Patent ID: 7873691
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network controller for managing a plurality of peripheral devices, and constructed for connection to a communication line, comprising: receiving means for receiving a data packet from a management apparatus via the communication line; connecting means for connecting the network controller to the plurality of peripheral devices; identifying means for identifying a first variable for receipt by the network controller and respective variables with regard to each of the plurality of connected peripheral devices, to be sent to and processed by respective peripheral devices, in the data packet which has been received by said receiving means; constructing means for constructing a first data packet with the first variable and a second data packet with the respective variables to be processed by the respective peripheral devices of the plurality of connected peripheral devices; sending means for sending the second data packet with the respective variables to the respective peripheral devices and causing the respective peripheral devices to process the sent data packet; processing means for processing the first data packet with the first variable; and transmitting means for transmitting a response data to the management apparatus which contains a result of processing the first data packet performed by said processing means, wherein the response data sent by the transmitting means to the management apparatus further contains a result of processing the second data packet performed by the respective peripheral devices to which the second data packet was sent by said sending means.