Patent ID: 8656030

Claim:
A communication system comprising: a first communication device including first holding means storing first attribute information identifying a first software function performed by the first communication device and a first hardware setting used by the first communication device to perform the first software function; and a second communication device including a second holding unit for storing second attribute information identifying a second software function performed by the second communication device and a second hardware setting used by the second communication device to perform the second software function, the second hardware setting describing a type of hardware configuration of the second communication device and a corresponding value of the type of hardware configuration used to perform the second software function, the second communication device communicating with the first communication device via a communication medium, the second attribute information indicating whether the second hardware setting is changeable or unchangeable, wherein the first communication device includes: a first sharing unit for sharing the first attribute information with the second communication device and retrieving the second attribute information stored in the second communication device; and a first setting unit for controlling the first hardware setting based on the retrieved second attribute information, wherein the second communication device includes: a second sharing unit for sharing the second attribute information with the first sharing unit and retrieving the first attribute information stored in the first holding unit; and a second setting unit for controlling the second hardware setting based on the retrieved first attribute information shared by the second sharing unit, and wherein the communication between the second communication device and the first communication device continues via the communication medium, and the communication is controlled by changing the first hardware setting based on the first attribute information and the retrieved second attribute information when the retrieved second attribute information indicates that the second hardware setting is unchangeable, and when the second communication device performs the second software function based on the type of hardware configuration and the corresponding value.