the terminal device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device.

[0009] In an information processing system of a third aspect, in the information processing system of the second aspect, the processor changes the predetermined time period according to the content of a notification of the occurrence of an abnormality received from the information processing device.

[0010] In a fourth aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, information obtained from the information processing device and stored in the memory unit includes one or more of information regarding the setting state of the information processing device, information regarding the operating state, and information regarding the operating history.

[0011] An information processing system according to a fifth aspect is the information processing system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the information processing device is an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, The information regarding the operating state of the image forming apparatus includes one or more of information regarding a location where an abnormality has occurred, information regarding the content of the abnormality that has occurred, and information regarding the remaining amount of consumables.

[0012] In a sixth aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor stores in the storage unit information indicating whether or not information regarding the latest state of the information processing device has been acquired by periodic synchronization with the information processing device; When information is received from a terminal device that has notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, indicating that information regarding the latest status of the information processing device is to be obtained, if the information regarding the latest status of the information processing device has already been obtained, the terminal device is notified that it is not necessary to obtain information regarding the latest status of the information processing device.

[0013] A seventh aspect of the information processing system is the information processing system of the first aspect, in which, when the processor receives a request for information regarding the status of the information processing device from a terminal device other than the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, and information regarding the latest status of the information processing device has not been sent from the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, the processor again notifies the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred that the information processing device has an abnormality.

[0014] The program of an eighth aspect includes a step of storing, in a storage unit, data that is periodically synchronized with a state of an information processing device that is a management target by performing synchronous communication; when receiving a notification from the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred through asynchronous communication, notifying a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device; and a step of updating the contents of the data stored in the storage unit with the received information when information relating to the state of the information processing device is received from the terminal device. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the first aspect of the information processing system, when data that is periodically synchronized with the state of the managed information processing device through synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is stored and managed in the management device, if an abnormality occurs in the information processing device, it is possible to obtain information regarding the latest state of the information processing device even before synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is performed.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, when the time until regular synchronization is within a preset time, a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device can avoid the trouble of obtaining information regarding the status of the information processing device.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, it is possible to switch between waiting until the time when periodic synchronization is performed or having the terminal device obtain information regarding the state of the information processing device, depending on the contents of the notification from the information processing device.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to grasp the current information of the information processing device by referring to the data contents stored in the storage unit.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, when some abnormality occurs in the information processing device, it is possible to estimate the cause of the abnormality that occurred in the information processing device by referring to the data contents stored in the memory unit.

[0020] According to the sixth aspect of the information processing system, when information regarding the latest information of the information processing device has already been obtained due to periodic synchronization being performed between the information processing device and data managed in the management device, it is possible to prevent the terminal device from unnecessary processing of obtaining information regarding the latest status from the information processing device.

[0021] According to the information processing system of the seventh aspect, it is possible to prompt the terminal device that has been notified that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device to obtain and transmit information relating to the latest status from the information processing device.

[0022] According to the program of the eighth aspect, when data that is periodically synchronized with the state of the managed information processing device through synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is stored and managed in the management device, if an abnormality occurs in the information processing device, it is possible to obtain information regarding the latest state of the information processing device even before synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is performed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a normal operation in a device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 10 is a diagram for explaining a trap notification transmitted from an image forming apparatus 20 to a management server 10 by asynchronous communication. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a management server 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a management server 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the management server 10 when the management server 10 receives a trap notification from the image forming apparatus 20. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed when the management server 10 receives a trap notification from the image forming apparatus 20. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on a display device of a mobile terminal device 40 that has received an update notification from a management server 10. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Next, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] A device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for managing an image forming apparatus 20 as a device to be managed by a management server 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the device management system according to this embodiment is configured with the management server 10, the image forming apparatus 20 to be managed, a cloud server 30, a mobile terminal device 40 held by an administrator A, and a terminal device 50 operated by an administrator B.

[0027] The image forming device 20 is a so-called multifunction device having multiple functions such as a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, a facsimile function, etc. The mobile terminal device 40 is a mobile phone device such as a smartphone, and is configured to be connectable to the Internet 71 via a public mobile communication network 60.

[0028] Managers A and B access the management server 10 from a mobile terminal device 40 and a terminal device 50, respectively, to manage various states of the image forming apparatus 20, such as the operating state, the setting state, and the like.

[0029] One method for managing devices on a network using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is to use a communication standard such as RFC5017, which specifies a MIB (Management Information Base) tree using URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers) and exchanges MIB values ​​using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

[0030] However, there are cases where the management server 10 cannot directly access an apparatus such as the image forming apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 that is installed at a company's base and connected to the company's intranet 72.

[0031] Therefore, in the device management system of this embodiment, various status information such as setting information of the image forming device 20, consumable information such as remaining toner amount, operating status information, and operating history information such as the number of printed pages, is managed by using the cloud server 30.

[0032] Cloud server 30 provides a service called digital shadow, which synchronizes and holds various information such as setting information stored in a physical device connected via Internet 71 as data with the physical device. In other words, with this digital shadow, image data that is a digital copy of the setting state and operating state of image forming apparatus 20, which is a physical device, is stored in cloud server 30.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cloud server 30 stores various data such as setting information, operation status information, and operation history information of the image forming apparatus 20 while performing a synchronous process with the image forming apparatus 20 .

[0034] The normal operation of the device management system of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that an image forming device 20 connected to an intranet 72 at a certain base is connected to the Internet 71 via a firewall. Therefore, the management server 10 cannot directly access the image forming device 20 to obtain various information such as setting information.

[0035] However, as shown in FIG. 2, the management server 10 can grasp the setting status and operating status of the image forming device 20 by acquiring data synchronized with the setting information and operating status of the image forming device 20 stored in the cloud server 30 without directly accessing the image forming device 20.

[0036] The managers A and B can know the status of the image forming apparatus 20 by accessing the management server 10 using the mobile terminal device 40 and the terminal device 50, respectively.

[0037] Here, the synchronization process between the setting information and various state information of the image forming apparatus 20 stored in the cloud server 30 and the actual setting state and various states of the image forming apparatus 20 is periodically executed at preset intervals. If the synchronization frequency between the image forming apparatus 20 and the data in the cloud server 30 is increased, the actual state of the image forming apparatus 20 will be reflected in the data in the cloud server 30 at a timing close to real time. However, if the synchronization frequency is increased too much, the communication cost between the cloud server 30 and the image forming apparatus 20 will increase, so there is a limit to how often the synchronization frequency can be increased. Therefore, the synchronization process between the cloud server 30 and the image forming apparatus 20 is executed at set intervals, such as every hour or every few hours.

[0038] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 20 has an SNMP function, which is a function for notifying a preset destination apparatus of a status change that occurs on the apparatus side. By using this SNMP trap function, it is possible to send a trap notification to the management server 10 in response to some status change in the image forming apparatus 20, such as a paper jam, running out of consumables, or the occurrence of a fault, as shown in Fig. 3. This trap notification is sent from the image forming apparatus 20 to the management server 10 by asynchronous communication.

[0039] When the management server 10 receives a trap notification from the image forming device 20, it accesses the cloud server 30 and checks the digital shadow data of the image forming device 20 to determine the details of the failure that occurred in the image forming device 20.

[0040] However, it is assumed that periodic synchronization processing is performed between the data in the image forming apparatus 20 and the cloud server 30, so that changes in the status of the image forming apparatus 20 are reflected in the data in the cloud server 30. Therefore, even if the management server 10 acquires the data in the cloud server 30 and checks the status of the image forming apparatus 20 at the timing when it receives a trap notification from the image forming apparatus 20, a situation may occur in which the latest changes in the status of the image forming apparatus 20 are not reflected in the data in the cloud server 30.

[0041] The occurrence of such problems can be prevented if management server 10 executes synchronization processing between cloud server 30 and image forming device 20 and updates the data in cloud server 30 when management server 10 receives a trap notification from image forming device 20. However, in order to do so, non-periodic synchronization processing other than periodic updates must be executed between cloud server 30 and image forming device 20, which increases the number of communications and the amount of communications between cloud server 30 and image forming device 20, resulting in an increase in the usage fee for the digital shadow service provided by cloud server 30.

[0042] Therefore, in the device management system of this embodiment, by performing the processing described below, when data that is periodically synchronized with the state of the managed image forming device 20 through synchronous communication between the managed image forming device 20 and the cloud server 30 is stored and managed in the cloud server 30, if an abnormality occurs in the image forming device 20, information regarding the latest state of the image forming device 20 can be obtained even before synchronous communication between the managed image forming device 20 and the cloud server 30 is performed.

[0043] In the device management system of this embodiment, the address information of the management server 10 is preset in the image forming device 20 as the notification destination of a trap notification when a state change occurs such as running out of paper, paper jam, etc. Therefore, when some abnormality occurs in the image forming device 20 such as running out of paper or paper jam, the image forming device 20 notifies the management server 10 by a trap notification that the abnormality has occurred in the image forming device 20.

[0044] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 20 performs regular updates with the cloud server 30 at a preset update period, and transmits to the cloud server 30 information relating to the latest setting state, operating state, and the like of the own apparatus.

[0045] Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 10 in the device management system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0046] 4, the management server 10 has a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices via the Internet 71, and a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 16.

[0047] The CPU 11 is a processor that executes a predetermined process based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13 to control the operation of the management server 10. In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 is described as reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, but is not limited to this. This control program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. For example, this program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a form recorded on a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. In addition, this control program may be obtained from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication interface 14.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the management server 10 that is realized by executing the above control program.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, the management server 10 of this embodiment includes a display control unit 31, a data transmission / reception unit 32, a management control unit 33, and a device status management DB (database) .

[0050] The data transmitter / receiver 32 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the cloud server 30, the mobile terminal device 40, and the terminal device 50 via the Internet 71.

[0051] The management control unit 33 stores in the device status management DB 34 various information data relating to the device status of the image forming apparatus 20 received from the cloud server 30 via the data transmission / reception unit 34. In other words, the management control unit 33 stores in the device status management DB 34 data that is periodically synchronized with the status of the image forming apparatus 20 to be managed by performing synchronous communication.

[0052] When the display control unit 31 receives an inquiry about the current status of the image forming device 20 from the mobile terminal device 40 of administrator A or the terminal device 50 of administrator B, it causes the mobile terminal device 40 or terminal device 50 that received the inquiry to display information about the current status of the image forming device 20 based on the data stored in the device status management DB 34.

[0053] In addition, when the management control unit 33 receives a trap notification from the image forming device 20 that an abnormality has occurred due to asynchronous communication, it notifies the portable terminal device 40, which can communicate with the image forming device 20, that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming device 20.

[0054] Then, when the management control unit 33 receives information on the latest status of the image forming apparatus 20 from the mobile terminal device 40, it updates the contents of the data stored in the device status management DB 34 with the received information. Then, the display control unit 31 transmits screen information for displaying information on the latest status of the image forming apparatus 20 to the mobile terminal device 40 of the administrator A. Note that when a request to display the current status of the image forming apparatus 20 is received from the terminal device 50 of the administrator B, the display control unit 31 also transmits screen information for displaying information on the latest status of the image forming apparatus 20 to the terminal device 50 of the administrator B.

[0055] When the management control unit 33 is notified by the mobile terminal device 40 that the latest status information of the image forming device 20 cannot be acquired, the management control unit 33 does not update the device status management DB .

[0056] As described above, the image forming apparatus 20 and the cloud server 30 are set to execute a synchronization process for acquiring and storing synchronized data periodically at preset times. For example, the synchronization process is set to be executed at 0 minutes and 0 seconds every hour.

[0057] In such a case, if the time when the management control unit 33 receives a trap notification from the image forming device 20 indicating that an abnormality has occurred is within a predetermined period of time before the time when data is obtained from the image forming device 20 by regular synchronization, the management control unit 33 may be configured not to notify the mobile terminal device 40 that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming device 20.

[0058] For example, if the time at which the management control unit 33 receives a trap notification from the image forming device 20 indicating that an abnormality has occurred is within 5 minutes of the time at which data is acquired by regular synchronization processing, such as 59 minutes after a certain time, the management control unit 33 does not notify the portable terminal device 40 that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming device 20. That is, in such a case, if the management control unit 33 waits one more minute, regular synchronization processing will be performed and the latest status information of the image forming device 20 will be acquired, so there is no need for the portable terminal device 40 to acquire the latest status information of the image forming device 20.

[0059] In addition, when performing the above-mentioned processing, the management control unit 33 may change the predetermined time for deciding whether or not to notify the mobile terminal device 40, depending on the contents of the trap notification received from the image forming device 20 indicating that an abnormality has occurred.

[0060] For example, if the abnormality notified by the trap notification is not serious, such as running out of paper, it is no problem if it takes some time for the data in the cloud server 30 to be updated to the latest state, so the predetermined time is set to 10 minutes. If the abnormality notified by the trap notification is serious and requires urgency, such as abnormal heat, the data in the cloud server 30 needs to be updated to the latest state immediately, so the predetermined time is set to 1 minute.

[0061] Here, the information obtained from the image forming device 20 and stored in the cloud server 30 and the device status management DB 34 by performing synchronization processing between the image forming device 20 and the cloud server 30 includes one or more of information regarding the setting status of the image forming device 20, information regarding the operating status, and information regarding the operating history.

[0062] In this embodiment, since the information processing device to be managed is an image forming device 20 that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper, the information regarding the operating status of the image forming device 20 includes one or more of the following information: information regarding the part where the abnormality occurred, information regarding the content of the abnormality that occurred, and information regarding the remaining amount of consumables.

[0063] In addition, the mobile terminal device 40 receives a notification from the management server 10, and the administrator A starts a management application program (hereinafter, abbreviated as a management app) to obtain information on the latest status from the image forming device 20. The mobile terminal device 40 connects to the image forming device 20 via, for example, a wireless LAN such as WiFi (registered trademark) or short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), and obtains information on the latest status of the image forming device 20.

[0064] Here, when the mobile terminal device 40 receives a notification from the management server 10 that a change in status, such as an abnormality, has occurred in the image forming device 20, the mobile terminal device 40 first checks whether communication with the image forming device 20 in which the status change has occurred is possible, and reports the check result to the management server 10. Then, when the mobile terminal device 40 is able to communicate with the managed image forming device 20, the mobile terminal device 40 obtains information on the latest status, such as which tray has run out of paper and which print job has stopped, from the image forming device 20 and notifies the management server 10. When the mobile terminal device 40 is unable to communicate with the managed image forming device 20, the mobile terminal device 40 notifies the management server 10 that the latest status information cannot be obtained from the image forming device 20.

[0065] Then, after transmitting information regarding the latest status of the image forming device 20 to the management server 10, the mobile terminal device 40 acquires data in the device status management DB 34 from the management server 10 and displays the latest status of the image forming device 20 on a display screen for the administrator. In this manner, the latest status of the image forming device 20 is displayed to the administrator A. Also, when the administrator B accesses the management server 10 from the terminal device 50, the latest status of the image forming device 20 is displayed to the administrator B as well.

[0066] Here, the mobile terminal device 40 transmits information regarding the latest status obtained from the image forming device 20 to the management server 10, and then obtains and displays this information from the management server 10, thereby making it possible to present to the administrator A the procedure for dealing with the abnormal condition that has occurred.

[0067] Note that the administrator A does not necessarily start the management app immediately after the mobile terminal device 40 receives a notification from the management server 10. Therefore, there may be cases where the regular synchronization process between the cloud server 30 and the image forming device 20 is already being performed at the timing when the administrator A starts the management app and the mobile terminal device 40 attempts to obtain the latest status from the image forming device 20. In such a case, there is no point in the mobile terminal device 40 taking the trouble to obtain information regarding the latest status of the image forming device 20.

[0068] Therefore, the management control unit 33 stores information indicating whether or not information regarding the latest status of the image forming device 20 has been acquired by periodic synchronization with the image forming device 20. Then, when the management control unit 33 receives information indicating that it intends to acquire information regarding the latest status of the image forming device 20 from the portable terminal device 40 that has notified the image forming device 20 that an abnormality has occurred, if the information regarding the latest status of the image forming device 20 has already been acquired, the management control unit 33 notifies the portable terminal device 40 that it is not necessary to acquire information regarding the latest status of the image forming device 20. As a result, the portable terminal device 40 does not need to perform wasteful processing of reacquiring information regarding the latest status that has already been acquired from the image forming device 20.

[0069] The management control unit 33 may also receive a request for information on the status of the image forming device 20 from a terminal device 50 other than the mobile terminal device 40 that notified the image forming device 20 that an abnormality has occurred. Even in such a case, if information on the latest status of the image forming device 20 has not been transmitted from the mobile terminal device 40 that notified the image forming device 20 that an abnormality has occurred, and if regular synchronization processing has not been performed, the management control unit 33 cannot notify the terminal device 50 of the latest status of the image forming device 20. Therefore, in such a case, the management control unit 33 may notify the mobile terminal device 40 that notified the image forming device 20 that an abnormality has occurred again, and urge the mobile terminal device 40 to obtain information on the latest status of the image forming device 20.

[0070] Next, the operation of the management server 10 when it receives a trap notification from the image forming apparatus 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0071] When the management server 10 receives a trap notification from the image forming apparatus 20 in step S101, the management server 10 transmits a notification to the mobile terminal device 40 of the administrator A requesting that the latest status of the image forming apparatus 20 be obtained in step S102.

[0072] Then, in step S103, the management server 10 communicates with the image forming device 20 from the mobile terminal device 40, receives a confirmation result as to whether or not the latest status can be obtained, and determines whether or not the latest status of the image forming device 20 can be obtained.

[0073] Then, in step S103, if the confirmation result from the portable terminal device 40 indicates that the latest status of the image forming device 20 can be acquired, the management server 10 in step S104 receives, from the portable terminal device 40, information relating to the latest status collected from the image forming device 20. Note that, in step S103, if the confirmation result from the portable terminal device 40 indicates that the latest status of the image forming device 20 can be acquired, the management server 10 returns to the process of step S101.

[0074] Thereafter, in the management server 10, the information on the latest state of the image forming apparatus 20 received from the mobile terminal device 40 is reflected in the device state management DB 34 in step S105.

[0075] Then, in step S106, the management server 10 transmits to the mobile terminal device 40 a display screen for showing the latest status information of the image forming device 20 to the administrator A, and causes the mobile terminal device 40 to display the display screen.

[0076] FIG. 7 shows the flow of operations performed when the management server 10 receives a trap notification from the image forming apparatus 20 through the above-described processing.

[0077] (1) First, when some abnormal state occurs in the image forming apparatus 20, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits a trap notification to the management server 10 by asynchronous communication.

[0078] (2) Then, the management server 10 sends an update notification to the mobile terminal device 40 of the administrator A, which is located at the same location as the image forming device 20, requesting that the mobile terminal device 40 obtain the latest status of the image forming device 20 because an abnormality has occurred in the image forming device 20.

[0079] (3) Next, the mobile terminal device 40 that has received the update notification from the management server 10 notifies the administrator A to obtain the latest status of the image forming device 20 from the management server 10. FIG. 8 shows an example of a display screen displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal device 40 in such a case. In the display screen example shown in FIG. 8, it can be seen that a message is displayed notifying the administrator that a paper jam has occurred in the image forming device 20 and requesting that the latest status of the image forming device 20 be obtained. Then, when the administrator A confirms such a display and starts a management app named "multifunction device management app", communication is performed from the mobile terminal device 40 to the image forming device 20 to request information on the latest status. Note that the mobile terminal device 40 first checks whether communication with the image forming device 20 is possible and transmits the confirmation result to the management server 10, but here, the description will be given assuming that communication with the image forming device 20 is possible.

[0080] (4) Then, in response to a request from the portable terminal device 40, the image forming apparatus 20 transmits information on the latest status to the portable terminal device 40. For example, more detailed information on an abnormal status, such as where in the image forming apparatus 20 a paper jam has occurred, is transmitted to the portable terminal device 40.

[0081] (5) Finally, the mobile terminal device 40 transfers the latest status information acquired from the image forming device 20 to the management server 10.

[0082] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0083] In addition, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor, but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0084] In this embodiment, the term "system" includes both a system made up of multiple devices and a system made up of a single device.

[0085] [Variations] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the image forming device 20 is managed as a device to be managed, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the present disclosure can be similarly applied to cases in which information processing devices other than the image forming device 20, such as vending machines and ticket vending machines, are managed as devices to be managed.

[0086] [Note] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0087] (((1))) A processor and a storage unit are provided, The processor, storing data periodically synchronized with the state of the information processing device to be managed by performing synchronous communication in the storage unit; When receiving a notification that an abnormality has occurred due to asynchronous communication from the information processing device, notifying a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device; when receiving information regarding a state of the information processing device from the terminal device, updating the contents of the data stored in the storage unit based on the received information; Information processing system.

[0088] (((2))) When the information processing device is set to periodically acquire and store synchronized data at preset times, When a time when the processor receives a notification of the occurrence of an abnormality from the information processing device is within a predetermined time from a time when the processor acquires data from the information processing device by periodic synchronization, the processor does not notify the terminal device of the occurrence of an abnormality in the information processing device. An information processing system according to (((1))).

[0089] (((3))) The information processing system according to (((2))), wherein the processor changes the predetermined time period depending on the content of a notification of the occurrence of an abnormality received from the information processing device.

[0090] (((4))) An information processing system described in any one of ((1)) to (((3))), wherein the information obtained from the information processing device and stored in the memory unit includes one or more of information regarding the setting state of the information processing device, information regarding the operating state, and information regarding the operating history.

[0091] (((5))) the information processing device is an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, The information regarding the operating status of the image forming device includes one or more of the following information: information regarding the location where the abnormality occurred, information regarding the content of the abnormality that occurred, and information regarding the remaining amount of consumables (((4))).

[0092] (((6))) the processor stores in the storage unit information indicating whether information regarding the latest state of the information processing device has been acquired by periodic synchronization with the information processing device; when receiving information from a terminal device that has notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, indicating that information regarding the latest state of the information processing device is to be acquired, if the information regarding the latest state of the information processing device has already been acquired, notifying the terminal device that it is not necessary to acquire information regarding the latest state of the information processing device; An information processing system according to (((1))).

[0093] (((7))) When the processor receives a request for information on a state of the information processing device from a terminal device other than the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, and when information on the latest state of the information processing device has not been transmitted from the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, the processor notifies the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred again that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device. An information processing system according to (((1))).

[0094] (((8))) storing in a storage unit data that is periodically synchronized with the state of the information processing device to be managed by performing synchronous communication; when receiving a notification from the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred through asynchronous communication, notifying a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device; receiving information about a state of the information processing device from the terminal device, and updating the contents of the data stored in the storage unit with the received information; A program for causing a computer to execute the following.

[0095] The effects of the above configuration are described below.

[0096] According to the information processing system (((1))), when data that is periodically synchronized with the state of the managed information processing device through synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is stored and managed in the management device, if an abnormality occurs in the information processing device, it is possible to obtain information regarding the latest state of the information processing device even before synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is performed.

[0097] According to the information processing system (((2))), when the time until regular synchronization is within a preset time, a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device can avoid the trouble of obtaining information regarding the status of the information processing device.

[0098] According to the information processing system (((3))), depending on the content of the notification from the information processing device, it is possible to switch between waiting until the time when regular synchronization is performed, or having the terminal device obtain information regarding the status of the information processing device.

[0099] According to the information processing system of (((4))), it is possible to grasp the current information of the information processing device by referring to the data contents stored in the storage unit.

[0100] According to the information processing system of (((5))), when some abnormality occurs in the information processing device, it is possible to estimate the cause of the abnormality by referring to the data contents stored in the memory unit.

[0101] According to the information processing system (((6))), when information regarding the latest information on the information processing device has already been obtained as a result of periodic synchronization being performed between the information processing device and data managed in the management device, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unnecessary processing in which the terminal device obtains information regarding the latest status from the information processing device.

[0102] According to the information processing system (((7))), it is possible to prompt a terminal device that has been notified that an abnormality has occurred in an information processing device to obtain and transmit information relating to the latest status from the information processing device.

[0103] According to the program (((8))), when data that is periodically synchronized with the state of a managed information processing device through synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and a management device is stored and managed in the management device, if an abnormality occurs in the information processing device, it is possible to obtain information regarding the latest state of the information processing device even before synchronous communication between the managed information processing device and the management device is performed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 10 Image forming device 11 CPU 12. Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Control Bus 20 Image forming device 30 Cloud Server 31 Display control unit 32 Data transmission and reception unit 33 Management and Control Section 34 Device Status Management DB (Database) 40 Portable terminal device 50 Terminal Equipment 60 Public Mobile Telecommunications Network 71 Internet 72 Corporate Network

Claims

1. A processor and a storage unit are provided, The processor, storing data periodically synchronized with the state of the information processing device to be managed by performing synchronous communication in the storage unit; When receiving a notification that an abnormality has occurred due to asynchronous communication from the information processing device, notifying a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device; when receiving information regarding a state of the information processing device from the terminal device, updating the contents of the data stored in the storage unit based on the received information; Information processing system.

2. When the information processing device is set to periodically acquire and store synchronized data at preset times, When a time when the processor receives a notification of the occurrence of an abnormality from the information processing device is within a predetermined time from a time when the processor acquires data from the information processing device by periodic synchronization, the processor does not notify the terminal device of the occurrence of an abnormality in the information processing device.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1.

3. 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the processor changes the predetermined time period depending on the content of a notification of the occurrence of an abnormality received from the information processing device.

4. An information processing system as described in claim 1, wherein the information obtained from the information processing device and stored in the memory unit includes one or more of information regarding the setting state of the information processing device, information regarding the operating state, and information regarding the operating history.

5. the information processing device is an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, An information processing system as described in claim 4, wherein the information regarding the operating status of the image forming device includes one or more of the following information: information regarding the location where the abnormality occurred, information regarding the content of the abnormality that occurred, and information regarding the remaining amount of consumables.

6. the processor stores in the storage unit information indicating whether information regarding the latest state of the information processing device has been acquired by periodic synchronization with the information processing device; when receiving information from a terminal device that has notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, indicating that information regarding the latest state of the information processing device is to be acquired, if the information regarding the latest state of the information processing device has already been acquired, notifying the terminal device that it is not necessary to acquire information regarding the latest state of the information processing device; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1.

7. When the processor receives a request for information on a state of the information processing device from a terminal device other than the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, and when information on the latest state of the information processing device has not been transmitted from the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred, the processor notifies the terminal device that notified the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred again that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1.

8. storing in a storage unit data that is periodically synchronized with the state of the information processing device to be managed by performing synchronous communication; when receiving a notification from the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred through asynchronous communication, notifying a terminal device capable of communicating with the information processing device that an abnormality has occurred in the information processing device; receiving information about a state of the information processing device from the terminal device, and updating the contents of the data stored in the storage unit with the received information; A program for causing a computer to execute the following.

Images