Data management apparatus, communication control apparatus, and system including data management apparatus and communication control apparatus

Abstract

A data management apparatus for a data management system including first and second networks interposed by a communication control apparatus includes a reception unit receiving response request data pertaining to an electronic device from an external apparatus and response result data from the communication control apparatus, a transmission unit transmitting the response request data to the communication control apparatus, and a management unit managing a series of response status history data during a period between receiving of the response request data and receiving of the response result data responsive to the response request data based on the response request data and the response result data. The data management apparatus being connected to the first network and managing history data of the response request data. One or more service management apparatuses being connected to the second network and managing a response service corresponding to the response request data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data management method executed by a data management apparatus, the data management method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a response request data pertaining to an electronic device from an external apparatus and a response result data from a communication control apparatus that controls data communication between the data management apparatus and one or more service management apparatuses;   transmitting the response request data to the communication control apparatus, and   storing a series of response status history data in a period between the receiving of the response request data and the receiving of the response result data, based on the response request data and the response result data, by associating the response request data and the response result data responsive to the response request data.   
     
     
         2 . The data management method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of
 recording the response status history that includes a response status data indicating reception of the response request data, type data of the response request, and device identification data of the electronic device,   wherein the response status data, the type data of the response request, and the device identification data of the electronic device are associated to each other.   
     
     
         3 . The data management method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of
 recording the response status history including a response status data indicating completion of the response service corresponding to the response request data, a type data of the response request data, a device identification data of the electronic device, and a time/date data indicating the time and date of the completion of the response service corresponding to the response request data,   wherein the response status data, the type data of the response request data, the device identification data of the electronic device, and the time/date data are associated to each other.   
     
     
         4 . The data management method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of generating a report data based on a result of gathering a status data of the response request data. 
     
     
         5 . The data management method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a step of generating the report data by gathering the number of response requests for the electronic device from the receiving of the response request to completion of the request of the service management apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The data management method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 calculating a completion period between receiving of the response request and completion of the request based on the response status history data, by gathering data of the completion period based on the calculated completion period, and   generating the report data including a result of gathering the data pertaining to the completion period.   
     
     
         7 . A data management apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to execute the steps of
 receiving a response request data pertaining to an electronic device from an external apparatus and a response result data from a communication control apparatus that controls data communication between the data management apparatus and one or more service management apparatuses, 
 transmitting the response request data to the communication control apparatus, and 
 storing a series of response status history data in a period between the receiving of the response request data and the receiving of the response result data, based on the response request data and the response result data, by associating the response request data and the response result data responsive to the response request data. 
   
     
     
         8 . A communication control apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to execute the steps of
 identifying a target service management apparatus based on a control data including a customer identification data and a response destination identification data that are associated to each other, 
 receiving a response request data from a data management apparatus and a response result data from the target service management apparatus, 
 transmitting the response request data to the target service management apparatus, and 
 transmitting the response result data to the data management apparatus. 
   
     
     
         9 . The communication control apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the steps of
 receiving customer identification data that identifies a customer corresponding to the response request data, and   identifying the target service management apparatus based on the response destination identification data referred in the control data.   
     
     
         10 . The communication control apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the steps of
 converting the response request data into a first conversion data complying to a predetermined data specification of a function of the target service management apparatus, and   transmitting the first conversion data to the target service management apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The communication control apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the steps of
 converting the response result data into a second conversion data complying to another predetermined data specification of another function of the data management apparatus, and   transmitting the second conversion data to the data management apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . A communication control method executed by a processor of a communication apparatus, the communication control method comprising the steps of:
 identifying a target service management apparatus based on a control data including a customer identification data and a response destination identification data that are associated to each other,   receiving a response request data from a data management apparatus and a response result data from the target service management apparatus,   transmitting the response request data to the target service management apparatus, and   transmitting the response result data to the data management apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . A data management system comprising:
 a data management apparatus including a processor configured to execute the steps of
 receiving a response request data pertaining to an electronic device from an external apparatus and a response result data from a communication control apparatus that controls data communication between the data management apparatus and one or more service management apparatuses, 
 transmitting the response request data to the communication control apparatus, and 
 storing a series of response status history data in a period between the receiving of the response request data and the receiving of the response result data, based on the response request data and the response result data, by associating the response request data and the response result data responsive to the response request data; and 
   the communication control apparatus including another processor configured to execute the steps of
 identifying a target service management apparatus based on a control data including a customer identification data and a response destination identification data that are associated to each other, 
 receiving the response request data from the data management apparatus and a response result data from the target service management apparatus, 
   transmitting the response request data to the target service management apparatus, and   transmitting the response result data to the data management apparatus.