Patent ID: 8369245
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A communication apparatus having a plurality of network interfaces, comprising: a reception unit configured to receive, via one of the plurality of network interfaces, a search packet for searching a device; a first determination unit configured to determine whether information that is same as information indicating the search packet received by said reception unit is stored in a storing unit; a selection unit configured to select, among the plurality of network interfaces, a network interface which is to be used to respond to the search packet received by said reception unit; a creation unit configured to create a response message to the search packet received by said reception unit; a control unit configured to transmit the response message created by said creation unit via the network interface selected by said selection unit when it is determined by said first determination unit that the information is stored in said storing unit, and to store the information indicating the search packet received by said reception unit in said storing unit when it is determined by said first determination unit that the information is not stored in said storing unit; and a third determination unit configured to determine a purpose of device search based on a protocol used when said reception unit receives the search packet, wherein said selection unit selects the network interface to be used to transmit the response message according to the purpose of device search determined by said third determination unit; and wherein said selection unit selects one of the network interfaces which is more local and nearer to a transmission source of the search packet in a case where the purpose of device search determined by said third determination unit is to perform temporary communication, and selects another network interface usable in a wider area in a case where the determined purpose of device search is to perform non-temporary communication.