Information processing system, method for collecting information, and information processing program

Abstract

To efficiently collect useful information on an apparatus.SOLUTION: An information collecting system 10 includes an information terminal 2 and a collection server 3. The information terminal 2 acquires state information of a peripheral apparatus 1. The collection server 3 receives the state information of the peripheral apparatus 1 from the information terminal 2. The information terminal 2 performs inquiry processing on the presence or absence of an abnormality of the peripheral apparatus 1 to a user of the information terminal 2 under a predetermined condition, and sends abnormality information showing the presence of an abnormality of the peripheral apparatus 1 to the collection server 3 when receives an answer stating that there is an abnormality of the peripheral apparatus 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information collection system, an information collection method, and an information collection program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, state information obtained by S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) mounted on an external hard disk or the like connected to a user's personal computer is accumulated in a server on a network, and abnormalities such as failures are determined and predicted based on this state information, and the results are notified to the user terminal. Such a service is known.

[0003] Also, Patent Document 1 describes that when a failure prediction device receives a notification of a failure occurring in a monitoring target device from an operator terminal or the monitoring target device, it transmits time-series sensor data until the monitoring target device fails to a learning server, and the learning server generates a learning model for predicting the failure of the monitoring target device using the received time-series sensor data as teacher data, and predicts the probability of the monitoring target device failing by inputting the time-series sensor data received from the monitoring target device using this learning model.

[0004] Generally, in order to accurately predict equipment abnormalities using an abnormality prediction model, a large amount of state information of equipment in which an abnormality has occurred is required as teacher data for learning the abnormality prediction model.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] For example, when the device to be monitored fails and its status information cannot be sent to the server, the server cannot determine whether the device has failed. Therefore, the status information obtained before the device fails cannot be used as the training data for the case where a failure has occurred.

[0007] In particular, when the device to be monitored is a device different from the information terminal that transmits the status information of the device, a situation may occur where the status information of the device is not sent to the server even if there is no abnormality in the device to be monitored. For example, if the device to be monitored is an HDD connected to an information terminal, there are cases where the user replaces it with a larger-capacity HDD, inserts and replaces the HDD according to the data to be stored, or does not usually connect the HDD for archiving. Even if the HDD is normal, the status information of the HDD may not be sent because the HDD is not connected to the information terminal. Therefore, when the status information of the device to be monitored is not sent to the server, it is impossible to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the device to be monitored.

[0008] On the other hand, for example, when the operator of the server receives a notice of the failure of the device, retrieves the device for repair, or accepts the return of the device, a method of using the status information obtained before the device fails as training data can be considered. However, with this method, a large amount of training data cannot be efficiently collected.

[0009] The present invention aims to efficiently collect useful information regarding a device.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] The disclosed information collection system includes an information terminal that acquires status information of a device, and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal. The information terminal performs an inquiry process regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality of the device to the user of the information terminal under a predetermined condition, and when receiving a response indicating that there is an abnormality of the device, transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the device to the server.

[0011] The disclosed information collection method is such that an information terminal acquires status information of a device from the device, a server receives the status information from the information terminal, the information terminal performs an inquiry process regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality of the device to the user of the information terminal under a predetermined condition, and when receiving a response indicating that there is an abnormality of the device, transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the device to the server.

[0012] The disclosed information collection program is a control program for an information collection system including an information terminal that acquires status information of a device and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal. The program causes a device different from the information terminal to execute, under a predetermined condition, an inquiry process regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality of the device to the user of the information terminal on the information terminal, and when the information terminal receives a response indicating that there is an abnormality of the device, causes the abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the device to be transmitted from the information terminal to the server, for executing control.

[0013] The disclosed another information collection program is a control program for an information collection system including an information terminal that acquires status information of a device and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal. The program causes the information terminal to perform, under a predetermined condition, an inquiry process regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality of the device to the user of the information terminal, and when receiving a response indicating that there is an abnormality of the device, causes the abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the device to be transmitted to the server, for executing a process.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information collection system, an information collection method, and an information collection program capable of efficiently collecting useful information regarding equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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Figure 13

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] <Information collection system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information collection system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information collection system 10 includes an information terminal 2 and a collection server 3. The information collection system 10 may further include a peripheral device 1. The information collection system 10 may further include a learning server 4. The information collection program of the present invention can be applied to, for example, the collection server 3.

[0018] The information terminal 2, the collection server 3, and the learning server 4 are connected via, for example, a network 9. The network 9 is a WAN (Wide Area Network) such as the Internet, for example.

[0019] The peripheral device 1 is a peripheral device of the information terminal 2 that is detachable from the information terminal 2. The peripheral device 1 is, for example, an external storage. The external storage is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). For example, the peripheral device 1 is connected to the information terminal 2 by a communication interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus). However, the peripheral device 1 is not limited to USB and may be connected to the information terminal 2 by a communication interface such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless LAN, or short-range wireless communication. Note that there may be a plurality of peripheral devices 1 of the information terminal 2.

[0020] The information terminal 2 acquires state information of the peripheral device 1 connected to the information terminal 2 from the peripheral device 1. The state information of the peripheral device 1 is information indicating the state of the peripheral device 1 that can be used for determining or predicting an abnormality (for example, a failure) of the peripheral device 1. For example, when the peripheral device 1 is a storage, the state information of the peripheral device 1 is S.M.A.R.T. information generated by the S.M.A.R.T. function mounted on the peripheral device 1. The S.M.A.R.T. information includes various types of information that can be used for determining or predicting an abnormality of the peripheral device 1, such as the number of occurrences of data read errors and the measurement results of read / write speeds.

[0021] Further, the information terminal 2 is a terminal having a user interface. In the example of FIG. 1, the information terminal 2 is a notebook PC (Personal Computer), but the information terminal 2 can be various information terminals having a user interface, such as a desktop PC, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

[0022] Although not shown, a plurality of information terminals 2 are connected to the network 9, and the peripheral device 1 is connected to each of them.

[0023] The collection server 3 is a server that receives status information of a peripheral device connected to an information terminal from a plurality of information terminals including the information terminal 2. For example, the collection server 3 receives and accumulates the status information of the peripheral device 1 from the information terminal 2.

[0024] The collection server 3 may be a virtual server (cloud server) realized in a cloud computing service, or may be a physical server realized as a single device (see, for example, FIG. 3).

[0025] The learning server 4 generates an anomaly prediction model for predicting anomalies in peripheral devices (for example, peripheral devices of the same or similar type as the peripheral device 1) including the peripheral device 1 by performing machine learning or deep learning using the status information of the peripheral device collected by the collection server 3 as teacher data. This anomaly prediction model is, for example, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) that can output the time when an anomaly is predicted to occur in the peripheral device as the status information of the peripheral device. Further, the anomaly prediction model may be able to output, as the status information of the peripheral device, the type of anomaly predicted to occur in the peripheral device.

[0026] Similar to the collection server 3, the learning server 4 may be a virtual server (cloud server) realized in a cloud computing service, or may be a physical server realized as a single device.

[0027] <Hardware Configuration of Information Terminal 2> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of information terminal 2. The information terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a processor 21, a memory 22, a peripheral device interface 23, a communication interface 24, and a user interface 25. The processor 21, the memory 22, the peripheral device interface 23, the communication interface 24, and the user interface 25 are connected by, for example, a bus 29.

[0028] The processor 21 is a circuit that performs signal processing and is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the entire information terminal 2. Note that the processor 21 may be implemented by other digital circuits such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Further, the processor 21 may be implemented by combining a plurality of digital circuits.

[0029] The memory 22 includes, for example, a main memory and an auxiliary memory. The main memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The main memory is used as a work area for the processor 21. The auxiliary memory is a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a flash memory. Various programs for operating the information terminal 2 are stored in the auxiliary memory. The programs stored in the auxiliary memory are loaded into the main memory and executed by the processor 21.

[0030] The peripheral device interface 23 is a communication interface that communicates with a peripheral device (for example, peripheral device 1) of the information terminal 2. For example, the peripheral device interface 23 is a communication interface such as USB. For example, the information terminal 2 acquires the status information of the peripheral device 1 by communicating with the peripheral device 1 via the peripheral device interface 23. The peripheral device interface 23 is controlled by the processor 21.

[0031] The communication interface 24 is a communication interface that communicates with the outside of the information terminal 2 (for example, the collection server 3). For example, the communication interface 24 is a communication interface that can be connected to the network 9 by wire or wirelessly. The communication interface 24 is controlled by the processor 21.

[0032] The user interface 25 includes, for example, an input device that receives operation inputs from the user, an output device that outputs information to the user, and the like. The input device can be realized by, for example, a pointing device (such as a mouse), a key (such as a keyboard), a remote control, or the like. The output device can be realized by, for example, a display, a speaker, or the like. Also, the input device and the output device may be realized by a touch panel or the like. The user interface 25 is controlled by the processor 21.

[0033] <Hardware Configuration of the Collection Server 3> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the collection server 3. The collection server 3 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a processor 31, a memory 32, and a communication interface 33. The processor 31, the memory 32, and the communication interface 33 are connected by, for example, a bus 39.

[0034] The processor 31, the memory 32, and the communication interface 33 have the same configurations as the processor 21, the memory 22, and the communication interface 24 of the information terminal 2 shown in FIG. 2, respectively. The status information received by the collection server 3 from the information terminal 2 or the like is stored, for example, in the auxiliary memory included in the memory 32. The communication interface 33 of the collection server 3 is used for communication with, for example, the information terminal 2 and the learning server 4.

[0035] <Hardware Configuration of the Learning Server 4> The learning server 4 can be realized, for example, by the same configuration as the collection server 3 shown in FIG. 3.

[0036] <Collection of Normal Status Information of the Peripheral Device 1> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of collecting state information of the peripheral device 1 in a normal state. As shown in FIG. 4, when no abnormality has occurred in the peripheral device 1 (in a normal state), the information terminal 2 acquires the state information of the peripheral device 1 from the peripheral device 1 at a predetermined acquisition timing. The acquisition timing is a timing that occurs repeatedly, for example, a periodic timing (as an example, a timing every other day).

[0037] Each time the information terminal 2 acquires the state information of the peripheral device 1, the acquired state information is transmitted to the collection server 3. The collection server 3 accumulates the state information of the peripheral device 1 received from the information terminal 2 in the memory 32.

[0038] <Inquiry at the time of failure of the peripheral device 1> FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry at the time of failure of the peripheral device 1. As shown in FIG. 5, when the peripheral device 1 fails, the information terminal 2 cannot acquire the state information of the peripheral device 1 from the peripheral device 1.

[0039] In this case, the collection server 3 detects the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 by detecting that it has not received the state information of the peripheral device 1 from the information terminal 2 for a certain period or longer. This certain period is set to be longer than the cycle of the acquisition timing at which the information terminal 2 acquires the state information of the peripheral device 1 (as an example, two days).

[0040] When the collection server 3 detects the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, it transmits an inquiry instruction to the information terminal 2. The inquiry instruction is a control signal that instructs the user to inquire at least whether there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1.

[0041] Based on an inquiry instruction from the collection server 3, the information terminal 2 displays an inquiry screen for inquiring the user of the information terminal 2 about at least the presence or absence of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, and accepts an answer from the user of the information terminal 2. Here, since the peripheral device 1 is a peripheral device of the information terminal 2, the user of the information terminal 2 is a person who can grasp the state of the peripheral device 1. The display of the inquiry screen and the acceptance of an answer from the user are performed by, for example, the user interface 25 shown in FIG. 2. A specific example of the inquiry screen will be described later (see, for example, FIG. 8 and the like).

[0042] <Transmission of Abnormality Information Based on Inquiry at the Time of Failure of Peripheral Device 1> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of transmission of abnormality information based on an inquiry at the time of failure of the peripheral device 1. After the state shown in FIG. 5, when the information terminal 2 receives an answer from the user indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, the information terminal 2 transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3.

[0043] The abnormality information may be simply information indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, information indicating that the user has answered that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, or the answer content (text information, etc.) itself by the user.

[0044] Note that the information terminal 2 may transmit information indicating the answer content to the collection server 3 not only when it receives an answer from the user indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, but also when it receives an answer from the user indicating that there is no abnormality in the peripheral device 1.

[0045] The collection server 3 transmits the abnormality information of the peripheral device 1 received from the information terminal 2 and the state information of the peripheral device 1 received from the information terminal 2 in the past to the learning server 4. The learning server 4 uses the abnormality information and the state information received from the collection server 3 as teacher data for learning an abnormality prediction model for predicting an abnormality of a peripheral device of the same or similar type as the peripheral device 1.

[0046] Note that in this example, the collection server 3 accumulates the status information of the peripheral device 1 without transmitting it to the learning server 4 during normal operation of the peripheral device 1, and transmits the status information of the peripheral device 1 together with the abnormal information of the peripheral device 1 when the peripheral device 1 fails. However, the timing of information transmission from the collection server 3 to the learning server 4 is not limited to this.

[0047] For example, each time the collection server 3 receives status information or abnormal information from the information terminal 2, it may transmit the received status information or abnormal information to the learning server 4. Alternatively, the collection server 3 may transmit the accumulated status information and abnormal information to the learning server 4 at a predetermined regular timing.

[0048] <Information collection process by the collection server 3> FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the information collection process by the collection server 3. The collection server 3 executes the process shown in FIG. 7 for the peripheral device 1 and the information terminal 2, for example. When a plurality of peripheral devices 1 are connected to the information terminal 2, the collection server 3 executes the process shown in FIG. 7 for each of the plurality of peripheral devices 1.

[0049] First, the collection server 3 determines whether it has received the status information of the peripheral device 1 from the information terminal 2 (step S71). If the collection server 3 has received the status information of the peripheral device 1 (step S71: Yes), it accumulates the received status information of the peripheral device 1 in the memory 32 (step S72) and returns to step S71.

[0050] If the collection server 3 has not received the status information of the peripheral device 1 in step S71 (step S71: No), it determines whether it has received the status information of the peripheral device 1 from the information terminal 2 within a certain period in the past up to the present (step S73). For example, the collection server 3 makes the determination in step S73 based on whether the elapsed time from when step S72 was last executed to the present is within a certain period. If the collection server 3 has received the status information of the peripheral device 1 within a certain period (step S73: Yes), it returns to step S71.

[0051] In step S73, if the status information of the peripheral device 1 has not been received within a certain period (step S73: No), the collection server 3 transmits an inquiry instruction to the information terminal 2 (step S74).

[0052] Next, the collection server 3 determines whether abnormal information has been received from the information terminal 2 in response to the inquiry instruction transmitted in step S74 (step S75). The abnormal information is information indicating at least an abnormality of the peripheral device 1. If no abnormal information has been received (step S75: No), the collection server 3 returns to step S71. If abnormal information has been received (step S75: Yes), the collection server 3 accumulates the received abnormal information in the memory 32 (step S76) and returns to step S71.

[0053] Thereby, the collection server 3 accumulates the status information of the peripheral device 1 received from the information terminal 2 when the peripheral device 1 is normal, and causes the information terminal 2 to execute an inquiry to the user of the information terminal 2 when the peripheral device 1 is abnormal. When a response indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the peripheral device 1 is received from the user, abnormal information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 can be accumulated.

[0054] In this way, the collection server 3 can collect the information of the peripheral device 1 connected to the information terminal 2. In addition, the collection server 3 can collect the information of each peripheral device connected to a plurality of information terminals 2 by performing similar processing for the plurality of information terminals 2.

[0055] <Abnormality inquiry screen> FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an abnormality inquiry screen. When the information terminal 2 receives an inquiry instruction from the collection server 3, for example, the inquiry screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on a display included in the user interface 25.

[0056] The inquiry screen 80 includes a message "Has an abnormality occurred in the peripheral device?" as a message for asking the user about the presence or absence of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1. The inquiry screen 80 also includes a "Yes" button and a "No" button as buttons for the user to select the presence or absence of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1.

[0057] The user can answer that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 by performing an operation of instructing the "Yes" button on the inquiry screen 80 on the information terminal 2. When an operation of instructing the "Yes" button on the inquiry screen 80 is performed, the information terminal 2 transmits abnormality information indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3. Also, the user can answer that there is no abnormality in the peripheral device 1 by performing an operation of instructing the "No" button on the inquiry screen 80 on the information terminal 2.

[0058] Note that the operation of instructing a button displayed on the information terminal 2 can be performed, for example, by operating a pointing device included in the user interface 25 or by touching a touch panel included in the user interface 25.

[0059] <Inquiry Screen for Abnormality Type> FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry screen for the type of abnormality. For example, when an operation instructed by the "Yes" button on the inquiry screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 is performed, the information terminal 2 may display the inquiry screen 90 shown in FIG. 9 on a display included in the user interface 25, for example, without transmitting the abnormality information at that time.

[0060] The inquiry screen 90 includes a message "Please select the applicable abnormality content" as a message for asking the user about the type of abnormality in the peripheral device 1. The inquiry screen 90 also includes a "Cannot read / write" button, a "Makes abnormal noise" button, a "Not recognized even when connected" button, and an "Other" button as buttons for the user to select the type of abnormality in the peripheral device 1.

[0061] By performing an operation of instructing any button on the inquiry screen 90 on the information terminal 2, the user can obtain an answer regarding the type of abnormality of the peripheral device 1. When the information terminal 2 receives an answer regarding the type of abnormality of the peripheral device 1, it transmits abnormality information indicating the type of that abnormality to the collection server 3. Then, this abnormality information is transmitted from the collection server 3 to the learning server 4.

[0062] As a result, the learning server 4 can perform learning using the abnormality information indicating the type of abnormality of the peripheral device 1, and thus can generate a more high-performance abnormality prediction model. For example, the learning server 4 can generate an abnormality prediction model capable of predicting abnormalities of peripheral devices identical or similar to the peripheral device 1 for each type of abnormality.

[0063] In addition, when an operation of instructing the "Other" button on the inquiry screen 90 is performed, the information terminal 2 may transmit abnormality information indicating "Other" as the type of abnormality, or may further present another option of abnormality to the user for selection and transmit the abnormality information indicating the abnormality selected thereby.

[0064] Also, the options for the type of abnormality are not limited to those shown in FIG. 9, and can be arbitrarily set from among the abnormalities that can occur in the peripheral device 1. Also, the answer regarding the type of abnormality is not limited to the answer by options, and may be, for example, an answer by text input. In this case, the learning server 4 may transmit abnormality information including the input text information as it is, or may transmit abnormality information indicating the type of abnormality determined by analysis of the input text information.

[0065] <Inquiry Screen for Time of Occurrence of Abnormality> FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry screen for the time of occurrence of an abnormality. For example, when an operation indicated by the "Yes" button on the inquiry screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 is performed, the information terminal 2 may display the inquiry screen 100 shown in FIG. 10 on a display included in the user interface 25, for example, without transmitting the abnormality information at that time.

[0066] The inquiry screen 100 includes a message "When did the abnormality occur?" as a message to inquire of the user about the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1. Further, the inquiry screen 100 includes input boxes for the year and month as input boxes for the user to select the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1.

[0067] The user can answer the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 by inputting the year and month when the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 occurred into the input boxes for the year and month on the inquiry screen 100. When the information terminal 2 receives the answer of the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1, it transmits abnormality information indicating the occurrence time of the abnormality to the collection server 3.

[0068] Thereby, the learning server 4 can perform learning using the abnormality information indicating the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1, and thus can generate a higher-performance abnormality prediction model. For example, the learning server 4 can generate an abnormality prediction model capable of accurately predicting the occurrence time of abnormalities of peripheral devices identical or similar to the peripheral device 1.

[0069] Also, the answer of the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 10, and may be an answer by options. For example, the information terminal 2 may be configured to receive the selection of the year and the selection of the month when the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 occurred. Further, the answer of the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is not limited to the answer of the month and the year, and may be an answer including, for example, the day.

[0070] Also, the answer of the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is not limited to a direct answer of the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1, and may be an indirect answer of the occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1, such as "about one month ago" or "about one year ago".

[0071] Further, when an operation indicated by the "Yes" button on the inquiry screen 80 shown in FIG. 8, for example, is performed, the information terminal 2 may display both the inquiry screen 90 shown in FIG. 9 and the inquiry screen 100 shown in FIG. 10, and receive answers regarding the type and occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1.

[0072] The order of inquiries regarding the presence, type, and occurrence time of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is arbitrary. Also, these inquiries may be made simultaneously. For example, the information terminal 2 may receive a selection by the user from options such as "No abnormality", "Abnormality · Unusual noise · About one month ago", "Abnormality · Unusual noise · About one year ago", "Abnormality · Unrecognized · About one month ago", "Abnormality · Unrecognized · About one year ago",...

[0073] Alternatively, the information terminal 2 may receive text information from the user such as "There has been an unusual noise for about one month". The information terminal 2 may transmit abnormality information including the input text information as it is, or may transmit abnormality information indicating the type and occurrence time of the abnormality determined by analyzing the input text information.

[0074] <Inquiry screen for usage status> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an inquiry screen for usage status. For example, when an operation indicated by the "No" button on the inquiry screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 is performed (that is, when there is no abnormality in the peripheral device 1), the information terminal 2 may display the inquiry screen 110 shown in FIG. 11 on a display included in the user interface 25, for example.

[0075] The inquiry screen 110 includes a message "Please select the applicable situation" as a message to inquire the user about the usage situation that causes the status information of the peripheral device 1 not to be obtained for a certain period or more despite no abnormality in the peripheral device 1. Further, the inquiry screen 110 includes buttons for the user to select the usage situation, namely, a "Currently in use" button, a "Using another peripheral device because of dissatisfaction" button, and an "Other" button.

[0076] The user can provide an answer regarding the usage situation by performing an operation to instruct any button on the inquiry screen 110 on the information terminal 2. When the information terminal 2 receives an answer regarding the usage situation of the peripheral device 1, it transmits usage situation information indicating the usage situation to the collection server 3. This usage situation information may be used, for example, for services (such as introduction of alternative products) provided by the operator operating the collection server 3 to the users of the information terminal 2.

[0077] As described above, in the information collection system 10, the collection server 3 receives the status information of the peripheral device 1 from the information terminal 2, and the information terminal 2 performs inquiry processing regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 to the user of the information terminal 2 under predetermined conditions. When an answer indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 is received, the information terminal 2 transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3.

[0078] Thereby, when an abnormality occurs in the peripheral device 1 but the collection server 3 cannot recognize the abnormality due to the abnormality of the peripheral device 1, abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 can be obtained by inquiring the user of the information terminal 2. For this reason, useful information regarding the peripheral device 1 can be efficiently collected.

[0079] Useful information regarding the peripheral device 1 in this case is a combination of the status information of the peripheral device 1 and the abnormality information of the peripheral device 1. That is, when there is abnormality information of the peripheral device 1, the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is recognized, and the status information of the peripheral device 1 received until then can be treated as the status information before the occurrence of the abnormality for the peripheral device 1 where the abnormality has occurred.

[0080] For example, the learning server 4 can use this status information as teacher data indicating the status before the occurrence of the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 where the abnormality has occurred, for learning an abnormality prediction model that predicts the abnormality of peripheral devices of the same or similar type as the peripheral device 1.

[0081] The predetermined condition is specifically that the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1 has been detected. That is, when the collection server 3 detects the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1, it performs an inquiry process regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1. Thereby, when the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is detected, an inquiry is made to the user, and when the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1 has not been detected, no inquiry is made to the user, so that it is possible to avoid making the user feel bothered.

[0082] For example, as described above, the predetermined condition is that the status information of the peripheral device 1 has not been transmitted from the information terminal 2 to the collection server 3 for a predetermined period (a certain period). For example, when the information terminal 2 transmits the status information of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 at intervals shorter than the predetermined period when the peripheral device 1 is normal, the fact that the status information of the peripheral device 1 has not been transmitted from the information terminal 2 to the collection server 3 for a predetermined period indicates the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1.

[0083] <Judgment of Predetermined Conditions by Information Terminal 2> FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the judgment of predetermined conditions by the information terminal 2. Although the configuration in which the collection server 3 judges the predetermined conditions for detecting the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1 has been described, it may be a configuration in which the information terminal 2 judges this predetermined condition. In this case, the information collection program of the present invention can be applied to, for example, the information terminal 2.

[0084] For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the peripheral device 1 malfunctions and the information terminal 2 cannot obtain the status information of the peripheral device 1 from the peripheral device 1, the information terminal 2 detects the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 by detecting that it has not transmitted the status information of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 for a certain period or longer. Then, based on this detection result, the information terminal 2 displays an inquiry screen for inquiring at least whether there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 to the user, and accepts an answer from the user of the information terminal 2.

[0085] After that, when the information terminal 2 receives an answer from the user indicating that there is at least an abnormality in the peripheral device 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the information terminal 2 transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3.

[0086] <Information acquisition process by the information terminal 2 shown in FIG. 12> FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the information acquisition process by the information terminal 2 shown in FIG. 12. The information terminal 2 shown in FIG. 12 executes the process shown in FIG. 13 for the peripheral device 1, for example. When a plurality of peripheral devices 1 are connected to the information terminal 2, the information terminal 2 executes the process shown in FIG. 13 for each of the plurality of peripheral devices 1.

[0087] First, the information terminal 2 determines whether it is the timing to acquire the status information of the peripheral device 1 (step S131). If it is not the acquisition timing (step S131: No), the information terminal 2 returns to step S131. If it is the acquisition timing (step S131: Yes), the information terminal 2 performs a reading process of reading the status information from the peripheral device 1 (step S132).

[0088] Next, the information terminal 2 determines whether it has been able to read the status information from the peripheral device 1 by the reading in step S132 (step S133). If the status information has been read (step S133: Yes), the information terminal 2 transmits the read status information of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 (step S134), and returns to step S131.

[0089] In step S133, if the status information cannot be read (step S133: No), the information terminal 2 determines whether it has transmitted the status information of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 within a certain period (step S135). If it has transmitted the status information of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 within a certain period (step S135: Yes), the information terminal 2 returns to step S131.

[0090] In step S135, if it has not transmitted the status information of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 within a certain period (step S135: No), the information terminal 2 displays an inquiry screen (for example, the inquiry screen 80 in FIG. 8) for inquiring the user of the information terminal 2 about the presence or absence of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 (step S136).

[0091] Next, the information terminal 2 determines whether it has received an answer indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 for the inquiry screen displayed in step S136 (step S137). If it has not received an answer indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 (step S137: No), the information terminal 2 returns to step S131.

[0092] In step S137, if it has received an answer indicating that there is an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 (step S137: Yes), the information terminal 2 transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3 (step S138), and returns to step S131.

[0093] Thereby, the information terminal 2 can transmit the status information of the peripheral device 1 obtained from the peripheral device 1 during normal operation of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3, execute an inquiry to the user of the information terminal 2 when the peripheral device 1 is abnormal, and if an answer indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the peripheral device 1 is received from the user, transmit the abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the peripheral device 1 to the collection server 3.

[0094] <Another example of the peripheral device 1> Although the case where the peripheral device 1 is an external storage has been described, the peripheral device 1 is not limited to an external storage. For example, the peripheral device 1 may be a communication device such as a wired LAN router, a wireless LAN router, or a wireless access point. Or, the peripheral device 1 may be a NAS (Network Attached Storage). Or, the peripheral device 1 may be an optical drive such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive. Or, the peripheral device 1 may be various peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a web camera, a headset, or a printer.

[0095] Even if the peripheral device 1 is one of these peripheral devices other than an external storage, similar to the case where the peripheral device 1 is an external storage, the peripheral device 1 is normal, but a situation may occur where the status information of the peripheral device 1 is not transmitted to the collection server 3 because the peripheral device 1 is not connected to the information terminal 2. Therefore, just because the status information of the peripheral device 1 is not transmitted to the collection server 3, it is not possible to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the peripheral device 1. In contrast, according to the information collection system 10, it is possible to obtain abnormality information indicating an abnormality of the peripheral device 1 by inquiring the user of the information terminal 2 and efficiently collect useful information regarding the peripheral device 1.

[0096] <Other examples of a predetermined period> Although the case where a predetermined period for detecting the possibility of an abnormality of the peripheral device 1 is a fixed period has been described, this predetermined period may be set based on, for example, the status information from the peripheral device 1. For example, the collection server 3 determines the goodness of the current status of the peripheral device 1 based on the status information of the peripheral device 1 received in the past. Then, the collection server 3 sets a predetermined period so that the higher the determined goodness, the longer the period, with the above fixed period as the shortest.

[0097] Thus, when the current state of the peripheral device 1 is good and the possibility of an abnormality occurring is low, the predetermined period for detecting the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 can be made relatively long. Therefore, the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 can be detected with higher accuracy, and inquiries to the user can be made at more appropriate timings.

[0098] <Other examples of predetermined conditions> The case where the predetermined condition for detecting the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 is that the status information of the peripheral device 1 has not been transmitted from the information terminal 2 to the collection server 3 for a predetermined period has been described, but the predetermined condition is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined condition may be that the current date and time has reached the predicted abnormality occurrence time of the peripheral device 1 based on the status information of the peripheral device 1.

[0099] For example, the collection server 3 acquires the predicted abnormality occurrence time of the peripheral device 1 based on the status information of the peripheral device 1. The abnormality occurrence time of the peripheral device 1 is, for example, the time when the probability of an abnormality occurring in the peripheral device 1 becomes a certain level or higher. The prediction of this abnormality occurrence time may be performed, for example, by a method using an abnormality prediction model generated by the learning server 4, or by a method different from the method using the abnormality prediction model. Also, the prediction of this abnormality occurrence time may be performed by the collection server 3 or the learning server 4, or by another device. The time when the probability of an abnormality occurring in the peripheral device 1 becomes a certain level or higher is not limited to the time when the probability of an abnormality occurring in the peripheral device 1 becomes extremely high, and considering the period required for the user to prepare an alternative device or transfer data, it may be the earlier time when the probability of an abnormality occurring in the peripheral device 1 becomes somewhat high. The collection server 3 detects that the abnormality occurrence time (predicted time) of the peripheral device 1 has been reached as the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1.

[0100] Also, the predetermined conditions for detecting the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1 may be a combination of the above conditions. For example, the collection server 3 may detect that the status information of the peripheral device 1 has not been transmitted from the information terminal 2 to the collection server 3 for a predetermined period and that the time of occurrence of an abnormality (predicted time) in the peripheral device 1 has arrived, as the possibility of an abnormality in the peripheral device 1.

[0101] <Other examples of inquiry methods> Although the configuration of making an inquiry to the user of the information terminal 2 by screen display has been described, it may also be configured to make an inquiry to the user of the information terminal 2 by voice or the like. Also, the reception of a response from the user to the inquiry may also be configured to be performed by voice or the like.

[0102] <Other examples of server configurations> Although the configuration in which the collection server 3 and the learning server 4 are provided separately has been described, the functions of the collection server 3 and the learning server 4 may be realized by one server. In this case, the communication between the collection server 3 and the learning server 4 described above is unnecessary.

[0103] <Regarding the information collection program> The information collection program stored in the memory 32 of the collection server 3 or the memory 22 of the information terminal 2 is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Such a "computer-readable storage medium" is, for example, an optical medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM), or a magnetic storage medium such as a USB memory or a memory card. Also, such a program can be provided by downloading via a network.

[0104] As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification.

[0105] The disclosed information collection system includes an information terminal that acquires status information of a device and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal. The information terminal performs inquiry processing regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality of the device to the user of the information terminal under a predetermined condition, and when receiving an answer indicating that there is an abnormality of the device, transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the device to the server.

[0106] In the disclosed information collection system, the predetermined condition includes that the possibility of an abnormality of the device has been detected.

[0107] In the disclosed information collection system, the predetermined condition includes that the status information has not been transmitted from the information terminal to the server for a predetermined period.

[0108] In the disclosed information collection system, the predetermined period is a period set for the device based on the status information.

[0109] In the disclosed information collection system, the predetermined condition includes that the time when an abnormality of the device is predicted based on the status information has arrived.

[0110] In the disclosed information collection system, the server determines whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, and when determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied, performs control to cause the information terminal to execute the inquiry processing.

[0111] In the disclosed information collection system, the information terminal determines whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, and when determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied, executes the inquiry processing.

[0112] In the disclosed information collection system, the answer indicating that there is an abnormality of the device includes an answer regarding the type of the abnormality of the device, and the abnormality information indicates the type of the abnormality of the device.

[0113] The disclosed information collection system is such that the response indicating that there is an abnormality in the device includes the response regarding the occurrence time of the abnormality in the device, and the abnormality information indicates the occurrence time of the abnormality in the device.

[0114] The disclosed information collection system is such that the status information and the abnormality information transmitted to the server are used as teacher data for an abnormality prediction model of a device including devices different from the said device.

[0115] The disclosed information collection method is such that an information terminal acquires status information of a device from the device, a server receives the status information from the information terminal, the information terminal performs inquiry processing regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the device to the user of the information terminal under a predetermined condition, and when a response indicating that there is an abnormality in the device is received, abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device is transmitted to the server.

[0116] The disclosed information collection program is a control program for an information collection system including an information terminal that acquires status information of a device from the device and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal, and causes a device different from the information terminal to execute, under a predetermined condition, inquiry processing regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the device to the user of the information terminal by the information terminal, and when the information terminal receives a response indicating that there is an abnormality in the device, causes the abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device to be transmitted from the information terminal to the server, for executing control.

[0117] The disclosed information collection program is a control program for an information collection system including an information terminal that acquires status information of a device from the device and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal, and causes the information terminal to perform, under a predetermined condition, inquiry processing regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the device to the user of the information terminal, and when a response indicating that there is an abnormality in the device is received, causes the abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device to be transmitted to the server, for executing processing.

Explanation of Signs

[0118] 1 Peripheral device 2 Information terminal 3 Collection server 4 Learning server 9 Network 10 Information collection system 21, 31 Processor 22, 32 Memory 23 Peripheral device interface 24, 33 Communication interface 25 User interface 29, 39 Bus 80, 90, 100, 110 Inquiry screen

Claims

1. an information terminal that acquires device status information; a server that receives the status information from the information terminal; Including, the information terminal, under a predetermined condition, performs an inquiry process to a user of the information terminal as to whether or not there is an abnormality in the device, and when a response to the effect that there is an abnormality in the device is received, transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device to the server; Information gathering system.

2. The information collection system according to claim 1, The predetermined condition includes that a possibility of an abnormality in the device is detected. Information gathering system.

3. 3. The information collection system according to claim 2, the predetermined condition includes that the status information has not been transmitted from the information terminal to the server for a predetermined period of time; Information gathering system.

4. The information collecting system according to claim 3, The predetermined period is a period set for the device based on the status information. Information gathering system.

5. The information collecting system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, The predetermined condition includes a time when an abnormality of the device predicted based on the status information has occurred. Information gathering system.

6. The information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the server determines whether the predetermined condition is satisfied, and when it determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, controls the information terminal to execute the inquiry process. Information gathering system.

7. The information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the information terminal determines whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied, and executes the inquiry process when it determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied. Information gathering system.

8. The information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The response to the fact that there is an abnormality in the device includes a response to a type of the abnormality in the device, The abnormality information indicates a type of abnormality of the device. Information gathering system.

9. The information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The response to the fact that the device has an abnormality includes a response as to when the device abnormality occurred, The abnormality information indicates a time when the abnormality occurred in the device. Information gathering system.

10. The information collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The status information and the abnormality information transmitted to the server are used as training data for an abnormality prediction model of devices including devices different from the device. Information gathering system.

11. An information terminal acquires device status information from the device; a server receives the status information from the information terminal; the information terminal performs an inquiry process to a user of the information terminal regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the device under a predetermined condition, and when a response to the effect that an abnormality exists in the device is received, transmits abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device to the server; How information is collected.

12. A control program for an information collection system including an information terminal that acquires device status information from the device, and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal, In a device different from the information terminal, causing the information terminal to execute a process of inquiring to a user of the information terminal about the presence or absence of an abnormality in the device under a predetermined condition; when the information terminal receives a response indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the device, causing the information terminal to transmit abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device to the server; An information gathering program for executing control.

13. A control program for an information collection system including an information terminal that acquires device status information from the device, and a server that receives the status information from the information terminal, The information terminal, Under a predetermined condition, an inquiry process is performed to a user of the information terminal as to whether or not the device is abnormal; When a response indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the device is received, abnormality information indicating the abnormality in the device is transmitted to the server. An information gathering program for executing processing.

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