Patent Abstract:
A management system includes a plurality of analyzers; and a computer system connected to the analyzers via a network, wherein each of the analyzers comprises: a data transmitter for transmitting data produced by the analyzer to the computer system via the network, and wherein the computer system includes a memory under control of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, comprising: (a) receiving a plurality of data transmitted from the data transmitters of the plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining a determination condition for making a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on the plurality of received data; and (c) outputting the aggregate result. A computer system and a method of providing information are also disclosed.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2008-020011 filed Jan. 31, 2008, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a management system having a management system connected to a plurality of analysis devices via a network, a computer system, and a method of providing information. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A remote support system is known in which a plurality of analysis devices is connected to a management device via a network. For example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2002-128801 discloses a remote support system in which a management device collects quality control data obtained by measuring a quality control substance from a plurality of analysis devices and calculates an aggregate result for each analysis device and for each quality control substance. According to the remote support system disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2002-128801, the management device analyzes the quality control data, and when a quality control result is outside a predetermined range or when worsening of the quality control data is expected, a notification thereof is sent to a user thereof. 
     As described above, the remote support system of US Patent Application Publication No. 2002-128801 is extremely useful because the management device is capable of detecting a trouble in the analysis device based on a predetermined setting to send a notification thereof to a user thereof, so that the trouble occurring in the analysis device can be promptly treated. However, US Patent Application Publication No. 2002-128801 does not provide any suggestion as to how the settings for detecting the trouble in the analysis device can be determined. For this reason, there is a desire to obtain useful information for determining the settings. For example, when the settings are too loose, information on a trouble which is not required to be notified to a user may be notified to the user, imposing an unnecessary burden to the user. On the other hand, when the settings are too strict, information on a trouble which must have been notified to the user might not be notified to the users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a management system, comprising: a plurality of analyzers; and a computer system connected to the analyzers via a network, wherein each of the analyzers comprises: a data transmitter for transmitting data produced by the analyzer to the computer system via the network, and wherein the computer system includes a memory under control of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, comprising: (a) receiving a plurality of data transmitted from the data transmitters of the plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining a determination condition for making a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on the plurality of received data; and (c) outputting the aggregate result. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is a computer system connected to a plurality of analyzers via a network, comprising: a memory under control of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, wherein the instructions comprise, (a) receiving a plurality of data transmitted from the plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining a determination condition for making a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on the plurality of received data; and (c) outputting the generated aggregate result. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is a method of providing information for determining whether or not a notification to a user is required based on data received from a plurality of analyzers, comprising: (a) receiving data transmitted from the plurality of analyzers; (b) generating an aggregate result used for determining a determination condition for making a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user of the analyzer is required based on the received data; and (c) outputting the generated aggregate result. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a management system for managing a plurality of analysis devices according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an analysis device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main body of the analysis device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a hardware configuration diagram of a control device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a hardware configuration diagram of a management device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a hardware configuration diagram of a terminal equipment of a call center illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary procedure of a main process performed by the management system illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of quality control data which are transmitted from the analysis device illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the management device. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a quality control error determination condition database provided to the management device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog screen for updating the quality control error determination condition. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of quality control error determination result data which are transmitted from the management device illustrated in  FIG. 1  to a terminal equipment of the call center. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary procedure of a graph creating process of the management device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph that is output in step S 277  and displayed on the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph that is output in step S 285  and displayed on the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating an example of error information that is transmitted from the analysis device illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the management device. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating an example of error information determination condition database provided to the management device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating an example of a device error determination result that is transmitted from the management device illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the terminal equipment of the call center. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph that is output in step S 285  and displayed on the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog screen for updating a quality control error determination condition on an analysis device side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
     First, a description of a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be provided in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management system according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the management system according to the present embodiment includes an analysis device  100   a  installed in a facility A, an analysis device  100   b  installed in a facility B, an analysis device  100   c  installed in a facility C, a network  103  such as the Internet, a management device  200  installed in a customer support center  202 , a network  201  such as a LAN, and a plurality of terminal equipments  300  installed in a call center  203 . It is to be noted that a plurality of analysis devices  100   a ,  100   b , and  100   c  may be installed in one facility. A description of the processing to the analysis device  100   a  will be provided hereinbelow by way of an example. 
     The customer support center  202  is a facility of a vendor who provides maintenance services for the analysis device  100   a  and has an engineer  205  capable of operating the management device  200 . 
     The call center  203  is a facility which is provided in the customer support center  202  to enable the engineer  204  of the call center  203  to make calls to a user  107  of the analysis device  100   a  to cope with failures or inquiries. The user  107  of the analysis device  100   a  takes a measurement of a quality control substance  106  by means of the analysis device  100   a  prior to a measurement of a sample of a human subject. The quality control substance  106  is a sample prepared using a human blood, as a raw material, so as to include a predetermined component in a predetermined concentration, and the e-CHECK (available from Sysmex Corporation) may be used, for example. When the quality control substance  106  is measured by the analysis device  100   a , an analysis result thereof is transmitted to the management device  200  via the networks  103  and  201 . When the analysis result (quality control data) of the quality control substance  106  transmitted from the analysis device  100   a  has exceeded a predetermined range, the management device  200  sends a notification thereof to the terminal equipment  300 . When the notification from the management device  200  is received by the terminal equipment  300 , the engineer  204  makes a call to the user  107  of the facility A being a sender of the analysis result and resolves a trouble occurring in the analysis device  100   a.    
     Moreover, upon occurrence of an error during the measurement, the analysis device  100   a  transmits error information thereof to the management device  200  via the networks  103  and  201 . When the error information satisfies a predetermined condition, the management device  200  sends a notification thereof to the terminal equipment  300 . When the notification has been received by the terminal equipment  300  from the management device  200 , the engineer  204  makes a call to the user  107  of the analysis device  100   a  being the sender of the analysis result to resolve a trouble occurring in the analysis device  100   a . As the analysis device  100   a , a variety of sample analysis devices are used, e.g., a biochemical analysis device, a blood cell counter, a blood coagulation measurement device, an immunological measurement device, and a urinary analysis device. The analysis device  100   a  to be connected to the management device  200  is not limited to one type, but a plurality of types of devices such as a combination of a biochemical analysis device and a blood cell counter may be connected to the management device. In this embodiment, a description of an example where only a blood cell counter is connected will be provided for the sake of simple description. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of the analysis device  100   a . The analysis device  100   a  is a blood cell counter used for a blood examination, and is configured by an analysis device main body  101  and a control device  102 . The analysis device main body  101  is provided with a transfer section  111  capable of transferring a subject to an aspiratory position of the analysis device main body. For example, when the quality control substance  106  has been measured in the analysis device  100   a , the analysis device main body  101  transmits measurement data to the control device  102 , the measurement data being obtained by aspirating and measuring the quality control substance  106  transferred to the subject aspiratory position of the analysis device main body  101  by the transfer section  111 . 
     The control device  102  performs an analysis on the received measurement data within a main body thereof  102   b  and displays the quality control data  240  (see  FIG. 8 ) obtained through the analysis on a display  102   a.    
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the analysis device main body  101 . 
     The analysis device main body  101  is provided with the transfer section  111 , a subject ID reading section  112 , a subject arrival confirmation section  113 , a subject aspiration section  114 , a sample preparation section  115 , a detection section  116 , a control section  117 , and a communication interface  118 . 
     The subject ID reading section  112  is provided with a bar code reader  112   a . Moreover, the subject arrival confirmation section  113  and the subject aspiration section  114  are provided with sensors  113   a  and  114   a , respectively. Furthermore, the detection section  116  is provided with a white blood cell detection section  116   a , a red blood cell detection section  116   b , and an HGB detection section  116   c.    
     The transfer section  111  is configured to be capable of transferring the subject to the subject ID reading section  112  and the subject aspiration section  114 . The subject ID reading section  112  is configured such that a bar code attached on the subject transferred by the transfer section  111  is read by the bar code reader  112   a , and the transfer section  111  transfers the subject to the subject aspiration section  114  after the bar code of the subject has been read by the bar code reader  112   a . When the arrival of the subject on the subject aspiration section  114  has been confirmed by the sensor  113   a  of the subject arrival confirmation section  113 , the subject aspiration section  114  performs an aspiration of the subject. 
     The subject aspiration section  114  is configured to monitor whether or not a predetermined amount of the subject has been aspirated by means of the sensor  114   a . The subject aspirated in the subject aspiration section  114  is mixed with a measurement reagent in the sample preparation section  115 , and measurement data are obtained by the respective detection sections of the detection section  116 . The measurement data include measurement data of a white blood cell count obtained by the white blood cell detection section  116   a , measurement data of a red blood cell count obtained by the red blood cell detection section  116   b , and measurement data of a hemoglobin amount in blood obtained by the HGB detection section  116   c . The control section  117  is configured to transmit the obtained measurement data to the control device  102  via the communication interface  118 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the control device  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the control device  102  is a computer which is mainly configured by the display  102   a , the main body  102   b , and an input device  102   c.    
     The main body  102   b  is mainly configured by a CPU  120 , a ROM  121 , a RAM  122 , a hard disk  123 , an I/O interface  124 , a reading device  125 , a communication interface  126 , and an image output interface  127 . The CPU  120 , the ROM  121 , the RAM  122 , the hard disk  123 , the I/O interface  124 , the reading device  125 , the communication interface  126 , and the image output interface  127  are connected with each other via a bus  128  so as to be capable of performing data communication between them. 
     The CPU  120  is capable of executing a computer program stored in the ROM  121  and a computer program loaded to the RAM  122 . When an application program is executed by the CPU  120 , later-described functional blocks are realized, and thus a computer functions as the control device  102 . 
     The ROM  121  is configured by a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or the like, and stores therein a computer program executed by the CPU  120  and data used by the computer program. 
     The RAM  122  is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, or the like. The RAM  122  is used for reading the computer program recorded on the ROM  121  and the hard disk  123 . Moreover, the RAM  122  is used as a work area of the CPU  120  when the computer program is executed. 
     The hard disk  123  has installed therein a variety of computer programs to be executed by the CPU  120 , such as an operating system or an application program, and data for use in execution of the computer programs. 
     The reading device  125  is configured by a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, or the like. The reading device  125  is capable of reading the computer program or the data recorded on a portable recording medium  130 . 
     The I/O interface  124  is configured by a serial interface such as a USB, an IEEE 1394, or an RS-232C, a parallel interface such as an SCSI, an IDE, or an IEEE 1284, an analog interface such as a D/A converter or an A/D converter, or the like. The I/O interface  124  has connected thereto the input device  102   c  that includes a keyboard and a mouse, so that data can be input to the main body  102   b  by an operator using the input device  102   c.    
     The communication interface  126  is an Ethernet (the registered trademark) interface, for example, and the control device  102  is capable of transmitting or receiving data to or from the analysis device main body  101  connected thereto via the network  104  using a predetermined communication protocol by means of the communication interface  126 . 
     The image output interface  127  is connected to the display  102   a  configured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and is configured to output an image signal corresponding to image data sent from the CPU  120  to the display  102   a . The display  102   a  displays an image (screen) in accordance with the input image signal. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the management device  200 . The management device  200  is configured by a computer which is mainly configured by a main body  200   a , a display  200   b , and an input device  200   c.    
     The main body  200   a  is mainly configured by a CPU  220 , a ROM  221 , a RAM  222 , a hard disk  223 , an I/O interface  224 , a reading device  225 , a communication interface  226 , and an image output interface  227 . The CPU  220 , the ROM  221 , the RAM  222 , the hard disk  223 , the I/O interface  224 , the reading device  225 , the communication interface  226 , and the image output interface  227  are connected with each other via a bus  228  so as to be capable of performing data communication between them. 
     The CPU  220  is capable of executing a computer program stored in the ROM  221  and a computer program loaded to the RAM  222 . When an application program is executed by the CPU  220 , later-described functional blocks are realized, and thus a computer functions as the management device  201 . 
     The ROM  221  is configured by a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or the like, and stores therein a computer program executed by the CPU  220  and data used by the computer program. 
     The RAM  222  is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, or the like. The RAM  222  is used for reading the computer program recorded on the ROM  221  and the hard disk  223 . Moreover, the RAM  222  is used as a work area of the CPU  220  when the computer program is executed. 
     The hard disk  223  has installed therein a variety of computer programs to be executed by the CPU  220 , such as an operating system or an application program, and data for use in execution of the computer programs. 
     The reading device  225  is configured by a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, or the like. The reading device  225  is capable of reading the computer program or the data  230   a  recorded on a portable recording medium  230 . 
     The application program does not only need to be provided by the portable recording medium  230  but also may be provided over an electronic telecommunication line (wired or wireless) from an external device communicably connected to a computer via the electronic telecommunication line. For example, the application program may be installed in a hard disk of a server computer on the Internet, so that the management device  200  makes an access to the server computer, downloads the computer program, and then installs the computer program in the hard disk  223 . 
     Furthermore, an operating system capable of providing a graphical user interface, e.g., the Windows (the registered trademark) manufactured and sold by Microsoft Corporation (US), is installed in the hard disk  223 . In the following description, the application program according to the present embodiment is assumed as running on the operating system. 
     In addition, the hard disk  223  stores, in a predetermined area thereof, a quality control result data database  223   a , a quality control error determination condition database  223   b , a quality control aggregate result database  223   c , an error information database  223   d , an error information determination condition database  223   e , an error information aggregate result database  223   f , and an application program  223   g.    
     The application program  223   g  includes a notification determination processing program  223   h , a graph creation processing program  223   i , and a determination condition update program  223   j . The quality control result data database  223   a  stores therein the quality control data received from the analysis device  100   a  and a determination result which has been determined as requiring a notification to a user based on a quality control error determination condition. The quality control error determination condition database  223   b  stores therein a determination condition for making a determination on the quality control data received from the analysis device  100   a  as to whether or not a notification to the user is required. The quality control aggregate result database  223   c  stores therein an output result of the graph creation processing program  223   i  with respect to the determination result stored in the quality control result database  223   a . The error information database  223   d  stores therein the error information received from the management device  100  and a determination result which has been determined as requiring a notification to a user based on the error information determination condition. The error information determination condition database  223   e  stores therein a determination condition for making a determination on the error information received from the analysis device  100   a  as to whether or not a notification to the user is required. 
     The error information aggregate result  223   f  stores therein an output result of the graph creation processing program  223   i  with respect to the determination result stored in the error information database  223   d . The notification determination processing program  223   h  is configured to make a determination on the quality control data and the error information received from the analysis device  100   a  as to whether a notification to a user is required. The graph creation processing program  223   i  is configured to create and output a graph of the determination results stored in the quality control result database  223   a  and the error information database  223   d . The determination condition update program  223   j  is configured to update the error determination conditions stored in the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  and the error information determination condition database  223   e.    
     The I/O interface  224  is configured by a serial interface such as a USB, an IEEE 1394, or an RS-232C, a parallel interface such as an SCSI, an IDE, or an IEEE 1284, an analog interface such as a D/A converter or an A/D converter, or the like. The I/O interface  224  has connected thereto the input device  200   c  that includes a keyboard and a mouse, so that data can be input to the main body  200   a  by an operator using the input device  200   c.    
     The communication interface  226  is an Ethernet (the registered trademark) interface, for example, and the management device  200  is capable of transmitting or receiving data to or from the analysis device  100   a  connected thereto via the network  103  using a predetermined communication protocol and the terminal equipment of the call center connected thereto via the network  201 , by means of the communication interface  226 . 
     The image output interface  227  is connected to the display  200   b  configured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and is configured to output an image signal corresponding to image data sent from the CPU  220  to the display  200   b . The display  200   b  displays an image (screen) in accordance with the input image signal. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . The terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  is a computer which is mainly configured by a main body  300   a , a display  300   b , and an input device  300   c.    
     The main body  300   a  is provided with a CPU  320 , a ROM  321 , a RAM  322 , a hard disk  323 , an I/O interface  324 , a reading device  325 , a communication interface  326 , and an image output interface  327 . The CPU  320 , the ROM  321 , the RAM  322 , the hard disk  323 , the I/O interface  324 , the reading device  325 , the communication interface  326 , and the image output interface  327  are connected with each other via a bus  328  so as to be capable of performing data communication between them. 
     The CPU  320  is capable of executing a computer program stored in the ROM  321  and a computer program loaded to the RAM  322 . When an application program is executed by the CPU  320 , later-described functional blocks are realized, and thus a computer functions as the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
     The ROM  321  is configured by a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or the like, and stores therein a computer program executed by the CPU  320  and data used by the computer program. 
     The RAM  322  is configured by an SRAM, a DRAM, or the like. The RAM  322  is used for reading the computer program recorded on the ROM  321  and the hard disk  323 . Moreover, the RAM  322  is used as a work area of the CPU  320  when the computer program is executed. 
     The hard disk  323  has installed therein a variety of computer programs to be executed by the CPU  320 , such as an operating system or an application program, and data for use in execution of the computer programs. 
     The reading device  325  is configured by a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD-ROM drive, or the like. The reading device  325  is capable of reading the computer program or the data  330   a  recorded on a portable recording medium  330 . 
     The I/O interface  324  is configured by a serial interface such as a USB, an IEEE 1394, or an RS-232C, a parallel interface such as an SCSI, an IDE, or an IEEE 1284, an analog interface such as a D/A converter or an A/D converter, or the like. The I/O interface  324  has connected thereto the input device  300   c  that includes a keyboard and a mouse, so that data can be input to the main body  300   a  by an operator using the input device  300   c.    
     The communication interface  326  is an Ethernet (the registered trademark) interface, for example, and the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  is capable of transmitting or receiving data to or from the management device  200  connected thereto via the network  201  using a predetermined communication protocol by means of the communication interface  326 . 
     The image output interface  327  is connected to the display  300   b  configured by an LCD, a CRT, or the like, and is configured to output an image signal corresponding to image data sent from the CPU  320  to the display  300   b . The display  300   b  displays an image (screen) in accordance with the input image signal. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the processing executed by the CPUs  120 ,  220  and  320  of the control device, the management device, and the terminal equipment. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the CPU  120  executes processing of making a determination in step S 100  as to whether or not an error has occurred in the analysis device main body  101 , i.e., whether or not the error information has been received from the analysis device main body  101 . 
     In the analysis device main body  101 , when the control section  117  has determined that it was impossible to read the bar code by means of the bar code reader  112   a , the control section  117  transmits information representing a bar code read error to the control device  102 . Moreover, when the control section  117  has determined that it was impossible to detect the arrival of the subject by means of the sensor  113   a , in spite of a fact that the subject has actually been arrived, the control section  117  transmits error information representing a subject arrival confirmation error to the control device  102 . Furthermore, when the control section  117  has determined that it was impossible to detect the aspiration of the subject by means of the sensor  114   a , in spite of a fact that the subject has actually been aspirated, the control section  117  transmits error information representing a subject aspiration error to the control device  102 . 
     When an error is determined to have occurred in step S 100  (No in step S 100 ), the CPU  120  stores therein the received error information (step S 105 ). On the other hand, when the error is determined not to have occurred in step S 1100  (Yes in step S 100 ), the CPU  120  makes a determination in step S 101  as to whether or not the measurement data of the quality control substance  106  have been received from the analysis device main body  101 . 
     The analysis device main body  101  is configured such that upon measurement of the quality control substance  106 , the measurement data are transmitted from the detection section  117  to the control section  117  and the control section  117  transmits the measurement data to the control device  102 . 
     When the measurement data are determined to have been received in step S 101  (Yes in step S 101 ), the CPU  120  analyzes the measurement data to acquire the quality control data  240  in step S 102 . Then, the CPU  120  stores in step S 103  the quality control data  240  acquired in step S 102  in the hard disk  123  and transmits in step S 104  the quality control data  240  to the management device  200 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the quality control data  240  transmitted in step S 104  from the control device  102  to the management device  200 . The quality control data  240  include device information  241 , information  242  on the quality control substance  106 , a quality control measurement date  243 , and a quality control measurement result  244 . 
     The device information  241  includes a facility name  241   a  being the name of a facility in which the analysis device is installed, a device name  241   b , a PS Code  241   c  appended to each analysis device main body  101  at the time of factory shipment, and a serial number  241   d.    
     The information  242  on the quality control substance  106  includes a quality control substance name  242   a , a level  242   b  and a lot number  242   c  of the quality control substance  106 , which are read from the bar code appended to the quality control substance  106  by means of a handy bar code reader or input by the input device  102   c  of the control device  102 . 
     The quality control substance name  242   a  is information representing a name of the quality control substance  106 . The level  242   b  is information representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality control substance  106 . The lot number  242   c  is information representing a lot at the time of manufacture of the quality control substance  106 . 
     The quality control measurement date  243  is information representing a date  243   a  and a time  243   b  of the receipt of the measurement data in step S 101 . 
     The quality control measurement result  244  is information representing the number of quality control measurement items  244   a  and a measurement result of each item. For example, in  FIG. 8 , the number of quality control measurement items  244   a  shows that there are three measurement items including an RBC  244   b , an HGB  244   c , and a WBC  244   d . Moreover, the measurement result of each item shows that 4,470,000 cells/μL is for RBC, 13.5 g/L is for HGB, and 384 cells/μL is for WBC. 
     When the data received from the analysis device  100   a  via the networks  103  and  201  are determined to be the quality control data  240  in step S 200  (Yes in step S 200 ), the CPU  220  of the management device  200  stores the received quality control data  240  in an area of the quality control result database  223   a  of the hard disk  223  in step S 201 . Then, the CPU  220  activates the notification determination processing program  223   h  to make a determination on the quality control data  240  received from the analysis device  100   a  as to whether or not a notification is to be sent to a user of the analysis device  100   a  by referring to a user determination availability  255  of the quality control error determination condition  250 , stored in the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  in step S 202 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating the quality control error determination condition  250  stored in the quality control error determination condition database  223   b . The quality control error determination condition  250  includes a material name  251  for identifying the quality control substance  106 , a level  252 , a measurement item  253 , an abnormality determination rule  254 , a user determination availability  255 , and an external cooperative error determination availability  256 . 
     The material name  251  is information representing a name of the quality control substance  106 . The level  251  is information representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality control substance  106 . The measurement item  253  is information representing a quality control measurement item. The abnormality determination rule  254  is information representing a determination item that makes a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user is required. For example, an action limit over  254   a  determines that a notification to the user is required when the quality control data  240  obtained from a plurality of analysis devices  100   a  have exceeded a value corresponding to an average thereof±an allowable percentage. A trend  254   b  determines that a notification to the user is required when the quality control data  240  have exceeded an allowable range and showed four consecutive ascending or descending tendencies in the same direction. The user determination availability  255  is a setting that is set by the user of the analysis device  100   a , and is information representing whether or not a determination is to be made based on each abnormality determination rule  254  upon receipt of the quality control data  240 . 
     The external cooperative error determination availability  256  is a setting that is set by the engineer  205  of the customer support center  202 , and is information representing whether or not a determination is made based on each abnormality determination rule  254  upon receipt of the quality control data  240 . 
     Thereafter, in step S 203 , the CPU  220  makes a determination on the quality control data  240  as to whether the notification to the user is to be sent by referring to the external cooperative error determination availability  256  of the quality control error determination condition  250 . 
     In the present embodiment, a description has been made for a configuration in which a determination is made in step S 202  as to whether or not a notification is to be sent to the user of the analysis device  100   a  by referring to the user determination availability  255 , and thereafter, a determination is made in step S 203  as to whether a notification is to be sent to the user of the analysis device  100   a  by referring to the external cooperative error determination availability  256 . However, a configuration may be employed in which either one of the determination conditions may be selected so that a determination is made as to whether the notification is to be sent to the user of the analysis device  100   a  by referring to the selected determination condition. 
     When the CPU  220  has determined in step S 220  that the notification to the user is required in the determination process of steps S 202  or S 203  (Yes in step S 220 ), the CPU  220  stores the quality control result  260  (see  FIG. 11 ) in the quality control result database  223   a  of the hard disk  223  in step S 221 , determines the terminal equipment  300  to be a destination of the notification from a plurality of terminal equipments  300  of the call center  203 , and sends a notification, in step S 223 , that it is necessary to send a notification to the user of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  via the network  201  by referring to the notification destination determined in step S 222 . On the other hand, when the CPU  220  has determined in step S 220  that the notification to the user is not required (No in step S 220 ), the processes of steps S 221  to S 223  are not performed and the flow proceeds to the step S 230 . 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating the quality control result  260  sent from the CPU  220  of the management device  200  to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  in step S 223 . The quality control result  260  includes device information  261 , quality control substance information  262 , a measurement item  263 , a user determination condition  264 , an engineer determination condition  265 , a quality control measurement date  266 , a quality control result  267 , and an error name  268 . 
     The device information  261  includes a device name  261   b , a PS Code  261   c  appended to each analysis device main body  101  at the time of factory shipment, and a serial number  261   d.    
     The quality control substance information  262  includes a quality control substance name  262   a , a level  262   b  and a lot number  262   c  of the quality control substance  106 . 
     The quality control substance name  262   a  is information representing a name of the quality control substance  106 . The level  262   b  is information representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality control substance  106 . The lot number  262   c  is information representing a lot at the time of manufacture. The measurement item  263  is information representing a quality control measurement item for the quality control data  240  received by the CPU  220 , which have been determined by the notification determination processing program  223   h  as requiring the notification to the user. The user determination condition  264  and the engineer determination condition  265  are information representing the availability of each determination condition. The quality control measurement date  266  is information representing the date and time of completion of the quality control measurement. The quality control result  267  and the error name  268  are information representing the measurement result of the measurement item  263 , which has been determined to be abnormal, and the abnormality determination rule  254 , which has been determined as requiring the notification to the user, in the notification determination process of step S 202  or S 203 . 
     Next, when the CPU  320  of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  has determined in step S 300  that the data received from the management device  200  via the network  201  are the quality control result  260  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  (Yes in step S 300 ), the CPU  320  displays the quality control result  260  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  on the display  300   b  via the image output interface  327  in step S 301 , thereby informing that a notification to a user is required. 
     Thereafter, a determination is made in step S 320  by the CPU  320  as to whether it has been instructed to shut down the operating system (OS) by the selection of shutdown from a start menu of the Windows (the registered trademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . When it has been determined in step S 320  that the OS shutdown instruction has not been received (No in step S 320 ), the flow returns to step S 300 . On the other hand, when it has been determined in step S 320  that the OS shutdown instruction has been received (Yes in step S 320 ), the flow proceeds to step S 321 , where the process is terminated by the CPU  320  shutting down the Windows (the registered trademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
     On the other hand, when the data have been determined in step S 300  not to be the quality control result  260  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  (No in step S 300 ), the process of step S 310  is performed. 
     Next, a description of the processes which are performed when the error information  280  has been transmitted from the analysis device  100   a  to the management device  200  via the networks  103  and  201 , and thereafter, a notification is sent from the management device  200  to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  via the network  201  will be provided with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     When it has been determined in step S 106  that a shutdown instruction has been sent to the analysis device main body  101  from a user thereof (Yes in step S 106 ), the CPU  120  transmits the error information  280  as illustrated in  FIG. 15  to the management device  200  via the networks  103  and  201  in step S 107 . 
     On the other hand, when it has been determined in step S 106  that the shutdown instruction has not been sent to the analysis device main body  101  (No in step S 106 ), the CPU  120  returns its flow to step S 100  and the processes of steps S 100  to S 105  are repeated. 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic view illustrating the error information  280  transmitted from the analysis device  100   a  to the management device  200 . The error information  280  sent from the analysis device  100   a  includes a serial number  281 , device information  282 , an error occurrence date and time  283 , and an error code  284 . The device information  282  is provided in order to identify the analysis device  100   a  and includes a facility name  282   a  being the name of a facility in which the analysis device  100   a  is installed, a name  282   b  of the analysis device  100   a , a PS Code  282   c  appended to each analysis device main body at the time of factory shipment, and a serial number  282   d . The error occurrence date and time  283  includes an error occurrence date  283   a  and an error occurrence time  283   b . The error code  284  represents identification information of an error occurred, so that a type of the error received from the analysis device  100   a  can be uniquely identified. 
     When the CPU  220  of the management device  200  has determined in step S 211  that the data received from the analysis device  100   a  via the networks  103  and  201  are the error information  280  as illustrated in  FIG. 15  (Yes in step S 211 ), the CPU  220  stores the received error information  280  in the error information database  223   d  of the hard disk  223  in step S 212 . Then, the CPU  220  executes the notification determination processing program  223   h  in step S 213  to make a determination as to whether or not a notification is to be sent to the user of the analysis device  100   a  by referring to the error information determination condition  290  of the error information determination condition database  223   e  as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic view of the error information determination condition  290  stored in the error information determination condition database  223   e . The error information determination condition  290  includes a device name  291 , an error name  292 , an error code  293 , and an action limit  294 . The device name  291  is information representing a name of the analysis device  100   a . The error name  292  is information representing a name of the error. The error code  293  is information representing identification information uniquely corresponding to the error name  292 . The action limit  294  is information representing the limit of the number of times the error as specified in the error code  293  is allowed to occur per one day, the information being used in such a way that the notification to the user is determined to be necessary when the error information  280  received from the analysis device  100   a  showed the number of occurrences of the error has exceeded the number as specified in the action limit  294 . 
     A description will be provided by way of example in which the error name  292  of the error information determination condition  290  illustrated in  FIG. 16  is a short sample error. The short sample error represents an error occurring when it is determined that the sensor  114   a  was impossible to sufficiently aspirate a subject, in spite of a fact that the control section  117  is aspirating the subject. When the error has occurred 10 times or more per one day, it is determined that the notification to the user is required. 
     When the notification determination processing program  223   h  executed in step S 213  has determined in step S 220  that the notification to the user is required (Yes in step S 220 ), the error information determination result  295  as illustrated in  FIG. 17  is stored in the error information database  223   d  of the hard disk  223  in step S 221 . Then, the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 , which will be a notification destination, is determined in step S 222 , and a notification that the notification to the user is to be required is sent in step S 223  to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  via the network  201  by referring to the notification destination determined in step S 222 . 
     On the other hand, when the notification to the user has been determined not to be necessary in step S 220  (No in step S 220 ), the CPU  220  determines whether or not a predetermined period has been elapsed in step S 230 , while the processes of steps S 221  to S 223  are not executed. 
       FIG. 17  is a schematic view illustrating the error information determination result  295  sent from the management device  200  to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
     The error information determination result  295  sent from the management device  200  to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  includes device information  296 , an error occurrence date and time  297 , error information  298 , and an action limit  299 . The device information  296  includes a facility name  296   a  being the name of a facility in which the analysis device  100   a  is installed, a name  296   b  of the analysis device  100   a , a PS Code  296   c  appended to each analysis device main body at the time of factory shipment, and a serial number  296   d , for identification of the analysis device  100   a . The error occurrence date and time  297  includes information representing the date and time of occurrence of an error. The error information  298  includes an error name  298   a  and an error code  298   b . The error name  298   a  is information representing a name of an error occurring in the analysis device  100   a . The error code  298   b  is information representing identification information of an error corresponding to the error name. 
     The action limit  299  is information representing the limit of the number of times the error as specified by the error information  298  is allowed to occur per one day, the information being used in such a way that the notification to the user is determined to be necessary when the error information  298  showed the number of occurrences of the error has exceeded the number as specified in the action limit  299 . 
     Next, when the CPU  320  of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  has determined in step S 310  that the data received from the management device  200  via the network  201  are the error information determination result  295  as illustrated in  FIG. 17  (Yes in step S 310 ), the CPU  320  displays the error information determination result  295  as illustrated in  FIG. 17  on the display  300   b  via the image output interface  327  in step S 311 . 
     On the other hand, when the data have been determined not to be the error information determination result  295  as illustrated in  FIG. 17  (No in step S 310 ), the CPU  320  executes the process of step S 320 . 
     Thereafter, a determination is made in step S 320  by the CPU  320  as to whether it has been instructed to shut down the operating system (OS) by the selection of shutdown from a start menu of the Windows (the registered trademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . When it has been determined in step S 320  that the OS shutdown instruction has not been received (No in step S 320 ), the flow returns to step S 300 . On the other hand, when it has been determined in step S 320  that the OS shutdown instruction has been received (Yes in step S 320 ), the flow proceeds to step S 321 , where the process is terminated by the CPU  320  shutting down the Windows (the registered trademark) being the OS of the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . 
     Moreover, when the CPU  220  has determined in step S 230  that a predetermined period (e.g., one month) has been elapsed after previous graph creation processing (Yes in step S 230 ), the CPU  220  executes the graph creation processing program  223   i  illustrated in  FIG. 5  in step S 231  to collect the quality control result  260  stored in the quality control result database  223   a  and the error information determination result  295  stored in the error information database  223   d  to be output to a predetermined area of the hard disk  223 . After execution of the graph creation processing (step S 231 ), the flow returns to step S 200 . 
     On the other hand, when the CPU  220  has determined in step S 230  that the predetermined period has not been elapsed (No in step S 230 ), the flow proceeds to step S 232 . 
     Next, when there is an update request to update any one of the user determination availability  255 , the external cooperative error determination availability  256  of the quality control error determination condition  250  illustrated in  FIG. 9  and the action limit  294  of the error information determination condition  290  from the engineer  205  of the customer support center  202  in step S 232  (Yes in step S 232 ), the CPU  220  executes the determination condition update program  223   j  in step S 233  to update the determination condition stored in the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  or the error information determination condition database  223   e  of the hard disk  223  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  based on the received determination condition. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a screen on which the engineer  205  of the customer support center  202  performs the update of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     A quality control error determination condition setting dialog  310  mainly includes a material name  311 , a level  312 , a measurement item  313 , an abnormality determination rule  314 , user determination availability  315 , external cooperative error determination availability  316 , an OK button  317 , and a Cancel button  318 . 
     The material name  311  is information representing a name of the quality control substance  106 . The level  312  is information representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality control substance  106 . The measurement item  313  is information representing a quality control measurement item. The abnormality determination rule  314  is information representing a determination item that makes a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user is required. The user determination availability  315  is a setting that is set by the user of the analysis device  100   a , and includes a user determination availability check box  315   a . The user determination availability check box  315   a  is information representing that a determination as to the necessity of sending the notification to the user is to be performed when the box is checked (selected) while the determination as to the necessity of sending the notification to the user is not to be performed when the box is not checked. The external cooperative error determination availability  316  is a setting that is set by the engineer  205  of the customer support center  202 , and includes an external cooperative error determination availability check box  316   a . The external cooperative error determination availability check box  316   a  is information representing that a determination as to the necessity of sending the notification to the user is to be performed when the box is checked (selected) while the determination as to the necessity of sending the notification to the user is not to be performed when the box is not checked. 
     When the OK button  317  is pressed, the contents of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  are updated to the setting contents being displayed on the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  310 , and the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  310  is closed. When the Cancel button  318  is pressed, the contents of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  are not updated, and the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  310  is closed. 
     For example, the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  310  illustrated in  FIG. 10  shows that for a material having settings wherein the material name  311  is quality control substance A, the level  312  is LOW, the measurement item  313  is RBC, and the abnormality determination rule  314  is action limit over, when the quality control data  240  have been received from the analysis device  100   a , the determination as to the necessity of the notification to the user is performed in step S 202 , while the determination as to the necessity of the notification to the user is not performed in step S 203 . 
     On the other hand, when the CPU  220  has determined in step S 232  that there is no update request for any of the user determination availability  255  and the external cooperative error determination availability  256  of the quality control error determination condition  250  illustrated in  FIG. 9  and the action limit  294  of the error information determination condition  290  illustrated in  FIG. 16  (No in step S 232 ), the flow returns to step S 200 . 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating a procedure of the graph creation processing in step S 231 . The CPU  220  acquires the quality control result  260  for a predetermined period from the quality control result database  223   a  in step S 271  and then classifies the quality control result  260  for each device name  261   b  from the acquired result in step S 272 . 
     Next, in step S 273 , the quality control result  260  is classified for each quality control substance name  262   a  from the quality control result  260  classified in step S 272 , and the quality control result  260  is further classified for each level  262   b  representing the concentration of the quality control substance  106 . Furthermore, the classified quality control result  260  is classified for each measurement item  263  in step S 274 , and the classified quality control result  260  is further classified for each error name  268  in step S 275 . 
     In this way, a plurality of groups is generated: e.g., a group (Group 1) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, the quality control substance name is quality control substance A, the level is LOW, the measurement item is RBC, and the error name is action limit over; a group (Group 2) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, the quality control substance name is quality control substance A, the level is LOW, the measurement item is RBC, and the error name is trend; a group (Group 3) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, the quality control substance name is quality control substance B, the level is NORMAL, the measurement item is HGB, and the error name is action limit over; and the like. 
     Thereafter, in step S 276 , a notification determination rate is calculated for each of the groups generated in step S 275  by using the following formula (1).
 
Notification Determination Rate=(Number of Notifications to User)/(Total Number of Quality Control Data)  (1)
 
     Herein, the number of notifications to user corresponds to the number of quality control results  260  contained in each of the groups. Moreover, the total number of quality control data corresponds to the number of quality control data  240  for each level of the quality control substance received from the plurality of analysis devices  100   a  during the target period. 
     For example, when the notification determination rate for each of the groups is calculated, in calculation of the notification determination rate of Groups 1 and 2, the total number of quality control data represents the number of quality control data  240  contained in a group wherein the target period is from the previous graph creation date to the present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, the quality control substance name is quality control substance A, and the level is LOW. Moreover, in calculation of the notification determination rate of Group 3, the total number of quality control data represents the number of quality control data  240  contained in a group wherein the target period is from the previous graph creation date to the present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, the quality control substance name is quality control substance B, and the level is NORMAL. 
     In step S 277 , the notification determination rate calculated in step S 276  is output as an accumulated bar graph for each measurement item  263 . Furthermore, in step S 278 , the graph output in step S 277  is stored in a predetermined area of the quality control aggregate result database  223   c.    
       FIG. 13  is an example of a graph output in step S 277  and displayed to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . On an upper portion of the graph, an aggregate period  401 , an analysis device name  402 , a quality control substance name  403 , and a quality control substance level  404  are displayed. 
     In a graph portion  400 , an accumulated bar graph showing the notification determination rate for each item of the abnormality determination rule  254  of the quality control data  240  is displayed. Herein, RBC  405  is information representing a quality control measurement item. Reference numeral  406  is information representing the notification determination rate of the action limit of the RBC  405 . Reference numeral  407  is information representing the notification determination rate of the trend of the RBC  405 . Moreover, HGB  408  is information representing a quality control measurement item. Reference numeral  409  is information representing the notification determination rate of the action limit of the HGB  408 . Reference numeral  410  is information representing the notification determination rate of the trend of the HGB  408 . 
     As will be understood from the quality control measurement aggregate result for device A on April illustrated in  FIG. 13 , for the quality control substance A having a concentration level of 1, the quality control item RBC shows a high notification determination rate based on the trend compared with the HGB. For example, when the high notification determination rate results from poor storage stability of the RBC of the quality control substance A, the quality control substance  106  itself has a problem but the analysis device  100   a  does not have any problem. Therefore, it can be determined that the determination condition on the trend of the RBC is to be loosened to decrease the number of notifications to the user. 
     Next, the CPU  220  acquires the error information determination result  295  for a predetermined period from the error information database  223   d  of the hard disk  223  in step S 281  and then classifies the error information determination result  295  for each name  296   b  of the analysis device  100   a  from the acquired error information determination result  295  in step S 282 . Subsequently, in step S 283 , the error information determination result  295  is classified for each error information  298  from the error information determination result  295  classified in step S 282 . 
     In this way, a plurality of groups is generated: e.g., a group (Group 4) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, and the error name is short sample; a group (Group 5) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, and the error name is whole blood aspiration motor stoppage abnormality; a group (Group 6) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device B, and the error name is short sample; and the like. 
     Thereafter, in step S 284 , a notification determination rate is calculated for each of the groups generated in step S 283  by using the following formula (2).
 
Notification Determination Rate=(Number of Determinations as Requiring Notification)/(Total Number of Device Names 296 b  being Connected to Management Device 200)  (2)
 
     Herein, the number of determinations as requiring notification corresponds to the number of error information determination results  295  contained in each of the groups. Moreover, the total number of device names  296   b  being connected to the management device  200  corresponds to the number of analysis devices  100   a  having the same device name, being connected to the management device  200 . 
     For example, when the notification determination rate for each of the groups is calculated, in calculation of the notification determination rate of Groups 4 and 5, the total number of device names  296   b  being connected to the management device  200  represents the number of analysis devices  100   a  having the analysis device name of device A among the analysis devices  100   a  being connected to the management device  200 . Moreover, in calculation of the notification determination rate of Group 6, the total number of device names  296   b  being connected to the management device  200  represents the number of analysis devices  100   a  having the analysis device name of device B among the analysis devices  100   a  being connected to the management device  200 . 
     In step S 285 , the notification determination rate calculated in step S 284  is output as an accumulated bar graph for each device name  296   b . Furthermore, in step S 286 , the graph output in step S 285  is stored in a predetermined area of the error information aggregate result database  223   f.    
       FIG. 14  is an example of a graph output in step S 285  and displayed to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . On an upper portion of the graph, an aggregate period  451  and an analysis device name  452  are displayed. 
     Reference numeral  453  is information representing the notification determination rate of a short sample error. The short sample error represents an error occurring when the subject aspiration section  114  has detected that the sensor  114   a  was impossible to sufficiently aspirate a subject at the time of the subject aspiration. 
     Reference numeral  454  is information representing the notification determination rate of a blank error. The blank error represents an error occurring when the detection section  116  has detected that the sample of a previous subject is left in the detection section  116  by a predetermined concentration or more. 
     Reference numeral  455  is information representing the notification determination rate of a rack operation abnormality error. The rack operation abnormality error is an error occurring when the transfer section  111  was unable to normally transfer a subject to the subject ID reading section  112  or the subject aspiration section  114 . 
     Moreover, reference numeral  456  is information representing the notification determination rate of a subject ID reading error. The subject ID reading error is an error occurring when it was impossible to read a bar code appended to the subject by means of the bar code reader  112   a.    
     It can, therefore, be expected from  FIG. 14 , showing the notification determination rate of an error (rack operation abnormality) related to the transfer section  111  being 0.1 percent, that for example, when the notification determination rate is increasing compared with a previous month, the frequency of occurrence of the error related to the transfer section  111  will increase with time. Therefore, in order to reduce a shutdown time of the analysis device  100   a  on next months, it is necessary to decrease the setting value of the action limit  294  for the rack operation abnormality of the error information determination condition  290  for the error related to the transfer section  111  and dispatch the engineer  204  to a facility being determined as requiring a notification, thereby preventing serious failures. 
     Moreover, when it is determined that notifications have been frequently sent to the user of the analysis device  100   a  in which the short sample error has occurred due to a reason other than a failure of the device, such as a reason that the amount of a subject filled in a test tube is smaller than a prescribed amount, it may be determined that it is necessary to increase the setting value of the action limit  294  for the short sample of the error information determination condition  290 , thereby decreasing the number of notifications to the user. 
     Furthermore, since it is possible to obtain information on which unit showed a high error occurrence frequency, it is possible to know which unit preferentially requires an improvement design in future device development, which becomes useful information in development of an efficient device capable of reducing a shutdown time of the analysis device  100   a.    
     In the embodiment described above, a description has been made for a configuration in which when the quality control data  240  and the error information  280  received from the analysis device  100   a  have been determined as requiring a notification to a user, the management device  200  of the customer support center  202  sends a notification thereof to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . However, the present invention is not limited to this and the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  may not be provided, for example. In such a case, a configuration may be employed in which when the notification to the user is determined to be necessary, the management device  200  sends a notification thereof to the control device  102 . This notification may be sent in such a way that a method of coping with the occurred error is sent via an email. Owing to such a configuration, it is possible to send a notification of occurrence of a trouble to a user even in the absence of the engineer  204  of the call center  203  to thereby eliminate further processing in the call center  203 , and thus, the trouble can be promptly notified to the user of the analysis device  100   a.    
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, a description has been made for a configuration in which when the management device  200  of the customer support center  202  has received the error information  280 , the received error information  280  is stored in the error information database  223   d  of the hard disk  223  in step S 212  of the flow chart illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and the notification determination processing program  223   h  is executed in step S 213  to make a determination as to whether or not the notification to the user is required. However, a configuration may be employed in which the CPU  220  does not execute the determination processing of step S 213 . 
     That is, when the CPU  220  of the management device  200  has determined in step S 211  that the data received from the analysis device  100   a  via the networks  103  and  201  are the error information  280  as illustrated in  FIG. 15  (Yes in step S 211 ), the CPU  220  stores the received error information  280  in the error information database  223   d  of the hard disk  223  in step S 212 . 
     Next, when the CPU  220  has determined in step S 230  that a predetermined period (e.g., one month) has been elapsed after previous graph creation processing (Yes in step S 230 ), the CPU  220  executes the graph creation processing program  223   i  illustrated in  FIG. 5  in step S 231 . 
     Then, the CPU  220  acquires the error information  280  for a predetermined period from the error information database  223   d  of the hard disk  223  in step S 281  and classifies the error information  280  for each name  282   b  of the analysis device  100   a  from the acquired error information  280  in step S 282 . Subsequently, in step S 283 , the error information  280  is classified for each error code  284  from the error information  280  classified in step S 282 . 
     In this way, a plurality of groups is generated: e.g., a group (Group 7) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, and the error name is short sample; a group (Group 8) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device A, and the error name is whole blood aspiration motor stoppage abnormality; a group (Group 9) wherein a target period is from a previous graph creation date to a present graph creation date, the analysis device name is device B, and the error name is short sample; and the like. 
     Thereafter, in step S 284 , an abnormality occurrence rate is calculated for each of the groups generated in step S 283  by using the following formula (3).
 
Abnormality Occurrence Rate=(Number of Errors Received from Analysis Device 100 a )/(Total Number of Device Names 296 b  being Connected to Management Device 200)  (3)
 
     Herein, the number of errors received from the analysis device  100   a  corresponds to the number of error codes  284  contained in each of the groups. 
     Moreover, the total number of device names  296   b  being connected to the management device  200  corresponds to the number of analysis devices  100   a  having the same device name, being connected to the management device  200 . 
     For example, when the abnormality occurrence rate for each of the groups is calculated, in calculation of the abnormality occurrence rate of Groups 7 and 8, the total number of device names  296   b  being connected to the management device  200  represents the number of analysis devices  100   a  having the analysis device name of device A among the analysis devices  100   a  being connected to the management device  200 . Moreover, in calculation of the abnormality occurrence rate of Group 9, the total number of device names  296   b  being connected to the management device  200  represents the number of analysis devices  100   a  having the analysis device name of device B among the analysis devices  100   a  being connected to the management device  200 . 
     In step S 285 , the abnormality occurrence rate calculated in step S 284  is output as an accumulated bar graph for each device name  296   b . Furthermore, in step S 286 , the graph output in step S 285  is stored in a predetermined area of the error information aggregate result database  223   f.    
       FIG. 18  is an example of a graph output in step S 285  and displayed to the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203 . On an upper portion of the graph, an aggregate period  461  and an analysis device name  462  are displayed. Reference numeral  463  is information representing the abnormality occurrence rate of a short sample error. Reference numeral  464  is information representing the abnormality occurrence rate of a blank error. Reference numeral  465  is information representing the abnormality occurrence rate of a rack operation abnormality error. Reference numeral  466  is information representing the abnormality occurrence rate of a subject ID reading error. Owing to such a configuration, since it is possible to identify an error showing a high occurrence frequency for each analysis device, it is possible to know which unit preferentially requires an improvement design in future device development, which becomes useful information in development of an efficient device capable of reducing a shutdown time of the analysis device  100   a.    
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, a description has been made for a configuration in which the engineer  205  of the customer support center  202  performs the update of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b . However, a configuration may be employed in which the user  107  of the analysis device  100   a  performs the update of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b . For example, in response to a request sent from the analysis device  100   a  to the management device  200 , an analysis device-side quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350 , as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , for updating the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  may be displayed on the display  102   a  of the control device  102 . 
     The analysis device-side quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350  mainly includes a user determination condition setting grid  351 , an OK button  357 , and a Cancel button  358 . 
     The user determination condition setting grid  351  includes a material name  352 , a level  353 , a measurement item  354 , an abnormality determination rule  355 , and user determination availability  356 . The material name  352  is information representing a name of the quality control substance  106 . The level  353  is information representing a concentration, e.g., LOW, NORMAL, and the like, of the quality control substance  106 . The measurement item  354  is information representing a quality control measurement item. The abnormality determination rule  355  is information representing a determination item that makes a determination as to whether or not a notification to a user is required. The user determination availability  356  is a setting that is set by the user of the analysis device  100   a , and includes a user determination availability check box  356   a . The user determination availability check box  356   a  is information representing that a determination as to the necessity of sending the notification to the user is to be performed when the box is checked (selected) while the determination as to the necessity of sending the notification to the user is not to be performed when the box is not checked. When the OK button  357  is pressed, the contents of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  are updated to the setting contents being displayed on the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350 , and the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350  is closed. When the Cancel button  358  is pressed, the contents of the quality control error determination condition database  223   b  are not updated, and the quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350  is closed. 
     For example, the analysis device-side quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350  illustrated in  FIG. 19  shows that for a material having settings wherein the material name  352  is quality control substance A, the level  353  is LOW, the measurement item  354  is RBC, and the abnormality determination rule  355  is action limit over or trend, when the management device  200  has received the quality control data  240  from the analysis device  100   a , the determination as to the necessity of the notification to the user is performed by the CPU  220  of the management device  200  in step S 202 . Meanwhile, for a material having settings wherein the material name  352  is quality control substance A, the level  353  is NORMAL, the measurement item  354  is HGB, and the abnormality determination rule  355  is action limit over, the determination as to the necessity of the notification to the user is not performed in step S 202 . 
     In addition, a description has been made for a configuration in which the analysis device-side quality control error determination condition setting dialog  350  in  FIG. 19  selects the availability of each abnormality determination rule  355 . For example, when the quality control data  240  received from the analysis device  100   a  have exceeded an average±an allowable percentage of the quality control data  240  obtained from the plurality of analysis devices  100   a , the action limit over  355   a  determines that the notification to the user is required. However, a configuration may be employed in which the allowable percentage may be changed: that is, the settings of the abnormality determination rule  355  may be changed. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a description has been made for a configuration in which when the notification to the user has been determined to be necessary in the determination processing on the quality control data  240  received from the analysis device  100   a , the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  is determined as the notification destination in step S 222 . However, a configuration may be employed in which the analysis device  100   a  is determined as the notification destination when the user determination availability  255  shows that the notification to the user is required, while the terminal equipment  300  of the call center  203  is determined as the notification destination when the external cooperative error determination availability  256  shows that the notification to the user is required. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a description has been made for a configuration in which the CPU  220  executes the graph creation processing of step S 231  when a predetermined period has been elapsed from the completion of the previous graph creation processing of step S 230 . However, a configuration may be employed in which the CPU  220  executes the graph creation processing of step S 231  when the engineer  205  of the customer support center  202  has instructed to execute the graph creation processing program  223   i.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6