Patent ID: 8086774

Claim:
A networking apparatus electrically connectable with a removable device, which is configured to perform a predetermined function based on data received via the networking apparatus, and with an external terminal device through a local area network (LAN) so that communication between the removable device and the external terminal device can be established through the networking apparatus, comprising: a memory unit configured to store information concerning the external terminal device accessing the removable device; a removal instruction receiving unit configured to receive a disconnection instruction to electrically disconnect the removable device from the networking apparatus so that the removable device can be safely removed from the networking apparatus; an approval inquiry transmission unit configured to transmit an inquiry for approval for the removal of the removable device from the networking apparatus to the external terminal device indicated in the memory unit through the network when the disconnection instruction is received by the removal instruction receiving unit; an approval receiver unit configured to receive the approval for removal from the external terminal device through the network; a connection control unit configured to control electrical connection and disconnection between the removable device and the networking apparatus according to one of the approval from the external terminal device and timing scaled in the networking apparatus; a data storing unit configured to obtain data from the removable device, and to create and store a duplicate of the obtained data while the removable device is capable of functioning as a storage to store the data received via the networking apparatus and when the removable device becomes electrically connected to the networking apparatus; a first modifying unit configured to modify contents of the data in the removable device and the duplicate stored in the data storing unit according to a modifying instruction provided by the external terminal device through the network; a second modifying unit configured to only operates on the contents of the duplicate stored in the data storing unit by creating difference data based on the contents of the duplicate according to the modifying instructions provided by the external terminal device through the network, while maintaining the duplicate unmodified, the duplicate being conformed with the data stored in the removable device after the removable device is removed from the networking apparatus; and a disconnection unit configured to electrically disconnect the removable device from the networking apparatus based on the control of the connection control unit, wherein the first modifying unit is configured to be activated when the removable device is electrically connected with the networking apparatus and the second modifying unit is configured to be activated when the removable device is electrically disconnected from the networking apparatus.