Patent ID: 8447972

Claim:
An information processing apparatus comprising: a storing unit configured to store first information having an expiration date; a determining unit configured to determine that the expiration date of the first information has passed; a first receiving unit configured to receive information indicating that an expiration date of third information stored in another information processing apparatus has passed, from the other information processing apparatus; a second receiving unit configured to receive second information having an expiration date from an external device in a case where the determining unit determines that the expiration date of the first information has passed, and to receive the second information having the expiration date from the external device in a case where the first receiving unit receives the information indicating that the expiration date of the third information has passed; an updating unit configured to update the first information stored in the storing unit with the second information received by the second receiving unit; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the second information received by the second receiving unit to the other information processing apparatus, to enable the other information processing apparatus to update the third information, which is stored in the other information processing apparatus, with the second information.