Patent ID: 7886044

Claim:
A network system which comprises a server, a client and a device, said server comprising: a search unit, adapted to search said device according to a search request from said client; and a first transmission unit, adapted to transmit a network address of said device identified as a search result by said search unit to said client via a network, and said device comprising: a storage unit, adapted to store image data indicating an image for visually representing said device; and a control unit, adapted to transmit the image data stored by said storage unit to said client via the network in response to a request from said client for the image data, and said client comprising: a second transmission unit, adapted to transmit the search request to said server; a first reception unit, adapted to receive network address transmitted by said first transmission unit via the network; a third transmission unit, adapted to transmit the request for the image data to said device based on the network address received by said first reception unit so as to acquire the image data stored in said second storage unit from said device via said network; a second reception unit, adapted to receive the image data transmitted by said control unit via the network; and an output unit, adapted to output a display including the image of said device based on the image data received by said second reception unit and a condition of said device.