Device management system with improved ability to identify cause of anomaly in device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In device management systems, identifying the cause of anomalies in devices is challenging when relying solely on information held by the management apparatus, as it may not be sufficient to determine the root cause of the anomaly.

Innovation Solution

The system includes a device information transmitting apparatus that collects and transmits specific information to the management apparatus, which includes an anomaly state input unit and a designating unit to identify and request necessary information for anomaly cause determination, allowing for the accumulation and strategic transmission of operation information to enhance anomaly cause identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the management apparatus relies solely on information held by itself to identify anomaly causes, then the system complexity is reduced, but the anomaly cause identification accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidanomaly cause identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides information management into two segments: the management apparatus holds basic device information and anomaly data, while the device information transmitting apparatus holds detailed operation information. This segmentation allows each component to maintain only necessary data, reducing overall system complexity while enabling accurate anomaly identification through coordinated information exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device information transmitting apparatus acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the management apparatus and the device. It collects detailed operation information from the device and transmits relevant information to the management apparatus when anomalies occur, enabling accurate anomaly cause identification without requiring the management apparatus to store all raw data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the management apparatus stores all operation information to identify anomaly causes, then the anomaly cause identification accuracy is improved, but the information storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanomaly cause identification accuracyVSAvoidinformation storage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the necessary operation information from the device and transmits it to the management apparatus when anomalies occur. The designating unit identifies specific information items needed for anomaly analysis, and only those items are transmitted. This extraction approach enables accurate anomaly identification while minimizing information storage requirements at the management apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of storing all operation information continuously, the system transmits information partially and selectively only when anomalies occur. The device information transmitting apparatus collects detailed operation information and transmits relevant portions to the management apparatus on-demand, achieving sufficient anomaly identification accuracy without excessive information storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the device information transmitting apparatus transmits all collected information to the management apparatus, then the anomaly cause identification accuracy is improved, but the communication load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanomaly cause identification accuracyVSAvoidcommunication load

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The designating unit extracts and designates only the specific information items needed for anomaly cause identification from the collected operation information. The first information transmitting unit then transmits only these designated items to the management apparatus. This selective extraction and transmission approach maintains anomaly identification accuracy while significantly reducing communication load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transmits information partially and selectively rather than continuously transmitting all collected data. Only the first information items designated as necessary for anomaly analysis are transmitted to the management apparatus, achieving sufficient diagnostic accuracy while minimizing communication overhead and energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11860648B2Device management system with improved ability to identify cause of anomaly in device

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A device management system includes a device information transmitting apparatus that collects information about a device, and a management apparatus that communicates with the device information transmitting apparatus via a communication network. At least one of the management apparatus and the device information transmitting apparatus includes an anomaly state input unit that receives an anomaly state of the device, and a designating unit that designates, in accordance with the received anomaly state, first information to be used to identify a cause of the anomaly state of the device. The device information transmitting apparatus includes a first information transmitting unit that transmits the first information to the management apparatus.