Patent ID: 7844689

Claim:
A method for managing a configuration request, comprising: receiving a configuration right request from a first client via a network, which requests issuance of a configuration right for a network apparatus, wherein the configuration right allows the first client to exclude other clients from performing any operation related to a configuration of the network apparatus; determining whether to issue the configuration right to the first client; issuing the configuration right to the first client when the determining step determines to issue the configuration right to the first client; and allowing the first client to set the configuration of the network apparatus after issuing the configuration right to the first client, wherein the determining includes checking availability of the network apparatus by inquiring processes running on the network apparatus, the configuration right being issued to the first client when the availability of the network apparatus is confirmed, wherein the allowing includes receiving a configuration update request from the first client via the network, and updating the configuration of the network apparatus according to the configuration update request, wherein the configuration update request includes a first configuration update request requiring restarting of an entirety of the network apparatus, and a second configuration update request requiring restarting of a portion of the network apparatus, and wherein the allowing further includes canceling the second configuration update request when the first configuration update request and the second configuration update request are concurrently received, receiving the configuration right from the first client via the network, and restarting the entirety of the network apparatus according to the first configuration update request.