Display device management method and management system

Abstract

To provide a display device management method and management system for obtaining information on the usage status of each input signal of the display device in order to manage the display device.SOLUTION: Management method for a display device includes: acquiring, by the display device, type information indicating a type of an input signal; transmitting, by the display device, device identification information for identifying the display device and the type information to an information processing device; calculating, by the information processing device, information indicating an usage status of an input signal for each type indicated by the type information; acquiring, by the information processing device, organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information of a user who uses the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs from a storage unit; and outputting the organization identification information and the information indicating the usage status of the input signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device management method and management system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known methods for remotely managing devices used by users. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a management system that manages the operating status of a projector. The management system described in Patent Document 1 acquires information about the operating status of the projector and manages the operating status of the projector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-15832 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, the widespread use of display devices in educational settings and among general consumers has created a need for detailed management of display devices. For example, it is conceivable to manage the usage status of each type of input signal input to a display device. To achieve this management, however, it is necessary to manage the input signals input to the display device by type. However, until now, there has been no means of obtaining information about the usage status of each type of input signal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a method for managing a display device, the method including: acquiring, by the display device, type information indicating a type of input signal input to the display device; transmitting, by the display device, device identification information that identifies the display device and the type information to an information processing device; storing, by the information processing device, the device identification information and the type information in association with each other in a memory unit; calculating, by the information processing device, information indicating a usage status of input signals for each type indicated by the type information, for each piece of device identification information; acquiring, by the information processing device, organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information of a user who uses the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs; and outputting the organization identification information and information indicating the usage status of the input signals.

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a management system including a display device and an information processing device, wherein the display device comprises a first communication unit, an interface, and a first control unit that acquires type information indicating a type of input signal input to the interface, and transmits the acquired type information and device identification information that identifies the display device to the information processing device via the first communication unit; the information processing device comprises a second communication unit, and a second control unit that associates the device identification information and the type information received by the second communication unit and stores them in a memory unit, calculates information indicating the usage status of input signals for each type indicated by the type information by the information processing device, for each of the device identification information, acquires from the memory unit the organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information of a user using the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs, and outputs the organization identification information and the information indicating the usage status of the input signals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a projector. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user management database. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a first usage status management database. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the projector. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the information processing device. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the information processing device. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a second usage status management database. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the information processing device. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the information processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] [1. System configuration of the management system] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a management system 1. As shown in FIG. The management system 1 includes a projector 100, which is an example of a display device, and an information processing device 200. The projector 100 and the information processing device 200 are communicably connected via a communication network NW.

[0010] In FIG. 1, projectors 100A, 100B, and 100C are shown as examples of the projectors 100 connected to the information processing device 200 via the communication network NW, but the number of projectors 100 connected to the information processing device 200 is arbitrary.

[0011] A terminal device 30, which is an image supply device that supplies image data, can be connected to each projector 100. The terminal device 30 is a smartphone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, or other computers. The connection between the terminal device 30 and the projector 100 may be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0012] The projector 100 displays an image on a projection surface by projecting image light onto the projection surface. The projection surface may be a curtain-like screen, or may be the wall surface of a building or the surface of an installed object.

[0013] There are no limitations on the installation locations of the projector 100 and the terminal device 30, their owners, or their relationship to the installation location of the information processing device 200. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the projector 100A belongs to a first organization 10 and is installed in a location related to the first organization 10. The projectors 100B and 100C belong to a second organization 20 and are installed in a location related to the second organization 20. The organizations 10 and 20 are, for example, schools, companies, stores, or other organizations. The projector 100 may also be a device belonging to an individual.

[0014] The communication network NW may be a LAN (Local Area Network), or a global network including a dedicated line, a public line network, the Internet, etc. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the communication network NW is configured as a LAN. The communication network NW may also be a wireless communication network such as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark.

[0015] An output terminal 50 can be connected to the information processing device 200 via a communication network NW. The output terminal 50 requests the information processing device 200 to output information. The information processing device 200 outputs the information requested by the output terminal 50 to the output terminal 50. The output terminal 50 may be a notebook PC, a desktop PC, a tablet PC, or a smartphone.

[0016] [2. Projector configuration] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the projector 100. The projectors 100 provided in the management system 1 have the same basic configuration.

[0017] The projector 100 includes a first control unit 110. The first control unit 110 includes a first processor 130 configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-processing unit), etc., and a first storage unit 120. The first control unit 110 controls each unit of the projector 100 by causing the first processor 130 to execute a program.

[0018] The first storage unit 120 is a non-volatile storage device configured with a semiconductor memory element such as a flash memory. The first storage unit 120 stores a control program 121 executed by the first processor 130, data processed by the first processor 130, and the like. The first storage unit 120 includes a volatile storage area, and may constitute a work area for temporarily storing programs to be executed by the first processor 130 and data to be processed.

[0019] The second storage unit 250 stores, for example, a control program 121, a projector ID 122, model information 123, and authentication information 124. The control program 121 is a program executed by the first processor 130.

[0020] The first processor 130 reads and executes the control program 121 stored in the first storage unit 120, thereby executing various processes through cooperation between hardware and software. For example, the first processor 130 includes a projection control unit 131, an information acquisition unit 132, and an information transmission unit 133. These functional units are configured by the first processor 130 executing the control program 121.

[0021] The projector ID 122 is identification information that is unique to the projector 100. For example, the projectors 100A, 100B, and 100C shown in Fig. 1 each have a different projector ID 122. The projector ID 122 corresponds to a serial number.

[0022] Model information 123 is information that indicates the model name of projector 100. If projectors 100A, 100B, and 100C shown in FIG. 1 are different models, they each have different model information 123. Also, for example, if projector 100A and projector 100B are the same model, projector 100A and projector 100B have the same model information 123.

[0023] The authentication information 124 is information for authenticating a user who uses the projector 100. The authentication information 124 includes, for example, a user ID and a password.

[0024] The projector 100 includes a remote control light receiving unit 151, a first communication unit 152, a wireless communication unit 153, a first image I / F (interface) 154, a second image I / F 155, an image processing unit 156, and a projection unit 157. Each of these units is connected to a second control unit 230 via a bus 105. The first communication unit 152, the wireless communication unit 153, the first image I / F 154, and the second image I / F 155 correspond to interfaces that the projector 100 includes.

[0025] The remote control light receiving unit 151 receives a wireless signal transmitted by the remote control 5. The remote control light receiving unit 151 generates an operation signal by decoding the received signal and outputs the operation signal to the first control unit 110. The wireless signal received by the remote control light receiving unit 151 may be, for example, an infrared signal, but may be any other signal.

[0026] The first communication unit 152 is a communication device that is connected to the communication network NW and communicates with the information processing device 200 via the communication network NW. The first communication unit 152 includes, for example, a connector for connecting an Ethernet cable and a communication circuit for transmitting and receiving signals. Ethernet is a registered trademark.

[0027] The wireless communication unit 153 includes a wireless communication circuit compatible with wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and performs wireless communication with the terminal device 30 and the information processing device 200. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are registered trademarks.

[0028] The first image I / F 154 and the second image I / F 155 are connected to the terminal device 30 as a video source. The first image I / F 154 and the second image I / F 155 include communication hardware such as a connector and an interface circuit that conforms to a predetermined communication standard. Specifically, the first image I / F 154 and the second image I / F 155 are digital interfaces such as HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), HDBaseT, and USB (Universal Serial Bus). HDMI and HDBaseT are registered trademarks. The first image I / F 154 and the second image I / F 155 may include an analog video terminal such as an RCA terminal, a VGA terminal, an S terminal, or a D terminal, and may be configured to receive analog video signals.

[0029] The image processing unit 156, under the control of the first control unit 110, performs image processing on video data included in an input signal received by the projector 100 via the first communication unit 152 and video data included in an input signal input to the projector 100 from the terminal device 30. Examples of image processing performed by the image processing unit 156 include resolution conversion processing, resizing processing, geometric correction processing, digital zoom processing, brightness adjustment processing, and projection position correction processing. Furthermore, for example, when multiple projectors 100 are arranged side by side and tiling projection is performed, the image processing unit 156 performs edge blending processing. The type of image processing performed by the image processing unit 156 is specified by the first control unit 110. Furthermore, parameters and calculation data used by the image processing unit 156 for image processing are input to the image processing unit 156 from the first control unit 110. The image processing unit 156 generates a display signal for displaying the image after image processing, and outputs the display signal to a light modulation device of the projection unit 157. The first control unit 110 sets parameters for image processing by the image processing unit 156 and data for calculation.

[0030] The image processing unit 156 may be configured, for example, by an integrated circuit. This type of integrated circuit includes an LSI, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), an SoC (System-on-a-chip), etc. An analog circuit may be included as part of the integrated circuit configuration, or the integrated circuit may be configured as an integrated unit of the first control unit 110.

[0031] The projection unit 157 includes, for example, a light source, a light modulation device, and a projection optical system. The light source is turned on under the control of the first control unit 110 and emits light toward the light modulation device. The specific configuration of the light source is not limited. For example, the light source may be a lamp such as a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, or an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, or a solid-state light source such as an LED or a laser light source. The light modulation device modulates the light emitted from the light source. The specific configuration of the light modulation device is not limited. For example, the light modulation device may be configured with a transmissive liquid crystal panel, a reflective liquid crystal panel, or a digital micromirror device. The projection optical system included in the projection unit 157 includes a lens, a mirror, a prism, etc. that forms an image light modulated by the light modulation device on a projection surface.

[0032] The projection unit 157 may include a light source drive circuit that supplies power to the light source and a drive circuit that causes the light modulation device to perform drawing. The projection unit 157 may also include a zoom mechanism, a focus adjustment mechanism that adjusts the focus, etc.

[0033] The projection control unit 131 executes overall control of the projector 100 and control related to projection by the projector 100. The projection control unit 131 accepts input operations from the user via the remote control 5. The projection control unit 131 causes the projection unit 157 to project an image in accordance with the input operations from the user. For example, the projection control unit 131 controls the image processing unit 156 to perform image processing on the image data included in the input signal, and controls the light source and light modulation device of the projection unit 157 to project the image processed by the image processing unit 156 onto the projection surface.

[0034] The information acquisition unit 132 acquires the signal type of the input signal that is the source of the image projected by the projector 100. When an input signal is detected, the first communication unit 152, the wireless communication unit 153, the first image I / F 154, and the second image I / F 155, which are interfaces of the projector 100, notify the second control unit 230 of the detection of the input signal. When the information acquisition unit 132 is notified of the detection of an input signal, the information acquisition unit 132 determines the signal type of the detected input signal. For example, if the first image I / F 154 is an interface that complies with the HDMI standard, the information acquisition unit 132 determines, based on the notification from the first image I / F 154, that an HDMI signal has been input to the first image I / F 154. Furthermore, when wireless communication unit 153 is an interface that complies with the Wi-Fi standard, information acquisition unit 132 determines, based on a notification from wireless communication unit 153, that a Wi-Fi signal has been input to wireless communication unit 153. The Wi-Fi signal is a packet signal that complies with the Wi-Fi standard.

[0035] Next, if the input signal contains video data to be projected by the projection unit 157, the information acquisition unit 132 acquires the light source usage time. In other words, the projector 100 projects an image based on the video data contained in the input signal and acquires the light source usage time, which is the time the light source is turned on. For example, the information acquisition unit 132 acquires the light source usage time by measuring the time the light source is turned on. This light source usage time is the cumulative usage time of the light source provided in the projector 100.

[0036] The information transmitting unit 133 transmits light source usage information including the signal type and light source usage time of the input signal acquired by the information acquiring unit 132, the projector ID 122, and the model information 123 to the information processing device 200. When the signal type of the input signal input to the projector 100 is changed, the information transmitting unit 133 transmits light source usage information including the signal type and light source usage time of the input signal before the change, the projector ID 122, and the model information 123 to the information processing device 200. Furthermore, the information transmitting unit 133 transmits the light source usage information to the information processing device 200 at the timing when the projection of the image based on the input signal ends. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the light source usage information includes the light source usage time as information indicating the input status of the input signal, but the information indicating the input status may also include the time when the input signal started to be input and the time when the input signal stopped to be input. Furthermore, the information indicating the input status may also include the time when the input signal started to be input and the duration for which the input signal kept being input. The time when the input signal started to be input may be the time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the input signal started to be input. The time when the input signal stopped to be input may be the time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the input signal stopped to be input.

[0037] [4. Configuration of information processing device] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 200. The information processing device 200 is a computer that is communicably connected to the projector 100 and the terminal device 30 via the communication network NW and provides information processing functions. For example, the information processing device 200 may be configured as a single computer, or may be configured as multiple computers, or may be a cloud computer. In the following, the information processing device 200 will be described as a single server computer, but this is just one example.

[0038] The information processing device 200 includes a second communication unit 210 and a second control unit 230, and these units are connected to each other by a bus 205.

[0039] The second communication unit 210 is a communication device that is connected to the communication network NW and communicates with the projector 100 and the terminal device 30 via the communication network NW. The second communication unit 210 includes, for example, a connector for connecting an Ethernet cable and a communication circuit for transmitting and receiving signals.

[0040] The second control unit 230 includes a second processor 240 and a second storage unit 250. The second processor 240 is configured by a processor such as a CPU or an MPU.

[0041] The second processor 240 reads and executes the control program 251 stored in the second storage unit 250, thereby executing various processes through cooperation between hardware and software and controlling the information processing device 200. For example, the second processor 240 includes an acquisition unit 241, a processing unit 242, and an output unit 243. Each of these functional units is configured by the second processor 240 executing the control program 251.

[0042] The second storage unit 250 is a storage device that stores data in a nonvolatile manner using a flash memory, a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, etc. The second storage unit 250 stores a control program 251 executed by the second processor 240, data processed by the second processor 240, etc. The second storage unit 250 stores, for example, a user management DB (database) 252 and a first usage status management DB 253.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the user management DB 252. As shown in FIG. The user management DB 252 is a database that registers an organization ID in association with the projector ID 122 and model information 123 of the projector 100 owned or managed by the organization of the organization ID. The organization ID is identification information that identifies the organization to which the user or projector 100 belongs. The organization ID may be identification information that identifies the company, department, etc. that owns the projector 100, or may be identification information that identifies a group set by the user. The organization ID may also be identification information that identifies an individual user. The model information 123 is information that indicates the model of the projector 100 of the associated projector ID 122. The model information 123 is information that indicates the model number of the projector 100. The organization ID corresponds to organization identification information.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the first usage status management DB 253. As shown in FIG. The first usage status management DB 253 is a database in which the device light source usage time, the signal type, the light source usage time for each signal type, and the first usage rate are registered in association with the projector ID 122.

[0045] The device light source usage time is information on the light source usage time of the light source provided in the projector 100 corresponding to the projector ID 122. The device light source usage time corresponds to the total time that an input signal is input to the display device. The signal type is information indicating an interface provided to the projector 100 having the projector ID 122. In other words, it is information indicating the signal type of the input signal input to the projector 100.

[0046] The light source usage time for each signal type is information indicating the light source usage time for each signal type. In other words, the light source usage time of the projector 100 is calculated for each signal type of input signal. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the device light source usage time, which is the light source usage time of the light source provided in projector 100, is calculated, but this device light source usage time may be the average input time of input signals input during a preset period. Also, the average time for each type of input signal input during a preset period may be calculated as the light source usage time for each signal type.

[0047] The first usage rate is information indicating the rate at which input signals of a signal type are used to project images in the projector 100. The first usage rate is calculated by dividing the light source usage time of the signal type by the device light source usage time.

[0048] The acquisition unit 241 acquires light source usage information from the projector 100. The processing unit 242 updates the registration information in the first usage status management DB 253 based on the acquired light source usage information.

[0049] The processing unit 242 detects a record in the first usage status management DB 253 in which the projector ID 122 matches the projector ID 122 included in the light source usage information. The processing unit 242 acquires the device light source usage time registered in the detected record. The processing unit 242 subtracts the acquired device light source usage time from the light source usage time included in the light source usage information to calculate the light source usage time used for the current projection.

[0050] The processing unit 242 acquires the signal type included in the light source usage information, and adds the light source usage time used for the current projection to the light source usage time of the signal type corresponding to the acquired signal type. Furthermore, the processing unit 242 updates the device light source usage time with the light source usage time included in the light source usage information.

[0051] Furthermore, the processing unit 242 calculates a first usage rate by dividing the light source usage time of the signal type by the device light source usage time. The processing unit 242 registers the calculated first usage rate in a corresponding field of the first usage status management DB 253.

[0052] Furthermore, the processing unit 242 calculates the light source usage time and the usage rate for each signal type for the projectors 100 that belong to the same organization ID and have the same model information 123. The sum of the light source usage times for the projectors 100 that belong to the same organization ID and have the same model information 123 is referred to as the total light source usage time. The total light source usage time corresponds to the total time calculated for each display device that is associated with the same organization identification information and has the same model indicated by the model information. Furthermore, this total light source usage time may be the average time of the input time of input signals that are input within a predetermined period. The usage rate for each signal type for the projectors 100 that belong to the same organization ID and have the same model information 123 is referred to as the second usage rate.

[0053] The processing unit 242 acquires the organization ID of the processing target, and acquires the model information 123 associated with the acquired organization ID. The processing unit 242 also acquires the device light source usage times of the projectors 100 for which the acquired model information 123 is the same, and calculates the sum of these light source usage times as the total light source usage time.

[0054] Furthermore, the processing unit 242 calculates the total light source usage time for each signal type of the projectors 100 having the same model information 123, and calculates the second usage ratio by dividing the total light source usage time for each signal type by the total light source usage time.

[0055] The processing unit 242 stores the calculated total light source usage time, the sum of the light source usage times of the signal types of the projectors 100 having the same model information 123, and the second usage rate in the second storage unit 250 in association with the organization ID.

[0056] The output unit 243 outputs the information generated by the processing unit 242. Examples of information output by the output unit 243 include transmitting information to a device different from the information processing device 200 and outputting information by an output device included in the information processing device 200. Examples of the output device included in the information processing device 200 include a display device and a printing device connected to the information processing device 200. When the information processing device 200 is a PC or a smartphone and includes a display device, the output unit 243 displays the information generated by the processing unit 242 on the display device. In this embodiment, the output unit 243 outputs information by transmitting it to the output terminal 50.

[0057] That is, the output unit 243 of this embodiment accepts a request to output information from the output terminal 50, and acquires information indicating the requested usage status from the second storage unit 250. The information indicating the usage status acquired from the second storage unit 250 includes the device light source usage time and the light source usage time for each signal type, which are information about each individual projector 100. Furthermore, the information acquired from the second storage unit 250 includes the total light source usage time of the same model, the total light source usage time for each signal type of projectors 100 of the same model, the second usage ratio, etc., associated with the same organization ID.

[0058] The output unit 243 transmits the information acquired from the second storage unit 250 to the output terminal 50. There are no limitations on the means by which the output unit 243 transmits the information to the output terminal 50. For example, the output unit 243 may generate web page data in which the information acquired from the second storage unit 250 is written in XML (Extensible Markup Language) or HTML (HyperText Markup Language), and transmit the generated data to the output terminal 50. Furthermore, for example, the output unit 243 may transmit a message including the information acquired from the second storage unit 250 to the output terminal 50.

[0059] 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the projector 100. The operation of the projector 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the projection of an image starts, the first control unit 110 determines whether or not the input of the input signal that is the source of this image has ended (step T1). If the input of the input signal has not ended (step T1 / NO), the first control unit 110 waits until the input of the input signal ends.

[0060] When the input of the input signal ends (step T1 / YES), the first control unit 110 generates light source usage information (step T2). The light source usage information includes the signal type and light source usage time of the input signal, the projector ID 122, and model information 123. The first control unit 110 transmits the generated light source usage information to the information processing device 200 (step T3).

[0061] 7 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of information processing device 200. Specifically, this is a flowchart showing the operation when information processing device 200 calculates the device usage time and the first usage ratio. The operation of the second control unit 230 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The second control unit 230 determines whether or not data has been received via the network NW (step S1). If data has not been received (step S1 / NO), the second control unit 230 waits until data is received.

[0062] When the second control unit 230 receives the data (step S1 / YES), it acquires the light source usage information included in the received data (step S2).

[0063] Next, the second control unit 230 acquires the projector ID 122 included in the acquired light source usage information, and determines whether the device light source usage time is registered in the record of the corresponding projector ID 122 in the first usage status management DB 253 (step S3).

[0064] If the device light source usage time is not registered in the record of the corresponding projector ID 122 (step S3 / NO), the second control unit 230 registers the light source usage time included in the light source usage information as the device light source usage time (step S4). The second control unit 230 registers the device light source usage time in the field of the corresponding projector ID 122 in the first usage status management DB 253.

[0065] Next, the second control unit 230 acquires the projector ID 122 and signal type included in the light source usage information, and registers the light source usage time included in the light source usage information in the field of the light source usage time of the signal type corresponding to the acquired projector ID 122 and signal type (step S10).

[0066] Furthermore, if the device light source usage time is registered in the record of the corresponding projector ID 122 (step S3 / YES), the second control unit 230 acquires this registered device light source usage time (step S5). Next, the second control unit 230 subtracts the device light source usage time acquired in step S5 from the light source usage time included in the light source usage information to calculate the light source usage time for this use (step S6). The second control unit 230 registers the light source usage time included in the light source usage information as the device light source time (step S7).

[0067] Next, the second control unit 230 acquires the light source usage time for the signal type corresponding to the signal type included in the light source usage information (step S8). The second control unit 230 adds the light source usage time for the current use calculated in step S6 to the acquired light source usage time for the signal type, thereby updating the light source usage time for the signal type (step S9). The second control unit 230 registers the updated light source usage time for the signal type in the corresponding field of the first usage status management DB 253 (step S10).

[0068] Next, the second control unit 230 acquires the device light source usage time of the projector 100 and the light source usage time for each signal type (step S11). The second control unit 230 calculates a first usage rate, which is a usage rate for each signal type of input signals, based on the acquired device light source usage time and light source usage time for each signal type (step S12). The second control unit 230 registers the first usage rate calculated for each signal type in a corresponding field of the first usage status management DB 253 (step S13).

[0069] 8 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the information processing device, specifically, the operation when the information processing device 200 calculates the total usage time and the second usage rate. The second control unit 230 selects an organization ID (step S31). Next, the second control unit 230 refers to the user management DB 252 and acquires the model information 123 associated with the selected organization ID (step S32).

[0070] Next, the second control unit 230 calculates the total light source usage time (step S33). The second control unit 230 acquires the device light source usage time of the projector 100 of the model of the model information 123 acquired in step S32, and calculates the total time of the acquired device light source usage times as the total light source usage time (step S34).

[0071] Next, the second control unit 230 selects one signal type of the input signal input to the projector 100 corresponding to the model information 123 acquired in step S32 (step S35). The second control unit 230 acquires the light source usage time of the selected signal type from projectors 100 of the same model, and calculates the total light source usage time of the acquired signal type (step S36).

[0072] Next, the second control unit 230 calculates a second usage rate based on the total light source usage time calculated in step S34 and the sum of the light source usage times for each signal type calculated in step S36 (step S37). The second control unit 230 calculates the second usage rate by dividing the sum of the light source usage times for each signal type by the total light source usage time.

[0073] Next, the second control unit 230 stores the calculated second usage rate in the second storage unit 250 in association with the signal type (step S38).

[0074] Next, the second control unit 230 determines whether or not all signal types have been selected (step S39). If all signal types have not been selected (step S39 / NO), the second control unit 230 returns to step S35 to select a signal type.

[0075] Furthermore, if all signal types have been selected (step S39 / YES), the second control unit 230 determines whether or not all of the model information 123 has been selected (step S40). If all of the model information 123 has not been selected (step S40 / NO), the second control unit 230 returns to step S33 and selects model information 123.

[0076] Furthermore, when all the model information 123 has been selected (step S40 / YES), the second control unit 230 determines whether or not all the organization IDs have been selected (step S41). When all the organization IDs have not been selected (step S41 / NO), the second control unit 230 returns to step S31 to select an organization ID. Furthermore, when all the organization IDs have been selected, the second control unit 230 ends this processing flow.

[0077] 5. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The system configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the configurations of the projector 100, the information processing device 200, and the terminal device 30 are also the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0078] In the second embodiment, the number of times an input signal is input is counted for each type of input signal, and the first usage rate and the second usage rate are calculated based on the counted number of times the input signal is input.

[0079] 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the second usage status management DB 254 stored in the second storage unit 250. The information processing device 200 of the second embodiment stores the second usage status management DB 254 shown in FIG. 9 in the second storage unit 250, instead of the first usage status management DB 253 shown in FIG.

[0080] The second usage status management DB 254 is a database in which the number of device inputs, the signal type, the number of inputs of the signal type, and the first usage rate are registered in association with the projector ID 122. The device input count is the number of times that an input signal that is the source of an image to be projected is input to the projector 100 with projector ID 122, and is the total number of inputs for each signal type. In this second embodiment, a case will be described in which the number of times that an input signal is input to the projector 100 is calculated as the device input count, but this device input count may also be the average value of the number of times that an input signal is input during a preset period.

[0081] The signal type is information indicating the signal type of the input signal input to the projector 100 with the projector ID 122. The number of inputs of a signal type is information indicating the number of times an input signal of a signal type has been input. The number of inputs may be counted as one if an input signal is continuously input to an interface indicated by the type information for a predetermined threshold time or longer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case where the number of inputs for each type of signal is calculated will be described. However, the average number of inputs for each type of input signal input during a preset period may be calculated.

[0082] The first usage rate is information indicating the rate at which input signals of a signal type are used to project images in the projector 100. The first usage rate is calculated by dividing the number of inputs of the signal type by the number of inputs to the device.

[0083] When the information acquisition unit 132 of the projector 100 detects that an input signal has been input to the projector 100 and determines that this input signal is the input signal that is the source of the image to be projected, it determines whether this input signal has been input continuously for more than a threshold time.

[0084] When the information acquisition unit 132 determines that the input signal has been continuously input for a threshold time or longer, the information transmission unit 133 transmits light source usage information to the information processing device 200. The light source usage information transmitted here includes the signal type of the input signal, the projector ID 122, and the model information 123.

[0085] The acquisition unit 241 of the information processing device 200 acquires the light source usage information transmitted from the projector 100. The processing unit 242 updates the second usage status management DB 254 based on the light source usage information acquired by the acquisition unit 241.

[0086] The processing unit 242 detects the record in the second usage status management DB 254 based on the projector ID 122 included in the light source usage information, and adds 1 to the number of device inputs and the number of inputs of the corresponding signal type.

[0087] Furthermore, the processing unit 242 calculates a first usage rate by dividing the number of inputs of the corresponding signal type by the number of device inputs.

[0088] Furthermore, the processing unit 242 calculates the second usage rate. The processing unit 242 acquires the organization ID of the processing target, and acquires the model information 123 associated with the acquired organization ID. Next, the processing unit 242 calculates the sum of the device input counts as the total input count for each projector 100 having the same model information 123. The total input count may be the average value of the input counts of input signals input within a preset period. Next, the processing unit 242 calculates the total number of inputs of the same signal type for the projectors 100 having the same model information 123. The total number of inputs of a signal type may be the average value of the number of inputs of the signal type over a preset period. The processing unit 242 calculates the second usage rate by dividing the calculated total number of inputs of the signal type by the total number of inputs.

[0089] 10 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the information processing device, specifically, the operation when information processing device 200 calculates the number of device inputs and the first usage rate. First, the second control unit 230 determines whether or not data has been received via the network NW (step S511). If data has not been received (step S51 / NO), the second control unit 230 waits until data is received.

[0090] When the second control unit 230 receives the data (step S51 / YES), it acquires the light source usage information included in the received data (step S52).

[0091] Next, second control unit 230 acquires projector ID 122 included in the acquired light source usage information, searches first usage status management DB 253 based on the acquired projector ID 122, and detects the record of projector ID 122. Second control unit 230 adds 1 to the number of device inputs for the corresponding projector ID 122 and updates it (step S53).

[0092] Next, the second control unit 230 acquires the signal type included in the light source usage information, and updates the number of inputs of the signal type corresponding to the acquired signal type by adding 1 (step S54).

[0093] Next, second control unit 230 divides the updated number of inputs of the signal type by the number of device inputs to calculate a first usage rate (step S55). Second control unit 230 rewrites and updates the first usage rate of the corresponding signal type with the calculated first usage rate (step S56).

[0094] 11 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the information processing device, specifically, the operation when the information processing device 200 calculates the total number of inputs and the second usage rate. In the flowchart shown in Fig. 11, step S64 differs from step S34 in the flowchart shown in Fig. 7, and step S66 differs from step S66 in the flowchart shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, steps S64 and S66 will be described.

[0095] When the second control unit 230 selects the model information 123 (step S63), it acquires the number of device inputs for the projector 100 of the model of the selected model information 123, and calculates the sum of the acquired device inputs as the total input number (step S64).

[0096] Next, the second control unit 230 selects the signal type of the input signal to be input to the projector 100 of the model of the model information 123 acquired in step S63 (step S65). The second control unit 230 acquires the number of type inputs of the selected signal type, and calculates the total of the acquired number of type inputs (step S66).

[0097] Next, second control unit 230 calculates a second usage rate based on the total number of inputs calculated in step S64 and the sum of the number of type inputs calculated in step S66 (step S67). Second control unit 230 calculates the second usage rate by dividing the sum of the number of type inputs by the total number of inputs. The operation of the second control unit 230 after this processing is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0098] 6. Summary of the Disclosure A summary of this disclosure is provided below.

[0099] (Appendix 1) a display device management method including: acquiring, by the display device, type information indicating a type of input signal input to the display device; transmitting, by the display device, device identification information that identifies the display device and the type information to an information processing device; causing the information processing device to associate the device identification information with the type information and store them in a memory unit; calculating, by the information processing device, information indicating a usage status of input signals for each type indicated by the type information, for each piece of device identification information; acquiring, by the information processing device, organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information of a user who uses the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs; and outputting the organization identification information and the information indicating the usage status of the input signals.

[0100] As a result, the organization identification information and information indicating the usage status of each type of input signal input to the display device used by the user or organization of the organization identification information are output, thereby making it possible to efficiently obtain the usage status of each type of input signal.

[0101] (Appendix 2) 2. The display device management method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring type information indicating the type of the input signal includes acquiring information indicating the input status of the input signal; transmitting includes transmitting the device identification information, the type information, and the information indicating the input status to the information processing device; calculating includes calculating, based on the information indicating the input status as information indicating the usage status of the input signal, a total time during which the input signal was input to the display device or an average time during which the input signal was input to the display device during a predetermined period, for each type of input signal indicated by the type information; and outputting includes outputting the total time or the average time as information indicating the usage status of the input signal.

[0102] This makes it possible to obtain the total time that an input signal is input to the display device for each type of input signal, or the average time that an input signal is input to the display device during a preset period, making it easier to understand the usage status of each type of input signal.

[0103] (Appendix 3) The method for managing a display device described in Appendix 1, wherein the calculating includes calculating, as information indicating the usage status of the input signal, the total number of times the input signal has been input to the display device or the average number of times the input signal has been input to the display device within a predetermined period, for each type of input signal indicated by the type information, and the outputting includes outputting, as information indicating the usage status of the input signal, the total number of times or the average number of times the input signal has been input.

[0104] This makes it possible to obtain the total number of times an input signal is input to the display device for each type of input signal, or the average number of times an input signal is input to the display device during a preset period, making it easier to understand the usage status of each type of input signal.

[0105] (Appendix 4) The management method for a display device described in Appendix 2, wherein the storage unit stores the organization identification information, the device identification information, and model information indicating the model of the display device corresponding to the device identification information in association with each other, and the calculating includes calculating the total time or the average time calculated for each type of input signal for each of the display devices associated with the same organization identification information and having the same model indicated by the model information.

[0106] This makes it possible to obtain, for each display device of the same model, the total time that an input signal is input to the display device, or the average time that an input signal is input to the display device over a predetermined period, for each type of input signal, and thus makes it easy to grasp the usage status of each type of input signal for each display device of the same model.

[0107] (Appendix 5) The management method for display devices described in Appendix 3, wherein the storage unit stores the organization identification information, the device identification information, and model information indicating the model of the display device corresponding to the device identification information in association with each other, and the calculating includes calculating the total number of times calculated for each type of the input signal or an average value of the number of times the input signal is input to the display device for each of the display devices associated with the same organization identification information and having the same model indicated by the model information.

[0108] This makes it possible to obtain, for each display device of the same model, the total number of times an input signal has been input to the display device or the average number of times an input signal has been input to the display device during a predetermined period, and the total number or average number of times for each type of input signal.As a result, it is possible to grasp the usage rate of each type of input signal for each display device of the same model, and to efficiently obtain information regarding the usage status of input signals in the display device.

[0109] (Appendix 6) A method for managing a display device described in any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the device identification information for identifying the display device includes a serial number assigned to the display device or model information indicating the model of the display device.

[0110] This allows the display device to be identified by the serial number, which is device identification information, or by model information.

[0111] (Appendix 7) 1. A management system including a display device and an information processing device, wherein the display device comprises a first communication unit, an interface, and a first control unit that acquires type information indicating a type of input signal input to the interface, and transmits the acquired type information and device identification information that identifies the display device to the information processing device via the first communication unit; the information processing device comprises a second communication unit, and a second control unit that associates the device identification information and the type information received by the second communication unit and stores them in a memory unit, calculates information indicating a usage status of input signals for each type indicated by the type information by the information processing device, for each of the device identification information, acquires from the memory unit by the information processing device organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information for a user who uses the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs, and outputs the organization identification information and the information indicating the usage status of the input signals.

[0112] As a result, the organization identification information and information indicating the usage status of each type of input signal input to the display device used by the user or organization of the organization identification information are output, thereby making it possible to efficiently obtain the usage status of each type of input signal.

[0113] 7. Other Embodiments The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0114] In the above-described embodiment, an organization ID is set and the projectors 100 are managed for each organization, but the projectors 100 may be managed in groups arbitrarily set by the user. In this case, a group ID may be set in addition to the organization ID, and a projector ID may be registered for each group ID. Furthermore, a plurality of organizations may be set as partners, and each partner may manage the projector 100. Partners may include, for example, prefectures, cities, towns, and villages.

[0115] In the above-described embodiments, the management system 1 employing the projector 100 as an example of a display device has been described, but the display device to which the present disclosure is applicable is not limited to the projector 100. For example, the display device may be a liquid crystal display that displays images on a liquid crystal display panel. It may also be a display device that displays images on a plasma display panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel. In this case, the liquid crystal display panel, the plasma display panel, and the organic EL panel correspond to examples of a display unit.

[0116] Furthermore, there are no limitations on the configuration of the first control unit 110 and the second control unit 230, and they may be realized by a plurality of processors or a plurality of semiconductor devices.

[0117] Each functional unit of the projector 100 shown in FIG. 2 represents a functional configuration, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. Similarly, each functional unit of the information processing device 200 shown in FIG. 3 represents a functional configuration, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. Specifically, it is not necessary to implement hardware individually corresponding to each functional unit shown in each of the above figures, and it is of course possible to configure the system so that one processor executes a program to realize the functions of multiple functional units. Furthermore, some of the functions realized by software in each of the above embodiments may be realized by hardware, or some of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software.

[0118] 7, 8, 10, and 11 are divided into processing units according to the main processing content in order to facilitate understanding of the processing of the second control unit 230. The present invention is not limited by the manner in which the processing units of these flowcharts are divided or the names of the processing units. These processes can be divided into more processing units according to the processing content, or one processing unit can be divided so that it includes more processes. Furthermore, the processing order of the above flowcharts is not limited to the example shown in the figures. The same applies to the processing units of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0119] The control program 121 executed by the first control unit 110 and the control program 251 executed by the second control unit 230 can be recorded on a recording medium that is readable by the projector 100 or the information processing device 200, for example. The recording medium can be a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory device. Specific examples include portable or fixed recording media such as flexible disks, CD-ROMs (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), Blu-ray (registered trademark) Discs, magneto-optical disks, flash memories, and card-type recording media. Furthermore, the above-described control method can be realized by storing these programs in a server device or the like and downloading the control programs from the server device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1...management system, 5...remote control, 10...first organization, 20...second organization, 30...terminal device, 50...output terminal, 100, 100A, 100B, 100C projector, 110...first control unit, 121...control program, 122...projector ID, 123...model information, 124...authentication information, 130...first processor, 131...projection control unit, 132...information acquisition unit, 133...information transmission unit, 151...remote control light receiving unit, 152...first communication unit, 153...wireless Wired communication unit, 154...first image I / F, 155...second image I / F, 156...image processing unit, 157...projection unit, 200...information processing device, 205...bus, 210...second communication unit, 230...second control unit, 240...second processor, 241...acquisition unit, 242...processing unit, 243...output unit, 250...second memory unit, 251...control program, DB252...user management DB, 253...first usage status management DB, 254...second usage status management DB, NW...network.

Claims

1. acquiring type information indicating a type of an input signal input to a display device by the display device; transmitting device identification information for identifying the display device and the type information to an information processing device by the display device; causing the information processing device to associate the device identification information with the type information and store them in a storage unit; calculating, by the information processing device, information indicating a usage status of the input signal for each type indicated by the type information, for each of the device identification information; acquiring, from the storage unit by the information processing device, organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information of a user who uses the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs; outputting the tissue identification information and information indicating a usage status of the input signal; A method for managing a display device.

2. The acquiring of type information indicating the type of the input signal includes: acquiring information indicating an input status of the input signal; The transmitting step includes: transmitting the device identification information, the type information, and information indicating the input status to the information processing device; The calculating step includes: calculating, as information indicating a usage status of the input signal, a total time during which the input signal is input to the display device or an average time during which the input signal is input to the display device during a predetermined period, for each type of the input signal indicated by the type information, based on the information indicating the input status; The outputting step includes: outputting the total time or the average time as information indicating the usage status of the input signal. The display device management method according to claim 1.

3. The calculating step includes: calculating, as information indicating the usage status of the input signal, a total number of times the input signal has been input to the display device or an average value of the number of times the input signal has been input to the display device during a predetermined period, for each type of the input signal indicated by the type information; The outputting step includes: outputting the total number of times or an average value of the number of times the input signal is input as information indicating the usage status of the input signal; The display device management method according to claim 1.

4. the storage unit stores the organization identification information, the device identification information, and model information indicating a model of the display device corresponding to the device identification information in association with each other; The calculating step includes: the total time or the average time calculated for each type of input signal is calculated for each of the display devices associated with the same organization identification information and having the same model indicated by the model information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

5. the storage unit stores the organization identification information, the device identification information, and model information indicating a model of the display device corresponding to the device identification information in association with each other; The calculating step includes: the total number of times calculated for each type of input signal or the average value of the number of times the input signal is input to the display device is calculated for each of the display devices associated with the same organization identification information and having the same model indicated by the model information; 4. The display device management method according to claim 3, comprising:

6. Device identification information for identifying the display device is The display device management method according to claim 1 , wherein the display device management information includes a serial number assigned to the display device or model information indicating a model of the display device.

7. A management system including a display device and an information processing device, The display device includes: a first communication unit; The interface and a first control unit that acquires type information indicating a type of an input signal input to the interface, and transmits the acquired type information and device identification information that identifies the display device to the information processing device via the first communication unit; Equipped with The information processing device includes: A second communication unit; storing the device identification information and the type information received by the second communication unit in a storage unit in association with each other; calculating information indicating a usage status of the input signal for each type indicated by the type information by the information processing device for each of the device identification information; a second control unit that acquires, from the storage unit, organization identification information associated with the device identification information, the organization identification information being identification information for a user who uses the display device of the device identification information or an organization to which the display device belongs, and outputs the organization identification information and information indicating a usage status of the input signal; A management system comprising:

Images