Abstract: An access control system is provided which is suitable for inhibiting an increase in communication traffic, and preventing excessive process loads applied to certain terminals and certain devices. A printer management server notifies a server printer of timing information indicating access timing corresponding to a server printer with reference to a timing information registration table. A network printer receives timing information, and sends status information of a status information registration table for collection based on the received timing information when the network printer itself is the server printer.

Abstract: Since an MIB file present in a network device and having the structure of MIB data is expressed in the ASN1 format, the MIB file is not flexibly modified by a user. A management-information database-structure definition file converter unit 22 converts MIB files 21a, 21b . . . having the MIB data structures of MIB databases 12a, 12b, . . . mounted on the network devices 10a, 10b, . . . into files in a tag-structured format. Specifically, the management-information database-structure definition file converter unit 22 converts MIB files 21a, 21b, . . . into MIB files 23a, 23b . . . in a tag-structured format (XML format). Using the MIB files 23a, 23b, . . . in the XML format, a network device management tool 24 manages the MIB databases 12a, 12b . . . of the respective network devices 10, 10b . . .

Abstract: There is provided a device associative management system which is preferable for reducing cost and time and improving reliability. A network printer 200 can be set to a server printer 200 or a client printer 200. When the network printer 200 itself is the client printer 200, the network printer 200 sends status information in a status information registration table 560 to the server printer 200. In the case in which the network printer 200 itself is the server printer 200, when the status information is received, the network printer stores or registers the received status information in a status information registration table.

Abstract: If the definition of one MIB tree structure is dispersed across a plurality of MIB files, a desired object ID cannot be acquired without sequentially searching a several MIB files when the object ID is searched for. A management device includes a file linking unit linking a plurality of management-information database structure definition files (MIB files). The file linking unit reads header portions of a plurality of MIB files, learns the connection relationship of the plurality of MIB files from the read content, determines the order of linking from the learned connection relationship, and links the plurality of MIB files while reorganizing the content of each of the MIB files, thereby obtaining a single file MIB (linked MIB file).

Abstract: An output device selection system suitable for reducing the time and effort spent on installing drivers as well as for saving the user the trouble of making settings is provided. If a network printer 100 receives specialized print data which contains printing conditions indicating that printing should be done on another network printer 100, it converts the received specialized print data into intermediate print data and transfers the resulting intermediate print data to the other network printer 100. On the other hand, if the network printer 100 receives specialized print data which contains printing conditions indicating that printing should be done on the network printer 100 itself, it does printing based on the received specialized print data. However, if it receives intermediate print data, it converts the received intermediate print data into specialized print data and does printing based on the resulting specialized print data.

Abstract: An access control system is provided which is suitable for inhibiting an increase in communication traffic, and preventing excessive process loads applied to certain terminals and certain devices. A printer management server notifies a server printer of timing information indicating access timing corresponding to a server printer with reference to a timing information registration table. A network printer receives timing information, and sends status information of a status information registration table for collection based on the received timing information when the network printer itself is the server printer.

Abstract: There is provided a device associative management system which is preferable for reducing cost and time and improving reliability. A network printer 200 can be set to a server printer 200 or a client printer 200. When the network printer 200 itself is the client printer 200, the network printer 200 sends status information in a status information registration table 560 to the server printer 200. In the case in which the network printer 200 itself is the server printer 200, when the status information is received, the network printer stores or registers the received status information in a status information registration table.

Abstract: Since an MIB file present in a network device and having the structure of MIB data is expressed in the ASN1 format, the MIB file is not flexibly modified by a user.

Abstract: If the definition of one MIB tree structure is dispersed across a plurality of MIB files, a desired object ID cannot be acquired without sequentially searching a several MIB files when the object ID is searched for.