Patent ID: 8589339
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A data collection device that performs procedures for collecting data from a plurality of terminal devices, the data collection device comprising: a processor; a database in which start times of the procedures for collecting data from the plurality of terminal devices have been previously registered; a receiving unit controlled by the processor to receive a communication from each of the plurality of terminal devices to collect the data from the terminal devices and to receive from the terminal devices a start time that is to be newly registered in the database for a new one of the procedures, the communication from each of the plurality of terminal devices being one of a first communication method that allows a received start time that is to be newly registered in the database to be the same as a previously registered start time, and a second method that does not allow a received start time that is to be newly registered in the database to be the same as a previously registered start time; a communication method determining unit that determines whether the communication received from one of the plurality of terminal devices is the first communication method or the second communication method; and a registration control unit controlled by the processor, when it is determined that the received start time is the same as any of the previously registered start times and that the received communication that collects the data is the second communication method, to search and retrieve a different start time that is different from any of the previously registered start times, instead of registering the received start time; the registration control unit further controlled by the processor to register the received start time when it is determined that the communication that collects the data is the first communication method that allows the received start time to be the same as a previously registered start time.