Patent ID: 8863242

Claim:
A network connecting device that includes a hardware processor and connects to a network, the network connecting device comprising a network device configured to connect to the network; wherein the hardware processor is configured to execute: a profile management operation of managing a profile describing various information that are necessary when connecting to the network; a network connection operation of connecting and disconnecting a connection with the network by controlling the network device and using the profile; a connection approval/disapproval determination rule management operation of managing a connection approval/disapproval determination rule which is a rule for determining approval/disapproval of connection to the network using the profile; a connection approval/disapproval determination operation of determining approval/disapproval of connection to the network using the profile in accordance with the connection approval/disapproval determination rule managed by the connection approval/disapproval determination rule management operation; and a network connection control operation of controlling the connection to the network, determining approval/disapproval of connection to the network using the profile by the connection approval/disapproval determination operation, and instructing connection to the network the network by the network connection operation when a determination result is “connection approved”; wherein: the profile management operation manages a plurality of the profiles which are each given a priority level, the network connection control operation refers, when approval/disapproval of connection to the network using one of the plurality of the profiles is determined by the connection approval/disapproval determination operation, to the priority levels given to the plurality of the profiles, and continuously make inquiries in a descending order from one of the plurality of the profiles given a high priority level until a determination of “connection approved” is obtained, the network device is further configured to have a function of forming a personal area network (PAN) hosted by the network connecting device, the hardware processor further executes a PAN control operation of controlling forming of the PAN, the PAN is a different network from said network, in the network connection control operation, approval/disapproval of bridge connection is set, the bridge connection is a connection in which a PAN client is connected to the network by connecting the PAN client to the PAN and causing the network connecting device to perform a bridge between the PAN and the network, and in the connection approval/disapproval determination operation, the formed state of the PAN is confirmed by the PAN control operation, and determines approval/disapproval of connection in accordance with the confirmed formed state of the PAN and the connection approval/disapproval determination rule.