Patent ID: 8045206

Claim:
A setting information transmission/reception system, comprising: a transmitter that is connectable to a network and that transmits to a receiver, via the network, setting information specifying the transmitter's own settings, the transmitter including: a memory storing setting information of the transmitter; a changing unit that receives an instruction to change the setting information and that changes the setting information in response to the received instruction; an interface unit that is connectable to the network; a disconnecting unit that, when the changing unit has changed the setting information, disconnects the interface unit from the network, thereby making the transmitter leave the network; a time measurement unit starting time measurement when the interface unit is disconnected from the network; a within-period determining unit determining whether or not another instruction to further change the setting information is received within a predetermined period from the start of the time measurement; an updating unit updating the setting information when the within-period determining unit determines that the another instruction has been received within the predetermined time period; a connecting unit that, only when it is determined that the determined period has elapsed based on the time measurement by the time measurement unit, brings the interface back into connection with the network to thereby make the transmitter join the network and performs notification to the receiver notifying that the transmitter has joined the network; and a transmitting unit transmitting the setting information to the receiver upon receipt of a request received from the receiver; and the receiver that is connected to the network, the receiver including: a requesting unit that, upon receipt of the notification, transmits to the transmitter the request requesting transmission of the setting information; and a receiving unit receiving the setting information transmitted from the transmitting unit.