Patent ID: 6654709
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
An automatic near-end value setting apparatus for use in a remote monitoring system including an object apparatus to be monitored and a monitoring apparatus installed remotely from the object apparatus in the system to monitor a current state of the object apparatus over a communications network, and for automatically setting a near-end value, which is to be used for management of consumption components and to be compared with an amount of actual spending of a consumption component of the object apparatus, to discriminate whether the consumption component has come close to the end of its expected life, said setting apparatus comprising:an actual spending calculating unit for calculating the amount of actual spending of the consumption component per unit time; a comparing unit for comparing the calculated amount of actual spending of the consumption component with a predetermined reference amount of spending; and a near-end value setting unit for adjustably setting the near-end value in accordance with the result of comparison made by said comparing unit, in such a manner that a predetermined allowance is provided between a time point when the consumption component is detected to have come close to the end of its expected life and a time point when the consumption component reaches the end of the life.