Patent ID: 8438625
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A management apparatus connectable, through a network, to a managed device located in a network environment utilizing a firewall to disallow spontaneous access through the network from outside the network environment, the management apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to enter an instruction addressed to the managed device, wherein the entered instruction includes at least one of an instruction to add a new network device to be monitored and an instruction to delete a monitored network device; a determination unit configured to, in response to a new instruction entered through the input unit, determine whether there is already stored an instruction to change or delete information on the managed device related to the new instruction; an instruction deletion unit configured to, in response to the new instruction entered through the input unit, delete the already stored instruction to change or delete the information based on a determination result by the determination unit; an instruction storage unit configured to store the new instruction entered through the input unit after the deletion of the already stored instruction by the instruction deletion unit; and an instruction reply unit configured to receive a query from the managed device, using a secure communication path, through the firewall as to the presence/absence of the entered instruction and, when an instruction stored in the instruction storage unit without being deleted by the instruction deletion unit is present, reply with the entered instruction in response to the query in the course of a session established when the query is received, wherein the query is a request command for periodically requesting the instruction stored in the instruction storage unit and includes type and version information of the managed device.