Patent ID: 8261260

Claim:
A driver management apparatus comprising at least a processor, functioning as: a receiving unit configured to receive a network entry message sent by unicast according to a search protocol for one-to-one connection from one of a plurality of devices connected to a network; a determination unit configured to determine a capacity to install a driver according to the search protocol for one-to-one connection of a device connected to the network, wherein the capacity to install the driver includes a capacity to perform an information communication with a client terminal apparatus connected to the network by unicast according to the search protocol for one-to-one connection based on an external setting; and a processing unit configured to perform processing for installing, on a client terminal apparatus connected to the network, a driver for operating the device that has sent the network entry message, wherein the processing unit is configured to perform different processing operations for installing the driver for operating the device with respect to respective devices having different capacities according to the capacity determined by the determination unit, and wherein, if it is determined by the determination unit that the driver management apparatus has the capacity to install the driver by plug-and-play according to the search protocol for one-to-one connection, the processing unit is configured to perform a communication with the client terminal apparatus connected to the network by unicast according to the search protocol for one-to-one connection and to install the driver on the client terminal apparatus.