Patent ID: 8259332
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A first printing apparatus capable of communicating with a second printing apparatus and a host computer via a network in accordance with a predetermined protocol, the first printing apparatus comprising: a decision unit configured to decide, in accordance with an instruction from a user or autonomously, whether the first printing apparatus is a master printer among a plurality of printing apparatuses connected to a network, including the first printing apparatus; a notifying unit configured to, when the decision unit decides that the first printing apparatus is the master printer, generate an identifier indicating that the first printing apparatus is the master printer, and notify a second printing apparatus and a host computer, using a multicast packet containing the identifier, that the first printing apparatus is the master printer; a transmission unit configured to transmit, in response to a request from the second printing apparatus or the host computer, meta data to the second printing apparatus or the host computer that has issued the request; a configuration unit configured to, when the decision unit decides that the first printing apparatus is not the master printer, configure the first printing apparatus to receive a multicast packet from the second printing apparatus operating as the master printer; a determination unit configured to determine whether the identifier included in the received multicast packet matches an identifier indicating the master printer that is stored by the first printing apparatus; a request unit configured to, when the determination unit determines that the received identifier matches the identifier indicating the master printer that is stored by the first printing apparatus, request meta data of the second printing apparatus operating as the master printer; and a reception unit configured to receive the meta data transmitted in response to the request from the request unit.