Warranty expiration date determining device and warranty expiration date determining method

A warranty expiration date determining device comprising:

• a receiving unit configured to receive first owner information, first appliance information, and first operating information of a first appliance for which a warranty expiration date is to be calculated;
• an obtaining unit configured to obtain second operating information from an information database, based on the first owner information and the first appliance information received by the receiving unit, the information database being a database in which at least second owner information, second appliance information, and the second operating information of each of one or more second appliances different from the first appliance are registered in association with an owner of the second appliance, and the obtained second operating information being associated with the owner of second appliance;
• a usage period estimating unit configured to estimate a usage period of the first appliance based on the second operating information obtained by the obtaining unit and the first operating information received by the receiving unit;
• and
• a warranty expiration date determining unit configured to determine the warranty expiration date of the first appliance based on information on a current date and the usage period estimated by the usage period estimating unit.

A warranty expiration date determining method for use in a warranty expiration date determining device which determines a warranty expiration date of a first appliance, the warranty expiration date determining method comprising:

• receiving first owner information, first appliance information, and first operating information of the first appliance;
• obtaining second operating information from an information database, based on the first owner information and the first appliance information received in the receiving, the information database being a database in which at least second owner information, second appliance information, and the second operating information of each of one or more second appliances are registered in association with an owner of the second appliance, and the obtained second operating information being associated with the owner of second appliance;
• estimating a usage period of the first appliance based on the first operating information received in the receiving and the second operating information obtained in the obtaining of the second operating information;
• and
• determining the warranty expiration date of the first appliance based on information on a current date and the usage period estimated in the estimating.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for determining a warranty expiration date of a first appliance, the program causing a computer to execute:

• receiving first owner information, first appliance information, and first operating information of the first appliance;
• obtaining second operating information from an information database, based on the first owner information and the first appliance information received in the receiving, the information database being a database in which at least second owner information, second appliance information, and the second operating information of a plurality of second appliances are registered in association with an owner of the second appliance, and the obtained second operating information being associated with the owner of second appliance;
• estimating a usage period of the first appliance based on the first operating information received in the receiving and the second operating information obtained in the obtaining of the second operating information;
• and
• determining the warranty expiration date of the first appliance based on information on a current date and the usage period estimated in the estimating.

An appliance for which a warranty expiration date is to be calculated, the appliance comprising:

• a counter which operates according to a usage of the appliance and measures a usage length or a usage count of the appliance;
• an accumulating unit configured to accumulate a value measured by the counter;
• an appliance information managing unit configured to manage appliance information of the appliance;
• a receiving unit configured to receive notification from a warranty expiration date determining device which calculates the warranty expiration date of the appliance, the notification prompting a user of the appliance to input a first day of use of the appliance;
• an input unit configured to receive the input of the first day of use of the appliance from the user;
• and
• a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the warranty expiration date determining device, operating information of the appliance including the value of the counter accumulated in the accumulating unit and the first day of use of the appliance received by the input unit.

A warranty expiration date determining system comprising:

• a first appliance for which a warranty expiration date is to be calculated;
• and
• a warranty expiration date determining device which calculates the warranty expiration date of the first appliance,
• wherein the first appliance includes:
• an input unit configured to receive an operation of a user;
• a counter which measures a usage length or a usage count of the first appliance;
• a control unit configured to activate the first appliance and the counter based on the operation received by the input unit;
• an accumulating unit configured to accumulate the value measured by the counter;
• an appliance information managing unit configured to manage first appliance information of the first appliance;
• and
• a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the warranty expiration date determining device, first operating information of the first appliance including the value of the counter accumulated in the accumulating unit, along with at least the first appliance information, and
• the warranty expiration date determining device includes:
• a receiving unit configured to receive first owner information, the first appliance information, and the first operating information of the first appliance;
• an obtaining unit configured to obtain second operating information, from an information database, based on the first owner information and the first appliance information received by the receiving unit, the information database being a database in which at least second owner information, second appliance information, and the second operating information of each of one or more second appliances different from the first appliance are registered in association with an owner of the second appliance, and the obtained second operating information being associated with the owner of second appliance;
• a usage period estimating unit configured to estimate a usage period of the first appliance based on the second operating information obtained by the obtaining unit and the first operating information received by the receiving unit;
• and
• a warranty expiration date determining unit configured to determine the warranty expiration date of the first appliance based on information on a current date and the usage period estimated by the usage period estimating unit.