Abstract: An MFP, e.g. a printer or a scanner, allows a PC on the Internet to easily acquire MIB information from the MFP. An MFP and a PC are connected via the Internet through a firewall. When the MFP accesses the PC by using HTTP to thereby open a firewall, the PC transmits an OID request command to the MFP as tag information in XML. On the basis of the received OID request command, the MFP extracts equipment information (e.g. counter information) corresponding to the tag information from MIB indicating the equipment status of the MFP, prepares OID by describing the equipment information in XML, and transmits the OID to the PC. Thus, the PC can acquire equipment information (e.g. counter information) concerning the MFP on the basis of the received OID.

Abstract: A remote registration method comprises causing an MFP (Multifunctional Peripheral device) to inquire a server installed outside an intranet about the presence/absence of data to be registered on the MFP; when the data is present, causing the MFP to request transfer of the data from an intraserver in the intranet; detecting the presence/absence of the data in the intraserver on the basis of the transfer request; when the data is absent in the intraserver, transferring the data from the server to the intraserver through a firewall and storing the data; and when the data is present in the intraserver, transferring the data from the intraserver to the MFP.

Abstract: A terminal information registration apparatus includes a communication module connected to a center server by Internet, and a registration module that registers management object terminal information into the center server via the communication module. Particularly, the registration module is configured to set a provisional access code issued to an authorized user into the communication module and establish a communication for registering terminal identification information of one or more electronic office terminals as the management object terminal information.