Patent ID: 7756937

Claim:
A network device comprising: a first storage configured to store first communication setting data for sending and receiving an electronic mail; a communication device configured to send and receive an electronic mail by utilizing the first communication setting data; an electronic mail analyzing device configured to specify, by analyzing an electronic mail received by the communication device, second communication setting data for sending and receiving an electronic mail; a second storage configured to store the second communication setting data specified by the electronic mail analyzing device; and a communication test device configured to test whether the communication device is able to successfully send and/or receive an electronic mail by utilizing the second communication setting data, while maintaining a state where it is possible for the communication device to send and receive an electronic mail by utilizing the first communication setting data, wherein the electronic mail received by the communication device includes first information indicating whether a sending test is to be executed, and second information indicating whether a receiving test is to be executed, the communication test device is configured to test, in a case in which the first information indicates that the sending test is to be executed, whether the communication device has the capability for successfully sending an electronic mail based on communication setting data for sending an electronic mail included in the second communication setting data, and the communication test device is configured to test, in a case in which the second information indicates that the receiving test is to the executed, whether the communication device has the capability for successfully receiving an electronic mail based on communication setting data for receiving an electronic mail included in the second communication setting data.