Patent ID: 8849999

Claim:
A device control apparatus connected to a client apparatus via a network and to which a device is to be locally connected, comprising: a first detection unit configured to monitor a state of the device using a definition file and a trigger detection algorithm for monitoring the state of the device and detect a state change of the device, wherein the definition file is a data file storing information necessary for the trigger detection algorithm, and wherein the trigger detection algorithm is a program code describing an execution procedure for monitoring a state of the device; a transmission unit configured to be operable when the state change of the device is detected, to transmit a trigger notification indicative of the detection of the state change to the client apparatus; a data communication control unit configured to start a session with the client apparatus having received the trigger notification and relay data communication with the device, of which the state change has been detected; a second detection unit configured to detect termination of the data communication with the device and resulting disconnection of the session with the client apparatus; and a restart unit configured to be operable when the session with the client apparatus is disconnected, to cause said first detection unit to restart monitoring of the state of the device.