Patent ID: 7337228

Claim:
A network management server connected to a network, comprising: recording means for recording information identifying an information processing apparatus and information of a user of said information processing apparatus, wherein said information processing apparatus receives a television broadcast and establishes a connection to said network management server over said network; receiving means for receiving identification information sent from said information processing apparatus, when said information processing apparatus is connected via said network, the identification information used to identify said information processing apparatus; verifying means for verifying whether said identification information received by said receiving means has already been recorded by said recording means; controlling means for controlling said information processing apparatus over said network based on verified results by said verifying means; and transmitting means for transmitting to said information processing apparatus initial sign-up information for sign-up processing for said information processing apparatus, including a protocol file stating rules for utilizing Internet services and an access point information file identifying a geographical location through which the user of said information processing apparatus may gain access to said Internet services and for transmitting to said information processing apparatus a home page established by said network management server; wherein said transmitting means transmits results of said verification performed by said verifying means to said information processing apparatus; and wherein said verifying means, upon determining that said identification information has already been recorded by said recording means, further verifies whether sign-up processing for said information processing apparatus has previously been executed and, if so, said transmitting means transmits an error message to said information processing apparatus.