Patent ID: 8271797

Claim:
A service utilizing method, comprising: transmitting, from a first service utilizing apparatus, registration information to a management apparatus according to an external input, the registration information including a first user identification information for use in utilizing a service in the first service utilizing apparatus together with a first password corresponding to the first user identification information, wherein the management apparatus stores second user identification information for at least a second apparatus, and the first user identification information is set to be different than the second user identification information; subsequently transmitting, from the first service utilizing apparatus, a first apparatus name of the first service utilizing apparatus to the management apparatus, the first apparatus name being entered by a user of the first service utilizing apparatus and is selected independently of any apparatus names entered for the second apparatus such that the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus is the same as an apparatus name entered for the second apparatus; transmitting, from the first service utilizing apparatus to the management apparatus, disclosure setting information indicating whether or not the existence of the first service utilizing apparatus registered in the management apparatus is to be disclosed to other users; receiving, at the first service utilizing apparatus, registration completion information transmitted from the management apparatus after completing registration with the first user identification information, the first password, and the first apparatus name entered by the user of the first service utilizing apparatus; and managing the first service utilizing apparatus by the management apparatus.