Maintenance service system and maintenance service processing method

Abstract

A maintenance service system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a contract storage unit that stores contract information indicating a contract in which customer information, article information, and continuous charging information are associated with each other; an article management unit that manages preliminary article information in which the contract information and a preliminary article are associated with each other; a continuous charging unit that continuously charges a customer on the basis of the continuous charging information; an article selection unit that assesses whether input information indicating the customer and the article is a target of the contract on the basis of the preliminary article information, and selects the preliminary article of the article as a replacement in cases where the input information is the target of the contract; and an output unit that outputs information relating to the replacement.

Description

Maintenance service system and maintenance service processing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a maintenance service system and a maintenance service processing method.

[0002] In infrastructure facilities such as power facilities, building facilities, and railway facilities, when equipment stops due to an abnormality, losses due to the downtime of the infrastructure facilities tend to be large. For example, infrastructure facilities are not mass-produced products, and there may be no inventory of parts for maintenance. This may result in a long period of time until the equipment is restored, which may lead to larger losses. Furthermore, if the infrastructure facilities' services are suspended for a long period of time due to equipment failure, it may cause inconvenience to many people and may also reduce trust. Known technologies related to maintenance services for restoring infrastructure facilities include those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below.

[0003] The reservation rights contract system of Patent Document 1 clearly indicates the period until the spare parts are delivered to a customer who has signed a contract for the prompt delivery of spare parts. The reservation rights contract system issues reservation rights to a business operator for spare parts to replace equipment included in a site operated by the business operator, and when it receives a request for equipment replacement from the business operator who has the reservation rights, it checks the inventory of spare parts, and if the spare parts are not in stock, it obtains a delivery date for new spare parts from the manufacturer and calculates the period until the spare parts are delivered to the business operator's site.

[0004] The plant spare parts supply system described in Patent Document 2 divides plant owners into groups based on similar evaluation parameters that represent the probability of failure of each part, determines a contract fee to be shared equally among plant owners belonging to the same group for the costs required for the manufacture of a specific spare part, etc., according to the number of plant owners, and publicly solicits participants. Meanwhile, the plant spare parts supply system collects accident information from accident-prone plants in an accident information collection system, makes the necessary arrangements for repairs, calculates the difference between the costs required for the manufacture of spare parts, etc. and the contribution of the owner of the accident-prone plant, bills this difference to the owner of the accident-prone plant, and refunds the difference in installments according to the number of plant owners who did not use the spare part.

[0005] JP 2020-191025 A JP 2004-199303 A

[0006] However, the reservation rights contract system described in Patent Document 1 issues reservation rights for spare parts to businesses, but calculates the period until the spare parts are delivered to the business's site when they are not in stock, which could result in increased losses due to infrastructure equipment being down during the period until the spare parts are delivered. Furthermore, the spare parts supply system described in Patent Document 2 forms a group with multiple plant owners and determines a contract fee for the costs required for the manufacture of specific spare parts, which are shared equally among plant owners belonging to the same group according to the number of plant owners. Therefore, when the number of plant owners belonging to the same group is small, the cost burden per person becomes large.

[0007] Furthermore, depending on the damage to plant equipment, multiple types of parts may need to be replaced. However, the reservation rights contract system described in Patent Document 1 targets main transformers managed by IPPs (independent power producers), and does not take into account the replacement of multiple types of parts. Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 2 forms groups based on similar evaluation parameters that represent the probability of damage to each part. Therefore, if multiple types of parts are considered, the number of plant owners belonging to the group may be reduced, which further increases the cost burden.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a maintenance service system and a maintenance service processing method that prepares an inventory of parts for facilities, etc. for each customer and can quickly supply parts to facilities, etc. in the event of an abnormality.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one aspect of the present disclosure is a maintenance service system including: a contract memory unit that stores customer information indicating a customer, product information indicating products of the customer, and contract information indicating a contract with which recurring billing information is associated; a product management unit that manages spare product information that associates the contract information with spare products that are the products held in accordance with the contract; a continuous billing unit that continuously charges the customer based on the recurring billing information; a product selection unit that determines whether input information indicating a customer and a product is subject to the contract based on the spare product information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare product for the product as a replacement; and an output unit that outputs information regarding the replacement product.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a maintenance service processing method including the steps of: an information processing device storing customer information indicating a customer, item information indicating an item of the customer, and contract information indicating a contract with which recurring billing information is associated; the information processing device managing spare item information associating the contract information with spare items, which are the items held in accordance with the contract; the information processing device continuously charging the customer based on the recurring billing information; the information processing device determining whether input information indicating the customer and the item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selecting a spare item for the item as a replacement; and the information processing device outputting information regarding the replacement item.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, an inventory of parts for facilities can be prepared for each customer, and parts can be supplied to the facility quickly in the event of an emergency.

[0012] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1 in a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance service in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an infrastructure facility 400 in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a terminal device 200 for creating input information in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1 in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1A in a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1A in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1B in a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1 in the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1C in a fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1C in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for determining a recurring charging fee in the maintenance service system 1C in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing another example of a process for determining a recurring charging fee in the maintenance service system 1C in the fourth embodiment.

[0013] A maintenance service system and a maintenance service processing method to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1 according to a first embodiment. The maintenance service system 1 includes, for example, a management device 100, a plurality of terminal devices 200, and a plurality of factory devices 300. In the following description, a plurality of terminal devices will be collectively referred to as "terminal devices 200," and a plurality of factory devices will be collectively referred to as "factory devices 300."

[0015] The management device 100, the terminal device 200, and the factory device 300 each have a communication interface (not shown) such as a network interface card (NIC) or a wireless communication module for connecting to a communication network NW such as the Internet. The communication network NW may include, for example, a general-purpose network such as the Internet, and a private network such as local 5G or Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0016] In the embodiment, the management device 100 performs various processes for providing maintenance services. The maintenance service involves preparing spare items for customers and selling them as replacements upon customer request. The spare items are equipment, devices, parts, etc., contained in a facility operated by a customer and are in stock before an abnormality occurs. The replacement items are spare items sold to customers to restore the facility after an abnormality occurs. The processes for providing maintenance services include managing the inventory of spare items based on a contract concluded with the customer, continuously charging the customer, and allowing the customer to purchase spare items when an abnormality occurs. The terminal device 200 is an information processing device such as a smartphone owned by the customer who operates the facility. The factory device 300 is an information processing device operated by a factory staff member who produces various items contained in the facility. Note that, although the embodiment describes an infrastructure facility as the facility, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to facilities other than infrastructure facilities.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a maintenance service according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a customer enters into a contract that stipulates the right to receive spare parts during the contract period. This contract includes continuous billing during the contract period and priority purchase of spare parts according to the customer's request. In FIG. 2, the upper part of the figure illustrates the flow from contract to delivery of the maintenance service according to the first embodiment, while the lower part illustrates the flow from order receipt to delivery of items not covered by the maintenance service contract. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 2, in the maintenance service according to the first embodiment, when a contract is concluded at time t1, the factory performs a series of tasks, such as procuring materials, manufacturing, and inventorying, for the spare parts covered by the contract. Then, when an order for spare parts covered by the contract is received at time t2 in response to a customer's request, the factory delivers the spare parts covered by the contract to the customer by time t3. On the other hand, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 2, when an order for items not covered by the contract is received at time t2, the factory procures materials, manufactures the items, and delivers them at time t4. In the example shown in Figure 2, the timing of the contract is before the materials are procured, but this is not limited to this, and the timing of the contract may be during the material procurement, before or during production, or even before or during inventory.

[0018] In this way, maintenance services can secure spare parts at the manufacturing facility by continuously charging the customer a small fee during the contract period. Customers can obtain the right to purchase spare parts (inventory usage rights) on a priority basis when infrastructure trouble occurs. Specifically, the manufacturing facility stocks spare parts for the equipment, devices, and parts that make up the customer's infrastructure facility, and can quickly provide the items necessary for prevention and recovery in the event of an infrastructure malfunction. This prevents the equipment at the infrastructure facility from shutting down in the event of an infrastructure malfunction. Furthermore, even if the equipment, devices, or parts of the infrastructure facility shut down in the event of an infrastructure malfunction, recovery can be expedited. As a result, losses due to the shutdown of infrastructure services using the infrastructure facility can be reduced.

[0019] The management device 100 is, for example, an information processing device such as a server device that receives requests from the terminal device 200 and the factory device 300 and performs various processes. The management device 100 includes, for example, an input unit 110, an output unit 120, a control unit 130, and a storage unit 160.

[0020] The input unit 110 receives various information from the terminal device 200 and the factory device 300. The output unit 120 outputs various information to the terminal device 200 and the factory device 300.

[0021] The control unit 130 includes, for example, a setting unit 132, a contract unit 134, an item management unit 136, a continuous billing unit 138, an item selection unit 140, an output control unit 142, and an exchange / billing unit 144. The setting unit 132, the contract unit 134, the item management unit 136, the continuous billing unit 138, the item selection unit 140, the output control unit 142, and the exchange / billing unit 144 are functional units realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program stored in a program memory.

[0022] The setting unit 132 performs processing for setting a recurring charge, which is a fee that a customer pays continuously while the contract signed by the customer is valid.

[0023] The contract unit 134 acquires contract information based on the information acquired by the input unit 110. The contract unit 134 transmits contract conditions, such as the recurring billing fee and contract period set by the setting unit 132, to the terminal device 200 and acquires consent information indicating acceptance of the contract conditions from the terminal device 200. As a result, the contract unit 134 acquires contract information including customer information, consent information, and contract conditions. The contract stipulates the right to receive spare items during the contract period. The contract information includes customer information indicating the customer, item information indicating items related to the customer's equipment, and information indicating the contract to which the recurring billing information is associated. Contract identification information may be added to the contract information. The contract identification information is information that identifies the contract, such as a contract ID or a keyword.

[0024] The item management unit 136 performs processing to manage spare item information. The spare item information is information that associates contract information, spare items held in accordance with the contract, and the inventory status of the spare items. The inventory status of spare items includes, for example, the production status of the spare items and the number of spare items in stock. The item management unit 136 updates information such as the production status of the spare items and the number of spare items in stock as the inventory status of spare items. Furthermore, when there are multiple types of spare items for a customer and a contract, the item management unit 136 updates the inventory status for each spare item.

[0025] The recurring billing unit 138 performs processing to continuously bill the customer based on the recurring billing information. The recurring billing unit 138 performs processing to request a recurring bill from the customer at a timing preset by the contract, for example.

[0026] The product selection unit 140 determines whether the input information indicating the customer and the product is subject to the contract based on the spare product information, and if the product is subject to the contract, selects a spare product for the product as a replacement. The product selection unit 140 receives input information from the terminal device 200 via the input unit 110, for example, when an abnormality occurs in an infrastructure facility.

[0027] The output control unit 142 controls the operation of outputting information by the output unit 120. The output control unit 142 controls, for example, the output destination and timing of information regarding recurring billing information, spare item information, and replacement items. The output control unit 142 controls the output of various types of information, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 , which will be described later. The output control unit 142 also transmits content for outputting input information to the terminal device 200. The content for outputting input information is, for example, data for displaying a screen for allowing the customer to select a spare item. The output unit 120 outputs information regarding the replacement item. The information regarding the replacement item is information for the customer to perform maintenance using the replacement item, such as whether or not a replacement item is available, the product number, the item name, the contact information of the person in charge, the storage location, etc. The output unit 120 may output the purchase price of the replacement item based on the purchase cost information. The purchase cost information is information indicating the purchase price of the replacement item. This allows the customer to be notified of the cost of purchasing the replacement item.

[0028] The replacement billing unit 144 generates billing information for the customer based on the purchase price of the replacement item. Here, the spare item information may include purchase cost information indicating the purchase price of the replacement item. The replacement billing unit 144 generates billing information for billing the purchase price of the replacement item indicated by the purchase cost information. The billing information is transmitted to the terminal device 200 by the output unit 120 and the output control unit 142. The output unit 120 may output the purchase price of the replacement item based on the purchase cost information.

[0029] The storage unit 160 includes, for example, a contract storage unit 162, a recurring billing storage unit 164, and a purchase cost storage unit 166. The storage unit 160 is, for example, an information storage device configured from various information storage media, and may be a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device that the management device 100 can access via a communications network.

[0030] The contract storage unit 162 stores customer information, product information, and contract information. Customer information is information that indicates a customer, such as name, contact information, and product delivery address. Product information is information that indicates products related to the customer's facilities, equipment, devices, and parts. Products related to the customer's facilities, equipment, devices, and parts are products necessary to operate the facilities, such as devices, parts, and components included in the facilities. Contract information is information that indicates a contract with which recurring billing information is associated. Specifically, contract information is information that indicates a contract with which customer information, product information, and recurring billing information are associated, for example. Contract information is information for each customer, for example.

[0031] The recurring billing storage unit 164 stores customer information, recurring billing information, the payment status of the recurring bill, etc., in association with each other. The purchase cost storage unit 166 stores customer information, spare item purchase cost information, the payment status of the purchase cost, etc., in association with each other. If a customer has contracted for multiple types of spare items, it is desirable that the recurring billing storage unit 164 store the recurring billing information and the payment status for each type of spare item, and it is desirable that the purchase cost storage unit 166 store the purchase cost information and the payment status for each type of spare item.

[0032] The terminal device 200 is an information processing device such as a smartphone or personal computer owned by a customer. The terminal device 200 includes, for example, a terminal input unit 202, a terminal output unit 204, a terminal control unit 206, and a terminal storage unit 208. The terminal input unit 202 is a device such as a touch sensor. The terminal output unit 204 is a display device such as a display. The terminal control unit 206 is a processor that executes a program such as an internal CPU. The terminal storage unit 208 is a memory that stores various types of information.

[0033] The factory device 300 is an information processing device such as a smartphone or personal computer owned by a factory staff member. The factory device 300 includes, for example, a reception unit 302 and a production management unit 304. The reception unit 302 receives a production request to produce an item from the management device 100. The production management unit 304 manages information related to the order status of the item, information related to the material procurement status, information related to the production status, and information related to the inventory status. The information related to the order status of the item is, for example, information indicating the customer and the type and quantity of the ordered item. The information related to the material procurement status is, for example, information indicating the type and quantity of materials needed to produce the type and quantity of the ordered item, as well as the number of items obtained. The information related to the production status is, for example, status information such as not produced, in production, or produced, and information indicating progress such as the start date and completion date of production. The information related to the inventory status is information indicating the number of items in stock, their location, etc.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an infrastructure facility 400 according to the first embodiment. The infrastructure facility 400 may include, for example, multiple facilities, each of which may include multiple devices, and each of which may include multiple components. For example, in a power grid system, the infrastructure facility may include multiple power generation facilities, multiple transformers, and components included in each transformer. The infrastructure facility may include multiple types of facilities, multiple types of devices, and multiple types of components. The facilities, devices, and components included in the infrastructure facility vary depending on the customer. Therefore, for each customer, multiple types of facilities may be contracted as spare items, multiple types of devices may be contracted as spare items, and multiple types of parts may be contracted as spare items. The infrastructure facility in the embodiment is a facility that constitutes a power grid, but is not limited thereto and may include facilities such as gas, water, railways, roads, and buildings. The facility in the embodiment may be facilities included in facilities such as gas, water, railways, and roads, or building facilities such as elevators.

[0035] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the terminal device 200 for creating input information in the first embodiment. For example, when an abnormality occurs in an infrastructure facility, the management device 100 receives a request to select a replacement item via the input unit 110. In response to the received request, the management device 100 transmits content data for selecting a replacement item to the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 displays a screen such as that shown in FIG. 4 based on the content data.

[0036] The display screen shown in Fig. 4 includes images showing, for example, the facility type, equipment type, device type, and part type. The display screen shown in Fig. 4 includes radio buttons for selecting each of the facility type, equipment type, device type, and part type. The terminal device 200 receives a customer operation to input the selection of the facility type, equipment type, device type, and part type. The terminal device 200 transmits input information indicating the customer and the selected facility type, equipment type, device type, and part type to the management device 100. The terminal device 200 may also include the number of items corresponding to the selected facility type, equipment type, device type, and part type in the input information.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1 according to the first embodiment. First, the terminal device 200 transmits contract information S10 to the management device 100 in normal times. The management device 100 may acquire contract information S10 in response to a customer's operation. A recurring billing fee is set by the setting unit 132, and the contract unit 134 acquires the contract information S10. In normal times, no abnormalities have occurred in the customer's infrastructure facilities. The management device 100 stores the contract information S10 in the memory unit 160. The output unit 120 outputs a production request S12 to the factory device 300 based on the contract information S10.

[0038] The factory device 300 receives a production request S12 through the reception unit 302. At the factory, work such as production and inventory of items is carried out. When a spare item is produced, the production management unit 304 transmits information S14 regarding the inventory status of the spare item to the management device 100. This allows the management device 100 to update the inventory status of the spare item through the item management unit 136.

[0039] The recurring billing unit 138 performs processing to continuously charge the customer based on the recurring billing information, and transmits the recurring billing information S16 to the terminal device 200. This allows the terminal device 200 to make the customer aware of the recurring billing information.

[0040] When an abnormality occurs in an infrastructure facility, the terminal device 200 accepts an operation from a customer and transmits input information S18 indicating the customer and the item to the management device 100. The input information S18 corresponds to an order request for the item for the management device 100 and the factory device 300. In response to accepting the input information, the management device 100 obtains information S20 regarding the inventory status of spare items from the factory device 300. The item management unit 136 updates information such as the production status of spare items and the number of spare items in stock based on the inventory status information S20.

[0041] The product selection unit 140 determines whether the input information is subject to the contract based on the spare product information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare product for the product as a replacement. The output unit 120 transmits information S22 indicating the selected replacement product to the terminal device 200.

[0042] The terminal device 200 displays information S22 indicating the replacement item and prompts the customer to purchase the replacement item. In response to receiving the operation to purchase the replacement item, the terminal device 200 transmits a delivery request S24 for the replacement item to the management device 100. The input unit 110 acquires the delivery request S24 from the terminal device 200, and the output unit 120 transmits a delivery request S26 to the factory device 300 in response to the delivery request S24. This allows the factory device 300 to receive the delivery request S26, and the factory staff member can then ship the replacement item.

[0043] The exchange billing unit 144 transmits the purchase billing information S28 to the terminal device 200. In response to receiving the purchase billing information S28, the terminal device 200 presents the purchase price of the exchange item to the customer.

[0044] The above-described processing procedure may include the following processing. The item selection unit 140 may use customer information as input information and select a replacement item or a replacement item candidate based on the input information and spare item information. For example, if a customer included in the input information matches a customer included in the spare item information, the item selection unit 140 may determine that the customer has the right to select a spare item as a replacement. If the facility type, equipment type, device type, and part type included in the input information match the type of spare item included in the spare item information, the item selection unit 140 may select the matching spare item as a replacement. The item selection unit 140 may suggest the spare item as a replacement candidate. For example, if a customer has multiple spare items manufactured, the item selection unit 140 may extract information indicating candidate spare items that are covered by the contract from among the spare items corresponding to the customer and transmit the information indicating the candidate spare items to the terminal device 200. For example, if there are multiple spare items that match the type of spare item selected by the customer, the item selection unit 140 may extract information indicating the multiple corresponding spare item candidates and transmit the information indicating the spare item candidates to the terminal device 200.

[0045] The item selection unit 140 may select a spare item based on contract information identifying a contract stored in the contract storage unit 162 or contract information acquired from the terminal device 200, instead of input information based on a customer's operation. For example, when an abnormality occurs in an infrastructure facility, the item selection unit 140 may acquire, via the input unit 110, contract identification information transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the management device 100, and use the acquired contract identification information as input information. The item selection unit 140 selects a spare item based on a customer or spare item associated with the contract identification information. For example, if a customer associated with the contract identification information matches a customer included in the spare item information, the item selection unit 140 determines that the customer has the right to select a spare item as a replacement. For example, if a spare item associated with the contract identification information matches the type of spare item included in the spare item information, the item selection unit 140 selects the matching spare item.

[0046] The terminal device 200 may read a code such as a two-dimensional code attached to a facility or an item, generate item identification information indicating the facility, device, or part based on the code, and transmit the generated item identification information to the management device 100. Upon acquiring the item identification information, the item selection unit 140 determines whether the facility, device, or part indicated by the item identification information matches the item information or spare item information included in the contract information. If the item selection unit 140 determines that the item indicated by the item identification information is a spare item, the output unit 120 outputs information indicating that the item indicated by the item identification information is covered by the contract to the terminal device 200. If the item selection unit 140 determines that the item indicated by the item identification information is included in the item information but is not a spare item, the output unit 120 outputs information indicating that the facility or item indicated by the item identification information is not covered by the contract to the terminal device 200.

[0047] As described above, the maintenance service system 1 according to the first embodiment stores customer information, item information, and contract information, manages spare item information in which the contract information is associated with spare items, and can continuously charge customers based on recurring billing information. The maintenance service system 1 determines whether input information indicating a customer and an item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement and outputs information regarding the replacement item.

[0048] As a result, the maintenance service system 1 can prepare spare parts for the customer's infrastructure facilities as inventory before an abnormality occurs in the customer's infrastructure facilities. Furthermore, the maintenance service system 1 can select spare parts as replacements based on input information when an abnormality occurs in the customer's infrastructure facilities. As a result, the customer can prepare spare parts for each customer's infrastructure facilities in inventory and quickly supply spare parts to the infrastructure facilities in the event of an abnormality. Furthermore, the manufacturing facility can receive ongoing charges for preparing spare parts for the customer's infrastructure facilities in inventory.

[0049] The contract information may indicate a contract associated with a customer, a facility, equipment included in the facility, devices included in the facility, items included in the device, and recurring billing information. Spare item information is information indicating a customer's facility, equipment, device, or part designated as a spare item. Examples of customer facilities include power plants, power transmission and distribution facilities, factories, and buildings. The item selection unit 140 determines whether input information further including information indicating the customer's facility is subject to a contract based on the spare item information, and if so, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement. The contract in the contract information in the embodiment defines the right to receive spare items during the contract period.

[0050] The contract information may be information indicating a contract in which recurring billing information is associated with each customer, facility, device, part included in the device, or combination of parts. The spare item information is information in which the facility, device, part included in the device, or combination of parts is set as a spare item. The item selection unit 140 determines whether the part included in the input information is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects the part as a replacement.

[0051] Furthermore, the contract information may be information indicating a contract in which a customer, facility, equipment, parts, and recurring billing information are associated. Examples of equipment include generators, transformers, switches, air conditioners, and elevators. Spare item information is information in which equipment or equipment items are set as spare items. The item selection unit 140 determines whether input information further including information indicating the equipment is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement.

[0052] Second Embodiment A second embodiment will now be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a maintenance service system 1A according to the second embodiment. The maintenance service system 1A according to the second embodiment includes one or more inventory facility devices 500. The inventory facility devices 500 are information processing devices, such as smartphones or personal computers, operated by personnel at the inventory facility. The inventory facility devices 500 include an inventory management unit 502. The inventory management unit 502 is a functional unit implemented by a CPU executing a program. In addition to the components of the maintenance service system 1 according to the first embodiment, the maintenance service system 1A according to the second embodiment also includes a deadline calculation unit 146, a management unit 148, a shipping arrangement unit 150, and an inventory storage unit 168. The inventory management unit 502 manages, for example, information for identifying spare items brought into the inventory facility.

[0053] In the maintenance service system 1A of the second embodiment, the item management unit 136 of the control unit 130A manages spare item information that associates spare items, which are items held in accordance with a contract, with storage location information that indicates where the spare items are stored. The storage location information is, for example, information that indicates the location of an inventory facility where the spare items are stored as inventory. The storage location information is stored in association with the spare items based on, for example, information for identifying the spare items transmitted from the inventory facility device 500. The output unit 120 outputs the storage location information based on the spare item information for replacement items. The memory unit 160A includes an inventory memory unit 168 that stores storage location information that indicates the storage location of spare items for each customer and spare item.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1A according to the second embodiment. When the factory device 300 receives a production request S12 via the reception unit 302, the factory performs operations such as production and inventory of the item, and the produced item is transported to the inventory facility. The factory device 300 updates the spare item information by associating storage location information indicating the location of the inventory facility with the spare item, and outputs information for identifying the spare item and an inventory request S30 to the inventory facility device 500. The inventory facility device 500 acquires the inventory request S30 from the factory device 300 and registers the information for identifying the spare item. In addition, the production management unit 304 transmits information S14 regarding the inventory status, such as the storage location of the spare item, to the management device 100. This allows the management device 100 to update the storage location information of the spare item via the item management unit 136.

[0055] In the event of an abnormality in the infrastructure facility, the terminal device 200 accepts a customer's operation and transmits input information S18 indicating the customer and the item to the management device 100. The management device 100 transmits the input information S18 to the factory device 300, and the factory device 300 may transmit information S32 inquiring about the item's inventory to the inventory facility device 500. The inventory facility device 500 transmits a response S34 to the factory device 300 indicating whether the inquired item is in stock. As a result, the management device 100 obtains information S20 regarding the spare item inventory status from the factory device 300. The item management unit 136 updates information such as the production status of the spare items, the number of spare items in stock, and the inventory location of the spare items based on the inventory status information S20.

[0056] The product selection unit 140 determines whether the input information is subject to the contract based on the spare product information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare product for the product as a replacement. The output unit 120 transmits information indicating the selected replacement product and storage location information S36 where the replacement product is stored to the terminal device 200.

[0057] The terminal device 200 displays information indicating the replacement item and storage location information S36 where the replacement item is stored, and prompts the customer to purchase the replacement item. At this time, the terminal device 200 displays storage location information for spare items, allowing the customer to select a replacement item taking into consideration factors such as the distance to the replacement location and delivery time. According to this maintenance service system 1A, it is possible to present the storage location of spare items to the customer and arrange for the delivery of the replacement item.

[0058] The control unit 130A of the maintenance service system 1A may include a deadline calculation unit 146, a management unit 148, and a shipping arrangement unit 150.

[0059] The contract information may include a delivery guarantee period indicating the period until the replacement product is delivered. The output unit 120 may output the delivery guarantee period or information based on the delivery guarantee period. The information based on the delivery guarantee period is, for example, information indicating the number of days until the delivery deadline calculated from the date of payment of the purchase cost.

[0060] The deadline calculation unit 146 calculates the shipping deadline from the number of days until the delivery deadline from the starting date, using the purchase cost payment date acquired as input information as the starting date. The output unit 120 outputs the shipping deadline for the replacement item.

[0061] The spare item information may include a notification address of the shipper of the spare item. The notification address of the shipper of the spare item may be, for example, address information of the factory device 300 corresponding to the factory that produced the spare item, or address information of the inventory facility device 500 corresponding to the inventory location where the spare item is stored. The output unit 120 outputs information about the replacement item and information indicating the delivery guarantee period or delivery guarantee period to the notification address of the shipper. This allows the person in charge at the factory or inventory facility to be notified of the delivery guarantee period or delivery guarantee period for the replacement item.

[0062] The contract information may include a replacement warranty period indicating the period until the replacement product is replaced. The output unit 120 outputs the replacement warranty period or information based on the replacement warranty period to the terminal device 200. The information based on the replacement warranty period is information indicating the replacement deadline. The replacement deadline is determined, for example, by the number of days counted from the date of payment of the replacement fee.

[0063] The expiration date calculation unit 146 may calculate the replacement expiration date based on the input starting date and replacement guarantee period. The output unit 120 outputs the replacement expiration date for the replacement product.

[0064] The spare item information may include notification destination information indicating the notification destination. The output unit 120 outputs information about the replacement item to the notification destination based on the notification destination information. The notification destination may be, for example, a customer, a facility staff member at an infrastructure facility, a maintenance company that will perform the replacement work, a storage location for the replacement item, a system staff member, or a sales staff member. The information about the replacement item may be, for example, information identifying the replacement item, information identifying the facility, equipment, device, or part, the delivery warranty period, the shipping schedule or shipping status, and the recovery forecast.

[0065] The management unit 148 performs a process for managing the shipment of replacement items. The process for managing the shipment of replacement items is a process for registering and updating information indicating the shipping status, such as the customer, notification destination, type of spare item, number of spare items, request date, scheduled shipping date, shipping date, delivery status, and delivery date. The notification destinations include the customer, a person in charge at the customer's facility (power plant, factory, building), a contractor who repairs the equipment, and a person in charge at the customer. The output unit 120 outputs information indicating the shipping status of the replacement item to the notification destination.

[0066] The spare item information may include shipping information indicating the shipping destination and shipping origin of the spare item. The shipping destination may be a customer, the location of an infrastructure facility, a maintenance company, an individually designated shipping destination, etc. The shipping arrangement unit 150 arranges for the shipment of a replacement item to the shipping origin based on the contract information and the shipping information. For example, the shipping arrangement unit 150 outputs a request to ship the spare item under the contract to the shipping origin of the spare item, and outputs the shipping status of the spare item to the shipping destination of the spare item. The contract information may include a delivery guarantee period indicating the deadline for providing a replacement item. The shipping arrangement unit 150 outputs the delivery guarantee period or information based on the delivery guarantee period.

[0067] When arranging the shipment of spare items, the shipping arrangement unit 150 may output information indicating that the spare items are subject to a contract and priority information indicating that the spare items should be delivered with priority. The shipping arrangement unit 150 may include information indicating that the spare items are subject to recurring charges in the information requesting the spare item shipper to ship the spare items. This allows the management device 100 to inform the shipper that the spare items should be delivered immediately. The shipping arrangement unit 150 may include information indicating that the spare items are subject to recurring charges in the shipping destination of the spare items. This allows the management device 100 to inform the shipping destination that spare items subject to a contract will be shipped.

[0068] (Third embodiment) A third embodiment will be described below. Note that the same components as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1B in the third embodiment. In the maintenance service system 1B, an output unit 120B includes a first output unit 122 and a second output unit 124.

[0069] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1 according to the third embodiment. The first output unit 122 determines whether the item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information for the input customer and item information S40. If the item is subject to the contract, it outputs target item information S42 indicating that the item is subject to the contract. For example, during normal operation, the first output unit 122 outputs information indicating items subject to recurring charges for the customer and item information transmitted from the terminal device 200. This allows the customer to confirm the items subject to recurring charges. Furthermore, a factory staff member can output the customer and item information to the management device 100 and check the inventory of the items subject to recurring charges output from the first output unit 122.

[0070] For example, in the event of an abnormality, the item selection unit 140 of the control unit 130B determines whether the item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information for the input information S18 indicating the customer and item, and selects the item as a replacement if it is subject to the contract. The second output unit 124 outputs replacement item information S22 regarding the replacement item selected by the item selection unit 140. This allows the maintenance service system 1B to output information indicating spare items that are subject to recurring charges during normal times, and to output information indicating replacement items during an abnormality.

[0071] The first output unit 122 may output recurring billing information based on the contract information for the input customer information. The recurring billing information may include, for example, information such as the monthly fee, contract start date and end date, contract period, usage period, billing history, and billing destination.

[0072] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output product information indicating products covered by the contract based on the contract information in response to the input customer information. The product information may be a list of parts covered by the contract, and the information corresponding to each product may be the product name, product type, or target equipment in the infrastructure facility.

[0073] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output information about spare parts based on the spare part information in response to the input information indicating the customer. The information about spare parts may include information about the parts that are subject to the contract and have already been manufactured at the factory, such as the product name, manufacturing date, target device, storage location, and storage start date.

[0074] In addition, the contract information may be associated with the customer, the customer's facilities, equipment, equipment parts, and recurring billing information, and the first output unit 122 may output information indicating whether the facilities, equipment, parts, and each part are subject to the contract for the input information indicating the customer.

[0075] In addition, the contract information is associated with the customer, the customer's facility, items related to the customer's facility, and recurring billing information, and the first output unit 122 may output recurring billing information and item information indicating the items covered by the contract based on the contract information for the information indicating the input facility.

[0076] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output, in response to the input information indicating the facility, product information indicating the products covered by the contract for the equipment within the facility based on the contract information.

[0077] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output information about spare parts for equipment within the facility based on the spare part information in response to the input information indicating the facility.

[0078] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output information indicating whether each piece of equipment in the facility includes an item that is the subject of a contract, based on the contract information or the spare item information, for the input information indicating the facility. At this time, the item selection unit 140 determines whether the input information indicating the facility is included in the item information in the contract information, or whether the input information indicating the facility is included in the spare items in the spare item information.

[0079] In addition, the contract information is associated with the customer, items related to the customer's equipment, and recurring billing information, and the first output unit 122 may output recurring billing information and item information indicating the items covered by the contract based on the contract information for the information indicating the input equipment.

[0080] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output, in response to the input information indicating the facility, product information indicating the product covered by the contract for the facility, based on the contract information.

[0081] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output information about spare parts for the input equipment based on spare part information in response to the input information indicating the equipment.

[0082] Furthermore, the first output unit 122 may output information indicating whether each part of the input equipment is covered by a contract based on the contract information or the spare item information. At this time, the item selection unit 140 determines whether the information indicating the input equipment is included in the item information in the contract information or whether the information indicating the input equipment is included in the spare items in the spare item information.

[0083] (Fourth embodiment) A fourth embodiment will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components as in the above-described embodiments. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance service system 1C according to the fourth embodiment. A control unit 130C according to the fourth embodiment includes, for example, a setting unit 132C, an item management unit 136, and a recurring billing unit 138. The setting unit 132C determines a recurring billing fee based on a contract for holding an item in inventory for a customer's equipment, based on at least one of the risk (failure rate), purchase price, and contract period. The risk for an item is, for example, the failure rate during a reference usage period.

[0084] The setting unit 132C sets a higher recurring charge fee for an item with a higher failure rate and a lower recurring charge fee for an item with a lower failure rate. The setting unit 132C sets a higher recurring charge fee for an item with a higher purchase price and a lower recurring charge fee for an item with a lower purchase price. The setting unit 132C sets a lower recurring charge fee for an item with a longer contract period and a higher recurring charge fee for an item with a shorter contract period. The setting unit 132C may determine the recurring charge fee based on all of the risk, purchase price, and contract period, or may determine the recurring charge fee based on a combination of two of the risk, purchase price, and contract period. Furthermore, the setting unit 132C may determine the recurring charge fee by multiplying the risk, purchase price, and contract period by different weighting coefficients depending on the importance of the risk, purchase price, and contract period. Note that the setting unit 132C may set a lower recurring charge fee for an item with a higher failure rate (replacement frequency). This allows us to secure many contracts for items with high failure rates, and improve inventory turnover (number of items sold).

[0085] If there are multiple types of spare items for a customer, the setting unit 132C may determine a recurring charge for each type of spare item. The setting unit 132C determines the recurring charge for each type of spare item based on the risk, purchase price, and contract period of each type of spare item, and determines the total of the recurring charges for the multiple spare items as the recurring charge for each customer.

[0086] The item management unit 136 manages spare item information indicating spare items held as inventory. The recurring charging unit 138 continuously charges the recurring charging fee determined by the setting unit 132C.

[0087] The setting unit 132C may calculate the contract period based on the recurring charging fee. The setting unit 132C may calculate the recurring charging fee for each spare item based on the risk, purchase price, and contract period for each type of spare item, and transmit information indicating the calculated recurring charging fee to the terminal device 200. The setting unit 132C calculates the contract period based on information for changing the recurring charging fee obtained from the terminal device 200. This allows the setting unit 132C to consider the contract period when the recurring charging fee is adjusted by the customer.

[0088] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the maintenance service system 1C according to the fourth embodiment. First, the terminal device 200 transmits contract information S10# to the management device 100 during normal operation. The contract information S10# includes, for example, information indicating the items related to the customer's equipment under the contract and information indicating the contract period. The management device 100 stores the contract information S10# in the memory unit 160A. The setting unit 132C determines a recurring billing fee based on the contract for holding the items as inventory, based on at least one of the risk and purchase price of the items under the contract and the contract period. The recurring billing unit 138 performs a process of continuously billing the customer based on the recurring billing information indicating the determined recurring billing fee, and transmits the recurring billing information S16 to the terminal device 200. This allows the terminal device 200 to make the customer aware of the recurring billing information.

[0089] The output unit 120 outputs a production request S12 to the factory device 300 based on the contract information S10. The factory device 300 receives the production request S12 via the reception unit 302. At the factory, work such as production and inventory of items is carried out. When a spare item is produced, the production management unit 304 transmits information S14 regarding the inventory status of the spare item to the management device 100. This allows the management device 100 to update the inventory status of the spare item via the item management unit 136.

[0090] When an abnormality occurs in an infrastructure facility, the terminal device 200 accepts a customer operation and transmits input information S18 indicating the customer and the item to the management device 100. The input information S18 corresponds to an order request for the item for the management device 100 and the factory device 300. In response to accepting the input information, the management device 100 obtains information S20 regarding the inventory status of spare items from the factory device 300. The item management unit 136 updates information such as the production status of spare items and the number of spare items in stock based on the inventory status information S20.

[0091] The product selection unit 140 determines whether the input information is subject to the contract based on the spare product information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare product for the product as a replacement. The output unit 120 transmits information S22 indicating the selected replacement product to the terminal device 200.

[0092] The terminal device 200 displays information S22 indicating the replacement item and prompts the customer to purchase the replacement item. In response to receiving the operation to purchase the replacement item, the terminal device 200 transmits a delivery request S24 for the replacement item to the management device 100. The input unit 110 acquires the delivery request S24 from the terminal device 200, and the output unit 120 transmits a delivery request S26 to the factory device 300 in response to the delivery request S24. This allows the factory device 300 to receive the delivery request S26, and the factory staff member can then ship the replacement item.

[0093] The exchange billing unit 144 transmits the purchase billing information S28 to the terminal device 200. In response to receiving the purchase billing information S28, the terminal device 200 presents the purchase price of the exchange item to the customer.

[0094] 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for determining a recurring charge in the maintenance service system 1C according to the fourth embodiment. First, the setting unit 132C acquires, for example, customer information, facility information including one or more items, and contract information including contract period information (step ST100). Next, the setting unit 132C calculates the risk of the item covered by the contract based on the facility information (step ST102). Next, the setting unit 132C determines the recurring charge based on at least one of the risk, the purchase price of the item covered by the contract, and the contract period (step ST104).

[0095] The setting unit 132C may determine the recurring charging fee based on the number of customers who have contracts corresponding to the spare item. The setting unit 132C determines the recurring charging fee based on at least one of the risk, the purchase price of the item covered by the contract, and the contract period, and the number of customers. The setting unit 132C determines a lower recurring charging fee the more customers who have contracts corresponding to the spare item, and determines a higher recurring charging fee the fewer customers.

[0096] 13 is a flowchart showing another example of a process for determining a recurring charge in the maintenance service system 1C according to the fourth embodiment. First, the setting unit 132C acquires, for example, customer information, facility information including information on one or more items, and contract information including contract period information (step ST200). Here, the items related to the customer's facility include at least one type of item among multiple types.

[0097] Next, the setting unit 132C calculates the risk of the contracted item based on the equipment information (step ST202). The setting unit 132C calculates the risk for each type of contracted item. For example, if the risk is set in stages according to the type of item, device, or facility, the setting unit 132 determines the risk according to the type of contracted item, device, or facility.

[0098] Next, the setting unit 132C sets a contract period for each type of product based on the risk calculated for each type of product under the contract (step ST204). The setting unit 132C may set a shorter contract period for high-risk product types and a longer contract period for low-risk product types based on the contract period information included in the contract information. Next, the setting unit 132C determines a recurring charging fee based on at least one of the risk for each type of product under the contract, the purchase price for each type of product under the contract, and the contract period for each type of product under the contract (step ST206).

[0099] Next, the setting unit 132C determines a recurring charging fee including the recurring charging fee for the multiple types of items included in the facility information (step ST208). The setting unit 132C determines the recurring charging fee for each type of item that is the subject of the contract by summing up the recurring charging fees for each type of item that is the subject of the contract.

[0100] 14 is a flowchart showing another example of a process for determining a recurring charge in the maintenance service system 1C according to the fourth embodiment. First, the setting unit 132C acquires contract information, including, for example, customer information, information about one or more items, and contract period information (step ST300). Next, the setting unit 132C calculates the risk of the item under contract based on the item information (step ST302). Next, the setting unit 132C tallies the number of customers who have contracts corresponding to the items (step ST304).

[0101] Next, the setting unit 132C determines the number of spare items based on the number of customers and the risk for each item (step ST306). The setting unit 132 increases the number of spare items as the number of customers increases. The setting unit 132 increases the number of spare items as the risk increases. Next, the setting unit 132C calculates the spare item cost based on the number of spare items determined in step ST306 and the purchase price of the spare items (step ST308). The spare item cost is the cost necessary to maintain the determined number of spare items, including, for example, production costs and inventory costs. Next, the setting unit 132C determines the recurring charging fee based on the spare item cost calculated in step ST308 and the number of customers (step ST310). The setting unit 132C determines the recurring charging fee for each customer, for example, by dividing the spare item cost by the number of customers. Furthermore, if the number of items contracted for by each customer varies, the setting unit 132 determines the recurring charging fee according to the number of items contracted for by each customer.

[0102] Next, the setting unit 132C acquires environmental information for the contracted item (step ST312). The setting unit 132C acquires the environmental information for the item based on, for example, location information for the customer's infrastructure facility from the terminal device 200. For example, if the infrastructure facility is located near the sea, it will have a higher failure rate than infrastructure facilities located far from the sea. If the infrastructure facility is located in a hot area, it will have a higher failure rate than infrastructure facilities located in a cold area. If the infrastructure facility is located in a place where regular maintenance services (such as visual inspections) cannot be performed, such as a mountainous area, it will have a higher failure rate than infrastructure facilities where regular maintenance services are performed. The setting unit 132C updates the recurring charging fee determined in step ST310 so that the higher the failure rate due to the environment of the infrastructure facility, the higher the recurring charging fee (step ST314). Note that the setting unit 132C does not need to update the recurring charging fee based on environmental information for items whose failure rate does not increase due to the environment of the item.

[0103] The setting unit 132C acquires information indicating the usage status of maintenance services for the customer's facilities or equipment (step ST316). Information indicating the usage status of maintenance services includes, for example, the inspection history of the infrastructure facility and the periodic part replacement history of the infrastructure facility. The usage status of maintenance services may include confirmation that a recurring charge for spare items has already been paid. The setting unit 132C discounts the recurring charge for the items of the facility based on the usage status of the maintenance service for the customer's facilities or equipment (step ST318). If the customer is using maintenance services, the setting unit 132C updates the recurring charge for new spare items to a lower value. The setting unit 132C also acquires the inspection history and part replacement history of the infrastructure facility for each customer. If the customer is using maintenance services based on the inspection history and part replacement history, the failure rate of the infrastructure facility decreases, so the setting unit 132C updates the recurring charge to a lower value.

[0104] As described above, the maintenance service system 1C of the fourth embodiment determines the recurring charges for items related to customer equipment based on at least one of the risk, purchase price, and contract period, manages spare item information indicating spare items, and continuously charges the recurring charges. This maintenance service system 1C makes it possible to appropriately set the recurring charges for providing maintenance services for customer equipment.

[0105] Although each embodiment and variant have been described, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, one of the embodiments or variants, or a part of each embodiment or a part of each variant, may be combined with one or more other embodiments or one or more other variants to realize one aspect of the present invention.

[0106] Aspects of the present disclosure can be described below as follows: (Supplementary Note 1) A maintenance service system comprising: a contract storage unit that stores contract information indicating a contract to which a customer, items related to the customer's equipment, and recurring billing information are associated; an item management unit that manages spare item information that associates the items held pursuant to the contract with storage locations of the spare items; a recurring billing unit that continuously charges based on the recurring billing information; an item selection unit that determines whether input information indicating a customer and item is covered by the contract based on the spare item information, and if covered by the contract, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement; and an output unit that outputs storage location information indicating the replacement item and its storage location based on the spare item information of the replacement item. (Supplementary Note 2) A maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 1), wherein the contract information includes a delivery guarantee period indicating a period until the replacement item is delivered, and the output unit outputs the delivery guarantee period or information based on the delivery guarantee period. (Supplementary Note 3) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 2), comprising a deadline calculation unit that calculates a shipping deadline based on an input starting date and the delivery guarantee period, wherein the output unit outputs the shipping deadline for the replacement item. (Supplementary Note 4) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 2), wherein the spare item information includes a notification address of a shipper of the spare item, and the output unit outputs information about the replacement item and the delivery guarantee period or information based on the delivery guarantee period to the notification address of the shipper. (Supplementary Note 5) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 1), wherein the contract information includes a replacement guarantee period indicating a period until the replacement item is replaced, and the output unit outputs the replacement guarantee period or information based on the replacement guarantee period. (Supplementary Note 6) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 5), comprising a deadline calculation unit that calculates a replacement deadline based on an input starting date and the replacement guarantee period, and the output unit outputs the replacement deadline for the replacement item. (Supplementary Note 7) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 1), wherein the spare item information includes a notification destination, and the output unit outputs information about the replacement item to the notification destination based on the notification destination information.(Supplementary Note 8) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 7) further comprises: a management unit that manages the shipment of the replacement item; and the notification destinations include the customer, a person in charge at the customer's facility, or a contractor repairing the equipment and a person in charge at the customer; and the output unit outputs information indicating a shipping status of the replacement item to the notification destination. (Supplementary Note 9) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 1) further comprises: a shipping arrangement unit that arranges shipment of the replacement item to the person in charge based on the contract information and the shipping information; the contract information includes a delivery guarantee period that indicates a deadline for providing the replacement item; and the shipping arrangement unit outputs the delivery guarantee period or information based on the delivery guarantee period. (Supplementary Note 10) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 9) wherein the shipping arrangement unit outputs information indicating that the item is subject to the contract and priority information indicating that delivery should be prioritized in arranging the shipment. (Supplementary Note 11) A maintenance service system comprising: a contract storage unit that stores contract information indicating a contract to which a customer, items related to the customer's equipment, and recurring billing information are associated; an item management unit that manages spare item information that associates the contract information with spare items that are the items held in accordance with the contract; a continuous billing unit that performs continuous billing based on the recurring billing information; a first output unit that determines, for input information indicating the customer and item, based on the spare item information, whether an item is covered by the contract, and if so, outputs information indicating that the item and the contract are covered; an item selection unit that determines, for input information indicating the customer and item, based on the spare item information, whether an item is covered by the contract, and if so, selects the item as a replacement; and a second output unit that outputs replacement item information regarding the replacement item. (Supplementary Note 12) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 11), wherein the first output unit outputs the recurring billing information for input information indicating the customer based on the contract information. (Supplementary Note 13) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 12), wherein the first output unit outputs product information indicating the product covered by the contract based on the contract information in response to the input information indicating the customer.(Supplementary Note 14) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 12), wherein the first output unit outputs information about spare parts based on the spare part information for the input information indicating a customer. (Supplementary Note 15) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 12), wherein the contract information associates a customer, a customer's facility, equipment, equipment parts, and recurring billing information, and the first output unit outputs information indicating whether the facility, equipment, parts, and each part are covered by the contract for the input information indicating a customer. (Supplementary Note 16) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 11), wherein the contract information associates a customer, a customer's facility, items related to the customer's equipment, and recurring billing information, and the first output unit outputs the billing information and item information indicating items covered by the contract for the input information indicating a facility based on the contract information. (Supplementary Note 17) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 16), wherein the first output unit outputs item information indicating items covered by the contract for equipment within the facility based on the contract information for the input information indicating a facility. (Supplementary Note 18) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 16), wherein the first output unit outputs information about spare parts for equipment in the facility based on the spare part information in response to input information indicating a facility. (Supplementary Note 19) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 16), wherein the first output unit outputs information indicating whether or not each piece of equipment in the facility includes an item that is the subject of the contract based on the contract information or the spare part information in response to input information indicating a facility. (Supplementary Note 20) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 11), wherein the contract information associates a customer, items related to the customer's equipment, and recurring billing information, and the first output unit outputs the recurring billing information and item information indicating the items that are the subject of the contract based on the contract information in response to input information indicating equipment. (Supplementary Note 21) The maintenance service system described in (Supplementary Note 20), wherein the first output unit outputs item information indicating the items that are the subject of the contract for the equipment based on the contract information in response to input information indicating equipment.(Supplementary Note 22) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 20), wherein the first output unit outputs information about spare parts for the input equipment based on the spare part information. (Supplementary Note 23) The maintenance service system according to (Supplementary Note 20), wherein the first output unit outputs information about whether each part of the equipment is covered by the contract based on the contract information or the spare part information for the input equipment.

[0107] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C... Maintenance service system, 100... Management device, 110... Input section, 120, 120B... Output section, 122... First output section, 124... Second output section, 130, 130A, 130B, 130C... Control section, 132, 132C... Setting section, 134... Contract section, 136, 136A, 136C... Item management section, 138, 138C... Continuous billing section, 140... Item selection section, 142... Output control section, 144... Replacement billing section, 146... Deadline Calculation unit, 148... management unit, 150... shipping arrangement unit, 160, 160A... storage unit, 162... contract storage unit, 164... continuous billing storage unit, 166... ​​purchase cost storage unit, 168... inventory storage unit, 200... terminal device, 202... terminal input unit, 204... terminal output unit, 206... terminal control unit, 208... terminal storage unit, 300... factory device, 302... reception unit, 304... production management unit, 400... infrastructure facility, 500... inventory facility device, 502... inventory management unit

Claims

1. A maintenance service system comprising: a contract storage unit that stores customer information indicating a customer, item information indicating the customer's items, and contract information indicating a contract associated with recurring billing information; an item management unit that manages spare item information associated with the contract information and spare items which are the items held in accordance with the contract; a recurring billing unit that continuously bills the customer based on the recurring billing information; an item selection unit that determines whether input information indicating a customer and an item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement item; and an output unit that outputs information related to the replacement item.

2. The contract stipulates the right to receive the spare items during the contract period, the contract information indicates the contract associated with the customer, the customer's facility, items relating to the customer's equipment, and recurring billing information, and the item selection unit determines whether the input information, which further includes information indicating the facility, is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement, the maintenance service system according to claim 1.

3. The contract stipulates the right to receive the spare goods during the contract period, the contract information indicates the contract associated with recurring billing information for each customer, equipment part, or combination of parts, and the item selection unit determines whether the parts included in the input information are subject to the contract based on the spare goods information, and if they are subject to the contract, selects the parts as replacement parts, as described in claim 1.

4. The contract stipulates the right to receive the spare items during the contract period, the contract information indicates the contract associated with the customer, the equipment as equipment, the items of the equipment, and the recurring billing information, and the item selection unit determines whether the input information, which further includes information indicating the equipment, is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selects a spare item for the item as a replacement, the maintenance service system according to claim 1.

5. The maintenance service system according to claim 1, wherein the item selection unit uses the customer as input information and selects the replacement item or a candidate for the replacement item based on the spare item information with respect to the input information.

6. The maintenance service system according to claim 1, wherein the contract stipulates the right to receive the spare items during the contract period, and the item selection unit selects the replacement item or a candidate for the replacement item based on the spare item information with respect to contract identification information that identifies the contract.

7. The maintenance service system according to claim 1, wherein the spare item information includes purchase cost information representing the purchase price of the replacement item, and the output unit outputs the purchase price of the replacement item based on the purchase cost information.

8. The maintenance service system according to claim 1, comprising: a replacement billing unit that includes purchase cost information representing the purchase price of the replacement item, and which generates billing information for the customer based on the purchase price of the replacement item.

9. A maintenance service system as described in claim 1, comprising a terminal that reads a code attached to the item and generates item identification information for the item based on the code, wherein the output unit outputs to the terminal information indicating whether the equipment or item indicated by the item identification information is covered by the contract based on the item identification information and the contract information or the spare item information.

10. The maintenance service system described in claim 1, wherein the item management unit manages spare item information that associates spare items, which are items held in accordance with the contract, with storage location information that indicates the storage location of the spare items, and the output unit outputs the storage location information that indicates the replacement item and the storage location of the replacement item based on the spare item information of the replacement item.

11. The maintenance service system of claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises: a first output unit that determines whether or not an item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, in response to input information indicating the customer and item, and if the item is subject to the contract, outputs information indicating that the item is subject to the contract; and a second output unit that outputs information regarding the replacement item.

12. A maintenance service processing method including the steps of: an information processing device storing customer information indicating a customer, item information indicating an item of the customer, and contract information indicating a contract with which recurring billing information is associated; a step by the information processing device managing spare item information in which the contract information is associated with spare items that are the items held in accordance with the contract; a step by the information processing device continuously charging the customer based on the recurring billing information; a step by the information processing device determining whether input information indicating a customer and an item is subject to the contract based on the spare item information, and if it is subject to the contract, selecting a spare item for the item as a replacement; and a step by the information processing device outputting information regarding the replacement item.

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