Management program, management device, and management system

Abstract

To lighten a management load for managing a device.SOLUTION: A management program 23 causes a control part 11 of a management device 2 which manages a plurality of printers 4 to execute classification processing, reference value calculation processing, device extraction processing, abnormality determination processing, and notification processing. The classification processing includes classifying the plurality of printers 4 into a plurality of groups. The reference value calculation processing includes acquiring printing quantities information from the plurality of printers 4 and calculating reference values for printing quantity, group by group. The device extraction processing includes extracting printers 4 which are small in printing quantity based upon the reference value. The abnormality determination processing includes determining whether abnormality of the printer 4 is occurring in each of the extracted printers 4 based upon error history information on the printers 4. The notification processing includes giving notice of determination results of the abnormality determination processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a technology for managing devices.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a management system that detects a device with a high usage amount from among a plurality of devices and notifies an administrator of information identifying the detected device. Thereby, the administrator can take measures to eliminate the uneven load among the devices.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By detecting a device with a low usage amount from among a plurality of devices, it is also possible to take measures to eliminate the uneven load among the devices. However, unless appropriate measures are taken according to the cause of the low usage amount, the uneven load among the devices cannot be appropriately eliminated, and the management load will increase.

[0005] An object of this disclosure is to reduce the management load for managing devices.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of this disclosure is a management program configured to cause a control unit included in a management device that manages a plurality of devices to execute classification processing, reference value calculation processing, device extraction processing, abnormality determination processing, and notification processing.

[0007] The classification process classifies each of a plurality of devices into one of a plurality of groups. The reference value calculation process acquires usage information regarding the usage amount from each of the plurality of devices, and calculates a reference value of the usage amount in the devices belonging to each of the plurality of groups.

[0008] The device extraction process extracts, for each of the plurality of groups, devices with a small usage amount based on the reference value. The abnormality determination process determines, for each of the devices extracted by the device extraction process, whether the device is an abnormal device in which an abnormality has occurred based on the error history of the device. The notification process notifies the determination result by the abnormality determination process.

[0009] The management program of the present disclosure configured as described above can determine whether the reason for the small usage amount is that an abnormality has occurred in the device when a device with a small usage amount is detected. Thereby, when an abnormality has occurred in a device with a small usage amount, the management program of the present disclosure can cause the administrator to take appropriate measures to eliminate the load imbalance between devices according to the content of the abnormality. For this reason, the management program of the present disclosure can reduce the management load for managing devices.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a management device that manages a plurality of devices, including a control unit, and the control unit is configured to execute a classification process, a reference value calculation process, a device extraction process, an abnormality determination process, and a notification process.

[0011] The management device of the present disclosure is a device controlled by the management program of the present disclosure, and can obtain the same effects as the management program of the present disclosure. Still another aspect of the present disclosure is a management system including a plurality of devices and a management device that manages the plurality of devices, and the control unit included in the management device is configured to execute a classification process, a reference value calculation process, a device extraction process, an abnormality determination process, and a notification process.

[0012] The management system of the present disclosure is a system controlled by the management program of the present disclosure and can obtain the same effects as the management program of the present disclosure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) Configuration of Management System 1 The management system 1 of the present embodiment is a system for managing a plurality of printers 4 used in an enterprise composed of a plurality of departments. As shown in FIG. 1, it includes a management device 2, a plurality of terminal devices 3, and a plurality of printers 4. The management device 2, the terminal device 3, and the printer 4 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a local area network 5 (hereinafter referred to as LAN 5) as an example of a network. Note that the network may be a wide area network (hereinafter referred to as WAN), or may include a LAN and a WAN.

[0015] In this embodiment, the plurality of terminal devices 3 and the plurality of printers 4 belong to any one of the sales department D1, the development department D2, and the business department D3. The management device 2 is a personal computer in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the management device 2 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a display unit 13, an input unit 14, and a storage unit 15.

[0016] The control unit 11 includes a CPU 21 and a memory 22. The CPU 21 executes a program stored in the memory 22, whereby various functions of the management device 2 are realized. Note that the various functions realized by the control unit 11 are not limited to being realized by program execution, and a part or all of them may be realized using one or a plurality of hardware.

[0017] The memory 22 includes a semiconductor memory (for example, ROM, RAM, and flash memory), and stores a management program 23 and data. The communication unit 12 performs data communication with the terminal device 3 and the printer 4 via the LAN 5.

[0018] The display unit 13 includes a display device (not shown), and displays various images on the display device. The input unit 14 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The input unit 14 outputs input operation information for specifying an input operation performed by a user (that is, an administrator) of the management device 2 via the keyboard and the mouse.

[0019] The storage unit 15 includes an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD and an SSD, and stores various data. HDD is an abbreviation for Hard Disk Drive. SSD is an abbreviation for Solid State Drive.

[0020] The terminal device 3 is a personal computer in this embodiment, and includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, a display unit 33, an input unit 34, and a storage unit 35. Note that the terminal device 3 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet.

[0021] The control unit 31 includes a CPU 41 and a memory 42. The CPU 41 executes a program stored in the memory 42, thereby realizing various functions of the terminal device 3. Note that the various functions realized by the control unit 31 are not limited to being realized by executing a program, and a part or all of them may be realized using one or more pieces of hardware.

[0022] The memory 42 includes a semiconductor memory (for example, ROM, RAM, and flash memory) and stores programs and data. The communication unit 32 performs data communication with the management device 2 and the printer 4 via the LAN 5.

[0023] The display unit 33 includes a display device (not shown) and displays various images on the display device. The input unit 34 includes a keyboard and a mouse. Then, the input unit 34 outputs input operation information for specifying an input operation performed by the user of the terminal device 3 via the keyboard and the mouse.

[0024] The storage unit 35 includes an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD and an SSD, and stores various data. The printer 4 includes a control unit 51, a communication unit 52, a display unit 53, an input unit 54, and a printing unit 55.

[0025] The control unit 51 includes a CPU 61 and a memory 62. The CPU 61 executes a program stored in the memory 62, thereby realizing various functions of the printer 4. Note that the various functions realized by the control unit 51 are not limited to being realized by executing a program, and a part or all of them may be realized using one or more pieces of hardware. The memory 62 includes a semiconductor memory (for example, ROM, RAM, and flash memory) and stores programs and data.

[0026] The communication unit 52 performs data communication with the management device 2 and the terminal device 3 via the LAN 5. The display unit 53 includes a display device (not shown) and displays various images on the display device. The input unit 54 includes a touch panel installed on the display screen of the display unit 53 and a switch installed around the display screen of the display unit 53. Then, the input unit 54 outputs input operation information for specifying an input operation performed by the user via the touch panel and the switch.

[0027] The printing unit 55 has a printing mechanism of inkjet technology or electrophotographic technology and can print an image on a printing medium. Note that the printing unit 55 may have a printing mechanism of thermal technology. In the present embodiment, a printer 4 having a printing mechanism of inkjet technology is called an inkjet printer, and a printer 4 having a printing mechanism of electrophotographic technology is called a laser printer.

[0028] (2) Printer Management Window The management device 2 can display a printer management window W1 shown in FIG. 3 on the display screen of the display unit 13. After the management program 23 is started, a predetermined input operation for displaying the printer management window W1 is performed via the keyboard or the mouse, whereby the printer management window W1 is displayed.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the printer management window W1 displays at least the status, model name, toner / ink remaining amount, node name, device serial number, and location for each of the plurality of printers 4 included in the management system 1.

[0030] The status is the current status of the corresponding printer 4. The model name is the name of the model of the corresponding printer 4. The toner / ink remaining amount is the remaining amount of toner or ink in the corresponding printer 4. The node name is a character string set for identifying the corresponding printer 4. The device serial number is a unique number set for identifying the printer 4. The location is a character string indicating the department to which the corresponding printer 4 belongs.

[0031] The above status, model name, toner / ink remaining amount, node name, device serial number, and location are each displayed in the printer management window W1 by the management device 2 acquiring status information, toner / ink remaining amount information, node name information, serial number information, and location information from each printer 4.

[0032] (3) Device Notification Setting Window The management device 2 can display the device notification setting window W2 shown in FIG. 4 on the display screen of the display unit 13. After the management program 23 is started, a predetermined input operation for displaying the device notification setting window W2 is performed via the keyboard or mouse, whereby the device notification setting window W2 is displayed.

[0033] The device notification setting window W2 is a window for setting a profile including data necessary for performing device notifications. As shown in FIG. 4, the device notification setting window W2 includes input text boxes TB1, TB2, TB3, a used language input button IB1, check boxes CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB6, an OK button B1, and a cancel button B2.

[0034] In the input text box TB1, a character string for identifying the profile set in the device notification setting window W2 is input. In the input text box TB2, a character string indicating the email address of the email destination is input. In the input text box TB3, a character string indicating the email address of the email sender is input.

[0035] The used language input button IB1 is a pull-down button, and a plurality of used language options are displayed by a mouse click operation on the used language input button IB1. The administrator can set the used language by clicking on one of the plurality of displayed options with the mouse.

[0036] The check boxes CB1 to CB6 are each configured to switch between a state where a check mark is placed inside the check boxes CB1 to CB6 (hereinafter, the checked state) and a state where no check mark is placed inside the check boxes CB1 to CB6 by a mouse click operation on the check boxes CB1 to CB6.

[0037] The check box CB1 is set to the checked state when the administrator wishes to be notified when the toner or ink replacement time is approaching. The check box CB2 is set to the checked state when the administrator wishes to be notified when there is a printer 4 with low usage.

[0038] The check box CB3 is set to the checked state when the administrator wishes to be notified when drum replacement is necessary. The check box CB4 is set to the checked state when the administrator wishes to be notified of a warning regarding supplies.

[0039] The check box CB5 is set to the checked state when the administrator wishes to be notified of an error regarding supplies. The check box CB6 is set to the checked state when the administrator wishes to be notified of a warning regarding supplies for service personnel.

[0040] The OK button B1 is operated when the settings of the profile are completed with the content input in the input text boxes TB1, TB2, TB3, the content set for the use language input button IB1, and the check boxes CB1 to CB6. The cancel button B2 is operated when the setting of the profile is interrupted.

[0041] (4) Processing executed in the management device 2 Next, the procedure of the printer management process executed by the control unit 11 of the management device 2 will be described. The printer management process is started by activating the management program 23 through the input operation of the administrator, and then is executed every time a preset execution cycle elapses.

[0042] When the printer management process is executed, the CPU 21 of the control unit 11 first classifies a plurality of printers 4 provided in the management system 1 by department as shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, the CPU 21 classifies a plurality of printers 4 by department by specifying the department of each printer 4 based on the location information acquired from each printer 4. In the present embodiment, the plurality of printers 4 are classified into any one of the sales department D1, the development department D2, and the business department D3.

[0043] Furthermore, the CPU 21 classifies one or more printers 4 belonging to each department by model at S20. Specifically, the CPU 21 classifies one or more printers 4 belonging to a department into either an inkjet printer group P1 or a laser printer group P2 by specifying whether each printer 4 is an inkjet printer or a laser printer based on the model name acquired from each printer 4.

[0044] As a result, in the present embodiment, for each of the sales department D1, the development department D2, and the business department D3, one or more printers 4 belonging to the department are classified into the inkjet printer group P1 or the laser printer group P2. Note that the following processes are performed for each range classified by department and model. For example, in the present embodiment, the following processes are performed for each of the inkjet printer group P1 of the sales department D1, the laser printer group P2 of the sales department D1, the inkjet printer group P1 of the development department D2, the laser printer group P2 of the development department D2, the inkjet printer group P1 of the business department D3, and the laser printer group P2 of the business department D3.

[0045] Then, at S30, the CPU 21 first acquires, from each of the plurality of printers 4 included in the management system 1, print volume information indicating the number of pages printed by each printer 4. Further, based on the acquired print volume information, the CPU 21 calculates, for each of the plurality of departments, the average value μ and the standard deviation σ of the print volume in the printers 4 belonging to the inkjet printer group P1 and the average value μ and the standard deviation σ of the print volume in the printers 4 belonging to the laser printer group P2.

[0046] Next, at S40, the CPU 21 extracts, for each of the plurality of departments, from each of the inkjet printer group P1 and the laser printer group P2, a printer 4 that satisfies the following first extraction condition as a printer 4 with a low print volume. The first extraction condition is that the print volume is less than (μ - 2×σ).

[0047] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that printers 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h are classified into the sales department D1. Also, it is assumed that printers 4a, 4b, 4c are classified into the inkjet printer group P1 and printers 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h are classified into the laser printer group P2.

[0048] In this case, the CPU 21 calculates the average value μ1 and the standard deviation σ1 of the print volume based on the print volumes of printers 4a, 4b, 4c included in the inkjet printer group P1 of the sales department D1. Also, the CPU 21 calculates the average value μ2 and the standard deviation σ2 of the print volume based on the print volumes of 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h included in the laser printer group P2 of the sales department D1.

[0049] And among printers 4a, 4b, 4c, it is assumed that the print volume in printer 4a is less than (μ1 - 2×σ1), and the print volumes in printers 4b, 4c are (μ1 - 2×σ1) or more. As a result, in the inkjet printer group P1 of the sales department D1, printer 4a is extracted as a printer 4 with a low print volume.

[0050] Also, among printers 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, and 4h, assume that the printing volume of printer 4f becomes less than (μ2 - 2×σ2), and the printing volume of printers 4d, 4e, 4g, and 4h becomes (μ2 - 2×σ2) or more. As a result, in the laser printer group P2 of sales department D1, printer 4f is extracted as printer 4 with a small printing volume.

[0051] When the process of S40 ends, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 21 determines in S50 whether or not a printer 4 with a small printing volume was extracted in S40. Here, if a printer 4 with a small printing volume was not extracted, the CPU 21 ends the printer management process. On the other hand, if a printer 4 with a small printing volume was extracted, the CPU 21 acquires error history information from the printer 4 (that is, the printer 4 with a small printing volume) extracted in S40 in S60. The error history information includes the occurrence date and time and error content of one or more errors that occurred in the printer 4, and the cumulative number of times of errors that occurred in the printer 4 (hereinafter referred to as the cumulative error count).

[0052] Then, the CPU 21 selects, in S70, one printer 4 that has not yet been selected in the process of S70 as the selected printer from among the one or more printers 4 (hereinafter referred to as one or more extracted printers) extracted in S40.

[0053] Next, the CPU 21 determines in S80 whether or not the cumulative error count of the selected printer is equal to or greater than a preset abnormality determination value. Here, if the cumulative error count is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value, the CPU 21 transmits, in S90, an abnormal printer notification email notifying that an abnormality has occurred in the selected printer to the terminal device 3 specified by a preset email address, and proceeds to S110.

[0054] An example of the notification content of the abnormal printer notification email is shown in the notification content NC1 of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the abnormal printer notification email, as <Status Notification>, notifies that the printing volume is low, such as "The usage of this device is less than that of surrounding devices.", and notifies the content of the most frequent error, such as "Furthermore, the number of paper jam errors is large."

[0055] In addition, the abnormal printer notification email, as <Node Information>, notifies the node name of the printer to be notified, the model name, the location, the inquiry destination, the device serial number, and the URL for opening the setting window of the printer to be notified.

[0056] Also, in S80, when the cumulative number of error times is less than the abnormal determination value, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 21 transmits a low printing volume printer notification email that notifies that the printing volume is low at S100 to the terminal device 3 specified by the preset email address at S100, and then proceeds to S100.

[0057] An example of the notification content of the low printing volume printer notification email is shown in the notification content NC2 of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the low printing volume printer notification email, as <Status Notification>, notifies that the printing volume is low, such as "The usage of this device is less than that of surrounding devices." Also, the low printing volume printer notification email notifies a movement proposal to move near the printer 4 with a large printing volume, such as "Since the usage of the device BBB-M9999 is large, consider repositioning it near there."

[0058] In addition, the low printing volume printer notification email notifies the node name of the printer to be notified, the model name, the location, the inquiry destination, the device serial number, and the URL for opening the setting window of the printer to be notified, similar to the abnormal printer notification email.

[0059] When transitioning to S110, the CPU 21 determines whether all of the one or more extraction printers have been selected as the selected printer. Here, if there is an extraction printer that has not been selected as the selected printer, the CPU 21 transitions to S70. On the other hand, if all of the one or more extraction printers have been selected as the selected printer, the CPU 21 ends the printer management process.

[0060] (5) Effects The management program 23 configured in this way causes the control unit 11 provided in the management device 2 that manages the plurality of printers 4 to execute classification processing, reference value calculation processing, device extraction processing, abnormality determination processing, and notification processing.

[0061] The classification processing classifies each of the plurality of printers 4 into one of a plurality of groups. The reference value calculation processing acquires print amount information regarding the print amount of the printer 4 from each of the plurality of printers 4, and calculates the average value μ and the standard deviation σ of the print amounts in the printers 4 belonging to each of the plurality of groups.

[0062] The device extraction processing extracts printers 4 with a small print amount for each of the plurality of groups based on the average value μ and the standard deviation σ. The abnormality determination processing determines, for each of the printers 4 extracted by the device extraction processing, whether the printer 4 (hereinafter, abnormal printer) has an abnormality based on the error history information of the printer 4. The notification processing notifies the determination result by the abnormality determination processing by an abnormal printer notification email or a low print amount printer notification email.

[0063] When such a management program 23 detects a printer 4 with a low print volume, it can determine whether the reason for the low print volume is due to an abnormality occurring in the printer 4. As a result, when an abnormality occurs in the printer 4 with a low print volume, the management program 23 can cause the administrator to take appropriate measures to eliminate the load imbalance among the printers 4 according to the content of the abnormality. For this reason, the management program 23 can reduce the management load for managing the printer 4.

[0064] Also, the classification process classifies a plurality of printers 4 based on the model and department of the printer 4. Thereby, the management program 23 can automatically classify and manage the printer 4, and can further reduce the management load.

[0065] Also, the reference value calculation process calculates the average value μ and the standard deviation σ of the print volume in the printer 4 belonging to the group as reference values. Then, the device extraction process uses the subtraction value obtained by subtracting twice the standard deviation σ from the average value μ as the first threshold value, and extracts the printer 4 with a print volume smaller than the first threshold value as the printer 4 with a low print volume. Thereby, the management program 23 can detect the printer 4 with a low print volume based on the normal distribution, and can improve the detection accuracy of the printer 4 with a low print volume.

[0066] Also, the error history information includes the cumulative error count of the printer 4. Thereby, since the management program 23 can determine whether it is an abnormal printer based on whether the cumulative error count is large, it can reduce the calculation load for determining whether it is an abnormal printer.

[0067] Also, the notification process notifies, as a determination result, a movement proposal to move to the vicinity of the printer 4 with a large print volume for the printer 4 determined not to be an abnormal printer. Thereby, since the management program 23 can cause the administrator to take measures to eliminate the load imbalance among the printer 4 according to the movement proposal, the management load of the administrator can be further reduced.

[0068] Also, for the printer 4 that has been determined not to be an abnormal printer, as a determination result, it notifies that the printing volume is small. As a result, the management program 23 can make the administrator recognize that the reason for the small printing volume is not due to an abnormality occurring in the printer 4, and then make the administrator take measures to eliminate the uneven load among the printers 4.

[0069] Also, for the printer 4 that has been determined to be an abnormal printer, as a determination result, it notifies the content of the most frequent error based on the error history information. As a result, the management program 23 can make the administrator take measures to eliminate the uneven load among the printer 4 based on the content of the notified error.

[0070] In the embodiment described above, the printer 4 corresponds to the device, S10 and S20 correspond to the classification process, S30 corresponds to the reference value calculation process, S40 corresponds to the device extraction process, S80 corresponds to the abnormality determination process, and S90 and S100 correspond to the notification process.

[0071] Also, the inkjet printer group P1 of the sales department D1, the laser printer group P2 of the sales department D1, the inkjet printer group P1 of the development department D2, the laser printer group P2 of the development department D2, the inkjet printer group P1 of the business department D3, and the laser printer group P2 of the business department D3 each correspond to a group.

[0072] Also, the printing volume corresponds to the usage amount, the printing volume information corresponds to the usage amount information, the average value μ and the standard deviation σ correspond to the reference value, and the abnormal printer corresponds to the abnormal device. Also, the model of the printer 4 corresponds to the attribute of the device, the department corresponds to the attribute of the user, 2×σ corresponds to the first outlier value, and (μ - 2×σ) corresponds to the first threshold value.

[0073] [Second Embodiment] The second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the parts different from the first embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals are given to the common configurations.

[0074] The management system 1 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the printer management process is changed. As shown in FIG. 8, the printer management process of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processes of S30 and S40 are omitted and the processes of S35 and S45 are added.

[0075] That is, when the process of S20 ends, the CPU 21 acquires print volume information from a plurality of printers 4 provided in the management system 1 at S35. Further, based on the acquired print volume information, the CPU 21 calculates, for each of the plurality of departments, the average value μ of the print volume in the printer 4 belonging to the inkjet printer group P1 and the average value μ of the print volume in the printer 4 belonging to the laser printer group P2.

[0076] Next, at S45, the CPU 21 extracts, for each of the plurality of departments, the printer 4 that satisfies the following second extraction condition from each of the inkjet printer group P1 and the laser printer group P2 as the printer 4 with a small print volume. The second extraction condition is that the print volume is less than (1 - x)μ. The outlier rate x is a number that is 0 or more and less than 1. Also, the outlier rate x is set by the administrator before the printer management process is started.

[0077] When the process of S45 ends, the CPU 21 proceeds to S50. In the management program 23 configured as described above, in the reference value calculation process, as the reference value, the average value μ of the printing amounts in the printers 4 belonging to the group is calculated. And in the device extraction process, from the average value μ, as the second threshold value, a subtraction value obtained by subtracting the product of a preset deviation rate x and the average value μ is used, and the printers 4 with a printing amount smaller than the second threshold value are extracted as printers 4 with a small printing amount. Thereby, since the management program 23 can set the threshold value by a simple method of subtracting the product of the deviation rate x and the average value μ from the average value μ, the calculation load can be reduced.

[0078] In the embodiment described above, S35 corresponds to the reference value calculation process, S45 corresponds to the device extraction process, the product of the deviation rate x and the average value μ corresponds to the second deviation value, and (1 - x)μ corresponds to the second threshold value.

[0079] [Third Embodiment] The third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the third embodiment, the parts different from the first embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals are given to the common configurations.

[0080] The management system 1 of the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the printer management process is changed. As shown in FIG. 9, the printer management process of the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processes of S10 and S20 are omitted and the processes of S210, S220, and S230 are added.

[0081] That is, when the printer management process is executed, the CPU 21 first determines in S210 whether a plurality of printers 4 provided in the management system 1 have already been classified. Here, if the plurality of printers 4 have not been classified, the CPU 21 proceeds to S230. On the other hand, if the plurality of printers 4 have been classified, the CPU 21 determines in S220 whether an instruction to reclassify the plurality of printers 4 has been given. Specifically, the CPU 21 determines that an instruction to reclassify the plurality of printers 4 has been given when input operation information for instructing the reclassification of the plurality of printers 4 is output from the input unit 14.

[0082] Here, when there is no instruction for reclassification, the CPU 21 proceeds to S30. On the other hand, when there is an instruction for reclassification, the CPU 21 proceeds to S230. When proceeding to S230, the CPU 21 executes manual classification processing. In the manual classification processing, specifically, the CPU 21 first displays a group setting window for setting a group for each of the plurality of printers 4 provided in the management system 1 on the display screen of the display unit 13. The administrator sets a character string (hereinafter referred to as a group character string) for specifying a group for each printer 4 in the group setting window by an input operation via the keyboard and the mouse. Then, when the group setting in the group setting window is completed, the CPU 21 classifies the plurality of printers 4 into a plurality of groups by specifying the group of each printer 4 based on the set group character string. Further, for each of the plurality of groups, the CPU 21 classifies one or more printers 4 belonging to the group by model. When the classification by model is completed for all the groups, the CPU 21 ends the manual classification processing.

[0083] When the processing of S230 ends, the CPU 21 proceeds to S30. In the management program 23 configured as described above, in the classification processing, for each of the plurality of printers 4, a group character string indicating the group to which the printer 4 belongs is acquired, and based on the acquired group character string, the plurality of printers 4 are classified. Thereby, the management program 23 can perform the classification desired by the administrator.

[0084] In the embodiment described above, S230 corresponds to the classification processing, and the group character string corresponds to the group information. As described above, although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented with various modifications.

[0085] For example, in the above embodiment, a form in which the attribute of the user is a department was shown. However, the attribute of the user is not limited to a department, and for example, it may be classified based on the floor in the building where the user of the printer 4 works.

[0086] Also, in the above embodiment, a form in which the device of the present disclosure is the printer 4 was shown. However, the device of the present disclosure may be a multifunction device, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine having a scanner function for reading an image from a document.

[0087] Also, in the above embodiment, for each of the sales department D1, the development department D2, and the business department D3, a form of classification into either the inkjet printer group P1 or the laser printer group P2 was shown. However, when all models of the printer 4 are either an inkjet printer or a laser printer, the classification process in the process of S20 is not performed, and each of the sales department D1, the development department D2, and the business department D3 becomes a group. Further, when no department is set in the company where the management system 1 is introduced, the classification process in the process of S10 is not performed, and each of one inkjet printer group P1 and one laser printer group P2 becomes a group.

[0088] A plurality of functions of one component in the above embodiment may be realized by a plurality of components, or one function of one component may be realized by a plurality of components. Also, a plurality of functions of a plurality of components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by a plurality of components may be realized by one component. Also, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Also, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to or replaced with the configuration of another above embodiment.

[0089] In addition to the management device 2 described above, the present disclosure can also be realized in various forms such as a system including the management device 2 as a component, a program for causing a computer to function as the management device 2, a non-transitory tangible recording medium such as a semiconductor memory recording this program, and a management method.

Explanation of Signs

[0090] 1... Management system, 2... Management device, 4... Printer, 11... Control unit, 23... Management program

Claims

1. A control unit included in a management device for managing a plurality of devices performs: a classification process of classifying each of the plurality of devices into one of a plurality of groups; obtaining usage information regarding the usage amount of each of the plurality of devices, and for each of the plurality of groups, a reference value calculation process of calculating a reference value of the usage amount in the devices belonging to the group; for each of the plurality of groups, a device extraction process of extracting the devices with a small usage amount based on the reference value; for each of the devices extracted by the device extraction process, an abnormality determination process of determining whether the device is an abnormal device in which an abnormality has occurred based on the error history of the device; and a notification process of notifying the determination result by the abnormality determination process. A management program configured to execute the above.

2. The management program according to claim 1, wherein the classification process classifies the plurality of devices based on the attributes of the devices.

3. The management program according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the classification process classifies the plurality of devices based on the attributes of the users who use the devices.

4. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the classification process obtains group information indicating the group to which each of the plurality of devices belongs, and classifies the plurality of devices based on the obtained group information.

5. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The reference value calculation process calculates, as the reference value, the average value and standard deviation of the usage amounts in the devices belonging to the group. The device extraction process is a management program that extracts, as the devices with low usage amounts, the devices whose usage amounts are less than a first threshold value, where the first threshold value is a subtraction value obtained by subtracting a first outlier value calculated based on the standard deviation from the average value.

6. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The reference value calculation process calculates, as the reference value, the average value of the usage amounts in the devices belonging to the group. The device extraction process is a management program that extracts, as the devices with low usage amounts, the devices whose usage amounts are less than a second threshold value, where the second threshold value is a subtraction value obtained by subtracting a preset second outlier value from the average value.

7. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The error history includes the cumulative error count of the device.

8. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The notification process is a management program that notifies, as a movement proposal, a proposal to move to the vicinity of the device with a large usage amount, as the judgment result, for the device judged in the abnormality judgment process not to be the abnormal device.

9. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The notification process is a management program that notifies, as the judgment result, that the usage amount is small, for the device judged in the abnormality judgment process not to be the abnormal device.

10. The management program according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The notification process is a management program that notifies, as the determination result, the content of the most frequent error based on the error history for the device determined to be the abnormal device in the abnormal determination process.

11. The management program according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the notification process is a management program that notifies the determination result by e-mail.

12. A management device for managing a plurality of devices, comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit performs a classification process of classifying each of the plurality of devices into any one of a plurality of groups, acquires usage information regarding the usage amount of each of the plurality of devices, and for each of the plurality of groups, performs a reference value calculation process of calculating a reference value of the usage amount in the devices belonging to the group, for each of the plurality of groups, performs a device extraction process of extracting the devices with a small usage amount based on the reference value, for each of the devices extracted in the device extraction process, performs an abnormal determination process of determining whether the device is an abnormal device in which an abnormality has occurred based on the error history of the device, and a notification process of notifying the determination result by the abnormal determination process and is configured to execute.

13. A plurality of devices, and a management device for managing the plurality of devices, wherein the control unit included in the management device performs a classification process of classifying each of the plurality of devices into any one of a plurality of groups, acquires usage information regarding the usage amount of each of the plurality of devices, and for each of the plurality of groups, performs a reference value calculation process of calculating a reference value of the usage amount in the devices belonging to the group, For each of the plurality of the groups, based on the reference value, a device extraction process for extracting the device with a small usage amount; For each of the devices extracted by the device extraction process, based on the error history of the device, an abnormality determination process for determining whether the device is an abnormal device in which an abnormality has occurred; A notification process for notifying the determination result by the abnormality determination process; A management system configured to execute the above.

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