Patent ID: 8499064
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing a first unit and a plurality of other units connected to the first unit over a network, the network being connected to a management unit, the method comprising: detecting, by the management unit, an operating state of a subset of the plurality of other units positioned within a specific range from the first unit on the basis of a location of each of the first unit and the plurality of other units over the network, the operating state including at least an operating state at which a service request is capable of being transmitted to the first unit; and transmitting, by the management unit, to the first unit, an instruction to change an operating state of the first unit depending on a number of the subset of other units being in the detected operating state at which the service request is capable of being transmitted, wherein the first unit is an image forming apparatus, and the plurality of other units are configured to transmit an image forming service request to the first unit and wherein the location of each of the first unit and the plurality of other units is expressed as a distance from the management unit.