Asset management server, asset management method, and recording medium

Abstract

An asset management server according to the present disclosure comprises: an acquisition means for acquiring device identification information included in operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of devices in a shop from a maintenance management server that collects the operation status information from a shop management terminal provided in the shop; a comparison means for comparing the acquired identification information with device identification information managed in a database for managing devices installed in the shop; and an output means for associating and outputting the comparison result and the date on which the operation status information was transmitted to the shop management terminal.

Description

Asset management server, asset management method, and recording medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an asset management server and the like.

[0002] A single company may operate multiple stores, each of which will have a variety of equipment installed. Employees at the company's headquarters who manage multiple stores will conduct an inventory of the equipment at each store. An inventory is the process of confirming that the equipment recorded in the asset management ledger is actually in the store. A system vendor who installs equipment may receive an inventory request from the company and visit the store to check the actual equipment.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an asset management server that manages IT (Information Technology) assets such as computers and network devices. In Patent Document 1, the asset management server connects to an IT asset corresponding to an IT asset record obtained from an IT asset management table. The asset management server then manages the IT asset based on whether or not there is a response from the IT asset.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-275616

[0005] A large number of various devices are used in stores, and the configuration of a system for managing assets related to these devices remains complex.

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide an asset management server or the like that can be realized with a simple configuration and that supports the management of devices installed in a store.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the asset management server includes an acquisition means for acquiring identification information of equipment included in operation status information from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of multiple equipment in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, a comparison means for comparing the acquired identification information with identification information of equipment managed in a database that manages equipment installed in the store, and an output means for outputting the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

[0008] An asset management method in one aspect of the present disclosure obtains identification information of equipment included in operation status information from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of multiple equipment in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, compares the obtained identification information with identification information of the equipment managed in a database that manages equipment installed in the store, and outputs the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

[0009] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a process of acquiring, from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of devices in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, identification information of devices included in the operation status information, comparing the acquired identification information with identification information of devices managed in a database that manages devices installed in the store, and outputting the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal. The program may be stored in a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium.

[0010] One example of the effect of the present disclosure is that an asset management server or the like that supports the management of devices installed in a store can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of connection between an asset management server and other devices. FIG. 2 is a table showing an example of data stored by a maintenance management server. FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of data managed in an asset management ledger. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an asset management server. FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a collation result. FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of a record of the collation result. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on equipment in a store. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a screen displayed on equipment in a store. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a manager's terminal. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the asset management server. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer.

[0012] An example of a connection between an asset management server 100 and other devices according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 1. The asset management server 100 is connected to other devices via a communication network, either wired or wirelessly. The asset management server 100 is connected to, for example, a maintenance management server 20, a manager terminal 30, and an asset management ledger 40.

[0013] The maintenance management server 20 is a server used for maintaining the devices 10 installed in each of a plurality of stores S_1, ..., S_n. Each store S is, for example, a convenience store. However, the type of each store S is not limited, and it may be a supermarket or other retail store.

[0014] The maintenance management server 20 receives and stores operational status information of the device 10. The operational status information is not particularly limited as long as it is information used for maintaining the device 10. The operational status information is information indicating a fault or malfunction status or an operating status of the device 10. The operational status information includes identification information of the device 10. The identification information uniquely identifies the device 10. The identification information may be a serial number assigned to a system developer when the device 10 is installed. The identification information may also be a serial number assigned by the manufacturer of the device 10. A person performing maintenance on the device 10 can determine whether the device 10 has reached the end of its life or has malfunctioned by checking the operational status information stored in the maintenance management server 20. The operational status information is also referred to as RAS (reliability, availability, serviceability) information. The maintenance management server 20 is also referred to as a RAS server.

[0015] The device 10 is a device installed in a store. A plurality of devices 10 are installed in a store. The store management terminal 10A is an example of the device 10. Each device 10 is connected to the store management terminal 10A installed in the store where the device 10 is installed via a communication network, either wired or wirelessly. The store management terminal 10A is a terminal operated by a store employee, and is, for example, a personal computer. The store management terminal 10A is also called a store controller.

[0016] Devices 10 other than the store management terminal 10A include, for example, order terminals, payment terminals, inspection terminals, POS (Point of Sales) terminals, commercial printers, receipt printers, and multi-copy machines. However, the types of devices 10 are not limited to these. The order terminal is, for example, a tablet-type terminal used by store employees to order products. The payment terminal is used to read customers' credit card information, etc. The inspection terminal is used by store employees to inspect products delivered to the store. The POS terminal is connected to a POS server and registers store sales in the POS server. The commercial printer is, for example, connected to the store management terminal 10A and prints forms used in the store. The receipt printer is connected to the POS terminal. The multi-copy machine is mainly used by customers.

[0017] When the device 10 is activated, it transmits operation status information indicating its own operation status to the store management terminal 10A. The device 10 transmits operation status information indicating, for example, the operation status of the previous day. However, the device 10 may also transmit operation status information indicating the operation status of the current day. The device 10 transmits operation status information at regular intervals. The regular interval is, for example, one day. The device 10 may transmit operation status information when it switches from an inactive state to an active state. Note that when the device 10 is not activated, such as when the device 10 is not being used in the store, the device 10 does not transmit operation status information.

[0018] In a specific example, an order terminal serving as device 10 transmits information indicating the degree of battery depletion in the order terminal to store management terminal 10A as operational status information of the order terminal. The information indicating the degree of battery depletion is expressed by the number of charge / discharge cycles or the usable time after a full charge. A printer serving as device 10 may transmit the ink usage rate as operational status information of the printer.

[0019] The store management terminal 10A of each store S_1, ..., S_n transmits operational status information of each connected device 10 to the maintenance management server 20. In this way, the maintenance management server 20 can collect operational status information of each of the multiple devices 10 in each of the stores S_1, ..., S_n. The store management terminal 10A, which is a device 10, may also transmit its own operational status information to the maintenance management server 20. The operational status information of the store management terminal 10A is, for example, information indicating the presence or absence of a memory abnormality.

[0020] An example of operational status information for a certain day is shown in Figure 2. For example, the operational status information in the table in Figure 2 is sent from the store management terminal 10A to the maintenance management server 20. In Figure 2, the operational status information includes a serial number and an operational status. The store management terminal 10A may also send store identification information or a device type along with the operational status information. The device type is information that indicates the type of device 10.

[0021] The maintenance management server 20 stores the operation status information received in this manner. The maintenance management server 20 may store the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal 10A, or the date on which the operation status information was sent to the maintenance management server 20. The maintenance management server 20 may receive and store the date on which the operation status information indicates the operation status.

[0022] The manager terminal 30 is a terminal used by a manager who manages the devices 10 in multiple stores. The manager takes inventory of each of the multiple devices 10 in each store. The manager may be an employee of a company that operates the stores, or an employee of a system provider that installs the devices 10.

[0023] The asset management ledger 40 records the identification information of the equipment 10 installed in the store along with store identification information that identifies the store. The asset management ledger 40 is a database constructed on a computer. The store identification information is, for example, a store number or a store name. The identification information of the equipment 10 corresponds to the identification information included in the operation status information. The identification information of the equipment 10 is registered in the asset management ledger 40, for example, when the equipment 10 is installed.

[0024] 3 shows an example of data recorded in the asset management ledger 40. The asset management ledger 40 may record the device type or the date on which the device 10 was installed in the store along with the identification information of the device 10. Because multiple devices 10 may be installed by different system vendors, the asset management ledger 40 may also store information on the system vendors that install the devices 10.

[0025] An example configuration of the asset management server 100 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The asset management server 100 includes an acquisition unit 101, a collation unit 102, and an output unit 103.

[0026] The acquisition unit 101 acquires, from the maintenance management server 20, identification information of the devices 10 in the store, which is included in operation status information indicating the operation status of each of the multiple devices 10 in the store. As described above, the maintenance management server 20 collects operation status information of each device 10 from the store management terminal 10A installed in the store. The store management terminal 10A transmits operation status information of activated devices 10 to the maintenance management server 20. Therefore, the acquisition unit 101 can acquire the identification information of the devices 10 activated in the store by acquiring the identification information included in the operation status information.

[0027] For example, the acquisition unit 101 acquires the identification information of the device 10 from data collected by the maintenance management server 20 as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the acquisition unit 101 acquires the serial number collected from the store management terminal 10A with store number 1234 as the identification information of the device 10 in the store.

[0028] When the maintenance management server 20 stores operation status information for multiple days, the acquisition unit 101 may acquire identification information included in the latest operation status information. For example, the store management terminal 10A may transmit operation status information for the previous day, indicating the operation status of the device 10 on the previous day, every day. In this case, the operation status information for the previous day is the latest operation status information. Therefore, the acquisition unit 101 acquires identification information included in the operation status information indicating the operation status of the device 10 on the previous day.

[0029] The collating unit 102 collates the identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 that manages the device 10 installed in the store with the identification information acquired by the acquiring unit 101. For example, the collating unit 102 collates whether the identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 is included in the identification information acquired by the acquiring unit 101.

[0030] For example, the collation unit 102 verifies whether the identification information of the device 10 included in the data recorded in the asset management ledger 40 of FIG. 3 is included in the previous day's operation status information such as that of FIG. 2. According to the asset management ledger 40, two ordering terminals have been installed in the store with store number 1234. However, there may be cases where only one ordering terminal is in use in the store, and the other ordering terminal is not activated. In such a case, the operation status information of FIG. 2 includes only the identification information of one ordering terminal. Operation status information has not been collected for the other ordering terminal. Therefore, the collation unit 102 verifies whether the identification information of one ordering terminal of the devices 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 matches any of the identification information included in the operation status information. Similarly, the collation unit 102 verifies whether the identification information of one inspection terminal of the devices 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 matches any of the identification information included in the operation status information.

[0031] The output unit 103 outputs the result of the matching by the matching unit 102 in association with the date. For example, as a result of the matching, the output unit 103 outputs information indicating whether the identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 is included in the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101. The output unit 103 also outputs, for example, the date on which the operation status information was transmitted to the store management terminal 10A. The output unit 103 may also output, as a date, the date on which the operation status information was transmitted from the store management terminal 10A to the maintenance management server 20, the date of the operation status indicated by the operation status information, or the like. The acquisition unit 101 acquires, for example, these dates from the maintenance management server 20. These dates may be the same as the date on which the matching is performed. Therefore, the acquisition unit 101 may acquire dates from the maintenance management server 20 as needed.

[0032] An example of output of the matching result will be described using Figure 5. The output unit 103 outputs the matching result, for example, for each device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40. Information indicating that the identification information of a device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 is included in the acquired identification information is represented by a circle in the example of Figure 5. Furthermore, information indicating that the identification information of a device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 is not included in the acquired identification information is represented by a cross. In the example of Figure 5, the output unit 103 outputs the date on which the matching was performed as the date.

[0033] The matching result output by the output unit 103 is recorded. The output unit 103 may record the matching result in an arbitrary recording unit. Alternatively, a functional unit of another device (not shown) may receive and record the matching result output by the output unit 103. The output unit 103 may store the data of FIG. 5. The output unit 103 may further record the output date. FIG. 6 shows another example of how the matching result is recorded. For example, if the acquired identification information includes identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40, the output unit 103 updates the associated and output date as the last confirmation date. If the acquired identification information does not include identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40, the output unit 103 does not update the recorded last confirmation date. As a result, the latest date output by the output unit 103 when the identification information of the device 10 is included in the operation status information is recorded.

[0034] In addition to the result of the matching, the output unit 103 may output a notification regarding devices 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 that do not contain identification information in the operation status information collected from the store management terminal 10A of the store. The notification regarding the devices 10 prompts the person to confirm that the devices 10 are in the store. Based on the result of the matching, the output unit 103 outputs a notification regarding devices 10 that do not contain identification information in the collected operation status information. Devices 10 that do not contain identification information cannot be confirmed to actually be in the store. Because it is necessary to confirm that the devices 10 are in the store for inventory purposes, the output unit 103 outputs the notification.

[0035] The output unit 103 may output a notification regarding devices 10 whose operational status information within a predetermined period does not include identification information based on the date associated with the matching result. The predetermined period is set appropriately, taking into account the interval between inventory counts, such as one month. The output unit 103 may extract devices 10 whose operational status information within a predetermined period does not include identification information by referring to the last check date shown in FIG. 6. Then, the output unit 103 outputs a notification regarding the extracted devices 10.

[0036] For example, the output unit 103 outputs a notification to a device 10 in a store. Alternatively, the output unit 103 outputs a notification to a manager terminal 30 of a manager who manages multiple stores. Notifications to the respective destinations of the device 10 and the manager terminal 30 will be described in order. Note that the output unit 103 may output a notification to both the device 10 and the manager terminal 30.

[0037] The following describes the notification that the output unit 103 outputs to the store devices 10. By outputting the notification to the store devices 10, store employees can check the notification of devices 10 that were not confirmed to be in the store. For example, the output unit 103 outputs the notification to the store management terminal 10A. The output unit 103 may output the notification to devices 10 whose operational status information includes identification information. In other words, the output unit 103 outputs the notification to devices 10 whose operational status information was confirmed to be actually in the store. The output unit 103 may output the notification to at least one of the devices 10 whose operational status information includes identification information, including the store management terminal 10A, an order terminal, and an inspection terminal.

[0038] In one example, the notification output by the output unit 103 to the device 10 in the store may be a notification urging a store employee to start up the device 10 whose operational status information does not include identification information. Once the device 10 starts up and communicates with the store management terminal 10A, the operational status information of the device 10 is sent to the store management terminal 10A. Therefore, the acquisition unit 101 can acquire the identification information of the device 10 at a later date. The identification information is then verified by the verification unit 102. This confirms that the device 10 is actually located in the store.

[0039] FIG. 7 shows an example of a notification urging a store employee to start up the device 10. When the output unit 103 outputs a notification regarding a device 10 whose operational status information within a predetermined period does not include identification information, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the device 10. For example, the store management terminal 10A displays the screen shown in FIG. 7 in response to the output of the notification from the output unit 103. The screen shown in FIG. 7 includes a message indicating that the use of the device 10 whose operational status information within a predetermined period does not include identification information has not been confirmed. When the store management terminal 10A is able to communicate with the notified device 10, it may display a message indicating that the startup of the device 10 has been confirmed.

[0040] The screen in Fig. 7 includes a "Notify Later" button. When the "Notify Later" button is pressed, the store management terminal 10A closes the screen in Fig. 7. The store management terminal 10A then displays the message in Fig. 7 again after a predetermined time has passed, such as one hour later. This allows the store employee to take action to start the device 10 later.

[0041] In one example, the notification output by the output unit 103 to the device 10 in the store may be a notification prompting a store employee to report the status of the device 10 whose operational status information does not include identification information. The report of the status of the device 10 may include a report of a malfunction or loss of the device 10. The employee checks the notification, and if the device 10 malfunctions or is lost, reports it to a manager. The manager can check the report and take an inventory of the device 10.

[0042] The output unit 103 may display a "Report Malfunction / Loss" button as shown in FIG. 7 as a notification prompting a status report. Pressing the "Report Malfunction / Loss" button enables a report to be sent to the manager terminal 30. After pressing the button, the store management terminal 10A may generate a repair request for the device 10. Alternatively, for example, after pressing the button, the store management terminal 10A may generate a loss report for the device 10.

[0043] The output unit 103 may display a message prompting the user to report the situation and to send confirmation that the device 10 is actually in the store. A label with printed identification information may be attached to each device 10. In such a case, the store clerk uses a device 10 equipped with an imaging device to photograph the label affixed to the other device 10. In response to an operation by the store clerk, the device 10 may transmit, as confirmation, an image of the label with the identification information affixed to the other device 10.

[0044] Another example of a notification prompting a status report will be described using FIG. 8 . The screen of FIG. 8 may be displayed on a tablet-type ordering terminal or inspection terminal, which is the device 10. FIG. 8 includes a message prompting an employee to send an image as confirmation. Following the message, the employee photographs the label attached to another device 10 using a camera provided on the device 10, such as the ordering terminal or inspection terminal. As shown in FIG. 8 , the device 10 displays the image photographed by the employee. In FIG. 8 , in response to pressing the "Send Image" button, the device 10 transmits the image to the manager terminal 30.

[0045] The notification output by the output unit 103 to the manager terminal 30 will be further described. The notification output to the manager terminal 30 may be a notification urging the manager to check the status with employees of the store where the device 10 has been installed. After checking the notification, the manager contacts the store employee by phone or email. The manager may also actually visit the store and check with the employee. The output unit 103 may, for example, display the notification on a screen that displays the devices 10 installed in each of multiple stores, by store and by type of device 10.

[0046] FIG. 9 will be used to explain an example of a notification urging a manager to check the status of employees. The screen of FIG. 9 is displayed after a manager searches for store information using the manager terminal 30. The screen of FIG. 9 includes information such as the store name, store number, the name of the employee in charge of the store, and contact information for the store. For example, the manager terminal 30 references information in the asset management ledger 40 for the searched store and displays the devices 10 installed in the store by type of device 10, as shown in FIG. 9. The screen of FIG. 9 includes the type and serial number of the device 10. The screen of FIG. 9 may also display information about the system provider that installed the device 10 for each device 10. By displaying the devices 10 installed in the store, the manager can manage the devices 10, which are assets.

[0047] The screen of FIG. 9 includes a "Last Check Date" column and a "Notification" column. The items displayed in the "Notification" column are examples of notifications output by the output unit 103 to prompt the manager to check the status of employees. The "Last Check Date" column, like the "Last Check Date" in FIG. 6, is the most recent date output by the output unit 103 when the identification information of a device 10 is included in the operational status information. The screen of FIG. 9 includes a message at the top prompting the manager to check the notification. Such a message may be displayed on the store search screen together with the store identification information. This allows the manager to know that there is a device 10 that requires confirmation from a store employee before searching for a store.

[0048] An employee who receives a call from the manager may directly report the status of the device 10 to the manager by email or telephone. When the manager receives a direct report, the manager may manually update the last check date in FIG. 9 using the manager terminal 30. Alternatively, a store employee may start the device 10 after receiving a call from the manager. The started device 10 communicates with the store management terminal 10A and transmits operating status information.

[0049] An example of the operation of the asset management server 100 according to the present disclosure will be described using the flowchart in Fig. 10. The asset management server 100 starts the process in Fig. 10, for example, every time a predetermined time period has elapsed. The predetermined time period is determined as appropriate depending on the operation of the store, such as 24 hours.

[0050] Prior to step S1, the maintenance management server 20 collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of the store's multiple devices 10 from a store management terminal 10A installed in the store. Then, in step S1, the acquisition unit 101 acquires, from the maintenance management server 20, the identification information of the devices 10 included in the collected operation status information.

[0051] In step S2, the matching unit 102 matches the identification information of the equipment 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 that manages the equipment 10 installed in the store with the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101.

[0052] In step S3, the output unit 103 outputs the collation result in association with the date. With this, the asset management server 100 ends the operation of FIG.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the acquisition unit 101 acquires identification information of the device 10 included in the collected operation status information from the maintenance management server 20. The comparison unit 102 compares the identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 that manages the device 10 installed in the store with the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101. Then, the output unit 103 outputs the comparison result in association with the date. According to one embodiment, it is possible to confirm that the device 10 is in the store by utilizing data collected by the existing maintenance management server 20. Therefore, an asset management server 100 is provided that can reduce adoption costs.

[0054] When a company operates many stores, the number of devices 10 that need to be managed increases significantly. Manually taking inventory of the devices installed in the stores is time-consuming. Therefore, automating the inventory process can support the management of the devices installed in the stores. However, in such a company, if an equipment management system were to send requests to each device to request a response from each device for inventory purposes, the system would become complicated and costs would increase. According to one embodiment, the asset management server 100 utilizes data collected from the store management terminal 10A by an existing maintenance management server 20. Therefore, even in a company operating tens of thousands of stores, for example, it is possible to support the management of the devices 10 with a simpler configuration. This also makes it possible to introduce the asset management server 100 at a lower cost.

[0055] [Modifications] The above embodiment can be modified in various ways. Modifications will now be described. In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the matching unit 102 checks whether the identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40 is included in the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101. In one modification, the matching unit 102 checks whether the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101 is included in the asset management ledger 40. The devices 10 used in a store may include devices 10 that are not managed in the asset management ledger 40. In this case, the acquisition unit 101 acquires, from the maintenance management server 20, the identification information of the device 10 that is not managed in the asset management ledger 40. The matching unit 102 checks whether the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101 does not match any of the identification information of the device 10 managed in the asset management ledger 40. As a result of the checking, the output unit 103 outputs information indicating whether the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 101 is included in the asset management ledger 40. The output unit 103 may output a notification regarding devices 10 that are not managed in the asset management ledger 40, among the devices 10 whose identification information has been acquired by the acquisition unit 101. Such a notification prompts the person to confirm that operation status information has been sent to the store management terminal 10A from devices 10 that are not managed in the asset management ledger 40. The output unit 103 outputs a notification regarding devices 10 that are not managed in the asset management ledger 40 to the manager terminal 30, for example.

[0056] [Hardware Configuration] In each of the above-described embodiments, each component of the asset management server 100 represents a functional block. Some or all of the components of the asset management server 100 may be realized by any combination of a computer 500 and a program.

[0057] Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 500. Referring to Fig. 11, the computer 500 includes, for example, a processor 501, a read only memory (ROM) 502, a random access memory (RAM) 503, a program 504, a storage device 505, a drive device 507, a communication interface 508, an input device 509, an output device 510, an input / output interface 511, and a bus 512.

[0058] The processor 501 controls the entire computer 500. The processor 501 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The number of processors 501 is not particularly limited, and there may be one or more processors 501.

[0059] The program 504 includes instructions for implementing each function of the asset management server 100. The program 504 is stored in advance in the ROM 502, RAM 503, or storage device 505. The processor 501 implements each function of the asset management server 100 by executing the instructions included in the program 504. The RAM 503 may also store data to be processed in each function of the asset management server 100.

[0060] The drive device 507 reads and writes data from and to the recording medium 506. The communication interface 508 provides an interface with a communication network. The input device 509 is, for example, a mouse or keyboard, and accepts information input from an administrator or the like. The output device 510 is, for example, a display, and outputs (displays) information to an administrator or the like. The input / output interface 511 provides an interface with peripheral devices. The bus 512 connects these hardware components. The program 504 may be supplied to the processor 501 via a communication network, or may be stored in advance on the recording medium 506, read by the drive device 507, and supplied to the processor 501.

[0061] It should be noted that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 11 is an example, and other components may be added, or some components may not be included.

[0062] There are various variations in the method of implementing the asset management server 100. For example, the asset management server 100 may be implemented by any combination of different computers and programs for each component. Furthermore, multiple components of the asset management server 100 may be implemented by any combination of a single computer and program.

[0063] Furthermore, at least a portion of the asset management server 100 may be provided in a software as a service (SaaS) format. That is, at least a portion of the functions for realizing the asset management server 100 may be executed by software that is executed via a network.

[0064] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the configurations in the respective embodiments can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0065] Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0066] [Supplementary Note 1] An asset management server comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring, from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of devices in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, identification information of the devices included in the operation status information; a comparison means for comparing the acquired identification information with identification information of the devices managed in a database that manages the devices installed in the store; and an output means for outputting the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

[0067] [Supplementary Note 2] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the output means outputs a notification regarding, among the managed devices, devices whose operational status information does not include the identification information based on the result of the matching.

[0068] [Appendix 3] The asset management server according to Appendix 2, wherein the output means outputs the notification regarding, among the managed devices, devices whose operating status information within a predetermined period does not include the identification information, based on the result of the matching and the date.

[0069] [Supplementary Note 4] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 2 or 3, wherein the output unit outputs the notification to a device in the store whose identification information is included in the operational status information.

[0070] [Supplementary Note 5] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the output means outputs the notification to the device in the store, prompting an employee of the store to start up the device whose identification information is not included in the operating status information.

[0071] [Supplementary Note 6] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 4 or 5, wherein the output means outputs the notification to the equipment in the store, prompting an employee of the store to report the status of equipment whose identification information is not included in the operating status information.

[0072] [Supplementary Note 7] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein the status report includes a report of a failure or loss of the device for which the identification information was not obtained, or transmission of an image of the identification information label attached to the device.

[0073] [Supplementary Note 8] The asset management server according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 7, wherein the output means outputs the notification to a manager terminal of a manager who manages a plurality of the stores.

[0074] [Supplementary Note 9] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the output means outputs the notification to the manager terminal prompting the manager to check the status of equipment whose identification information is not included in the operation status information with an employee of the store.

[0075] [Supplementary Note 10] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 8 or 9, wherein the output means displays the notification on a screen that displays the devices installed in each of the plurality of stores by store and by type of device.

[0076] [Supplementary Note 11] The asset management server according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 10, wherein the operation status information is collected from a plurality of devices in the store at regular intervals by the store management terminal and transmitted from the store management terminal to the maintenance management server.

[0077] [Supplementary Note 12] The asset management server according to Supplementary Note 11, wherein the matching means matches the identification information of the managed equipment with identification information included in the operation status information indicating the operation status of each of the plurality of equipment on the previous day.

[0078] [Supplementary Note 13] An asset management method comprising: acquiring identification information of equipment included in operation status information from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of equipment in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store; comparing the acquired identification information with identification information of equipment managed in a database that manages equipment installed in the store; and outputting the result of the comparison in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

[0079] [Supplementary Note 14] The asset management method according to Supplementary Note 13, further comprising outputting a notification regarding a device, among the managed devices, whose operational status information does not include the identification information, based on the result of the comparison.

[0080] [Supplementary Note 15] The asset management method according to Supplementary Note 14, wherein the notification is output to a device in the store whose identification information is included in the operational status information.

[0081] [Supplementary Note 16] The asset management method according to Supplementary Note 14 or 15, wherein the notification is output to a manager terminal of a manager who manages a plurality of the stores.

[0082] [Supplementary Note 17] A recording medium that non-temporarily records a program that causes a computer to execute the following processes: acquire, from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of devices in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, identification information of the devices included in the operation status information; compare the acquired identification information with identification information of the devices managed in a database that manages devices installed in the store; and output the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

[0083] [Supplementary Note 18] The recording medium according to Supplementary Note 17, which non-temporarily records a program that causes the computer to execute a process of outputting a notification regarding a device, among the managed devices, whose operational status information does not include the identification information, based on the result of the comparison.

[0084] [Supplementary Note 19] The recording medium according to Supplementary Note 18, non-temporarily recording a program that causes the computer to execute a process of outputting the notification to the store device whose identification information is included in the operational status information.

[0085] [Supplementary Note 20] The recording medium according to Supplementary Note 18 or 19, non-temporarily recording a program that causes the computer to execute a process of outputting the notification to a manager terminal of a manager who manages a plurality of the stores.

[0086] Some or all of the configurations described in Supplementary Notes 2-10, which are dependent on Supplementary Note 1, may also be dependent on Supplementary Notes 11 and 16 in the same dependency relationship as Supplementary Note 2-10. Not limited to Supplementary Notes 1, 11, and 16, some or all of the configurations described as Supplements may be made dependent on various hardware, software, various recording devices for recording software, or systems, within the scope of each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0087] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Asset management server 101 Acquisition unit 102 Collation unit 103 Output unit S_1, S_n Store 10 Equipment 10A Store management terminal 20 Maintenance management server 30 Manager terminal 40 Asset management ledger

Claims

1. An asset management server comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring, from a maintenance management server which collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of devices in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, identification information of the devices included in the operation status information; a comparison means for comparing the acquired identification information with identification information of the devices managed in a database which manages the devices installed in the store; and an output means for outputting the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

2. The asset management server according to claim 1, wherein the output means outputs a notification regarding, among the managed devices, devices whose operational status information does not include the identification information based on the result of the comparison.

3. The asset management server according to claim 2, wherein the output means outputs the notification regarding the managed equipment whose operating status information within a specified period does not include the identification information based on the result of the comparison and the date.

4. The asset management server according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the output means outputs the notification to a device in the store whose operating status information includes the identification information.

5. The asset management server according to claim 4, wherein the output means outputs the notification to the store's equipment prompting the store's staff to start up the equipment whose identification information is not included in the operating status information.

6. The asset management server according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the output means outputs the notification to the store's equipment prompting the store's employees to report the status of equipment whose operating status information does not include the identification information.

7. The asset management server according to claim 6, wherein the status report includes a report of a malfunction or loss of the device for which the identification information was not obtained, or transmission of an image of the identification information label attached to the device.

8. The asset management server according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the output means outputs the notification to a manager terminal of a manager who manages a plurality of the stores.

9. The asset management server according to claim 8, wherein the output means outputs the notification to the manager's terminal prompting the manager to check the status of equipment whose identification information is not included in the operating status information with an employee of the store.

10. The asset management server according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the output means displays the notification on a screen that displays the equipment installed in each of the plurality of stores by store and by type of equipment.

11. An asset management server as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the operating status information is collected from multiple devices in the store at regular intervals by the store management terminal and transmitted from the store management terminal to the maintenance management server.

12. The asset management server according to claim 11, wherein the matching means matches the identification information of the managed equipment with the identification information included in the operation status information indicating the operation status of each of the plurality of equipment on the previous day.

13. An asset management method comprising: acquiring, from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of a plurality of devices in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, identification information of the devices contained in the operation status information; comparing the acquired identification information with identification information of the devices managed in a database that manages the devices installed in the store; and outputting the result of the comparison in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

14. The asset management method according to claim 13, further comprising outputting a notification regarding a device among the managed devices whose operational status information does not include the identification information based on the result of the matching.

15. The asset management method according to claim 14, wherein the notification is output to a device in the store whose operating status information includes the identification information.

16. The asset management method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the notification is output to a manager terminal of a manager who manages a plurality of the stores.

17. A recording medium that non-temporarily records a program that causes a computer to execute the following process: obtain, from a maintenance management server that collects operation status information indicating the operation status of each of multiple devices in a store from a store management terminal installed in the store, identification information of the devices included in the operation status information; compare the obtained identification information with identification information of the devices managed in a database that manages the devices installed in the store; and output the comparison result in association with the date on which the operation status information was sent to the store management terminal.

18. A recording medium as described in claim 17, which non-temporarily records a program that causes the computer to execute a process of outputting a notification regarding devices among the managed devices whose operating status information does not include the identification information based on the result of the comparison.

19. A recording medium according to claim 18, which non-temporarily records a program that causes the computer to execute a process of outputting the notification to the store equipment whose identification information is included in the operating status information.

20. A recording medium according to claim 18 or 19, which non-temporarily records a program that causes the computer to execute a process of outputting the notification to a manager terminal of a manager who manages a plurality of the stores.

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