Patent ID: 7792932

Claim:
An apparatus configuration method for a plurality of apparatuses connected to a network, wherein: a server that controls configuration of the apparatuses is connected to the network and a first apparatus and a second apparatus that have already been configured are connected to the network; the apparatus configuration method being effected by the server and comprising: obtaining, when a third apparatus is additionally connected to the network, apparatus information of the third apparatus; obtaining measurement of a distance between the connected third apparatus and the first apparatus, and a distance between the connected third apparatus and the second apparatus; determining which of the first and second apparatuses is closer to the third apparatus; if the distance between the first and third apparatuses is shorter than the distance between the second and third apparatuses, obtaining configuration information about the first apparatus from the first apparatus; generating configuration information for the third apparatus based on the obtained configuration information about the first apparatus, and providing the third apparatus with the generated configuration information; where the generating the configuration information about the third apparatus is based on configuration information translation rules registered in advance with the server, and if a translation rule between the first and third apparatuses is not included in the configuration information translation rules or does not provide sufficient information, the configuration information translation rules are applied in order of increasing distance of the plurality of apparatuses to the third apparatus.