Patent ID: 7454317

Claim:
A method for monitoring an apparatus from a remote location, the method comprising the steps of: receiving history information, including a processing conditional parameter of a predetermined process that the apparatus performs to provide predetermined processing to a processing object and measurement data relating to products manufactured by the apparatus, from the apparatus indicating an operating state of the apparatus from the apparatus via a communication line; monitoring the apparatus based on the history information received by said receiving step; and storing information indicating reference information and an error range for the processing conditional parameter in a storage section, wherein said monitoring step transmits a notification that trouble has occurred in the apparatus to at least one of the apparatus and a person in charge of the apparatus when a difference between the reference information and the history information received during said receiving step is not included in the error range stored during said storing step, said monitoring step is performed from a remote location by a vendor that provided the apparatus, and said monitoring step includes monitoring the apparatus based on the measurement data received in said receiving step.