Operational information management program, operation information management method, and information processing device

Abstract

To prevent equipment from being affected during a contract period.SOLUTION: A storage unit 11 stores contract information 11a indicating the time when a rental contract for each of a plurality of devices in a system 20 including the plurality of devices lent to a user terminates and communication route information indicating communication routes between the devices in the plurality of devices. A processing unit 12 determines a second device affected by the termination of the contract of a first device at a first time point among the plurality of devices to output the information indicating the effect on the second device based on the contract information 11a and the communication route information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation information management program, an operation information management method, and an information processing apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] A form called subscription is sometimes used when a user uses a product or service. A subscription is a form of product / service usage in which a business providing a product or service collects a fee from the user for each contracted period and grants the user the right to use the product or service during that period.

[0003] For example, there has been a proposal for an e-learning device that manages contract information, including the contract start month, contract period, and expected end date, for customers who use e-learning SaaS (Software as a Service) services.

[0004] There has also been proposed a charging system that generates policies regarding dynamic or static charging in accordance with contract information stored in a Subscription Profile Repository (SPR) and some local policies set by an operator.

[0005] Additionally, an apparatus has been proposed that provides a granular view of each network device in a network by grouping network device resources and limiting a user's access to those resources that correspond to group names listed in the user's profile. With the proposed apparatus, a customer's view is limited to only those network device resources to which he or she subscribes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-84271 A [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2016-509789 [Patent Document 3] Special Publication No. 2003-534748 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An information processing system or a service in an information processing system used by a user may be operated by multiple devices rented under a rental contract. The rental contract periods for each of the multiple devices are often different. For this reason, when a device becomes unavailable due to the expiration of the rental contract period, it may affect the operation of other devices or services whose rental contract periods have not yet expired.

[0008] According to one aspect, the present invention has an object to provide an operation information management program, an operation information management method, and an information processing device that prevent influence on a device during a contract period. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one embodiment, an operation information management program is provided. The operation information management program is for a computer to manage an operation information of a system including a plurality of devices lent to a user. The opportunity Communication path information showing the communication path between devices To based on, The system identifies, among the multiple devices, devices that are lower than a first device and devices that are higher than the first device, and based on contract information indicating the contract end point at which the rental contract for each of the multiple devices ends, identifies at least one of a second device among the lower devices whose contract end point is later than the first contract end point of the first device and a third device among the higher devices whose contract end point is earlier than the first contract end point, and outputs at least one of information indicating a first impact that the second device will be unable to properly perform a service due to the end of the contract for the first device and information indicating a second impact that the first device will be unable to properly perform a service due to the end of the contract for the third device.

[0010] In one aspect, an operation information management method is provided. In one aspect, an information processing device is provided. Effect of the Invention

[0011] On the one hand, it prevents any impact to the equipment during the contract period. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an information processing system according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of hardware of a contract management server. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of a contract management server and a device management server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of network route information. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of contract information. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an influence determination information table. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an influence range display screen. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a device management server. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a contract management server. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an effect determination control process. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a child device information addition control process. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a child device determination process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First embodiment] A first embodiment will be described.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. The information processing device 10 manages operation information of multiple devices provided by subscription. For example, the information processing device 10 manages devices included in a system 20 operated by a user. The information processing device 10 is connected to the system 20 via a network. The network may be a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet. In one example, the system 20 includes devices 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. The devices 21 to 26 are, for example, a server computer, a storage device, a router, and a switch.

[0015] The devices 21 to 26 are rented to users by businesses. The period during which the users can use each of the devices 21 to 26 is determined for each device by a contract between the business and the user. For this reason, the period during which the users can use the devices 21 to 26 may differ for each device.

[0016] The information processing device 10 has a storage unit 11 and a processing unit 12. The storage unit 11 may be a volatile storage device such as a random access memory (RAM), or a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory. The processing unit 12 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or the like. The processing unit 12 may be a processor that executes a program. The "processor" may be a collection of multiple processors (multiprocessor).

[0017] The information processing device 10 is connected to a display device 30. The display device 30 displays an image corresponding to image information output by the information processing device 10. The display device 30 may be connected to another information processing device that communicates with the information processing device 10 via a network.

[0018] The storage unit 11 stores contract information 11a indicating the end time of the lease contract for each of the plurality of devices in the system 20. The contract information 11a is information indicating the content of the contract according to the contract between the operator and the user, and is stored in the storage unit 11 in advance. Here, let the identification information of each of the devices 21 to 26 be "n1" to "n6". For example, the contract information 11a indicates the end time of the following lease contracts for the devices 21 to 26, that is, the end time of the lease contract.

[0019] The end time of the lease contract for the device 21 corresponding to the identification information n1 is t1. The end time of the lease contract for the device 22 corresponding to the identification information n2 is t2. The end time of the lease contract for the device 23 corresponding to the identification information n3 is t3. The end time of the lease contract for the device 24 corresponding to the identification information n4 is t4. The end time of the lease contract for the device 25 corresponding to the identification information n5 is t5. The end time of the lease contract for the device 26 corresponding to the identification information n6 is t6.

[0020] As an example, assume that the end times t1, t3 to t6 of the lease contract have the following relationships with respect to t2. t1 is a time earlier than t2, that is, t1 < t2. t3 is a time later than t2, that is, t3 > t2. t4 is a time earlier than t2, that is, t4 < t2. t5 is a time earlier than t2, that is, t5 < t2. t6 is a time later than t2, that is, t6 > t2.

[0021] The storage unit 11 also stores communication path information indicating communication paths between devices in the system 20. In the system 20, the device 22 is connected to the lower level of the device 21. Other devices may be connected to the lower level of the device 21. The devices 23 and 24 are connected to the lower level of the device 22. The device 25 is connected to the lower level of the device 23. The device 26 is connected to the lower level of the device 24. The communication path information indicates the connection status between the devices as described above. Two devices directly connected to each other can communicate with each other. In addition, another device intervening between the two devices relays the communication between the two devices. For this reason, the communication path information indicates the communication path between the devices. Here, in the network of the system 20, for example, a device that has fewer hops (for example, toward the device 21) of devices that relay until reaching a router or switch on the backbone side is a higher-level device, and a device that has more hops is a lower-level device.

[0022] The processing unit 12 detects that a contract for a first device among the multiple devices will expire at a first time point based on the contract information 11a stored in the storage unit 11. Here, the processing unit 12 may specify the first device by accepting a device selection by a user. For example, the processing unit 12 may set the device selected by the user as the first device. Alternatively, the processing unit 12 may periodically perform a process of specifying, as the first device, a device whose contract will expire within a predetermined period from the current time point, from the contract information 11a.

[0023] For example, consider a case where the processing unit 12 accepts the selection of the device 22 by the user. The processing unit 12 may accept the selection of the device 22 by displaying icons indicating the devices 21 to 26 and an image 31 indicating the connection relationship of the devices 21 to 26 on the display device 30 and accepting the selection of the icon of the device 22 by the user in the image 31. In the image 31, the selection of the device 22 by an arrow-shaped pointer is represented by a thick-line rectangle surrounding an icon with the identification information "n2" indicating the device 22. In this case, the processing unit 12 determines the device 22 to be the first device. According to the contract information 11a, the rental contract expiration time of the device 22 is t2.

[0024] The processing unit 12 determines a second device that is affected by the expiration of the contract of the first device at a first time point, based on the contract information 11a and the communication path information stored in the storage unit 11. Specifically, the processing unit 12 determines whether or not the expiration of the contract of the first device will have an effect on the other devices, based on a comparison between the first time point when the contract of the first device expires and the second time point when the contract of the other devices expires.

[0025] When the first time point is earlier than the second time point, the processing unit 12 determines that the expiration of the contract for the first device will have an effect on the other devices. This is because, even though the rental contract for the other devices is valid after the first time point, if the first device becomes unavailable at the first time point, the other devices will be unable to communicate via the first device, which will affect the operation of the other devices.

[0026] On the other hand, when the first time point is after the second time point, the processing unit 12 determines that the expiration of the contract for the first device will not affect the other devices. Even if the first device becomes unavailable at the first time point, if the rental contract for the other devices expired before the first time point, the other devices are not being used at the first time point and there is no effect on the operation of the other devices.

[0027] Here, the processing unit 12 may determine that the other devices to be the targets of the impact judgment due to the termination of the rental contract of the first device are lower-level devices than the first device, or may determine both lower-level devices than the first device and higher-level devices than the first device. In this example, as described later, the processing unit 12 determines whether or not the termination of the rental contract of the higher-level device will have an impact on the first device with respect to the higher-level device, and also performs processing to output the result. Therefore, the following will exemplify a case in which the other devices to be the targets of the impact judgment due to the termination of the rental contract of the first device are lower-level devices than the first device.

[0028] In addition, when there is a device further subordinate to the first device among the devices subordinate to the processing unit 12, the processing unit 12 also compares with the first time point even at the time when the contract of the subordinate device ends, and determines the influence due to the end of the contract of the first device. In this way, the processing unit 12 repeatedly determines the influence according to the comparison between the contract end time point of the device subordinate to the first device and the first time point, and identifies the devices affected until the terminal device is reached.

[0029] For example, when device 22 is the first device, the processing unit 12 identifies devices 23 to 26 subordinate to device 22 based on the communication path information. The processing unit 12 determines the influence on device 23 due to the end of the contract of device 22 based on the contract information 11a. The end time point t3 of the lease contract of device 23 is after the end time point t2 of the lease contract of device 22. In this case, the processing unit 12 determines that there is an influence on device 23 due to the end of the contract of device 22.

[0030] The processing unit 12 determines the influence on device 24 due to the end of the contract of device 22 based on the contract information 11a. The end time point t4 of the lease contract of device 24 is before the end time point t2 of the lease contract of device 22. In this case, the processing unit 12 determines that there is no influence on device 24 due to the end of the contract of device 22.

[0031] In addition, the processing unit 12 determines the influence on devices 25 and 26 due to the end of the contract of device 22 by comparing the end time points t5 and t6 of the lease contracts of devices 25 and 26 respectively with t2. In this case, since t5 < t2, the processing unit 12 determines that there is no influence on device 25. Also, since t6 > t2, the processing unit 12 determines that there is an influence on device 26.

[0032] In the above example, when device 22 is the first device, devices 23 and 26 are examples of the second devices affected by the end of the contract of the first device at the first time point. Note that the processing unit 12 can also determine the impact on the first device due to the expiration of the contract of the third device above the first device in the same way as the method for determining the impact of the expiration of the contract of the first device on other devices. For example, the processing unit 12 identifies the device 21 above the device 22 based on the communication path information. Then, the processing unit 12 can determine the impact of the expiration of the contract of the device 21 on the device 22 by comparing the expiration time t1 of the lease contract of the device 21 and the expiration time t2 of the lease contract of the device 22 based on the contract information 11a. In this case, since t1 < t2, the processing unit 12 determines that there is an impact on the device 22 due to the expiration of the contract of the device 21. If there is a device above the device 21, the processing unit 12 may further determine the impact of the expiration of the contract of the said upper device on the device 22.

[0033] In this way, when the device 22 is selected by the user, the processing unit 12 may detect both that the expiration of the contract of the device 22 affects the devices 23 and 26 and that the device 22 is affected by the expiration of the contract of the device 21.

[0034] The processing unit 12 outputs information indicating the impact on the second device. For example, the processing unit 12 may present to the user by including messages 31a and 31b indicating that the devices 23 and 26 are affected by the expiration of the contract of the device 22 in the image 31 and displaying them on the display device 30, or by transmitting them to other information processing devices via a network. At this time, the processing unit 12 may present to the user the periods after t2 when the devices 23 and 26 are affected by outputting the expiration times t2, t3, and t6 of the lease contracts of the devices 22, 23, and 26 respectively.

[0035] Furthermore, when the processing unit 12 identifies a third device that affects the first device, the processing unit 12 may output information indicating the effect on the first device due to the contract termination of the third device in addition to the effect on the second device. For example, the processing unit 12 may present to the user a message 31c indicating that the device 22 is affected by the contract termination of the device 21 by including the message 31c in the image 31 and displaying the message on the display device 30 or transmitting the message to another information processing device via a network. At this time, the processing unit 12 may present to the user the time after t1 when the device 22 will be affected by outputting the contract termination times t1 and t2 of the devices 21 and 22, respectively. The message 31d illustrated in the image 31 indicates the rental contract termination time t1 of the device 21.

[0036] According to the information processing device 10, contract information indicating the time when the rental contract for each of a plurality of devices in a system including a plurality of devices rented to a user will expire and communication path information indicating communication paths between the plurality of devices are held in the storage unit 11. Based on the contract information and the communication path information, a second device that will be affected by the expiration of the contract for a first device among the plurality of devices at a first time point is determined, and information indicating the impact on the second device is output.

[0037] This will prevent any impact to the equipment during the contract period. For example, when the user selects the device 22, the processing unit 12 notifies the user that the devices 23 and 26 will be affected by the expiration of the contract for the device 22. This allows the information processing device 10 to encourage the user to reconsider, for example, extending the expiration date of the contract for the device 22, and to help prevent the expiration of the contract for the device 22 from affecting the devices 23 and 26. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 can help the user to continue the operation of the user's system and the services operating on the system.

[0038] Furthermore, when the device 22 is selected by the user, the processing unit 12 may present to the user that the device 22 will be affected by the expiration of the contract for the device 21. That is, the processing unit 12 may present to the user both the effects of the first device on the second device and the effect of the third device on the first opportunity by outputting both the information.

[0039] This allows the information processing device 10 to encourage the user to reconsider, for example, extending the expiration date of the contract for the device 21, and to support the user in preventing the expiration of the contract for the device 21 from affecting the device 22. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 can collectively present to the user the extent of the influence of the parts of the entire system 20 that are connected in a parent-child relationship with the device 22 specified by the user as the starting point. This allows the information processing device 10 to support the user in easily understanding the extent of the influence of the device selected by the user.

[0040] The functions of the information processing device 10 will be described in further detail below. [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described.

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an information processing system according to the second embodiment. The information processing system of the second embodiment includes a contract management server 100, a device management server 200, routers 300, 313, 323, storage devices 311, 321, servers 312, 322, 331, and a terminal device 400. Of these, the device management server 200, the routers 300, 313, 323, the storage devices 311, 321, the servers 312, 322, 331, and the terminal device 400 are systems operated by users.

[0042] The routers 300, 313, and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, the servers 312, 322, and 331, and the terminal device 400 are devices that are lent to users on a subscription basis.

[0043] The contract management server 100 is a server computer operated by a business operator that rents out various devices to users on a subscription basis. The contract management server 100 manages information related to the contracts of the devices rented out to users and information related to billing. The contract management server 100 is an example of the information processing device 10 of the first embodiment. The contract management server 100 is connected to a network 50. The network 50 is, for example, a WAN or the Internet.

[0044] The device management server 200 is a server computer that manages the routers 300, 313, and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331. The device management server 200 is connected to a network 60. The network 60 is, for example, a LAN installed at a user's base. The network 60 is connected to a network 50.

[0045] The routers 300, 313, and 323 are communication devices that relay communications between devices. The storage devices 311 and 321 are NAS (Network Attached Storage) that store data used in the processing of the servers 312 and 322. The servers 312, 322, and 331 are server computers that provide services used by users by executing specific applications.

[0046] The routers 300, 313, and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331 have the following connection relationships: The router 300 is the highest-level device among the rented devices, and the more devices a device passes through on the way to the network 60, the lower the device it is. The router 300 is connected to the network 60.

[0047] The storage device 311, the server 312, and the router 313 are connected to the router 300. The storage device 311, the server 312, and the router 313 are lower level devices than the router 300. The storage device 311, the server 312, and the router 313 are child devices of the router 300. The router 300 is a higher level device than the storage device 311, the server 312, and the router 313. The router 300 is a parent device of the storage device 311, the server 312, and the router 313.

[0048] The storage device 321, the server 322, and the router 323 are connected to the router 313. The storage device 321, the server 322, and the router 323 are lower level devices than the router 313. The storage device 321, the server 322, and the router 323 are child devices of the router 313. The router 313 is a higher level device than the storage device 321, the server 322, and the router 323. The router 313 is a parent device of the storage device 321, the server 322, and the router 323.

[0049] The server 331 is connected to the router 323. The server 331 is a lower-level device than the router 323. The server 331 is a child device of the router 323. The router 323 is a higher-level device than the server 331. The router 323 is a parent device of the server 331.

[0050] The terminal device 400 is a client computer operated by a user. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of hardware of the contract management server. The contract management server 100 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a HDD 103, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) 104, an input interface 105, a media reader 106, and a NIC (Network Interface Card) 107. The CPU 101 is an example of the processing unit 12 of the first embodiment. The RAM 102 or the HDD 103 is an example of the storage unit 11 of the first embodiment.

[0051] The CPU 101 is a processor that executes program instructions. The CPU 101 loads at least a portion of the programs and data stored in the HDD 103 into the RAM 102 and executes the programs. The CPU 101 may include multiple processor cores. The contract management server 100 may also have multiple processors. The processes described below may be executed in parallel using multiple processors or processor cores. A collection of multiple processors may also be called a "multiprocessor" or simply a "processor."

[0052] The RAM 102 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily stores programs executed by the CPU 101 and data used in calculations by the CPU 101. Note that the contract management server 100 may be provided with a type of memory other than a RAM, or may be provided with multiple memories.

[0053] The HDD 103 is a non-volatile storage device that stores software programs such as an OS (Operating System), middleware, and application software, as well as data. The contract management server 100 may be equipped with other types of storage devices, such as a flash memory or an SSD (Solid State Drive), or may be equipped with multiple non-volatile storage devices.

[0054] The GPU 104 outputs an image to a display 51 connected to the contract management server 100 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 101. As the display 51, any type of display can be used, such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display), a plasma display, or an organic EL (OEL: Organic Electro-Luminescence) display.

[0055] The input interface 105 acquires input signals from input devices 52 connected to the contract management server 100 and outputs them to the CPU 101. The input devices 52 may be pointing devices such as a mouse, touch panel, touch pad, or trackball, a keyboard, a remote controller, or a button switch. In addition, multiple types of input devices may be connected to the contract management server 100.

[0056] The medium reader 106 is a reading device that reads programs and data recorded on the recording medium 53. For example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk (MO: Magneto-Optical disk), a semiconductor memory, etc. can be used as the recording medium 53. The magnetic disk includes a flexible disk (FD: Flexible Disk) and a HDD. The optical disk includes a compact disc (CD) and a digital versatile disc (DVD).

[0057] The medium reader 106 copies, for example, the program or data read from the recording medium 53 to another recording medium such as the RAM 102 or the HDD 103. The read program is executed, for example, by the CPU 101. Note that the recording medium 53 may be a portable recording medium, and may be used for distributing the program or data. The recording medium 53 and the HDD 103 may also be referred to as computer-readable recording media.

[0058] The NIC 107 is an interface that is connected to the network 50 and communicates with other computers including the device management server 200 via the network 50. The NIC 107 is connected to a communication device such as a switch or a router by a cable. The NIC 107 may also be connected to the communication device wirelessly.

[0059] The equipment management server 200 , the servers 312 , 322 , 331 and the terminal device 400 are also realized by the same hardware as the contract management server 100 . FIG. 4 illustrates an example of functions of the contract management server and the device management server.

[0060] The contract management server 100 includes a storage unit 110 and a contract management unit 120. The storage unit 110 uses the storage areas of the RAM 102 and the HDD 103. The contract management unit 120 is realized by the CPU 101 executing a program stored in the RAM 102.

[0061] The storage unit 110 stores network path information, contract information, and an effect determination information table. The network path information is information that indicates the connection relationships between the routers 300, 313, and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331. The network path information is notified from the device management server 200.

[0062] The contract information is information indicating the contents of the contract for each device rented to a user. The contract information includes information on the time when the rental contract for the corresponding device ends. For example, the time when the rental contract ends is expressed as the contract end date. The contract end date indicates that the rental contract ends when the corresponding day expires, that is, at midnight of the following day. If a user continues to use a device whose rental contract has ended, this constitutes a breach of contract. For this reason, a user cannot continue to use a device whose rental contract has ended. The contract information is stored in advance in the memory unit 110.

[0063] The impact determination information table is information that indicates, for each piece of equipment to be loaned, the results of a determination of the impact on child equipment of the expiration of the contract for the equipment in question, and the impact on the equipment in question of the expiration of the contract for the parent equipment of the equipment in question.

[0064] The contract management unit 120 manages the contract of the device rented to the user. The contract management unit 120 also manages the impact on other devices due to the termination of the contract of the device rented to the user. The contract management unit 120 has an impact determination information management unit 121, an impact determination control unit 122, and an impact range output unit 123.

[0065] The impact determination information management unit 121 performs a process of associating the contract end date included in the contract information with the device information included in the network route information stored in the storage unit 110, and adds this correspondence to the impact determination information table.

[0066] The impact determination control unit 122 determines the impact of the contract termination of each device on other devices based on the parent-child relationship of each device in the network path information and the contract termination date of each device associated by the impact determination information management unit 121. The impact determination control unit 122 adds the impact determination result to the impact determination information table. For example, when a rental contract for a certain device ends, the device cannot communicate with other devices. Therefore, the other devices cannot cooperate with the device whose contract has ended, or communicate with further devices via the device whose contract has ended. As a result, the other devices are affected in that they cannot properly execute services provided by the other devices.

[0067] The impact extent output unit 123 outputs information indicating the impact of the contract termination of a specific device on other devices based on the impact determination information table. For example, the impact extent output unit 123 may select a specific device according to a device selected by a business operator-side administrator who operates the contract management server 100 or a user-side administrator who operates the terminal device 400. The impact extent output unit 123 may display the details of the impact of the contract termination of a specific device on other devices on the display 51, or may transmit information indicating the impact to the terminal device 400 and cause the terminal device 400 to display the details of the impact.

[0068] The device management server 200 has a storage unit 210 and a device management unit 220. The storage unit 210 uses a storage area of ​​a RAM or a HDD of the device management server 200. The device management unit 220 is realized by a CPU of the device management server 200 executing a program stored in the RAM of the device management server 200.

[0069] The storage unit 210 stores configuration information of devices rented out by subscription, namely, the routers 300, 313, 323, the storage devices 311, 321, and the servers 312, 322, 331. The configuration information may include identification information of each device, address information such as a Media Access Control (MAC) address and an Internet Protocol (IP) address, an operation log such as an operation start time and an operation end time, and information on operation time.

[0070] The address information may include a MAC address table held by each device. The MAC address table represents the connection relationship between devices in layer 2 of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model. The storage unit 210 also stores network path information. For example, the network path information may be generated based on address information included in the configuration information.

[0071] The device management unit 220 manages devices lent to users through subscriptions. The device management unit 220 includes a configuration information collection unit 221 and a notification unit 222. The configuration information collection unit 221 periodically collects configuration information of the routers 300, 313, 323, the storage devices 311, 321, and the servers 312, 322, 331, and stores the information in the memory unit 210. The configuration information collection unit 221 generates network path information based on the configuration information, and stores the information in the memory unit 210. When the configuration information is updated, the configuration information collection unit 221 also updates the network path information.

[0072] The notification unit 222 periodically transmits the configuration information and network path information generated by the configuration information collection unit 221 to the contract management server 100 . The contract management server 100 may manage the charges to the user according to the equipment rented to the user. For example, the contract management server 100 may charge the user a fixed amount according to the equipment to be rented and the contract period for renting the equipment. The contract management server 100 may also perform pay-per-use charging according to the operating time of the equipment rented to the user, based on the configuration information received from the equipment management server 200.

[0073] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of network route information. The network path information 111 is acquired from the device management server 200 and stored in the storage unit 110. The network path information 111 includes items such as device name, serial number, and parent device name.

[0074] The name of the device is registered in the device name field. The serial number field is a serial number that is identification information for identifying the device. The parent device name field is a parent device name.

[0075] Here, the device name of router 300 is "R1" and the serial number is "A". The device name of storage device 311 is "ST1" and the serial number is "B". The device name of server 312 is "SV1" and the serial number is "C". The device name of router 313 is "R2" and the serial number is "D". The device name of storage device 321 is "ST2" and the serial number is "F". The device name of server 322 is "SV2" and the device name is "G". The device name of router 323 is "R3" and the serial number is "E". The device name of server 331 is "SV3" and the serial number is "H".

[0076] For example, a record with a device name "R1", a serial number "A", and a parent device name "-" (not set) is registered in the network path information 111. This record is a record indicating the router 300. The router 300 is the highest-level device in the network configuration of the routers 300, 313, and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331, and therefore does not have a parent device.

[0077] Moreover, a record of a device name “ST1”, a serial number “B”, and a parent device name “R1” is registered in the network path information 111. This record is a record indicating the storage device 311. It is indicated that the parent device of the storage device 311 is the router 300.

[0078] In the network route information 111, records indicating the routers 313 and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331 are similarly registered. In this way, the network route information 111 indicates the connection relationships between the routers 300 , 313 , and 323 , the storage devices 311 and 321 , and the servers 312 , 322 , and 331 .

[0079] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of contract information. Contract information 112 is stored in advance in storage unit 110. For example, when a contract for the rental of equipment is concluded between a user and a business, information about the contract is input to contract management server 100. Based on the information about the contract, contract management server 100 adds a record about the equipment in question to contract information 112. Contract information 112 includes items for serial number and end date. The serial number of the equipment is registered in the serial number item. The end date item is registered with the contract end date for the equipment in question.

[0080] For example, a record with a serial number "A" and an expiration date "January 31, 2021" is registered in the contract information 112. This record indicates that the expiration date of the rental contract for the router 300 is January 31, 2021.

[0081] In the contract information 112, records indicating the expiration dates of the rental contracts for the routers 313 and 323, the storage devices 311 and 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331 are also registered in a similar manner.

[0082] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an influence determination information table. The impact determination information table 113 is generated by the impact determination information management unit 121 and the impact determination control unit 122 based on the network path information 111 and the contract information 112, and is stored in the storage unit 110. The impact determination information table 113 includes items such as device name, serial number, parent device name, end date, parent device information, and child device information.

[0083] The name of the device is registered in the Device Name field. The serial number of the device is registered in the Serial Number field. The name of the device one level above the relevant device is registered in the Parent Device Name field. The end date field is the end date of the rental contract for the relevant device.

[0084] In the parent device information field, a pointer is registered that indicates a list of devices higher than the corresponding device that have a contract expiration date that comes before the contract expiration date of the corresponding device. A list of devices higher than the corresponding device that have a contract expiration date that comes before the contract expiration date of the corresponding device is called a parent device list. The parent device list is stored in the storage unit 110.

[0085] In addition, "among devices higher than the device in question, devices whose contract end date falls before the contract end date of the device in question" can also be said to be "among devices in the parent direction of the device in question, devices whose contract end date is older than that of the device in question."

[0086] In the child device information field, a pointer is registered that indicates a list of devices that are lower than the corresponding device and whose contract expiration date comes after the contract expiration date of the corresponding device. A list of devices that are lower than the corresponding device and whose contract expiration date comes after the contract expiration date of the corresponding device is called a child device list. The child device list is stored in the storage unit 110.

[0087] In addition, "among devices lower in level than the device in question, devices whose contract end date comes after the contract end date of the device in question" can also be said to be "among devices in the child direction of the device in question, devices whose contract end date is newer than that of the device in question."

[0088] For example, the impact determination information table 113 registers a record with the device name "R1", serial number "A", parent device name "-" (not set), end date "January 31, 2021", parent device information "-", and child device information "P1". This record indicates that the end date of the rental contract for the router 300 is January 31, 2021, and indicates that the child device list 113a is associated with this record by the pointer P1. Since there are no devices in the upper level (parent direction) of the router 300, no parent device information is set.

[0089] Child device list 113a is a list of devices subordinate to router 300 that have a contract expiration date that comes after the contract expiration date of router 300. Child device list 113a includes items for child expiration date and child device name. The child expiration date item registers the expiration date of the rental contract for the child device. The child device name item registers the name of the child device.

[0090] For example, among devices subordinate to the router 300, the storage devices 311 and 321, the router 313, and the server 331 are devices whose contract expiration dates will come later than the router 300. Therefore, the child device list 113a registers the contract expiration dates of the storage device 311 (device name: ST1), the router 313 (device name: R2), the storage device 321 (device name: ST2), and the server 331 (device name: SV3).

[0091] Furthermore, the impact determination information table 113 registers a record with the device name "ST1", serial number "B", parent device name "R1", end date "March 31, 2021", parent device information "P2", and child device information "-". This record indicates that the end date of the rental contract for the storage device 311 is March 31, 2021, that the parent device is the router 300, and that the parent device list 113b is associated with this record by the pointer P2. Since there are no devices in the lower (child) direction in the storage device 311, no child device information is set.

[0092] Parent device list 113b is a list of devices higher up the hierarchy than storage device 311, whose contract expiration date comes before the contract expiration date of storage device 311. Parent device list 113b includes items for parent expiration date and parent device name. The parent expiration date item is registered with the expiration date of the rental contract for the parent device. The parent device name item is registered with the name of the parent device.

[0093] For example, the contract expiration date of the router 300, which is a higher-level device than the storage device 311, is earlier than the contract expiration date of the storage device 311. Therefore, the rental contract expiration date of the router 300 (device name: R1) is registered in the parent device list 113b.

[0094] In the effect determination information table 113, records including items similar to those for the router 300 and the storage device 311 are also registered for the routers 313 and 323, the storage device 321, and the servers 312, 322, and 331.

[0095] For example, the record corresponding to the router 313 (device name: R2) is associated with the parent device list 113c by the parent device information pointer P3, and is associated with the child device list 113d by the child device information pointer P4.

[0096] Moreover, the record corresponding to the router 323 (device name: R3) is associated with the child device list 113e via the child device information pointer P5. Moreover, the record corresponding to the storage device 321 (device name: ST2) is associated with the parent device list 113f via the parent device information pointer P6. Furthermore, the record corresponding to the server 331 (device name: SV3) is associated with the parent device list 113g via the parent device information pointer P7.

[0097] The parent device lists 113c, 113f, and 113g have the same data structure as the parent device list 113b, and the child device lists 113d and 113e have the same data structure as the child device list 113a.

[0098] The influence extent output unit 123 is capable of outputting an influence extent indicating the influence that each device has on a lower device and the influence that each device receives from a higher device, based on the influence determination information table 113 . For example, the child device list 113a is associated with the record of the router 300 (device name: R1) in the impact determination information table 113 by the pointer P1. Therefore, based on the child device list 113a, the impact range output unit 123 detects that if the rental contract for the router 300 ends on January 31, 2021, there will be an impact on the storage device 311 (device name: ST1), the router 313 (device name: R2), the storage device 321 (device name: ST2), and the server 331 (device name: SV3).

[0099] The impact extent output unit 123 also detects, based on the child device list 113a, that the impact on the storage devices 311, 321, the router 313, and the server 331 can be avoided by setting the contract end date for the router 300 to December 31, 2022 or later.

[0100] Furthermore, the record of the router 313 (device name: R2) in the impact determination information table 113 is associated with the parent device list 113c by the pointer P3, and associated with the child device list 113d by the pointer P4. Therefore, based on the child device list 113d, the impact range output unit 123 detects that if the rental contract for the router 313 ends on March 31, 2021, there will be an impact on the storage device 321 (device name: ST2) and the server 331 (device name: SV3).

[0101] The impact extent output unit 123 also detects, based on the child device list 113d, that the impact on the storage device 321 and the server 331 can be avoided by setting the contract end date for the router 313 to December 31, 2022 or later.

[0102] Furthermore, based on the parent device list 113c, the impact range output unit 123 detects that if the rental contract for the router 300 (device name: R1) expires on January 31, 2021, the router 313 will be impacted.

[0103] The influence extent output unit 123 causes an influence extent display screen showing the detected influence extent based on the influence determination information table 113 to be displayed on the display 51 or the like. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an influence range display screen.

[0104] The influence extent display screen 500 is displayed on the display 51. The influence extent output unit 123 generates screen information showing the influence extent display screen 500 based on the influence determination information table 113, and outputs the screen information to the display 51, thereby causing the influence extent display screen 500 to be displayed on the display 51. However, the influence extent output unit 123 may also transmit the screen information to the terminal device 400, and cause the influence extent display screen 500 to be displayed on the display of the terminal device 400.

[0105] The influence range display screen 500 includes an image showing the connection relationships of the routers 300, 313, 323, the storage devices 311, 321, and the servers 312, 322, 331. In this image, icons showing the routers 300, 313, 323, the storage devices 311, 321, and the servers 312, 322, 331 are connected by lines corresponding to the actual connections, thereby showing the connection relationships of the respective devices.

[0106] The business operator administrator operating the contract management server 100, or the user administrator operating the terminal device 400, selects an icon in the image using the input device 52 or the like, thereby inputting the selection of the device corresponding to the icon to the contract management server 100. The influence range output unit 123 receives the input, and based on the identification information of the selected device and the influence determination information table 113, highlights on the influence range display screen 500 the lower-level devices that the selected device influences, and the higher-level devices that influence the selected device.

[0107] 8 illustrates an example of a case where the router 313 is selected. According to the impact determination information table 113, a child device list 113d is associated with the router 313. The child device list 113d includes records of the storage device 321 (device name: ST2) and the server 331 (device name: SV3). Therefore, the impact extent output unit 123 highlights the icons of the storage device 321 and the server 331 on the impact extent display screen 500.

[0108] The impact extent output unit 123 causes a message 501 indicating the contract expiration date of the storage device 321 and a message 502 indicating the contract expiration date of the server 331 to be displayed on an impact extent display screen 500 based on the child device list 113d.

[0109] According to the impact determination information table 113, a parent device list 113c is associated with the router 313. The parent device list 113c includes a record for the router 300 (device name: R1). Therefore, the impact extent output unit 123 highlights the icon for the router 300 on the impact extent display screen 500.

[0110] The affected range output unit 123 causes a message 503 indicating the contract expiration date of the router 300 to be displayed on the affected range display screen 500 based on the parent device list 113c. Furthermore, the impact extent output unit 123 causes the impact extent display screen 500 to display a message 504 indicating the contract expiration date of the selected router 313 and the contents of the impact on higher-level devices and lower-level devices.

[0111] For example, message 504 includes the contents of the impact on router 313 due to the contract termination of higher-level devices, such as "R1 will no longer be usable after the contract termination date for router 313 (device name: R2)." Also, message 504 includes the contents of the impact on lower-level devices due to the contract termination of router 313, such as "ST2 and SV3 will no longer be usable after the contract termination date for R2."

[0112] The message 504 may include a content that calls attention to make the contract end dates of the router 313, the storage device 321, and the server 331 the same. For example, the impact range output unit 123 may output the message 504 including a content that prompts the user to review the contract end date, such as "ST2 and SV3 will no longer be available after the contract end date of R1. Please review the contract end date." Alternatively, the impact range output unit 123 may output the message 504 including a content that suggests the end point after the extension of the contract renewal, such as "We recommend that the contract for the router 313 end on or after December 31, 2022."

[0113] Next, a description will be given of the processing procedures of the contract management server 100 and the device management server 200. First, a description will be given of the processing procedures of the device management server 200. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by the device management server.

[0114] The device management server 200 periodically executes the following processes. (S1) The configuration information collection unit 221 collects configuration information of the routers 300, 313, 323, the storage devices 311, 321, and the servers 312, 322, 331, and stores it in the memory unit 210. The configuration information collection unit 221 generates network path information 111 based on the configuration information, and stores it in the memory unit 210. When the configuration information is updated, the configuration information collection unit 221 also updates the network path information 111.

[0115] (S2) The notification unit 222 transmits the configuration information generated by the configuration information collection unit 221 and the network route information 111 to the contract management server 100. Next, the processing procedure of the contract management server 100 will be described.

[0116] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the contract management server. (S10) The effect determination information management unit 121 receives the configuration information and network path information 111 from the device management server 200 and stores them in the storage unit 110.

[0117] (S11) The impact determination information management unit 121 performs an impact determination information management process. Specifically, the impact determination information management unit 121 performs a process of associating the contract end date included in the contract information 112 with the device information included in the received network route information 111, using the device serial number as a key. The impact determination information management unit 121 adds a record indicating the result of this association to the impact determination information table 113. At the stage of step S11, parent device information and child device information are not registered in the corresponding record.

[0118] (S12) The impact determination control unit 122 performs an impact determination control process. Specifically, the impact determination control unit 122 determines the impact of the contract expiration of each device on other devices based on the parent-child relationship of each device included in the impact determination information table 113 and the contract expiration date of each device. The impact determination control unit 122 generates a parent device list and a child device list based on the impact determination result, and adds pointers indicating the relationship to the parent device list and the child device list to the record of the corresponding device in the impact determination information table 113. The procedure of the impact determination control will be described in detail later.

[0119] (S13) The impact extent output unit 123 performs an impact extent output process. Specifically, the impact extent output unit 123 outputs information indicating the impact on other devices due to the contract termination of a specific device based on the impact determination information table 113. For example, the impact extent output unit 123 displays an impact extent display screen 500 on the display 51 according to the device selected by the business side administrator operating the contract management server 100. The impact extent output unit 123 may transmit screen information of the impact extent display screen 500 to the terminal device 400 according to the device selected by the user side administrator operating the terminal device 400, and display the impact extent display screen 500 on the display of the terminal device 400. Then, the processing of the contract management server 100 ends.

[0120] The process of step S13 may be executed asynchronously with steps S10 to S12. For example, the impact extent output unit 123 may periodically detect devices whose contracts will expire a predetermined time from the current time based on the impact determination information table 113, perform the impact extent output process of step S13, and present the impact of the contract expiration of the devices to the user. Examples of "a predetermined time from the current time" include one week or one month from the current time.

[0121] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the effect determination control process. The influence determination control process corresponds to step S12. (S20) The influence determination control unit 122 repeatedly executes steps S21 to S24 for all lower-level devices, starting from the highest-level device. In this example, the highest-level device is the router 300. Therefore, the first device to be processed is the router 300. The device to be processed in the following procedure is referred to as the "device of interest."

[0122] (S21) The impact determination control unit 122 determines whether or not there is a date earlier than the contract end date of the focused device among the contract end dates of all devices higher than the focused device. If there is, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S22. If there is not, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S23.

[0123] (S22) The impact determination control unit 122 generates a parent device list including the device names and contract end dates of devices corresponding to a date earlier than the contract end date of the focused device among the contract end dates of all devices higher than the focused device. The impact determination control unit 122 registers a pointer indicating the generated parent device list in the parent device information of the record corresponding to the focused device in the impact determination information table 113.

[0124] (S23) The influence determination control unit 122 performs child device information addition control. Specifically, the influence determination control unit 122 generates a child device list for the focused device in accordance with a comparison between the contract end date of the focused device and the contract end dates of the lower level devices of the focused device. The details of the child device information addition control will be described later.

[0125] (S24) The influence determination control unit 122 performs a child device determination process. Specifically, the influence determination control unit 122 determines whether or not there is a child device of the focused device, and determines the next focused device based on the determination. The details of the child device determination process will be described later.

[0126] (S25) When the effect determination control unit 122 has executed steps S21 to S24 for all lower-level devices from the highest-level device, it ends the repetition and ends the effect determination control process. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a child device information addition control process.

[0127] The child device information addition control process corresponds to step S23. (S30) The impact determination control unit 122 determines whether or not there is a date that is later than the contract end date of the focused device among all of the lower level devices relative to the focused device. If there is, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S31. If there is not, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S32.

[0128] (S31) The impact determination control unit 122 generates a child device list including the device names and contract end dates of devices corresponding to a date later than the contract end date of the focused device among the contract end dates of all devices subordinate to the focused device. The impact determination control unit 122 registers a pointer to the generated child device list in the child device information of the record corresponding to the focused device in the impact determination information table 113.

[0129] (S32) The impact determination control unit 122 determines whether or not there is a parent device for the device of interest. If there is, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S33. If there is not, the impact determination control unit 122 ends the child device information addition control process. The "parent device" here refers to a parent device whose highest-level device for the device in question is not the router 300.

[0130] (S33) The influence determination control unit 122 executes child device information addition control processing, treating the parent device of the currently focused device as the focused device. In addition, when a top-level device exists for a certain device set and a top-level device exists for another device set, the impact determination control unit 122 may perform the impact determination control process for the top-level device in each set. In this case, the impact determination control unit 122 may skip steps S32 and S33.

[0131] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a child device determination process. The child device determination process corresponds to step S24. (S40) The impact determination control unit 122 determines whether or not the focused device has a child device, based on the impact determination information table 113. If there is a child device, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S41. If there is no child device, the impact determination control unit 122 proceeds to step S42.

[0132] (S41) The influence determination control unit 122 determines the relevant child device as the device to be focused on next time. Then, the influence determination control unit 122 ends the child device determination process. (S42) The impact determination control unit 122 determines an unprocessed child device of a higher-level device of the currently focused device, i.e., a device that has not undergone impact determination control processing, as the next device to be focused on. Then, the impact determination control unit 122 ends the child device determination process. If there is no corresponding device in step S42, the impact determination control process has been performed on all devices that are candidates for the impact determination control process. In this case, the impact determination control unit 122 ends the child device determination process without determining the next device to be focused on, and ends the impact determination control process shown in FIG. 11.

[0133] In this way, the impact determination control unit 122 performs impact determination by preferentially selecting a device of interest in the depth direction from the highest-level device to the lower-level devices, and when it reaches the lowest-level device, it backtracks to select the next device of interest and performs impact determination. In this way, the impact determination control unit 122 sequentially generates a parent device list and a child device list for each device record in the impact determination information table 113. The impact range output unit 123 presents the user with the impact range due to the termination of the rental contract, starting from the device selected by the user, based on the impact determination information table 113, the parent device list, and the child device list.

[0134] For example, in response to a user's selection of the router 313, the impact extent output unit 123 displays an impact extent display screen 500 on the display 51 or the display of the terminal device 400. In other words, the impact extent output unit 123 notifies the user that the storage device 321 and the server 331 will be affected by the termination of the contract for the router 313.

[0135] This allows the contract management server 100 to encourage the user to reconsider, for example, extending the expiration date of the contract for the router 313, and to help prevent the expiration of the contract for the router 313 from affecting the storage device 321 and the server 331. Furthermore, the contract management server 100 can help the user to continue operating their system and the services running on that system.

[0136] Furthermore, in response to the user's selection of the router 313, the impact extent output unit 123 notifies the user that the router 313 will be affected by the termination of the contract for the router 300. This allows the contract management server 100 to encourage the user to review the contract for the router 300, such as by extending the expiration date, and to help prevent the router 313 from being affected by the expiration of the contract for the router 300. Furthermore, the contract management server 100 can collectively present to the user the extent of the impact on the parts of the user's system that are linked in a parent-child relationship with the router 313 specified by the user as the starting point. This allows the contract management server 100 to help the user easily understand the extent of the impact on the device selected by the user. In particular, it can help the user to collectively review the contract periods for multiple devices.

[0137] As described above, the contract management server 100 executes, for example, the following process. The storage unit 110 stores contract information indicating the time when the rental contract for each of a plurality of devices in a system including a plurality of devices rented to a user will expire, and communication path information indicating communication paths between the plurality of devices. The influence determination control unit 122 determines a second device that will be affected by the expiration of the contract for a first device among the plurality of devices at a first time point, based on the contract information and the communication path information. The influence range output unit 123 outputs information indicating the influence on the second device.

[0138] This makes it possible to prevent any influence on the devices during the contract period. The router 300, the storage devices 311 and 321, the servers 312, 322 and 331, and the routers 313 and 323 are examples of a plurality of devices rented to a user. The network route information 111 is an example of communication route information.

[0139] The processing of the impact determination control unit 122 and the impact extent output unit 123 can also be described as follows. That is, the impact determination control unit 122 determines whether or not there is a second device that will be affected by the expiration of a contract for a first device among the multiple devices at a first time point, based on the contract information and communication path information. If there is a second device, based on the determination result of the impact determination control unit 122, the impact extent output unit 123 outputs information indicating the impact on the second device. On the other hand, if there is no second device, the impact extent output unit 123 does not output information indicating the impact on the second device.

[0140] Furthermore, in the determination of the second appliance, the influence determination control unit 122 identifies, from among the multiple appliances, a second appliance whose contract will end after the first time point. The second device, whose contract remains valid even after the contract of the first device has expired, is affected by being unable to communicate with the first device after the contract of the first device has expired. Therefore, the impact determination control unit 122 can appropriately identify the second device by identifying the second device, whose contract will expire after the first time point, from among the multiple devices.

[0141] Furthermore, the impact extent output unit 123 may output the time when the second appliance will be impacted by the expiration of the contract of the first appliance. 8, the router 313 (device name: R2) is an example of a first device, and the storage device 321 (device name: ST2) and the server 331 (device name: SV3) are examples of second devices. In this case, the impact extent output unit 123 outputs the contract end dates of the router 313, the storage device 321, and the server 331, as in messages 501, 502, and 504, thereby outputting the time when the storage device 321 and the server 331 will be affected.

[0142] For example, messages 501 and 504 enable the user to understand that storage device 321 will be affected from the day after March 31, 2021, which is the contract expiration date for router 313, until December 31, 2022, which is the contract expiration date for storage device 321. Furthermore, messages 502 and 504 enable the user to understand that server 331 will be affected from the day after March 31, 2021, which is the contract expiration date for router 313, until July 31, 2021, which is the contract expiration date for server 331.

[0143] This allows the contract management server 100 to assist the user in properly understanding the specific extent to which the contract period of a device that affects other devices or is affected by other devices should be extended or shortened.

[0144] Furthermore, the influence determination control unit 122 detects that the first device is influenced by the expiration of a contract for a third device among the plurality of devices at a second time point. The influence range output unit 123 outputs information indicating the influence on the first device together with information indicating the influence on the second device.

[0145] In this way, the contract management server 100 can support the user in properly understanding which contract of which device should be reviewed by presenting to the user not only the influence that the first device has on the other devices but also the influence that the first device receives from the other devices all at once. Note that the influence range output unit 123 may output the time when the first device will be influenced by the expiration of the contract of the third device.

[0146] The processing of the impact determination control unit 122 and the impact extent output unit 123 can also be described as follows. That is, the impact determination control unit 122 determines, based on the contract information and the communication path information, whether or not there is a third device among the multiple devices that will affect the first device when the rental contract ends at a second time point. Based on the determination result of the impact determination control unit 122, if there is a third device, the impact extent output unit 123 outputs information indicating the impact on the first device. On the other hand, if there is no third device, the impact extent output unit 123 does not output information indicating the impact on the first device.

[0147] When detecting that the first appliance is affected, the influence determination control unit 122 identifies a third appliance among the multiple appliances, the contract of which will end before the first time point. If the contract for the first device remains valid even after the contract for the third device expires, the first device will be affected by being unable to communicate with the third device after the contract for the third device expires. Therefore, the impact determination control unit 122 can appropriately identify the third device by identifying the third device among the multiple devices whose contract expires before the first time point.

[0148] When a first device is selected, the impact judgment control unit 122 may identify a second device from among the multiple devices that are lower than the first device, and may identify a third device from among the multiple devices that are higher than the first device.

[0149] This allows the contract management server 100 to easily present the user with the effects on each device that has a parent-child relationship with the first device on one screen, as exemplified by the impact range display screen 500. This helps the user to properly understand which devices should have their contracts reviewed among the first device and each device that has a parent-child relationship with the first device.

[0150] The impact extent output unit 123 may cause the display device to display an image showing a plurality of devices and communication paths between the devices. Furthermore, the impact extent output unit 123 may cause the display device to display a message indicating that the second device will be affected by the expiration of the contract of the first device, and that the first device will be affected by the expiration of the contract of the third device.

[0151] This allows the contract management server 100 to assist the user in properly understanding the influence on each device that has a parent-child relationship with the first device. The message 504 is an example of a message displayed on a display device. The display 51 and the display of the terminal device 400 are examples of the display device.

[0152] Furthermore, the influence extent output unit 123 may accept a selection of a first device by the user. In this case, the influence extent output unit 123 acquires the judgment results of the influence judgment control unit 122 on the second device and the third device corresponding to the first device selected by the user, and outputs information indicating the influence on the second device and the third device.

[0153] This allows the contract management server 100 to assist the user in checking a second device and / or a third device in relation to the device desired by the user. Alternatively, the impact extent output unit 123 may select an appliance whose contract will expire a predetermined time from the present time as the first appliance. In this case, the impact extent output unit 123 acquires the determination results of the second appliance and the third appliance by the impact determination control unit 122 corresponding to the selected first appliance, and outputs information indicating the impact on the second appliance and the third appliance.

[0154] This allows the contract management server 100 to appropriately alert the user of the impact of the expiration of a contract for a device whose contract is about to expire. The information processing in the first embodiment can be realized by causing the processing unit 12 to execute a program. The information processing in the second embodiment can be realized by causing the CPU 101 to execute a program. The program can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium 53.

[0155] For example, the program can be distributed by distributing recording medium 53 on which the program is recorded. The program may also be stored in another computer and distributed via a network. The computer may store (install) the program recorded in recording medium 53 or a program received from another computer in a storage device such as RAM 102 or HDD 103, and read and execute the program from the storage device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 10. Information processing device 11 Storage section 11a Contract Information 12 Processing section 20 Systems 21,22,23,24,25,26 equipment 30 Display device 31 images 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d Messages

Claims

1. On the computer, Identifying a device that is lower than a first device and a device that is higher than the first device among the plurality of devices based on communication path information indicating communication paths between the devices in a system including the plurality of devices rented to a user; Based on contract information indicating a contract termination point at which a rental contract for each of the plurality of devices is to terminate, at least one of a second device among the lower level devices, the contract termination point of which is later than a first contract termination point of the first device, and a third device among the higher level devices, the contract termination point of which is earlier than the first contract termination point; outputting at least one of information indicating a first effect that the second device will be unable to properly execute a service due to the termination of the contract of the first device and information indicating a second effect that the first device will be unable to properly execute a service due to the termination of the contract of the third device; An operation information management program that executes processing.

2. In the output of the information indicating the first effect, a time when the second device is affected by the first effect is output; In the output of the information indicating the second effect, a time when the first device is affected by the second effect is output.

2. The operation information management program according to claim 1.

3. In the output of the information indicating the first effect and the second effect, an image indicating the plurality of devices and the communication paths between the devices is displayed on a display device, and a message indicating that the second device will be affected by the first effect due to the termination of the contract of the first device, and that the first device will be affected by the second effect due to the termination of the contract of the third device is displayed on the display device.

2. The operation information management program according to claim 1.

4. accepting a selection of the first device by a user, or selecting as the first device a device for which the contract will expire a predetermined time from the current time; 2. The operating information management program according to claim 1, further comprising: a program for causing the computer to execute a process.

5. The computer Identifying a device that is lower than a first device and a device that is higher than the first device among the plurality of devices based on communication path information indicating communication paths between the devices in a system including the plurality of devices rented to a user; Based on contract information indicating a contract termination point at which a rental contract for each of the plurality of devices is to terminate, at least one of a second device among the lower level devices, the contract termination point of which is later than a first contract termination point of the first device, and a third device among the higher level devices, the contract termination point of which is earlier than the first contract termination point; outputting at least one of information indicating a first effect that the second device will be unable to properly execute a service due to the termination of the contract of the first device and information indicating a second effect that the first device will be unable to properly execute a service due to the termination of the contract of the third device; Operational information management method.

6. A storage unit that stores contract information indicating a contract termination point that is a time point when a contract for renting each of a plurality of devices in a system including a plurality of devices rented to a user will terminate, and communication path information indicating a communication path between the devices in the system; Identifying a device that is lower than a first device and a device that is higher than the first device among the plurality of devices based on the communication path information; Identifying at least one of a second device among the lower level devices, the contract end time of which is later than a first contract end time of the first device, and a third device among the higher level devices, the contract end time of which is earlier than the first contract end time, based on the contract information; a processing unit that outputs at least one of information indicating a first effect that the second device will be unable to properly execute a service due to the termination of the contract of the first device and information indicating a second effect that the first device will be unable to properly execute a service due to the termination of the contract of the third device; An information processing device having the above configuration.

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