Patent ID: 7734668

Claim:
An information management system comprising: an external device having a function performing unit that performs a predetermined process; an information processing device connected to the external device; and a third storage unit that stores utilization data, which is accessed by the external device and the information processing device, wherein the information processing device comprises: a first detection unit that detects a first period in which the function performing unit of the external device performs the process; a first specification unit that specifies status information that specifies the process performed by the function performing unit in the first period detected by the first detection unit; a first storage unit that correlates and stores the first period detected by the first detection unit and the status information specified by the first specification unit; a utilization unit that utilizes the utilization data stored in the third storage unit; a second detection unit that detects a second period in which the utilization data are utilized by the utilization unit; a second specification unit that specifies utilization-data specifying information that specifies the utilization data which are utilized in the second period; a second storage unit that correlates and stores the second period detected by the second detection unit and the utilization-data specifying information specified by the second specification unit; an overlap determination unit that determines that the first period and the second period have an overlapping period; a correlation giving unit that gives a correlation that the utilization data specified by the utilization-data specifying information correlated with the second period is correlated with the process specified by the status information correlated and stored in the first period, in response to the determination that the first period and the second period have the overlapping period; and an output control unit which, when the function performing unit of the external device newly performs the process, outputs the process with which the correlation is given by the correlation giving unit and the utilization data to an output unit, and wherein the external device comprises an offer unit that offers the first period and the status information in a state where the information processing device detects the process in a case where the process is performed by the function performing unit.