JP2002183286A - Recycling management system, device, management device, communication method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To facilitate the recycling of equipment. SOLUTION: The recycling management system according to the present invention includes a device (102) provided with a communication unit, and an information management device (10).
1) and a recycling management system including an external system (104, 105) including a waste product receiving device or a faulty product receiving device, wherein the device provided with the communication means measures a usage status of the device itself; At least comprising means for performing control of the device itself and transmitting and receiving a command from the information management device, and means for making a call from the device to the information management device,
The information management device is a unit that communicates with the external system including the device and the waste product receiving device or the faulty product receiving device through the communication line, and stores information transmitted and received with the device, processed data, and information necessary for managing the device. Storage means for performing
Data processing means for processing the information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to management of waste collection information of equipment provided with communication means, and more particularly to handling information that encourages the user of such equipment to collect waste, and the recycling status of equipment. The present invention relates to a management system that handles information for grasping information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, awareness of protecting the global environment has been increasing for both companies, which are manufacturers, and consumers, who are users. For this reason, it is becoming important to think of recycling, such as eliminating illegal waste and reliably collecting waste products, reusing collected waste products as used products, or reusing them as parts and materials. However, illegal dumping is still common and the waste collection rate is still stagnant. In fact, it is not enough to take action to raise awareness of global environmental protection.

[0003] Here are some examples of information processing systems for collecting waste. First, JP-A-6-166416 and the like aim at monitoring illegal disposal. This document describes a physical distribution monitoring system that manages and monitors the flow of waste from an intermediary company that collects and transports waste to a waste processor, mainly by a medical institution that is a waster.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-48066 discloses a technique for managing the entire life cycle of a flow from manufacturing a product to disposal or recycling. This includes a description of a system that attaches storage means such as IC tags to individual products, stores information during the cycle from manufacturing to disposal in a database, and determines a waste disposal method based on that information. .

Further, when disposing of used equipment,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-70378 discloses a technique for efficiently recycling and collecting waste, and for enabling a manufacturer to grasp the status of waste collection for equipment manufactured by the manufacturer. This describes a system that is automatically arranged in a device that accepts used or waste collection according to the use state without a user's arrangement.

[0006] In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342224 discloses a technique for efficiently recycling collected waste products. This includes a description of a recycling system that continuously and stably supplies collected waste to a waste disposal person who is a consumer. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 8-194898 discloses a system for determining a route for efficiently delivering collected waste to a waste disposal processor.

[0007]

In recent years, portable telephones,
Manufacturers are obliged to collect and discard many devices such as personal computers, peripheral devices, and home appliances. In addition, the depletion of resources on the earth has been taken up as a major issue, and manufacturers are being encouraged to reuse used equipment.

[0008] In view of such a situation, the present invention is a system for efficiently recycling and collecting equipment provided with communication means, and an object thereof is to provide a user with a comfortable recycling environment. .

As a result, it is possible to expect the user's awareness of recycling to increase, and to expect an improvement in the recycling rate. To do so, it is necessary to understand the actual use of the equipment and make appropriate decisions. By doing so, it is possible to detect a failure in advance, appropriately judge the expiration date of a waste product (product life), and respond appropriately and promptly in the event of a failure.

[0010] Further, a system in which a manufacturer can grasp the actual use condition and the state of waste collection for equipment manufactured by the manufacturer, a system in which a waste collection company can efficiently collect waste,
The purpose of the present invention is to construct a system in which a repairer can efficiently repair equipment and a system in which a seller can efficiently obtain customers.

[0011] The above-mentioned conventional system does not satisfy the above-mentioned object, and it is difficult to conceive based on it. This will be described below.

The physical distribution monitoring system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-166416 for monitoring illegal disposal has many problems inherent in medical waste, and is incompatible with other equipment waste. For example, a medical waste item is discarded by the same person as the disposal manager, but, for example, in home electric appliances, the discarder is a user and the monitor is, for example, a manufacturer and not the same.

The life cycle management system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-48066 stores the history of each product and uses the product as reference data when performing processing such as disposal, collection, and repair. It does not mention the life cycle efficiency including the user. That is, it does not raise the user's awareness of recycling, and it cannot be expected that the collection rate from the user will be improved.

According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-70378, when a device is used, when a user informs a trader of the fact, it is determined whether the device is to be reused as a used product or discarded and reused. And notify the user. Therefore, this system may not be used in the case of a device that the user is not conscious of recycling. That is, an improvement in the collection rate from the user cannot be expected.

JP-A-5-342224, JP-A-8-194898
In the publication, the system for efficiently recycling the collected waste is a processing system after collecting the waste, and is not directly related to the user. Therefore, the object of the present invention to increase the recovery rate of waste products and to create a system in which the user can easily cooperate therewith does not exist or is not solved.

[0016]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recycling management system including a device having communication means, an information management device, and an external system including a waste item receiving device or a faulty item receiving device. The device provided with the communication means, means for measuring the actual use of the device itself,
At least means for controlling the device itself and transmitting / receiving a command from the information management device, and means for making a call from the device to the information management device, wherein the information management device includes the device and the waste receiving device through a communication line. Alternatively, a unit that communicates with an external system including a failed product receiving device, a storage unit that stores transmission / reception information with the device, processed data, information necessary for managing the device, and data that processes the information. A recycling management system comprising a processing unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measuring means for measuring the actual use condition, and a communication means for transmitting the measured actual condition and receiving the expiration date according to the actual condition. An apparatus characterized by the above is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measuring means for measuring the actual use situation, and a communication means for transmitting the measured actual use situation and receiving the use restriction information according to the actual use situation. An apparatus is provided, comprising:

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there are provided a measuring means for measuring the actual use condition, and a communication means for transmitting the measured actual condition and receiving the failure information according to the actual condition. An apparatus is provided that comprises:

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a receiving unit for receiving the actual use status of the device, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the expiration date to the device in accordance with the actual use status of the device. A management device is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a receiving unit for receiving the actual use status of the device, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the use restriction information to the device according to the actual use status of the device. Is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a receiving unit for receiving the actual use status of the device, and a transmitting unit for transmitting failure information to the device in accordance with the actual use status of the device. A management device is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there are provided a measuring step of measuring the actual use state, and a communication step of transmitting the measured actual use state and receiving a waste item expiration date according to the actual use state. There is provided a communication method comprising:

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measuring step of measuring the actual usage status, a communication step of transmitting the measured actual usage status, and receiving usage restriction information according to the actual usage status. There is provided a communication method comprising:

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there are provided a measuring step of measuring the actual use state, and a communication step of transmitting the measured actual use state and receiving failure information according to the actual use state. There is provided a communication method comprising:

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises a receiving step of receiving the actual use status of the device, and a transmitting step of transmitting a waste period to the device according to the actual use status of the device. A communication method is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises a receiving step of receiving a use status of the device, and a transmitting step of transmitting use restriction information to the device according to the use status of the device. Is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving step of receiving the actual use status of the device, and a transmitting step of transmitting failure information to the device according to the actual use status of the device. A communication method is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a measuring procedure for measuring the actual use situation and a communication procedure for transmitting the measured actual situation and receiving a waste period according to the actual situation are described. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program to be executed by a computer is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measurement procedure for measuring the actual use situation, a communication procedure for transmitting the measured actual use situation, and receiving the use restriction information according to the actual use situation. And a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the program is recorded.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a measurement procedure for measuring the actual use situation and a communication procedure for transmitting the measured actual situation and receiving failure information according to the actual situation are described. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program to be executed by a computer is provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer executes a receiving procedure for receiving an actual use state of a device and a transmitting procedure for transmitting a waste period to the apparatus according to the actual use state of the apparatus. And a computer-readable recording medium storing the program.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer executes a receiving procedure for receiving a use status of a device and a transmission procedure for transmitting use restriction information to the device in accordance with the use status of the device. Computer-readable recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded.

[0034] According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cause a computer to execute a receiving procedure for receiving a use status of a device and a transmission procedure for transmitting failure information to the device according to the use status of the device. And a computer-readable recording medium storing the program.

According to the present invention, the equipment can be smoothly recycled.

[0036]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment 1 below
Is a product connected to a communication line, and at least the product A connected to the communication line at the time of use will be described. For example, there is a copier located in an office.

In Embodiments 1 and 2 to be described later, a copying machine will be described as an example, and a more detailed description will be given. Also,
In the second embodiment, the target product is a portable mobile device. Hereinafter, this is referred to as product B. The mobile device described in this document is not always connected to a communication line when used. It is like connecting to a communication line only when downloading or transferring information. For example, there is a handy terminal. In the third embodiment, the handy terminal will be described as an example and described in more detail. In the following, a wired or wireless communication line may be used.

With the remarkable progress of technology and the increasing number of products whose functions and handling are more complicated than in the past, it is desired to manage the actual use of the products and to promptly respond appropriately when in trouble. . Among them, the information providing service as described above can be greatly expected to provide after-care to product users.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
1 is a diagram showing an outline of a recycling management system. Product
102 is connected to the information management device 101 using the Internet. Hereinafter, the product 102 is referred to as a product A, and the user thereof is referred to as a user A. Product A is an information management device
It is assumed that 101 is always connected to the Internet.

The information management device 101 manages the actual usage information, user information, and product information transmitted from the product A, and also provides appropriate information on the use of the product A (disposal) according to the actual usage of the product A. Term information, failure information, etc.). Note that the method of transmitting the product A includes a method of automatically transmitting from the product A and a method of transmitting the product A from the information management apparatus 101 to the product A.
There is a case in which a call from the product A is urged, and a case in which a call is transmitted from the product A by further operation by the user. Note that, in order to more appropriately and appropriately manage the product A, the acquisition of information from the product A is to be performed continuously at appropriate intervals. Further, when an emergency such as a failure of the product A occurs, a failure notification is instantaneously transmitted to the information management apparatus 101. In this way, the information management device 101 manages the actual state of the product A based on the information received from the product A.
As a result, it is possible to detect a failure of the product A in advance, accurately judge the time of waste, and quickly respond to a sudden emergency. In addition, warn user A of the deadline for expiration (notification)
By doing so, the user will be able to conduct a study such as replacement of the product A at an appropriate time. Therefore, when it is desired to use the product A, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the product A fails and cannot be used.

Further, the information management apparatus 101 stores the user information and actual use information of the product A in a waste collection / processing company 105 (the waste collection person and the waste processing company may be different companies), a manufacturer, and the like. 103, a repair agent 104, and a store 106 are timely transmitted. The information transmitted from the information management device 101 needs to be subjected to appropriate processing. For example, it is necessary to take security measures so as not to violate the privacy of the user, and there is a key for encrypting and decrypting information. In addition, there is a process of selecting information necessary for each of the waste collection / processing company 105, the manufacturer 103, the repair company 104, and the store 106. The waste collection / processing company 105 is provided with waste device information and user information, and the manufacturer 103 is provided with failure information. Then, the waste collection and processing company 105 can efficiently collect waste,
The manufacturer 103 can know how to use the company's products. It is important for the manufacturer 103 to know how to use its products in order to obtain customer satisfaction.
Further, the repair company 104 is provided with failure information. As a result, the repairer 104 can efficiently collect the failed device. The store 106 is provided with information that the user A has finished using the product A, for example. Then, the store 106 can find a new customer. In addition, we can know the needs of the world.

Further, it receives the information transmitted from the waste collection / processing company 105, the manufacturer 103, the repair company 104, and the store 106, appropriately processes and manages the information. For example, information on completion of waste collection is received from the waste collection / processing company 105, and information on completion of repair is received from the repair company 104.

The waste collection / processing company 105 described above
The information transmitted to the manufacturer 103, the repair agent 104, and the store 106 is an example, and is not limited to this. In addition, regarding user information, there is a process for removing information that infringes privacy.

The information management apparatus 101 performs an appropriate charging process in transmitting the usage status information to the user of the product A, the waste collection / processing company 105, the manufacturer 103, the repair company 104, and the store 101. User A or waste collection / processing company 1
05, the credit credit / settlement server 107 is used for charging between the manufacturer 103, the repair company 104, and the store 106 and for approval of credit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information management apparatus 101. In FIG. 2, a CPU 201 includes a RAM 202
Alternatively, it executes various controls in the information management device according to a control program stored in the ROM 203. RAM202 is CPU201
Stores a control program to be executed or provides a working memory area of the CPU. The ROM 203 stores control programs executed by the CPU 201 and various data. 204
Denotes a network interface, and in this embodiment, connects to the Internet.

Reference numeral 210 denotes an external storage device, which is various data necessary for controlling the recycling management of this embodiment, for example, a user information database 206, a product database 207, a waste collection / processing company database 208, and a repair company database 2
09 is stored.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the product A. CPU30
1 executes a control program stored in the RAM 302 or the ROM 303. The storage device 306 is constituted by a hard disk, for example, and stores various data. Reference numeral 304 denotes a network interface, and in this embodiment, connects to the Internet. The output device 309 is generally provided with a display device so that the user can know various data (recycle time limit, use time, use count, failure state, etc.) relating to the actual use status. The input device 308 is, for example, a switch, and can be measured at any time when the user wants to check the actual use status by simply pressing the switch.
Note that a measuring device 307 is used for actual usage measurement.

FIG. 4 is a diagram functionally showing an online system of a product A 401 (corresponding to 102 in FIG. 1) and an information management device 402 (corresponding to 101 in FIG. 1) according to the present embodiment. This system, as shown in FIG.
The configuration is such that the product A and the information management device 402 are connected via a network, and the actual usage management of the product A401 is realized online.

Note that even when a plurality of products A401 are connected to a network, the actual situation management has a one-to-one correspondence between the product A401 and the information management device 402. For simplicity, FIG.
Shows one product.

As shown in FIG. 4, the product A401 is a receiving unit.
403, determination means 404, transmission means 411, measurement means 408, storage means 410, output means 407, notification instruction means 405, use restriction means 4
06, a product information storage unit 409 is provided, and it is preferable to further include input means.

In the receiving means 403, the information management device 402
The information sent to A401 can be received. The information received includes notification instruction information that prompts measurement of the actual usage status, information on expiration date of the product, information on failures, and information that has been used after the expiration of the recycling time limit or because the product's functions have not been fully demonstrated. There is information to restrict.

In the determining means 404, each time the above information is received from the receiving means, the report instructing means 405, the use restricting means 406,
It is determined to which of the output means 407 the information should be delivered. In other words, report instruction information, waste item expiration date information, or failure information that prompts the user to measure the actual usage status is distributed to the report instruction means 405, and is used for restricting the use because the recycle period has been exceeded. If it is information, it is distributed to the use restricting means 406. If the notification is a notification to the user such as information on the expiration date of the waste item, the information is output to the output device 407.

The notification instruction means 405 receives the notification instruction information urging the user to measure the usage status, automatically instructs the measurement for a predetermined period, or inputs the information from the input means (not shown) to the user. Instructs the measurement means to measure the actual usage and instructs the product information storage unit 409 to transmit the product information.

The product information storage unit 409 stores a symbol for determining the type of a product and a symbol for determining each product.

The measuring means 407 measures the actual usage. For example, the number of times of use, the time of use, the degree of wear of the consumable part of the product A, the degree of fatigue of a part that is easily fatigued, the presence or absence of an abnormal part, and the state of abnormalities are measured. And
The measurement result is instructed to the output means and the storage means. However,
The distribution to the output unit may be performed via the storage unit. Although various measurement functions are described here, the product A does not need to have all functions. Further, the measurement function is not limited to the one described here.

As the output means 407, a display device is generally used. The display device includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, an electrophoretic display, a light emitting diode display, an electrochromic display, a twisting ball display, and the like. In cases other than the display device, when an abnormal situation is confirmed in the measurement,
In some cases, a warning by sound such as an alarm is issued.

After being stored in the storage unit 410, the information and the product information are transmitted to the information management device 402 by the transmission unit 411.

On the other hand, in the information management device 402, the receiving means 412 can receive information (for example, actual use information, product information, and user information) from the product A401. The received information is distributed to the user determining means 414.

The user discriminating means 414 uses the user database 417 to determine who and what product the received information is. At the same time, the information of the product A402 received from the receiving unit 412 is stored in the user information database 417. Thereby, in the user information database 417,
Changes in the actual usage of the product A402 can be recorded. Further, the user determining means 414 distributes the usage status information to the failure checking means 416, and determines whether the product A402 has failed. If a failure has occurred, the information is stored in the user information database 417. Note that the failure confirmation unit 416, which has received the user information including the actual usage of the product A402, refers to the detailed information on the product A402 in the product information database 419 and determines whether the product A402 has failed or not. In such a case, the degree and state of the failure are determined. These judgment results are stored in the user information database 417
Is stored in Furthermore, when the product A402 is out of order or immediately before the expiration date,
Send a failure report to product A402. Depending on the degree of failure, use restriction information is transmitted to product A402 by use restriction notification.

Further, in the information management device 402, the product selection means 413 selects a product that meets predetermined conditions from the user information database 417, and the waste item expiration date calculation means 415 converts the data in the user information database 417. Calculate the expiration date based on the waste. The calculation result is transferred to the judgment means 418. For example, assume that the product A402 has been selected by the product selection means 413. It is to be noted that a case where the expiration date of the waste item is stored in the user information database 417 in advance may be considered. Also in this case, the expiration date of the waste item is transferred to the determination means.

In the determining means, based on the received expiration date,
It is determined whether the product expiration date notification unit 420 notifies the product A401 of the product expiration date or the use restriction notification unit 423 notifies the product A401 of the usage restriction report. If it is determined that the product A401 has passed the expiration date, or if it is determined that the degree of failure is so severe that the function of the product A cannot be sufficiently performed, the use restriction unit 423 is used, and there is no problem. In this case, the information is delivered to the waste item expiration notification means 420.

In the case of passing through the failure notifying means 421, the user A is notified that the product A401 has failed. Further, depending on the degree of failure, a message indicating that the product A401 is not used is notified to the user A via the use restriction notifying means 422, or a signal that restricts the functions provided in the product A is transmitted to the user A. Send to Product A401, on the other hand,
When a signal that is restricted by the functions provided therein is received, the product A401 cannot be used normally.

For example, if the product A is a copying machine, there is a restriction that printing cannot be performed. Further, means for notifying the expiration date of waste
In the case of passing through 0, information regarding the expiration date of the product and the usage status is notified to the user A.

On the other hand, in the information management device 402, the product A
If you confirm that 401 has been collected and disposed of,
A service is provided from a company that handles the information management device 402 to a user who has used the product A. Services include money,
There are gift certificates, free tickets for collecting waste items, and points added to point cards. Note that the services described here are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

FIG. 5 shows an information management apparatus according to the present embodiment.
501 (corresponding to 101 in FIG. 1) and a waste product receiving device 512
(Corresponding to 105 in FIG. 1), the faulty goods receiving device 511
FIG. 2 is a diagram functionally showing the online system during (corresponding to 104 in FIG. 1). The information management device 501 is connected to a credit credit / settlement server (not shown) via a network, and receives a waste item receiving device 512 and a faulty item receiving device 511.
Credit and settlement for online.

It should be noted that even when a plurality of waste product receiving devices or faulty product receiving devices are connected to the network, information provision is not performed with the information management device 501 and the waste product receiving device 512 or the information management device 501 and the faulty product receiving device 511. Therefore, FIG. 5 shows only one waste receiving apparatus 512 and one defective receiving apparatus 511 as a representative example and for simplification of description.

When the information management device 501 confirms the occurrence of a waste product, the waste collection / processing notification means
Using 508, a notification is sent to the waste receiving device 512. If the user wants to check the failed product,
Is used to notify the faulty product receiving device 511.

It is preferable to confirm with the user of the waste product or the faulty product, such as "Do you want to call a trader?", Before reporting to the trader.

For example, when the product A (not shown) has passed the waste product expiration date, the waste product recovery / processing notification means 508 uses the waste product recovery / processing company information database 509 to appropriately collect and process the product A. Select a suitable supplier and report the information on the waste of product A to that supplier. Further, when the product A is out of order, the faulty product notification means 506 selects an appropriate supplier for repairing the product A from the repairer information database 507,
Report the failure information of product A to the supplier.

For example, a defective product receiving device of a manufacturer of the product A, a defective product receiving device of a repair company in the area where the user of the product A lives, or a defective product receiving device of a nearby dealer. Which information to report is determined based on the failure status and repair cost found from the failure information and the life of the product as seen from the actual usage information. For example, if the information management device determines that it is better to replace it than repair it, sell it Transfer to the store preferentially.

The waste collection / processing company that has received the waste information from the information management device 501 transmits to the information management device 501 that the reception of the information on the product A has been completed. At this time, the information management device 501 sends the waste information including the user information such as the name, address, and contact information of the user of the product A to the report destination. Disposal processing received from the information management device 501
The collection company refers to this, contacts the user, negotiates, and then receives the product A. Further, the waste collection / processing company notifies the information management device 501 of new information relating to the waste collection / processing of the product A to the information management device 501 by the transmission means. Then, the information management device 501 stores the information on the product A notified from the waste collection / processing company in the user information database.

The repair agent which has received the faulty product information from the information management device 501 transmits to the information management device 501 that the reception of the information on the product A has been completed. Further, the repair contractor informs the information management device 501 that the product A has been repaired by transmitting the information.
Notify the navel. Then, the information management device 501 stores the information of the product A notified from the repair agent in the user information database 504.

When the information management device 501 receives the reception completion notification from the waste product reception device 512 or the repaired product reception device 511, the information management device 501 performs a charging process of the waste product collection / processing company or the repair company that transmitted the reception completion notification.

(Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, the concept is the same as that of Embodiment 1, and it can be shown in FIG. 1 which explains the outline of a recycling management system. However, the method of exchanging information between the information management apparatus 101 and the product 102 has a different feature, and the embodiment relating to this is described. Note that the exchange of information between the information management apparatus 101 and the waste collection / processing company 105, the manufacturer 103, the repair company 104, the store 106, and the settlement server / credit server 107 is the same as in the first embodiment. Has been omitted.

In the present embodiment, a case where the product to be recycled is a mobile device will be described. The mobile device described in this document is basically a portable device. It is assumed that the mobile device has a built-in device capable of communicating information with another device. A user of a mobile device often uses the mobile device in a state of being constantly connected to a network, such as outputting information, inputting information, and storing information. for that reason,
It is difficult to manage the device by the same means as the method described in the first embodiment.

In the following, a method of managing the actual use of the device for a product that is connected to a communication line at one time and disconnected from the network at one time will be described with reference to FIG. I do. Hereinafter, such a mobile product is particularly referred to as a product B.
Further, the user of the product B is referred to as the user B.

The product B (606) can be connected to the product C (611). The product C includes a CPU 601, a RAM 60
2, ROM 603, storage means 607, measurement means 608,
The network interface 6 includes an input unit 609, an output unit 610, and a network interface 604.
04 is accessible to the communication network 605.

The information management device 101 manages the actual usage information, the user information, and the product information of the product B, and provides the user with appropriate information (disposal date information) according to the actual usage of the product B. , Failure information, etc.).

In order for the information management apparatus 101 to receive the information of the product B, the information is automatically transmitted from the product B to the information management apparatus 101 when the product B uses the communication line, or When connected to another product C, product C
May be automatically transmitted to the information management apparatus 101 as information on the product B. Of course, the user B can connect the product B to the communication line and intentionally transmit information. In addition, at least one of Product B and Product C,
It is assumed that a device capable of measuring the actual usage of the product B is provided.

The information on the product B is stored in the information management device 1
Although the frequency is transmitted to 01, it is not preferable to transmit the information of the product B to the information management apparatus 101 too much. For example, the product B is provided with a device capable of counting the number of times of connection to the communication line, so that it is preferable that once the product B is connected to the communication line five times, a call is made once.
Alternatively, it is preferable that the product C manages the time from the first connection of the product B to the next connection, and transmits the information to the information management apparatus 101 only once every 24 hours. In addition,
If an emergency such as product B breaks down,
It is preferable that a failure notification be sent to the information management device 101 as soon as it is connected to the communication line.

By the way, the product C includes home electric appliances (refrigerator,
Washing machines, TVs, telephones, etc., OA equipment (PCs, printing machines,
Display, etc.), chargers, connectors, cables,
There are outlets. However, the device C is not limited to the device described here, but may be any device that can be connected to the information management device 101 via a communication line.

The information management apparatus 101 receives the information on the product B in this way, so that the usage status of the product B can be appropriately managed.

As described above, the information management apparatus 101 detects the failure of the product B in advance, determines the time of waste properly,
It can also respond quickly to sudden emergencies.

By managing the actual usage by the information management apparatus 101 in this way, the user B can receive the expiration date at an appropriate time and at an appropriate frequency, and consider replacement of the product B or repair. Can be performed at the appropriate time. Therefore, when it is desired to use the product B, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the product B fails and cannot be used.

[0085]

[Embodiment 1] In this embodiment, a copying machine 401 which is always connected to the Internet when a recycled product is used will be described with reference to FIGS. The user is called user A.
For ease of explanation, recycling of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401 will be described as an example.

First, when the user A purchases the copying machine 401, the copying machine 401 is registered in the information management device 402.

The contents to be registered are not limited to the model number and the serial number, but may be anything as long as the device used by the user can be identified. The method of registration is to have the customer data and product information registered by the dealer at the time of purchase on the WEB screen 801 (see FIG. 8), or to inform the user A of the address, contact information and product information by telephone or postcard. do that for me. The information management device 402 stores the information in the user information database 417 as a new registrant. Information management device 402
The usage status of the copying machine 401 of the user A who has completed the new registration is subsequently managed by the information management device 402 as a product to be recycled.

The information management device 402 measures the usage status of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401 once a week. Also, the expiration date calculating means 41 is used once a month based on the actual usage information.
The expiration date of the discarded product is calculated by 5 and notified to the copying machine 401. However, the measurement period or the notification interval is not limited to the period described here, and may be performed in an appropriate period according to the product or the use situation. For example, the information management device 402 determines that the frequency of use of the copying machine 401 is equal to or higher than normal use, and the
May be times. As a result, it is possible to perform appropriate usage management in accordance with the usage status.

In the following, a case where the copying machine 401 of the user A has passed one week from the previous measurement will be described as an example.

The information management device 402 uses the product selection means 413 to search the user information database 417 for the copying machine 401 of the user A for which one week has passed since the last update of the usage status information. After the search, the usage status report instruction is transmitted by the usage status report instruction unit 422 via the determination unit 418 to the copying machine of the user A.
Call 401. Also, once a month user information database
From 417, a waste product expiration date is obtained by the waste product expiration date calculating means 415 based on the usage status information for the month. And the judgment means 4
The result of the calculation is notified to the copying machine 401 of the user A by the waste expiration date notifying means 420 via the calculation result. When notifying, it is more preferable to notify whether or not to call a trader to collect the waste and information including the content asking the user's request. As a result, if the user wishes to request a waste collection company, the fact is notified to an appropriate waste collection / processing company via the information management device.

The copying machine 401 of the user A that has received the usage status report instruction notifies the usage status report instruction from the information management device 402 to the notification instruction unit 405, and the measurement unit 408 measures the usage status of the photosensitive drum. Do. Copier 401 stores the measurement result in built-in storage means 410. Thereafter, the copying machine 401 notifies the information management device 402 of the product number stored in the product information storage unit 409 and the measurement result of the actual use state by the transmission unit 411.

On the other hand, when the information management device 402 receives the information from the copying machine 401 of the user A, the user identification means 414 determines that the received product number is the information from the copying machine 401 of the user A. Check. For confirmation, the user information database 417 is used. Further, the result of the actual use measurement is stored in the user information database 417. Further, when the user management is completed, the information management device 402 uses the actual usage information of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401 to check the failure
Check that there is no failure using. For confirmation, the product information database 419 is used. The product information database 419 stores information for determining the failure of the copying machine 401. By using this database, it is possible to immediately grasp the presence / absence of a failure and the state of the failure.

As a result of the failure confirmation, if the information management device 402 determines that the copying machine 401 of the user A has not failed,
The fact that the copying machine 401 of the user A has not failed is stored in the user information database 417. If it is determined that a failure has occurred, the failure notification
The user is notified of either 421 or the use restriction notification means 423
The call is transmitted to the copying machine 401 of A. For example, when printing is impossible due to a failure, a use restriction notification is transmitted to the copying machine 401 of the user A when a use restriction notification is not required.
The copy machine 401 that has received the usage restriction notification is
Some functions become impossible. For example, the image scanning function stops. It is also good to warn of an emergency by sounding a buzzer. Further, when notifying, it is more preferable to notify together with information including a content asking whether or not to call a trader for repairing the failure and a request of the user.
As a result, if the user desires to request a repair company, the fact is notified to an appropriate repair company via the information management device. Further, the user A can check the information received from the information management device 402 by the output unit 407 of the copying machine 401.

As described above, when the user receives the notification of the expiration date of the waste item, the user can purchase a photosensitive drum for replacement in a timely manner, and the photosensitive drum cannot be used when the user wants to use the copying machine 401. You can avoid the situation. Further, when the use restriction notification is received, it is possible to prevent unnecessary printing. Further, when a failure notification is received, information on the failure, such as a failure location of the product and its level, can be obtained. On the other hand, the information management device 402 evaluates the result of measuring the actual usage status of the photosensitive drum on a weekly basis, so that the degradation state of the photosensitive drum can be grasped, and a failure can be detected in advance. May be.

Next, the information management device 402 and the waste receiving device,
The exchange with the faulty product recovery device will be described.

First, the exchange between the information management device 402 and the failed product collection device will be described. The information management device 402 determines that the photosensitive drum has failed based on the usage status information of the photosensitive drum received from the copying machine 401 of the user A. Then, in the information management device 402, the failure notifying unit 421 selects a repair contractor that has undertaken repair of the photosensitive drum from the repair contractor information database, and includes the state of the failed photosensitive drum in the failure receiving device of the repair contractor. Information, user A's name and contact information. Before contacting the trader, it is better to ask the user in advance whether he / she wants to contact the trader. The repair contractor who received the failure notification is the user
Contact A and negotiate the process. After that, the repair agent informs the information management device 402 whether the repair of the copying machine 401 of the user A has been completed. Information management device 4
02 stores the information received from the repair agent in the user information database 417. It should be noted that the company that handles the information management device 402 collects the information provision fee from the company that handles the failed product receiving device.

Next, the exchange between the information management device 501 and the waste item receiving device 512 will be described. The information management device 501 determines that the expiration date of the photosensitive drum has expired based on the usage actual information of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine of the user A. Then, the information management device 501 confirms whether to call the trader to the user A. If the user A wishes for a contractor, the waste collection / processing information means 5
From 09, select a waste collection / processing company that has been contracted to collect and process photosensitive drums, and send information including the status of the photosensitive drums whose expiration date has expired to the waste collection / processing unit 512 of the waste collection / processing company. Send the name and contact information of person A.
Before contacting the trader, it is better to ask the user in advance whether he / she wants to contact the trader. The waste collection / processing company that has received the notice of waste period communicates with the user A and negotiates the processing. Thereafter, the waste collection / processing company informs the information management device 501 whether the collection or processing of the waste of the copying machine of the user A is completed. The information management device 501 stores information received from a waste collection / processing company in the user information database 504. Note that the company handling the information management device 501 collects the information provision fee from the company handling the waste collection / processing device.

[0098] Since the information is sent from the information management device 501 to the waste product receiving device 512 or the faulty product receiving device 511 in a timely manner, a business operator who has received the information can also respond appropriately and promptly. Thereby, recycling can be performed smoothly. Further, a user of a product that wants to dispose of or dispose of the product can comfortably recycle by receiving an appropriate and prompt response from a trader.

Further, a specific service is provided to the user A who has completed the waste collection within a predetermined period from a company that handles the information management apparatus 402. For example, if the user A completes the collection of the photosensitive drums of the copying machine 401 during a predetermined period, the user A's account is paid 10% of the photosensitive drum list price. As a result, the user A can obtain the advantage of performing the waste collection. For that, the user
We can expect to raise awareness of A recycling.

Embodiment 2 In this embodiment, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of a copying machine 401 which is always connected to the Internet when a recycled product is used. The user is called user A. For ease of explanation, recycling of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401 will be described as an example.

First, after the user A purchases the copying machine 401, the copying machine 401 is registered in the information management device 402.

When the copying machine 401 is connected to the Internet, immediately after that, the product number is read from the product information storage unit 409 (ROM) by the built-in notification instruction means 405, and at the same time, the usage status of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401 is checked. Measure and store the measurement results. Then, the product number and the measurement result are notified to the information management device 402. At this time, the user is notified of the user information such as the name and contact information by the input means. Input means include touch panel input, push button input, keyboard input, and the like. Note that, in order to save the trouble of inputting with the input means, a method may be used in which the name and contact information of the user A are stored in advance in the copying machine 401 and automatically notified along with the product number and the measurement result.

The information management device 402 checks the information received from the copying machine 401 by using the user discriminating means 414 to confirm that the copying machine 401 of the user is a newly registered copying machine 401. For confirmation, the user information database 417 is used. After confirmation, the information received from copying machine 401 as a new registrant is stored in user information database 417.

As described above, the copying machine 401 of the user A can be easily registered in the information management device 402 using the network.

The usage status of the photosensitive drum of the user A who has completed the new registration in the information management device 402 is thereafter managed by the information management device 402 as a product to be recycled.

The copying machine 401 automatically measures the usage status of the photosensitive drum at predetermined intervals, and reports the result of the usage status information on the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401 to the information management device 402 once a week. And However, the reporting period is not limited to the period described here, and may be performed in an appropriate period according to the product or the usage status. For example, a copier
If the frequency of use of 401 is higher than normal use, information management device 4
As determined by 02, there may be cases where the notice of the expiration date of the waste is twice a month. As a result, it is possible to perform appropriate usage management in accordance with the usage status.

In the following, a case where the copying machine 401 of the user A has passed one week since the previous report will be described as an example.

The information management device 402 searches the user information database 417 for the copying machine 401 of the user A, which is one week after the previous report of the usage status information, by the product selection means 413. Then, the user instructs the user to report the usage status of the photosensitive drum.
Call the copier 401 of A.

The copying machine 401 of the user A automatically measures the actual use of the copying machine 401 at predetermined intervals. In the case of a photosensitive drum, the actual usage is automatically measured every 12 hours, and the measurement result is stored in the storage unit 410. Further, when a problem suddenly occurs during the operation of the copying machine 401, the occurrence of the problem is notified to the information management device 402 by the transmission means. In addition,
The display device incorporated in the copying machine 401 allows the user A
Can see the measurement result of the actual use condition and the failure warning.
Display devices include a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, an organic EL display, an electrophoretic display, and the like.

The copying machine 401 of the user A sends the usage status report instruction received from the information management device 402 once a week to the report instructing means 4.
05, read from the storage means 410 the actual usage information of the photosensitive drum newly measured since the previous information report,
The notification is sent to the information management device 402 together with the product number stored in the product information storage unit 409.

The information management device 402 is a copy machine 401 of the user A.
Upon receiving the information from, the user determination means 404
It is confirmed that the received information is information from the copying machine 401 of the user A. For confirmation, the user information database 417 is used. The information is stored in the user database.

When the user management is completed, the information management device 402 checks whether or not there is a failure by using the failure confirmation means 416 based on the actual usage information of the photosensitive drum of the copying machine 401. For confirmation, the product information database 419 is used. The product information database 419 stores information for determining the failure of the copying machine 401. By using this database, it is possible to immediately grasp the presence / absence of a failure and the state of the failure.

When the information management device 402 determines that the copying machine 401 of the user A has not failed as a result of the failure confirmation,
The usage status information of the copying machine 401 of the user A is stored in the user information database 417. Further, the waste time limit notification unit 420 notifies the copying machine 401 of the user A of the waste time limit. If it is determined that a failure has occurred, either of the failure notification means 421 and the use restriction notification means 423 is transmitted to the copying machine 401 of the user A, depending on the state of the failure. For example, if user A is in danger due to a failure, a use restriction notification is transmitted to user A's copying machine 401 if use restriction is not required. Note that the copying machine 401 that has received the usage restriction notification cannot perform some functions of the copying machine 401.
For example, the image scanning function stops. It is also good to warn of an emergency by sounding a buzzer. Further, when notifying, it is more preferable to notify together with information including a content asking whether or not to call a trader for repairing the failure and a request of the user. As a result, if the user desires to request a repair company, the fact is notified to an appropriate repair company via the information management device. Further, the user A receives the information received from the information
Can be confirmed by the output means 407.

As described above, not only the copying machine 401 manages the actual usage status by itself, but also the information management device 402 manages the information on the actual usage status at a predetermined interval, so that accurate information can be provided to the user A. It can be provided appropriately and quickly. When a user using this system receives a notice of the expiration date of the waste item, the user can purchase a replacement photosensitive drum in a timely manner, and the photosensitive drum is used when the user wants to use the copying machine 401. An impossible situation can be avoided. Further, when the use restriction notification is received, it is possible to prevent unnecessary printing. Further, when a failure notification is received, information on the failure, such as a failure location of the product and its level, can be obtained. On the other hand, the information management device 402 evaluates the result of measuring the actual usage status of the photosensitive drum on a weekly basis, so that the degradation state of the photosensitive drum can be grasped, and a failure can be detected in advance. May be.

Next, the information management device 501 and the waste product receiving device 51
2. The exchange with the failed product recovery device 511 will be described.

First, the exchange between the information management device 501 and the failed product receiving device 511 will be described.

The information management device 501 determines that the photosensitive drum has failed based on the usage actual information of the photosensitive drum received from the copying machine of the user A. Then, in the information management device 501,
The repairer information database 507 is provided by the failure notifying means 506.
, A repair contractor who has undertaken the repair of the photosensitive drum is selected, and information including the state of the failed photosensitive drum, the name of the user A, and the contact information are transmitted to the defective article receiving device 511 of the repair contractor. The repair contractor who has received the failure notification contacts the user A and negotiates the processing. Thereafter, the repair contractor informs the information management device 501 whether the repair of the copying machine 401 of the user A has been completed. The information management device 501
The information received from the repair agent is stored in the user information database 503.
To save.

Next, the exchange between the information management device 501 and the waste item receiving device 512 will be described. The information management device 501 determines that the expiration date of the photosensitive drum has expired based on the usage actual information of the photosensitive drum from the copying machine of the user A. Then, in the information management device 501, the waste collection / processing notification unit 508 selects a waste collection / processing company that is contracted for the collection / processing of the photosensitive drum from the waste collection / processing information database 509, and selects the waste collection / processing company. Information including the state of the photosensitive drum whose expiration date has expired is sent to the
Disclose A's name and contact information. The waste collection / processing company that has received the notice of waste period communicates with the user A and negotiates the processing. Thereafter, the waste collection / processing company informs the information management device 501 whether the collection or processing of the waste of the copying machine 401 of the user A is completed. Information management device 501
Saves the information received from the waste collection / processing company in the user information database 503.

Further, the waste / collection processing contractor, the repairer, the manufacturer, and the store can obtain the right to view the user database 504 by performing a predetermined registration (contract) with the information management device 501. However, the browsing does not violate the privacy of the user. Thus, a waste collection / processing company can know which products become waste at that time, so that collection and processing can proceed efficiently. A repairer can also procure frequently broken parts in advance. The manufacturer can know where the product is likely to break down, and the dealer can know what product is hit in a certain area. By using the information in the database, the waste / collection processing companies, repairers, manufacturers, dealers, and the like can be expected to promote their respective recycling activities.

It is to be noted that the waste / collection processing company, the repairer, the manufacturer, and the dealer need to charge the information management apparatus 501 in order to have the information provided or permission to browse the information. Pay to.

Embodiment 3 In this embodiment, a mobile product is considered as an object to be recycled. The mobile products described here do not need to be connected to a network when used. However, when charging or downloading information, it is necessary to connect to a network. In this embodiment, when charging, a Handy Terminal (hereinafter referred to as HT) connected to the network
This will be described with reference to FIG. The HT described below is assumed to be composed of an HT dedicated charger 702 (hereinafter referred to as a charger 702) and an HT body 701 (hereinafter referred to as an HT) which is a mobile device. Further, in this embodiment,
The recycling of the main body will be described. The charger 702 and the main body are detachable, and the charger 702 is connected to a network. Then, when the HT is connected to the charger 702, the HT automatically completes preparations for connection to the network. In addition, the user is called user B.

First, when the user B purchases the HT, the HT is registered in the information management device 703.

When HT is connected to charger 702, charger 702
The HT product information, user information (eg, e-mail address) and usage status information are transmitted to the information management device 703 by the notification instruction unit. The information management device 703 receiving this registers the received information in the user information database 712. Here, information that does not affect the personal privacy of the user, such as the product number, may be stored in the product in advance,
It is better to input information related to personal privacy such as name and contact information from the input means of the HT701 at the time of registration. Furthermore, after registering for the first time,
It is more preferable to issue an ID number and take security measures such as using the ID number in exchange with the information management apparatus 703.

As described above, the user B's HT 701 can be easily registered in the information management device 703 using the network.

The usage status of the HT 701 of the user B who has completed the new registration in the information management device 703 is thereafter managed by the information management device 703 as a product to be recycled.

The measurement of the actual use condition of the HT 701 is performed when the HT 701 is connected to the charger 702. The charger 702 transmits the product information of the HT 701 and the measurement result of the actual use condition to the information management device 7 by the notification instruction means 706.
Call 03. At this time, user information (eg, an e-mail address) may be notified together to make it easier to identify the product. In addition, the actual measurement of the use
The minimum interval between measurements is 24 hours. In other words, even if charging is performed multiple times during a 24-hour period,
It is assumed that the actual usage is measured only once. As a result, it is possible to efficiently manage the usage status of mobile devices that cannot always be connected to the Internet, and to efficiently perform recycling.

When the information management device 703 receives the information from the HT 701 of the user B, the user determining means 710 confirms that the received information is the information from the HT 701 of the user B. When confirming, the user information database 712 is used. Further, the information is stored in the user database 712.

The information management device 703 checks whether or not a failure has occurred using the failure checking means 714 based on the usage status information of the HT 701. For confirmation, the product information database 712 of the HT 701 is used.

As a result of the failure confirmation, if the information management device 703 determines that the HT 701 of the user B has not failed, the information on the actual use of the HT 701 of the user B is stored in the user information database 71.
Save to 2. Further, the user B notifies the user B of the expiration date of the waste item by the waste item expiration notification means 716. The notification of the expiration date of the waste item shall be made once a week. That is, the information management device 703 searches the user information database 712 for the HT 701 of the user B, which has passed one week after the previous notification of the expiration date of the waste item, from the user information database 712 by using the product selection means, and collects the usage status information for seven days that has been counted in advance. Based on the above, the expiration date of the HT 701 of the user B is calculated, and the expiration date notification means 716 notifies the calculation result to the user B by e-mail.

When it is determined that a malfunction has occurred,
Depending on the state of the failure, either of the failure notification means 717 and the use restriction notification means 719 is sent to the user B by e-mail. For example, a use restriction notification is sent to the user B by e-mail if the use restriction is not required depending on the degree of the failure, or a failure notification is sent if the use restriction is not required. Also, the content of the failure information includes
"You can still use it, but the pen input function will be reduced in 2 days.""Red color cannot be displayed due to a defect in the display." , It may cause fatal damage to the equipment. Please stop using it for a while. "," Please stop the equipment due to equipment failure. The repair company will contact you. Please wait. "

[0131] When discarding information or failure information is notified, a product advertisement of the HT701 may also be transmitted.
As a result, should the user repair the malfunction,
You can choose whether you should buy a new HT701. It is also possible to advertise new products. It should be noted that advertisements are recruited by dealers who handle the information management device 703 from stores, manufacturers, and the like, and the advertisement publication fee is collected.

Next, an exchange between the user B, the information management device 501, the waste item receiving device 512, and the faulty item collecting device 511 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[0133] Receipt of expiration date information or failure information
The user B of the HT, at the discretion of the user B, instructs the user to discard or repair the HT from the WEB screen 901 (see FIG. 9) provided on the homepage of the information management device 501, and displays the information management device 50
Contact 1 The contact to the information management device 703 may be sent by e-mail.

The information management device 501 communicates the product information and the user information to a waste collection and disposal company or a repair company according to the request of the user B.

When the user B desires to dispose of the HT, the information management device 501 contacts a waste collection and processing contractor that undertakes HT waste collection and processing. The repair contractor who has received the failure notification contacts the user A and negotiates the processing. After that, the repair company informs the information management apparatus 501 whether the repair of the copying machine of the user A has been completed. The information management device 501 stores information received from the repair agent in the user information database 504.

When the user B desires repair, the information management device 501 contacts a repair contractor undertaking repair of the HT. The details of the contact include the product number, the actual use of the product, the name of user B, and the contact information. The waste collection / processing company that has received the notice of waste period communicates with the user A and negotiates the processing. Thereafter, the waste collection / processing company informs the information management device 501 whether the collection or processing of the waste of the copying machine of the user A is completed. The information management device 501 stores information received from a waste collection / processing company in the user information database 504.

Further, a specific service is provided to the user A who has completed the waste collection within a predetermined period from a company that handles the information management apparatus 501. For example, if the user A completes the waste collection within a predetermined period, the waste collection fee is free. In addition, if the user A decides to leave repair to a repair contractor arranged by the information management device 501, the repair fee is 15%
Pull.

It is to be noted that the waste collection / processing company can register the products that he / she wants to collect / process in the waste collection / processing company database 509 of the information management device 501. Also,
The repair agent stores the product he / she wants to repair in the information management device 501.
Can be registered in the repairer information database 507.

The present invention also includes a software program code for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments, which is implemented by operating according to a program stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system. included.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, storing the program code The recorded recording medium constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-RO
M, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

It should be noted that each of the above-mentioned embodiments is merely an example of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. It is. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features.

[0142]

As described above, according to the present invention, the equipment can be recycled smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a recycling management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information management device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a product A.

FIG. 4 is a diagram functionally showing an online system of a product A and an information management device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram functionally showing an online system between the information management device, the waste product receiving device, and the defective product receiving device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a product B and a product C.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information management device and a handy terminal.

FIG. 8: WEB for registering customer data and product information
It is a figure showing a screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a web screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Information management device 102 Product 103 Manufacturer 104 Repair company 105 Waste collection / processing company 106 Sales shop 107 Payment server / credit server

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A recycling management system including a device provided with a communication unit, an information management device, and an external system including a waste product reception device or a failed product reception device, wherein the device provided with the communication device is a device The information management device includes at least: a unit for measuring the actual use of the device; a unit for controlling the device itself and transmitting / receiving a command from the information management device; Means for communicating with the device and an external system including a waste item receiving device or a faulty item receiving device via a communication line; and storage for storing information transmitted and received with the device, processed data, and information necessary for managing the device. And a data processing means for processing the information. 2. An apparatus comprising: a measuring unit for measuring the actual usage status of the own device; and a communication unit for transmitting the measured actual usage status and receiving a waste product expiration date according to the actual usage status. 3. An apparatus comprising: a measuring unit for measuring the actual use status; and a communication unit for transmitting the measured actual use status and receiving use restriction information according to the actual use status. 4. An apparatus comprising: a measuring unit for measuring the actual usage status of the own device; and a communication unit for transmitting the measured actual usage status and receiving failure information according to the actual usage status. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit transmits information as to whether or not the user wants to collect the waste when the waste period has expired. 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said communication means transmits information as to whether or not repair is desired when a failure occurs. 7. A management apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit that receives a use status of a device; and a transmission unit that transmits a waste product expiration date to the device according to the use status of the device. 8. A management apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit that receives a usage status of a device; and a transmission unit that transmits usage restriction information to the device in accordance with the usage status of the device. 9. A management apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit that receives a usage status of a device; and a transmission unit that transmits failure information to the device in accordance with the usage status of the device. 10. The management apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an inquiry means for inquiring of said device whether or not the user wants to collect waste when said waste time limit is reached. 11. The management apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an inquiry means for inquiring of said device whether or not a repair is desired when a failure occurs. 12. A communication method, comprising: a measuring step of measuring an actual use state of the own device; and a communication step of transmitting the measured actual use state and receiving a waste period according to the actual use state. 13. A communication method, comprising: a measuring step of measuring an actual use state; and a communication step of transmitting the measured actual use state and receiving use restriction information according to the actual use state. . 14. A communication method, comprising: a measuring step of measuring an actual use state of the own device; and a communication step of transmitting the measured actual use state and receiving failure information according to the actual use state. 15. A communication method, comprising: a receiving step of receiving an actual use state of a device; and a transmitting step of transmitting a waste period to the device according to the actual use state of the device. 16. A communication method, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a usage status of a device; and a transmitting step of transmitting usage restriction information to the device in accordance with the usage status of the device. 17. A communication method, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a usage status of a device; and a transmitting step of transmitting failure information to the device in accordance with the usage status of the device. 18. A program for causing a computer to execute a measurement procedure for measuring its own usage status, and a communication procedure for transmitting the measured usage status and receiving a waste period according to the usage status. Computer readable recording medium. 19. A program for causing a computer to execute a measurement procedure for measuring its own usage status and a communication procedure for transmitting the measured usage status and receiving usage restriction information according to the usage status. A computer-readable recording medium that has been recorded. 20. A program for causing a computer to execute a measurement procedure for measuring its own usage status, and a communication procedure for transmitting the measured usage status and receiving failure information according to the usage status. Computer readable recording medium. 21. A computer-readable program storing a program for causing a computer to execute a receiving procedure for receiving a use status of a device and a transmission procedure for transmitting a waste period to the device in accordance with the use status of the device. recoding media. 22. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a receiving procedure for receiving usage status of a device and a transmission procedure for transmitting usage restriction information to the device according to the usage status of the device. Recording medium. 23. A computer-readable program storing a program for causing a computer to execute a receiving procedure for receiving a usage status of a device and a transmission procedure for transmitting failure information to the device in accordance with the usage status of the device. recoding media.