Cloud-based monitoring and control device, cloud-compatible monitoring system, cloud-compatible monitoring method, and program

Abstract

To suppress the cost of a monitoring system that monitors a monitoring target with access to a cloud environment. [Solution] A cloud-based monitoring control device is configured with a status information selection unit that acquires status information indicating the status of the monitored object, and selects whether the status information accumulated in a first storage unit provided in an on-premise environment or the status information accumulated in a second storage unit provided in a cloud environment will be used to display the monitoring screen, based on the correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the acquired status information and the operation performed by the user on the monitored object.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cloud-based monitoring control device, a cloud-based monitoring system, a cloud-based monitoring method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known technology in which a monitoring and control system that locally controls infrastructure communicates with a server in a cloud computing system, accumulates sensing data in a cloud computing database, and retrieves information from the database (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 172088 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When monitoring production facilities, etc., costs are incurred due to accessing databases in a cloud environment, for example, and it is desirable to reduce such costs as much as possible.

[0005] The present invention aims to reduce the cost of a monitoring system that monitors a monitoring target with access to a cloud environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems is an in-cloud monitoring control device that acquires status information indicating the status of a monitored object, and has a status information selection unit that selects whether to use status information accumulated in a first storage unit provided in an on-premises environment or status information accumulated in a second storage unit provided in a cloud environment for displaying a monitoring screen based on the correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the acquired status information and operations performed by a user on the monitored object.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a cloud-compatible monitoring system comprising a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a monitoring control device, wherein the first storage unit stores status information indicating the status of a monitored object in an on-premises environment, and the second storage unit stores the status information in a cloud environment, and the monitoring control device comprises a status information selection unit that selects either the status information stored in the first storage unit or the status information stored in the second storage unit as the status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on a correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitored object.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a monitoring method in a monitoring system that includes a first storage unit that stores status information indicating the status of a monitored object in an on-premises environment and a second storage unit that stores the status information in a cloud environment, and is a cloud-compatible monitoring method that includes a status information selection step in which a status information selection unit selects either the status information stored in the first storage unit or the status information stored in the second storage unit as the status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on a correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitored object.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer serving as a cloud-based monitoring control device to function as a status information selection unit that acquires status information indicating the status of a monitored object, and selects whether the status information accumulated in a first storage unit provided in an on-premises environment or the status information accumulated in a second storage unit provided in a cloud environment will be used to display a monitoring screen based on the correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the acquired status information and operations performed by a user on the monitored object. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect of reducing the cost of a monitoring system that monitors a monitoring target while accessing a cloud environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure executed by the device, the on-premise monitoring system, and the cloud data storage unit in the first embodiment in relation to the storage of status information. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure for generating a trained model by the learning system, the remote monitoring device, and the cloud data storage unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of processing procedures executed by the remote monitoring device, the cloud monitoring control device, the on-premise monitoring system, the local data storage unit, and the cloud data storage unit in the first embodiment in response to the display of a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure for generating a trained model by a learning system, a remote monitoring device, and a cloud data storage unit in the third embodiment. [Figure 8] A diagram showing an example of processing procedures executed by a remote monitoring device, a cloud monitoring control device, an on-premise monitoring system, a local data storage unit, and a cloud data storage unit in the third embodiment in response to the display of a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] First Embodiment 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system according to this embodiment. The monitoring system according to this embodiment monitors the operating status of one or more predetermined devices 100 (examples of monitoring targets) installed at a site such as a production factory.

[0013] The device 100, on-premise monitoring system 200, on-premise monitoring device 300, edge terminal 400, cloud data storage unit 500, in-cloud monitoring control device 600 (an example of a monitoring control device), learning system 700, and remote monitoring device 800 shown in the figure may each be configured with hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive). The functions of each of the above systems and devices shown in the figure may be realized by the CPU and GPU provided in each system and device executing a program. Furthermore, systems such as the on-premise monitoring system 200 and the in-cloud monitoring and control device 600 may be configured so that multiple devices operate in cooperation with each other, or may be configured by a single device.

[0014] The device 100 is connected to an on-premise environment OP owned by a corresponding company. The on-premise environment OP shown in the figure is an example in which an on-premise monitoring system 200, an on-premise monitoring device 300, and an edge terminal 400 are provided as information processing facilities.

[0015] The on-premise monitoring system 200 is a system that executes processes related to monitoring of the device 100 in the on-premise environment OP. The on-premise monitoring system 200 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 201, a control unit 202, and a local data storage unit 203 (an example of a first storage unit).

[0016] The communication unit 201 is communicably connected to local devices such as the device 100 and the on-premise monitoring device 300 via a local network compatible with the on-premise environment OP. The communication unit 201 is also communicably connected to the cloud environment CL via the network. In this embodiment, the term "local" is a concept that includes the on-premise environment OP and the device 100 connected to the on-premise environment OP.

[0017] The control unit 202 executes various controls in the on-premise monitoring system 200 . The control unit 202 controls the local communication by the communication unit 201 and the communication with the cloud environment CL. The control unit 202 also controls the storage of data (status information (signal data) indicating the status of the device 100 ) in the local data storage unit 203 and the reading of data from the local data storage unit 203 . In addition, the control unit 202 causes the on-premise monitoring device 300 to display a monitoring screen that presents the status of the device 100 based on the status information stored in the local data storage unit 203.

[0018] The local data storage unit 203 stores local data. Here, local data refers to data that is stored locally. Specifically, the local data storage unit 203 stores status information acquired from the device 100 as local data.

[0019] The on-premise monitoring device 300 is communicably connected to the on-premise monitoring system 200 and displays a monitoring screen output from the on-premise monitoring system 200.

[0020] The edge terminal 400 is a terminal that can acquire status information from the device 100 and perform predetermined processing such as data processing and storage on the acquired status information before transmitting it to the cloud monitoring and control device 600. The edge terminal 400 has, as functional units, a communication unit 401, a control unit 402, and a local data storage unit 403 (second storage unit).

[0021] The communication unit 401 is communicably connected to a local device of the device 100 via a local network compatible with the on-premise environment OP, for example. The communication unit 401 is also communicably connected to a cloud environment CL via a network.

[0022] The control unit 402 executes various controls in the edge terminal 400 . The control unit 402 controls the local communication by the communication unit 401 and the communication with the cloud environment CL. The control unit 402 also controls the communication unit 401 to transmit the status information acquired from the device 100 to the cloud data storage unit 500 . The control unit 402 also controls the storage of local data such as status information in the local data storage unit 403 and the reading of data from the local data storage unit 403 .

[0023] The local data storage unit 403 acquires the status information from the device 100 and stores it as local data after performing predetermined processing as necessary.

[0024] The cloud environment CL includes a cloud data storage unit 500, a cloud monitoring and control device 600, and a learning system 700, which are provided on the cloud. The cloud data storage unit 500 stores, in the cloud environment CL, the status information transmitted from the on-premise monitoring system 200 and the edge terminal 400 in the on-premise environment OP as cloud data.

[0025] The in-cloud monitoring control device 600 is provided in the cloud environment CL. The in-cloud monitoring control device 600 is a system that performs control in response to monitoring of the devices 100 by a remote monitoring device 800 connected to the cloud environment CL. The in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may be operated by the same company that operates the production site where the devices 100 of this embodiment are operated. Furthermore, the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may be provided as a single device (monitoring control device).

[0026] The cloud monitoring and control device 600 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 601 and a control unit 602. The communication unit 601 is connected via a network to be able to communicate with the remote monitoring device 800, the on-premise monitoring system 200 in the on-premise environment OP, the edge terminal 400, and the like.

[0027] The control unit 602 executes various controls in the in-cloud monitoring and control device 600. The control unit 602 includes a status information selection unit 621 and a display control unit 622. The status information selection unit 621 selects whether the status information to be presented on the monitoring screen of the remote monitoring device 800 is the status information stored in the cloud data storage unit 500 of the cloud environment CL or the status information stored in the local data storage units 203, 403 of the on-premises environment OP.

[0028] The display control unit 622 executes control related to the display of a monitoring screen, etc., on the remote monitoring device 800. The display control unit 622 generates a monitoring screen based on the status information selected by the status information selection unit 621 from the status information acquired from the local data storage units 203, 403 and the status information acquired from the cloud data storage unit 500, and transmits the generated monitoring screen to the remote monitoring device 800.

[0029] The learning system 700 generates a trained model that is used by the state information selection unit 621 in the in-cloud monitoring and control device 600 to select state information.

[0030] The remote monitoring device 800 is a device configured to monitor the device 100, for example, at a location remote from the device 100. The remote monitoring device 800 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 801, a control unit 802, a storage unit 803, an operation unit 804, and a display unit 805.

[0031] The communication unit 801 is connected to the cloud environment CL via a network so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0032] The control unit 802 executes various controls in the remote monitoring device 800. The control unit 802 controls communication by the communication unit 801 via the network. Furthermore, the control unit 802 controls the storage (writing) and reading of data in the storage unit 803 . Furthermore, the control unit 802 transmits a command for controlling the device 100 from the cloud environment CL to the on-premises monitoring system 200 in the on-premises environment OP or the edge terminal 400 in response to an operation on the operation unit 804 by the user who is the monitor, the operation unit 804 being the target of the device 100. By transmitting the command in this manner, the control unit 802 can control the operation of the device 100 in response to the user's operation.

[0033] The storage unit 803 stores various types of information corresponding to the remote monitoring device 800. The storage unit 803 includes an operation history information storage unit 831. The operation history information storage unit 831 stores operation history information. The operation history information is information indicating a history of operations on the device 100 performed by the user using the operation unit 804.

[0034] The operation unit 804 includes operators and input devices provided in the remote monitoring device 800, and outputs operation information to the control unit 802 according to operations performed on the operators and input devices.

[0035] The display unit 805 displays the generated monitoring screen.

[0036] 2, an example of a processing procedure executed by the device 100, the on-premise monitoring system 200 (or the edge terminal 400), and the cloud data storage unit 500 in relation to the accumulation of status information will be described. The processing of steps S104 and S106 in the figure is the same for the on-premise monitoring system 200 and the edge terminal 400. The following describes an example in which the on-premise monitoring system 200 executes the processing.

[0037] Step S100: The device 100 acquires, as status information, detection information from sensors provided therein, measurement results from measuring instruments, and the like.

[0038] Step S102: The device 100 transmits the status information acquired in step S100. The processing of steps S100 and S102 may be executed in response to a request from the on-premise monitoring system 200, or may be executed periodically at regular intervals.

[0039] Step S104: The control unit 202 of the on-premise monitoring system 200 stores the status information transmitted in step S102 in the local data storage unit 203. By storing the status information acquired from each of the devices 100 in the local data storage unit 203 in this manner, the status information for each device 100 is accumulated in the local data storage unit 203.

[0040] Step S106: The control unit 202 transmits, at a predetermined timing, to the cloud data storage unit 500, the status information that has been stored in the local data storage unit 203 and has not yet been transmitted to the cloud data storage unit 500.

[0041] Step S108: The cloud data storage unit 500 stores the status information transmitted in step S106. In this manner, the cloud data storage unit 500 stores the status information.

[0042] Referring to the sequence diagram of Figure 3, an example of a processing procedure for the learning system 700, the remote monitoring device 800, and the cloud data storage unit 500 to generate a trained model to be used by the status information selection unit 621 of the cloud monitoring control device 600 will be described.

[0043] Step S200: When generating (or updating) a trained model, the learning system 700 transmits a request for operation history information to the remote monitoring device 800.

[0044] Step S202: In the remote monitoring device 800, the control unit 802 transmits the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit 831 to the learning system 700 in response to the operation history information request transmitted in step S200.

[0045] Step S204: The learning system 700 acquires the operation history information transmitted in step S202.

[0046] Step S206: The learning system 700 also transmits a status information request to the cloud data storage unit 500.

[0047] Step S208: The cloud data storage unit 500 transmits the state information it has stored to the learning system 700 in response to the state information request transmitted in step S206.

[0048] Step S210: The learning system 700 acquires the state information sent in step S208.

[0049] The order of transmission of the operation history information request in step S200 and transmission of the state information request in step S206 executed by the learning system 700 may be reversed.

[0050] Step S212: The learning system 700 executes a learning process. That is, the learning system 700 inputs the operation history information acquired in step S204 and the state information acquired in step S210 into a learning device. The operation history information includes, for example, information (device ID) indicating the device 100 that was the target of operation, the time when the operation was performed, information indicating the operation content, etc. The status information includes the device ID indicating the corresponding device 100 and information indicating the status of the corresponding device 100 at each time. The learning device generates a trained model that learns the correlation between the state of each device 100 and the operation performed by the user based on the input operation history information and state information. Such a trained model can output, as an estimation result, the degree of possibility (for example, probability or likelihood) that the user will perform an operation corresponding to the state of the device 100 indicated by the input state information. The higher the possibility that the user will perform an operation, the higher the possibility that an abnormal state has occurred in the corresponding device 100, the higher the degree of the abnormality that has occurred, and the higher the need for an emergency response.

[0051] Step S214: The learning system 700 deploys the trained model generated by the learning process in step S212. By deploying the trained model, the state information selection unit 621 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 can use the trained model when selecting state information.

[0052] Referring to the sequence diagram of Figure 4, an example of processing procedures executed by the remote monitoring device 800, the cloud monitoring control device 600, the on-premises monitoring system 200, the local data storage unit (203, 403), and the cloud data storage unit 500 in response to the display of a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device 800 will be described.

[0053] Step S300: The user of the remote monitoring device 800 performs an operation (monitoring screen display operation) to display a new monitoring screen on the display unit 805. If, for example, multiple monitoring screens each showing the status of a different device 100 are prepared, the monitoring screen display operation may also include an operation to specify the monitoring screen to be displayed, for example, by a screen number. In response to a monitoring screen display operation, the control unit 802 of the remote monitoring device 800 transmits a new monitoring screen request to the cloud monitoring control device.

[0054] Step S302: In response to receiving the new monitoring screen request sent in step S300, the display control unit 622 of the cloud monitoring control device 600 sends a status information request to the cloud data storage unit 500. The status information request sent in step S302 requests transmission of status information used to form a new monitoring screen to be displayed.

[0055] Step S304: The cloud data storage unit 500 searches the status information stored therein for the status information specified by the status information request sent in step S302. The cloud data storage unit 500 sends the searched status information to the cloud monitoring control device 600.

[0056] Step S306: The display control unit 622 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 uses the status information transmitted in step S304 to generate screen information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen.

[0057] Step S308: The display control unit 622 transmits the screen information generated in step S306 to the remote monitoring device 800.

[0058] Step S310: In the remote monitoring device 800, the control unit 802 uses the screen information transmitted in step S308 to newly display a monitoring screen on the display unit 805.

[0059] The processing of steps S320 to S336 is a loop process that is repeatedly executed every time the screen is updated after a new monitoring screen is displayed in step S310.

[0060] Step S320: In the in-cloud monitoring control device 600, the display control unit 622 waits for a screen update trigger to occur, which causes the currently displayed monitoring screen to be updated. The screen update trigger may be generated, for example, at regular intervals. Alternatively, the screen update trigger may be generated in response to a user's operation to update the monitoring screen. When a screen update trigger occurs, the display control unit 622 accepts the generated screen update trigger.

[0061] Step S322: In response to the acceptance of the screen update trigger generated in step S320, the status information selection unit 621 of the cloud monitoring control device 600 retrieves the status information used to generate the monitoring screen currently being displayed on the remote monitoring device 800.

[0062] Step S324: The state information selection unit 621 inputs the state information acquired in step S322 into the trained model deployed by the learning system 700. The trained model outputs the degree of possibility that the user of the remote monitoring device 800 will perform an operation as an estimation result corresponding to the state of the device 100 indicated by the input state information. The state information selection unit 621 converts the estimation result of the trained model into, for example, a number of points (points), thereby calculating an index value (operability index value) that quantifies the degree of possibility that the user will perform an operation.

[0063] Step S326: The state information selection unit 621 compares the operability index value calculated in step S324 with a predetermined threshold value. If the comparison with the threshold value shows that the operability index value is less than the threshold value, the status information selection unit 621 selects the status information stored in the local data storage units 203, 403 of the on-premise environment OP (on-premise monitoring system 200, edge terminal 400) as the status information to be used for the monitoring screen to be updated this time. In response to this selection result, the display control unit 622 transmits a status information request to the local data storage units 203, 403.

[0064] Step S328: In response to the status information request sent in step S326, the local data storage units 203 and 403 send the status information stored therein to the in-cloud monitoring and control device 600.

[0065] Step S330: On the other hand, if the state information selection unit 621 compares the operability index value calculated in step S324 with a predetermined threshold and finds that the operability index value is equal to or greater than the threshold, the state information selection unit 621 selects the state information stored in the cloud data storage unit 500 as the state information to be used for the monitoring screen to be updated this time. In response to this selection result, the display control unit 622 transmits a state information request to the cloud data storage unit 500.

[0066] Step S332: The cloud data storage unit 500 transmits the status information stored therein to the intra-cloud monitoring and control device 600 in response to the status information request transmitted in step S330.

[0067] Step S334: The display control unit 622 uses the status information sent in step S328 or step S332 to generate screen information for the monitoring screen according to the current update.

[0068] Step S336: The display control unit 622 transmits the screen information generated in step S334 to the remote monitoring device 800.

[0069] Step S338: In the remote monitoring device 800, the control unit 802 updates the monitoring screen displayed on the display unit 805 using the screen information transmitted in step S336.

[0070] According to the explanation so far, in the monitoring system of this embodiment, when updating and displaying the monitoring screen displayed on the remote monitoring device 800, if the operability index value, which indicates the degree of possibility that the user will operate the device 100, is below a certain level, the monitoring screen generated using the status information acquired from the local data storage unit 203 is displayed. On the other hand, if the operability index value is above a certain level, the monitoring screen generated using the status information acquired from the cloud data storage unit 500 is displayed.

[0071] In this embodiment, for example, an existing cloud service may be used as the cloud data storage unit 500. When an existing cloud service is used as the cloud data storage unit 500 in this way, a predetermined usage fee is charged each time the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 accesses the cloud data storage unit 500 to obtain status information used to generate a monitoring screen. On the other hand, the cloud monitoring control device 600 and the on-premise monitoring system 200 and edge terminal 400 in the on-premise environment OP are operated by the same company. Therefore, when the cloud monitoring control device 600 accesses the local data storage units 203, 403 to acquire status information, the above-mentioned usage fee is not incurred.

[0072] Furthermore, with regard to the real-time display of the monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device 800, it is more advantageous for the cloud monitoring control device 600 to access the cloud data storage unit 500 to obtain status information than for the cloud monitoring control device 600 to access the local data storage units 203, 403. Communication with the on-premise monitoring system 200 and edge terminal 400 equipped with the local data storage units 203 and 403 is periodic, for example by polling, and therefore there is a waiting time until communication becomes possible. In contrast, the cloud data storage unit 500 is instantly accessible.

[0073] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the device 100 is in a normal state where the user does not need to operate the device 100 and the operability index value is less than the threshold, the cloud monitoring control device 600 uses the status information acquired from the local data storage units 203, 403 of the on-premises environment OP to display a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device 800. In other words, when the device 100 is in a normal state, access to the cloud data storage unit 500 is not performed, thereby suppressing the usage fee for the cloud data storage unit 500 and reducing the cost required for displaying the monitoring screen.

[0074] On the other hand, when the operability index value is equal to or greater than the threshold value and some abnormality has occurred in the device 100, requiring the user to operate the device 100, the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 switches the access destination from the local data storage units 203, 403 to the cloud data storage unit 500 to acquire status information. The in-cloud monitoring control device 600 uses the status information acquired from the cloud data storage unit 500 to display a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device 800. By displaying the monitoring screen using the status information acquired from the cloud data storage unit 500 in this way, the real-time presentation of the status of the device 100 on the monitoring screen is improved, allowing the user to respond quickly to the occurrence of an abnormality.

[0075] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig. 5 shows an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system in this embodiment. In Fig. 5, the same parts as in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and differences from Fig. 1 will be mainly described here.

[0076] 5, the control unit 602 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 further includes a cost calculation unit 623. The cost calculation unit 623 calculates the cost (running cost) required for the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 to acquire status information used to display a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device 800. Specifically, the cost calculation unit 623 calculates, as the cost, a cost (first cost) resulting from a usage fee incurred in response to access to the cloud data storage unit 500. The first cost may be calculated based on, for example, information on the fee structure of the cloud data storage unit 500 and information related to fee calculation, such as the number of accesses and access data volume to the cloud data storage unit 500 from the intra-cloud monitoring control device 600 during a predetermined past period. Alternatively, the cost calculation unit 623 may obtain fee information provided by the operator of the cloud data storage unit 500, and calculate the first cost based on the obtained fee information. Furthermore, when the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 acquires status information from the local data storage units 203, 403, there is no charge for access as with the cloud data storage unit 500, but a fee is charged according to, for example, the amount of communication data used over the network. Therefore, the cost calculation unit 623 calculates, as the status information acquisition cost, a cost (second cost) based on the fee incurred in response to communication for the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 to acquire status information from the local data storage units 203, 403 during a predetermined past period.

[0077] The processing procedure executed by the monitoring system of this embodiment in relation to the display of the monitoring screen may be the same as that shown in Fig. 4. Then, the status information selection unit 621 in the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 determines whether to select the local data storage unit 203, 403 or the cloud data storage unit 500 as the status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen, taking into consideration the operability index value calculated in step S324 as well as the cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 623.

[0078] Specifically, the threshold value used in the branching process of steps S326 to S332 may be changed by the state information selection unit 621 based on the cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 623. For example, the state information selection unit 621 may increase the threshold value as the cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 623 (first cost, second cost) increases. For example, when a certain predetermined operability index value is compared with a standard threshold or higher, it is found to be equal to or higher than the standard threshold, resulting in the state information selection unit 621 selecting the state information of the cloud data storage unit 500. However, if the threshold is set higher than the standard in response to a high calculated cost, the predetermined operability index value becomes less than the threshold, causing the state information selection unit 621 to select the state information of the local data storage unit 203, 403. In other words, in this embodiment, when the cost is high and the likelihood of the user performing an operation is low as a level of abnormality, the state information of the local data storage unit 203, 403 is selected taking the cost into consideration. With this configuration, this embodiment aims to reduce the cost associated with acquiring state information.

[0079] The cost calculation section 623 may calculate either the first cost or the second cost, and the state information selection section 621 may change the threshold value based on the calculated first cost or second cost. In addition, instead of changing the threshold value based on the cost, the status information selection unit 621 may, for example, change the operability index value based on the status information based on the cost calculated by the cost calculation unit 623, and select the status information by comparing the changed operability index value with the threshold value.

[0080] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 shows an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system in this embodiment. In Fig. 6, the same parts as in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and differences from Fig. 1 will be mainly described here.

[0081] 6, the remote monitoring device 800 is provided with a user information storage unit 832. The user information storage unit 832 stores user information for each user who operates the remote monitoring device 800. The user information may be, for example, a user ID that uniquely identifies the corresponding user. Furthermore, the user information may include, in addition to the user ID, the name, the department or division (group) to which the user belongs, and the user's work history.

[0082] The criteria for determining the state of the device 100 that the user should operate differs for each user. Therefore, in this embodiment, the monitoring system of this embodiment uses user information stored in the user information storage unit 832 in addition to operation history information and state information when generating a trained model to be used by the state information selection unit 621 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600. The multiple trained models generated in this manner can estimate the degree of possibility of an operation being performed in response to input of user information and state information, such that the user's judgment criteria corresponding to the input user information are reflected.

[0083] An example of a processing procedure for generating a trained model by the learning system 700, the remote monitoring device 800, and the cloud data storage unit 500 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

[0084] Step S400: When generating (or updating) a trained model, the learning system 700 transmits a user-related information request to the remote monitoring device 800. In this embodiment, the user-related information includes user information and operation history information.

[0085] Step S402: In response to the user-related information request transmitted in step S400, the control unit 802 in the remote monitoring device 800 acquires the operation history information of each user stored in the operation history information storage unit 831. The control unit 802 also acquires the user information of each user stored in the user information storage unit 832. The control unit 802 transmits the user-related information, including the acquired operation history information and user information, to the learning system 700.

[0086] Step S404: The learning system 700 obtains the user-related information sent in step S402.

[0087] Step S406: The learning system 700 also transmits a status information request to the cloud data storage unit 500.

[0088] Step S408: The cloud data storage unit 500 transmits the state information it has stored to the learning system 700 in response to the state information request transmitted in step S406.

[0089] Step S410: The learning system 700 acquires the state information sent in step S408.

[0090] The order of the transmission of the user-related information request in step S400 and the transmission of the status information request in step S406 executed by the learning system 700 may be reversed.

[0091] Step S412: The learning system 700 executes a learning process. That is, the learning system 700 inputs the operation history information and user information included in the user-related information acquired in step S404 and the state information acquired in step S410 into a learning device. The learning device generates a trained model that learns the correlation between the state of each device 100 and the operation performed by the target user based on the input operation history information, user information, and state information. In response to input of the state information and user information, such a trained model can output, as an estimation result, the degree of likelihood that the user corresponding to the input user information will perform the operation, in accordance with the state of the device 100 indicated by the input state information.

[0092] Step S414: The learning system 700 deploys the trained model generated by the learning process of step S412.

[0093] Referring to the sequence diagram of Figure 8, an example of processing procedures executed by the remote monitoring device 800, the cloud monitoring control device 600, the on-premises monitoring system 200, the local data storage unit (203, 403), and the cloud data storage unit 500 in response to the display of a monitoring screen on the remote monitoring device 800 will be described.

[0094] The processing in steps S500 to S538 in FIG. 8 is the same as that in steps S300 to S338 in FIG. However, the new monitoring screen request sent in step S500 includes the user ID of the user currently in charge of monitoring by the remote monitoring device 800. The user may input their own user ID into the remote monitoring device 800 when starting to take charge of monitoring by the remote monitoring device 800. Also, in step S522, the status information selection unit 621 of the cloud monitoring control device 600 retrieves the status information used to generate the monitoring screen currently being displayed on the remote monitoring device 800, and also retrieves the user ID included in the new monitoring screen request sent in step S500. In step S524, the state information selection unit 621 inputs the state information and user information acquired in step S522 into the trained model. In this case, the trained model outputs, as an estimation result, the degree of likelihood that a user corresponding to the input user information will perform an operation depending on the state of the device 100. The state information selection unit 621 converts the degree of likelihood obtained as an estimation result of the trained model into an operability index value. The user information acquired in step S522 indicates the user currently in charge of the remote monitoring device 800. Therefore, the operability index value in this case indicates, as a numerical value, the degree of possibility that the user currently in charge of the remote monitoring device 800 will perform an operation in accordance with the current state of the corresponding device 100. By comparing such an operability index value with a threshold, the selection of status information in accordance with the state of the device 100 becomes closer to the judgment criteria of the user currently in charge of the remote monitoring device 800.

[0095] The configuration of the third embodiment may be combined with the configuration of the second embodiment described above.

[0096] <Modification> Modifications of the above embodiments will be described below. [First Modification] When the operability index value, which is the degree of possibility of operating the device 100 by the in-cloud monitoring control device 600, is below the threshold, a monitoring screen is displayed based on the status information of the local data storage units 203, 403. However, even in this state, for some reason, there may be cases where the user in charge of monitoring by the remote monitoring device 800 wants to check the status of the device 100 in real time. To cope with such a case, the remote monitoring device 800 may be configured to be able to transmit a real-time instruction to instruct the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 to display the monitoring screen in real time in response to a user operation. The real-time instruction may be performed, for example, as an operation on a real-time instruction button arranged at a predetermined position on the monitoring screen. In response to receiving the real-time instruction, the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may execute the processes of steps S330, S332, S334, and S336 in Fig. 3. In other words, the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may perform control so that a monitoring screen using the status information stored in the cloud data storage unit 500 is displayed on the remote monitoring device 800.

[0097] In this case, when updating the monitoring screen thereafter, for example, the processes of steps S320 to S338 in Fig. 3 may be executed. That is, the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may select either the status information of the local data storage units 203, 403 or the status information of the cloud data storage unit 500 according to the status of the device 100, and then update the monitoring screen based on the selected status information. Alternatively, the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may update the monitoring screen with the status information of the cloud data storage unit 500 until an operation to cancel the real-time instruction is performed on the remote monitoring device 800.

[0098] [Second Modification] The trained model of the learning system 700 may be constructed to estimate the degree of abnormality of the device 100 based on inputs such as a sensor detection value or a measurement value of a measuring instrument indicated by the status information of the device 100, instead of the degree of possibility of operating the device 100. In this case, the status information selection unit 621 may select, based on the degree of abnormality of the device 100 estimated by the trained model, whether to use the status information stored in the local data storage units 203, 403 or the status information stored in the cloud data storage unit 500 as the status information to be used on the monitoring screen.

[0099] [Third Modification] In each of the above embodiments, the status information selection unit 621 uses a trained model when selecting status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen. In this modification, instead of the trained model, the status information selection unit 621 may use, for example, table information that associates the status of the device 100 with acquisition source information indicating whether the cloud data storage unit 500 or the local data storage unit 203, 403 is the source from which the status information corresponding to the status of the device 100 was acquired. The table information may be stored by the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 in the cloud environment CL, for example. When updating the monitoring screen, the status information selection unit 621 may refer to the table information to determine whether the source of the status information corresponding to the status of the device 100 indicated by the status information corresponding to the currently displayed monitoring screen is the cloud data storage unit 500 or the local data storage unit 203, 403.

[0100] [Fourth Modification] In a predetermined manner, the monitoring screen currently displayed on the remote monitoring device 800 may be displayed (status information identification display) to indicate whether the monitoring screen was generated based on status information acquired from the local data storage units 203, 403 or based on status information acquired from the cloud data storage unit 500. Such status information identification display may be included in the screen information when the display control unit 622 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 generates the screen information, or may be superimposed on the monitoring screen by referring to the metadata of the screen information transmitted by the remote monitoring device 800.

[0101] [Fifth Modification] Furthermore, a certain amount of processing time may be required from when the cloud monitoring control device 600 receives a screen update trigger through the processing of FIG. 4 or FIG. 8 until the remote monitoring device 800 updates the display on the monitoring screen. To cope with such a case, the display control unit 622 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 may perform control so that, at the timing when processing corresponding to the monitoring screen update is started in response to a screen update trigger, a message informing the monitor that the in-cloud monitoring control device 600 is currently executing processing corresponding to the monitoring screen update, such as "calculating" or "waiting for screen update", is displayed on the display unit 805 of the remote monitoring device 800. Furthermore, in response to updating the monitoring screen, the display control unit 622 may display a message informing the monitor that the monitoring screen update has been completed, such as "screen update completed". Furthermore, the display of such a message on the display unit 805 of the remote monitoring device 800 may be executed by the control unit 802 of the remote monitoring device 800, rather than by the display control of the display control unit 622 of the in-cloud monitoring control device 600. In this case, a screen update trigger may be generated by the remote monitoring device 800, and the control unit 802 may display, in response to the generation of the screen update trigger, a message on the display unit 805 notifying that the screen update process is being executed by the in-cloud monitoring control device 600, and, in response to the monitoring screen being updated, display a message notifying that the screen update has been completed. By displaying such a message, the user as the monitor can grasp the update status of the monitoring screen after the remote monitoring device 800 has sent a new monitoring screen request.

[0102] Note that a program for implementing the functions of each system, device, etc. provided in the monitoring system of each of the above embodiments may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed to perform the processing of each of the above systems, devices, etc. Here, "loading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program on a computer system. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. The term "computer system" may also include multiple computer devices connected via a network, including communication lines such as the Internet, WAN, LAN, and dedicated lines. The term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as floppy disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Thus, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium may also include internal or external recording media accessible from a distribution server to distribute the program. The program code stored on the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the program code executable on a terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored on the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that is executable on the terminal device. The program may be divided into multiple parts, each of which may be downloaded at different times and then combined on the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes a storage medium that stores a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory (RAM) within a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted over a network. The program may also be one that realizes part of the functions described above.Furthermore, the above-mentioned functions may be realized in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program).

[0103] <Additional Notes> (1) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-based monitoring and control device that acquires status information indicating the status of a monitored object, and has a status information selection unit that selects whether to use status information accumulated in a first storage unit provided in an on-premises environment or status information accumulated in a second storage unit provided in a cloud environment for displaying a monitoring screen based on a correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the acquired status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitored object.

[0104] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the in-cloud monitoring control device described in (1), wherein the status information selection unit may select the status information to be used to display the monitoring screen based on the results of a trained model that has learned the correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the status information and the operation performed by the user, estimating the degree of likelihood that an operation will be performed in response to the input status information.

[0105] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the in-cloud monitoring control device described in (2), wherein the status information selection unit may select status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen based on the result of comparing an index value indicating the degree of likelihood of the operation estimated by the trained model with a threshold value.

[0106] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the in-cloud monitoring control device described in (1), wherein the status information selection unit may select the status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen by referring to table information that associates either the status information stored in the first storage unit or the status information stored in the second storage unit as the status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen for each combination pattern of status information and operations performed by the user.

[0107] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-based monitoring and control device described in any one of (1) to (4), further comprising a cost calculation unit that calculates a first cost corresponding to the amount of data access to the second storage unit, and the status information selection unit may select status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen based on the correlation and the first cost.

[0108] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-based monitoring and control device described in any one of (1) to (5), further comprising a cost calculation unit that calculates a second cost corresponding to communication between a monitoring and control system in a cloud environment and a monitoring system provided in the on-premises environment, and the status information selection unit may select status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on the correlation and the second cost calculated by the cost calculation unit.

[0109] (7) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-based monitoring and control device described in any one of (1) to (6), wherein the status information selection unit may select status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen based on the correlation and user information regarding the user operating the monitored object.

[0110] (8) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-based monitoring control device described in any one of (1) to (7), wherein the monitoring screen may include a status information identification display indicating whether the monitoring screen is being displayed based on status information stored in the first storage unit or the second storage unit.

[0111] (9) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud monitoring control device described in any one of (1) to (8), which may further include a display control unit that controls the display unit to display an indication that a process to update the monitoring screen is being executed when a process to update the monitoring screen displayed on the display unit is being executed. 5. The monitoring and control device according to claim 1.

[0112] (10) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-based monitoring control device described in any one of (1) to (9), wherein the status information selection unit may further include a display control unit that selects status information stored in the second storage unit provided in the cloud environment in response to an instruction to display the monitoring screen in real time, and controls the display of the monitoring screen based on the selected status information.

[0113] (11) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-compatible monitoring system comprising a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a cloud-based monitoring control device, wherein the first storage unit stores status information indicating the status of a monitored object in an on-premise environment, the second storage unit stores the status information in a cloud environment, and the monitoring control device comprises a status information selection unit that selects either the status information stored in the first storage unit or the status information stored in the second storage unit as the status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on a correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitored object.

[0114] (12) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-compatible monitoring system as described in (11), which is provided with an on-premises monitoring system that performs processing related to monitoring of a specified monitoring target in the on-premises environment, and the first storage unit may store status information obtained by the on-premises monitoring system from the specified monitoring target.

[0115] (13) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-enabled monitoring system as described in (11) or (12), which includes an edge terminal capable of performing predetermined processing on status information acquired from a specified monitoring target in the on-premises environment, and the first storage unit may store the status information acquired by the edge terminal from the specified monitoring target.

[0116] (14) One aspect of this embodiment is a cloud-compatible monitoring method in a monitoring system including a first storage unit that stores status information indicating the status of a monitored object in an on-premises environment and a second storage unit that stores the status information in a cloud environment, wherein a status information selection unit selects either the status information stored in the first storage unit or the status information stored in the second storage unit as the status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on a correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitored object.

[0117] (15) One aspect of this embodiment is a program for causing a computer serving as a cloud-based monitoring control device to function as a status information selection unit that acquires status information indicating the status of a monitored object, and selects whether the status information accumulated in a first storage unit provided in an on-premise environment or the status information accumulated in a second storage unit provided in a cloud environment is to be used for displaying a monitoring screen, based on the correlation between the status of the monitored object indicated by the acquired status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitored object. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 100 Equipment, 200 On-premise monitoring system, 201 Communication unit, 202 Control unit, 203 Local data storage unit, 300 On-premise monitoring device, 400 Edge terminal, 401 Communication unit, 402 Control unit, 403 Local data storage unit, 500 Cloud data storage unit, 600 Cloud monitoring control device, 601 Communication unit, 602 Control unit, 621 Status information selection unit, 622 Display control unit, 623 Cost calculation unit, 700 Learning system, 800 Remote monitoring device, 801 Communication unit, 802 Control unit, 803 Memory unit, 804 Operation unit, 805 Display unit, 831 Operation history information memory unit, 832 User information memory unit

Claims

1. a status information selection unit that acquires status information indicating the status of a monitoring target, and selects, based on a correlation between the status of the monitoring target indicated by the acquired status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitoring target, whether the status information accumulated by a first storage unit provided in the on-premise environment or the status information accumulated by a second storage unit provided in the cloud environment is to be used for displaying the monitoring screen; A cloud-based monitoring and control device.

2. The state information selection unit selects state information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen based on a result of a trained model that has learned a correlation between the state of the monitored object indicated by the state information and an operation performed by a user estimating the degree of likelihood that an operation will be performed in response to the input state information. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

3. The state information selection unit selects state information to be used for displaying on a monitoring screen based on a result of comparing an index value indicating a degree of likelihood of the operation estimated by the trained model with a threshold. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 2 .

4. The status information selection unit selects status information to be used for displaying the monitoring screen by referring to table information that associates either the status information stored in the first storage unit or the status information stored in the second storage unit with each other, for each combination pattern of status information and an operation performed by a user. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

5. a cost calculation unit that calculates a first cost corresponding to an amount of data access to the second storage unit; The status information selection unit selects status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on the correlation and the first cost. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

6. a cost calculation unit that calculates a second cost corresponding to communication between the monitoring and control system in the cloud environment and the monitoring system provided in the on-premise environment; The status information selection unit selects status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on the correlation and the second cost calculated by the cost calculation unit. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

7. The status information selection unit selects status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen based on the correlation and user information relating to a user who operates the monitoring target. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

8. The monitoring screen includes a status information identification display indicating whether the monitoring screen is being displayed based on status information stored in the first storage unit or the second storage unit. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

9. The display control unit controls the display unit to display a message indicating that the process of updating the monitoring screen is being executed when the process of updating the monitoring screen displayed on the display unit is being executed. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

10. the status information selection unit selects status information to be stored in the second storage unit provided in a cloud environment in response to receiving an instruction to display the status information on a monitoring screen in real time; The display control unit controls the display of a monitoring screen based on the selected status information. The cloud monitoring and control device according to claim 1 .

11. a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a monitoring control device; the first storage unit stores status information indicating a status of a monitoring target in an on-premise environment; the second storage unit stores the status information in a cloud environment; The monitoring control device includes a status information selection unit that selects one of the status information stored in the first storage unit and the status information stored in the second storage unit as status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen, based on a correlation between a status of the monitoring target indicated by status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitoring target. Cloud-enabled surveillance system.

12. an on-premise monitoring system that performs processing related to monitoring of a predetermined monitoring target in the on-premise environment; The first storage unit stores status information acquired by the on-premise monitoring system from the predetermined monitoring target. The cloud-enabled monitoring system of claim 11 .

13. an edge terminal capable of performing predetermined processing on status information acquired from a predetermined monitoring target in the on-premise environment; The first storage unit stores status information acquired by the edge terminal from the predetermined monitoring target. The cloud-enabled monitoring system according to claim 11 or 12.

14. A monitoring method in a monitoring system including a first storage unit that stores status information indicating a status of a monitoring target in an on-premise environment and a second storage unit that stores the status information in a cloud environment, a status information selection step in which a status information selection unit selects one of the status information stored in the first storage unit and the status information stored in the second storage unit as status information to be used for displaying a monitoring screen, based on a correlation between a status of the monitoring target indicated by the status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitoring target; Cloud-enabled monitoring methods, including:

15. A computer as a monitoring and control device in the cloud a status information selection unit that acquires status information indicating the status of a monitoring target, and selects, based on a correlation between the status of the monitoring target indicated by the acquired status information and an operation performed by a user on the monitoring target, whether the status information accumulated by a first storage unit provided in the on-premise environment or the status information accumulated by a second storage unit provided in the cloud environment is to be used for displaying the monitoring screen; A program to function as a

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