Patent ID: 8661099
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An electronic apparatus which can communicate via a network and has a function to automatically assign itself an address for communication, the electronic apparatus comprising: an acquisition device that obtains an address from at least one network-connectable apparatus on the network; a determination device that determines whether or not the electronic apparatus should automatically assign itself an address to establish communication via the network, based on whether the address obtained by the acquisition device is an address within an address range which the network-connectable apparatus can determine by a function to assign itself an address; a selection device that selects an address from the address range, within which the network-connectable apparatus can determine an address by a function to assign itself an address, when the determination device determines that the electronic apparatus should automatically assign itself an address; a verification device that verifies whether the address chosen by the selection device is not being used by another electronic apparatus in the network; and an address decision device that assigns the electronic apparatus the chosen address when the verification device verifies that the chosen address is not being used by another electronic apparatus in the network; wherein said address is an IP address, said determination device makes an inquiry directed to a network address of a predetermined address group within the address range by broadcasting a request, and performs said determination based on the response to the broadcast, and said determination device determines that the electronic apparatus having a function to automatically assign itself an address should automatically assign itself an address when more than a predetermined ratio of apparatuses which are assigned an address of said predetermined address group are detected as a result of said inquiries.