Connection monitoring method, connection monitoring apparatus, and connection monitoring system

A connection monitoring apparatus for monitoring a communicative connection between the connection monitoring apparatus and a customer apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a connection fault notification issuing unit for determining whether the connection monitoring apparatus is communicatively connected to the customer apparatus at a specified connection time, and issuing a connection fault notification when the connection monitoring apparatus is not communicatively connected to the customer apparatus at the specified connection time and the present time falls within a support contract period of the customer, and
• wherein the connection fault notification issuing unit suppresses the connection fault notification from being issued when the present time does not fall within the support contract period of the customer, and issues the connection fault notification during the next support contract period of the customer.

A connection monitoring system including a customer apparatus and a connection monitoring apparatus for monitoring a communicative connection between the connection monitoring apparatus and the customer apparatus, wherein the connection monitoring apparatus comprises:

• a connection fault notification issuing unit for determining whether the connection monitoring apparatus is communicatively connected to the customer apparatus at a specified connection time, and issuing a connection fault notification when the connection monitoring apparatus is not communicatively connected to the customer apparatus at the specified connection time and the present time falls within a support contract period of the customer, wherein the connection fault notification issuing unit suppresses the connection fault notification from being issued when the present time does not fall within the support contract period of the customer, and issues the connection fault notification during the next support contract period of the customer.