Patent ID: 7437436
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A server communicating with a device, comprising: a first storage unit storing information representing an ability of the device; a second storage unit storing information representing an ability of a device driver for the device; a retrieval condition reception unit receiving from a user a retrieval condition, including at least one ability, for selecting the device; a comparing unit comparing the retrieval condition received by said retrieval condition reception unit with combined information, the combined information being a combination of the information stored by said first storage unit and the information stored by said second storage unit; and an output unit outputting a result of comparing by said comparing unit, wherein said output unit outputs information for identifying, among the at least one ability included in the retrieval condition, an ability which does not conform to any ability of the device stored in the first storage unit but conforms to at least one ability of the device driver stored in the second storage unit.