Patent ID: 8018871
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A network management system comprising a device connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus that searches and manages said device, wherein said device comprises: a search source information recording means that records information related to said information processing apparatus, which is a transmitter of a search packet, as search source information in a search source list in response to receipt of the search packet; and a search source information transmitting means that transmits search source information content of the search source list to said information processing apparatus in response to a request from said information processing apparatus, and said information processing apparatus comprises: a search source information acquisition requesting means that requests acquisition of the search source information to said device; and a search source information obtaining means that obtains the search source information content of the search source list transmitted from said device; wherein: the search source information includes a network address, and the search source information further includes hardware identification information, and said device further comprises a hardware identification information determining means that determines whether or not the hardware identification information of said information processing apparatus which is the transmitter of the search packet is previously recorded in the search source list when said device itself is searched by said information processing apparatus, and said search source information recording means, when the hardware identification information of said information processing apparatus which is the transmitter of the search packet is determined to be already recorded in the search source list, records the network address used in said search source information and deletes previously recorded search source information of a previous search by another information processing apparatus having the same hardware identification information from the search source list, and said search source information recording means, when the network address of said information processing apparatus which is the transmitter of the search packet is determined to be already recorded in the search source list and when the hardware identification information of the search source information is determined not to be associated with the network address of the search source information within the search source list, records the search source information in the search source list without deleting the recorded information determined to be already recorded in the search source list.