NETWORK-DEVICE MANAGEMENT APPPARTUS AND METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND TRANSMISSION APPARATUS

• US 20030115314A1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: KAWASHIMA, MASANORI
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In a management system for managing network devices connected to a network, it is considered to reduce the load of the network and the devices by preserving device information acquired from each device and not acquiring new information from the device for a predetermined period. However, this approach has a problem in that the user cannot know when the displayed information was acquired. In the present invention, when preserving device information, the time of acquisition of the device information is preserved as acquisition-time data, which is displayed within displayed information together with the device information. The above-described probem is thereby solved, and the user can acquire very reliable information.

Claims

1. A network-device management method for managing network devices connected to a network, said method comprising:

an acquisition step, of acquiring device information relating to a network device;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information; and

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step to a host computer connected to the network.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in storage means.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said storage step includes storing the acquired device information and time data in the storage means in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in the storage means in the form before being converted, said conversion step can convert the device information and the time data stored in the storage means into a form conforming to the predetermined display format.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising a determination step, of determining whether, in said storage step, the device information and the time data are stored in the form before being converted or in the form after being converted.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said determination step includes performing the determination based on a type of the predetermined display format.

8. A method according to claim 3, further comprising a discrimination step, of discriminating whether or not the device information stored in said storage step is old, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimation.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form before being converted, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminate in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form after being converted, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

11. A method according to claim 3, wherein the time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information has been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said discrimination step uses the time data preserved in the storage means as a criterion for discrimination.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising a discrimination-time acquisition step, of acquiring discrimination time data capable of being used as a criterion for discrimination in said discrimination step.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the discrimination time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information and the time data have been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format.

15. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a reception step, of receiving a command from the host computer, wherein, when the command has been received in said reception step, said transmission step is performed by transmitting the device information and the time data to the host computer in the converted form.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said reception step and said transmission steps are executed based on a WWW (World Wide Web) server program.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and a group of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and each item of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition step is performed using an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), and wherein the device information is MIB (Management Information Base) information of the network device.

20. A method for controlling a network-device management system including a network-device management apparatus for managing network devices connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus capable of displaying device information relating to a network device managed by the network-device management apparatus, said method comprising a method for controlling the network-device management apparatus comprising:

a reception step, of receiving a command from the information processing apparatus;

an acquisition step, of acquiring the device information;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information;

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format; and

a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data to the image processing apparatus in the form after being converted in said conversion step,

and a method for controlling the image processing apparatus comprising;

a command transmission step, of transmitting the command to the network-device management apparatus; and

an information reception step, of receiving the device information and the time data in the form after being converted.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said method for controlling the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step in storage means; and

a discrimination step, of discriminating whether the stored device information and time data are to be transmitted in the form after being converted in said transmission step, or the device information and the time data newly acquired in said information acquisition step are to be transmitted in the form after being converted in said transmission step, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimination.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said method for controlling the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a determination step, of determining whether the device information and the time data are to be stored in the form before being converted or in the form after being converted.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the network-device management system further includes network devices;

and further comprising a method for controlling the network devices comprising;

a device-information transmission step, of transmitting device information in accordance with a request to acquire the device information from the network-device management apparatus.

24. A network-device management apparatus for managing network devices connected to a network, said apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring device information relating to a network device;

time acquisition means for acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information; and

conversion means for converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising transmission means for transmitting the device information and the time data converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format by said conversion means to a host computer connected to the network.

26. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising storage means for storing the device information and the time data.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said storage means stores the acquired device information and time data in a form before being converted by said conversion means, or in a form after being converted by said conversion means.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in said storage means in the form before conversion, said conversion means can convert the device information and the time data stored in said storage means into a form conforming to the predetermined display format.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising determination means for determining whether said storage means stores the device information and the time data in the form before conversion or in the form after conversion.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said determination means performs the determination based on a type of the predetermined display format.

31. An apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the device information stored in said storage means is old based on a predetermined criterion for discrimation.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form before conversion, and when said discrimination means has discriminated that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in said storage means are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format by said conversion means, and are transmitted by transmission means, and when said discrimination means has discriminated that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired by said acquisition means and said time acquisition means, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format by said conversion means, and are transmitted by said transmission means.

33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form after conversion, and when said discrimination means has discriminated that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in said storage means are transmitted by transmission means, and when said discrimination means has discriminated that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired by said acquisition means and said time acquisition means, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format by said conversion means, and are transmitted by said transmission means.

34. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information has been stored in said storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format by said conversion means.

35. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said discrimination means uses the time data stored in the storage means as the criterion for discrimination.

36. An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising discrimination-time acquisition means for acquiring discrimination time data capable of being used as the criterion for discrimination by said discrimination means.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the discrimination time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information and the time data have been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format.

38. An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising reception means for receiving a command from the host computer, wherein, when the command has been received by said reception means, said transmission means transmits the device information and the time data to the host computer in the converted form.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said reception means and said transmission means are executed based on a WWW server program.

40. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein every time said acquisition means acquires a group of the device information, said time acquisition means acquires the time data.

41. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein every time said acquisition means acquires each item of the device information, said time acquisition means acquires the time data.

42. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said acquisition means acquires the device information using an SNMP, and wherein the device information is MIB information of the network device.

43. A network-device management system including a network-device management apparatus for managing network devices connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus capable of displaying device information relating to a network device managed by the network-device management apparatus, said network-device management apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a command from said information processing apparatus;

acquisition means for acquiring the device information;

time acquisition means for acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information;

conversion means for converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format; and

transmission means for transmitting the device information and the time data to said image processing apparatus in the form after being converted by said conversion means,

and said image processing apparatus comprising;

command transmission means for transmitting the command to said network-device management apparatus; and

information reception means for receiving the device information and the time data in the form after being converted.

44. A system according to claim 43, wherein said network-device management apparatus further comprises:

storage means for storing the device information and the time data in a form before being converted by said conversion means, or in a form after being converted by said conversion means; and

discrimination means for discriminating whether the stored device information and time data are to be transmitted in the form after being converted to said transmission means, or the device information and the time data newly acquired by said information acquisition means are to be transmitted in the form after being converted by said transmission means, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimination.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein said network-device management apparatus further comprises:

determination means for determining whether the device information and the time data are to be stored in the form before being converted or in the form after being converted.

46. A system according to claim 43, wherein said network-device management system further comprises network devices, and wherein each of said network devices comprises:

device-information transmission means for transmitting device information in accordance with a request to acquire the device information from said network-device management apparatus.

47. A recording medium storing a network-device management program for managing network devices connected to a network, said network-device management program comprising:

an acquisition step, of acquiring device information relating to a network device;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information; and

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format.

48. A recording medium according to claim 47, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step to a host computer connected to the network.

49. A recording medium according to claim 47, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in storage means.

50. A recording medium according to claim 49, wherein said storage step includes storing the acquired device information and time data in the storage means in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step.

51. A recording medium according to claim 50, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in the storage means in the form before conversion, said conversion step includes converting the device information and the time data stored in the storage means into a form conforming to the predetermined display format.

52. A recording medium according to claim 50, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a determination step, of determining whether, in said storage step, the device information and the time data are stored in the form before conversion or in the form after conversion.

53. A recording medium according to claim 52, wherein said determination step is performed based on a type of the predetermined display format.

54. A recording medium according to claim 49, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a discrimination step, of discriminating whether or not the device information stored in said storage step is old, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimation.

55. A recording medium according to claim 54, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form before conversion, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

56. A recording medium according to claim 54, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form after being converted, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step has that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into a form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

57. A recording medium according to claim 49, wherein the time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information has been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step.

58. A recording medium according to claim 54, wherein said discrimination step uses the time data stored in the storage means as the criterion for discrimination.

59. A recording medium according to claim 54, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a discrimination-time acquisition step, of acquiring discrimination time data capable of being used as a criterion for discrimination in said discrimination step.

60. A recording medium according to claim 59, wherein the discrimination time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information and the time data have been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format.

61. A recording medium according to claim 48, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a reception step, of receiving a command from the host computer, and wherein, when the command has been received in said reception step, said transmission step is performed, transmitting the device information and the time data to the host computer in the converted form.

62. A recording medium according to claim 61, wherein said reception step and said transmission step are executed based on a WWW server program.

63. A recording medium according to claim 47, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and a group of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

64. A recording medium according to claim 47, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and each item of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

65. A recording medium according to claim 47, wherein said acquisition step is performed using an SNMP, and the device information is MIB information of the network device.

66. A recording medium storing programs for a network-device management system including a network-device management apparatus for managing network devices connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus capable of displaying device information relating to a network device managed by the network-device management apparatus, said medium storing a program in the network-device management apparatus comprising:

a reception step, of receiving a command from the information processing apparatus;

an acquisition step, of acquiring the device information;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information;

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format; and

a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data to the image processing apparatus in the form after being converted in the conversion step, and said medium storing a program in the image processing

apparatus comprising;

a command transmission step, of transmitting the command to the network-device management apparatus; and

an information reception step, of receiving the device information and the time data in the form after being converted.

67. A recording medium according to claim 66, wherein said program in the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step in storage means; and

a discrimination step, of discriminating whether the stored device information and time data are to be transmitted in the form after being converted in said transmission step, or the device information and the time data newly acquired in said information acquisition step are to be transmitted in the form after being converted in said transmission step, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimination.

68. A recording medium according to claim 67, wherein said program in the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a determination step, of determining whether the device information and the time data are to be stored in the form before being converted or in the form after being converted.

69. A recording medium according to claim 66, wherein the network-device management system further includes network devices, and wherein a program in each of the network devices comprises:

a device-information transmission step, of transmitting device information in accordance with a request to acquire the device information from the network-device management apparatus.

70. A transmission apparatus for transmitting a network-device management program for managing network devices connected to a network, said network-device management program comprising:

an acquisition step, of acquiring device information relating to a network device;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information; and

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format.

71. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step to a host computer connected to the network.

72. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in storage means.

73. An apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said storage step stores the acquired device information and time data in the storage means in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step.

74. An apparatus according to claim 73, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in the storage means in the form before conversion, said conversion step can convert the device information and the time data stored in the storage means into a form conforming to the predetermined display format.

75. An apparatus according to claim 73, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a determination step, of determining whether, in said storage step, the device information and the time data are stored in the form before conversion or in the form after conversion.

76. An apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said determination step is performed based on a type of the predetermined display format.

77. An apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a discrimination step, of discriminating whether or not the device information stored in said preservation step is old, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimation.

78. An apparatus according to claim 77, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form before conversion, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step has that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

79. An apparatus according to claim 77, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form after conversion, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into a form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

80. An apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information has been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step.

81. An apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said discrimination step is performed using the time data stored in the storage means as a criterion for discrimination.

82. An apparatus according to claim 77, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a discrimination-time acquisition step, of acquiring discrimination time data capable of being used as a criterion for discrimination in said discrimination step.

83. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein the discrimination time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information and the time data have been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format.

84. An apparatus according to claim 71, wherein said network-device management program further comprises a reception step, of receiving a command from the host computer, and wherein, when the command has been received in said reception step, said transmission step is performed, transmitting the device information and the time data to the host computer in the converted form.

85. An apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said reception step and said transmission step are executed based on a WWW server program.

86. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and a group of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

87. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and each item of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

88. An apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said acquisition step is performed using an SNMP, and wherein the device information is MIB information of the network device.

89. A transmission apparatus for transmitting programs for a network-device management system including a network-device management apparatus for managing network devices connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus capable of displaying device information relating to a network device managed by the network-device management apparatus, a program in the network-device management apparatus comprising:

a reception step, of receiving a command from the information processing apparatus;

an acquisition step, of acquiring the device information;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information;

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format; and

a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data to the image processing apparatus in the form after being converted in the conversion step,

and a program in the image processing apparatus including;

a command transmission step, of transmitting the command to the network-device management apparatus; and

an information reception step, of receiving the device information and the time data in the form after being converted.

90. An apparatus according to claim 89, wherein said program in the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step in storage means; and

a discrimination step, of discriminating whether the stored device information and time data are to be transmitted in the form after being converted in said transmission step, or the device information and the time data newly acquired in said information acquisition step are to be transmitted in the form after being converted in said transmission step, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimination.

91. An apparatus according to claim 90, wherein said program in the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a determination step, of determining whether the device information and the time data are to be stored in the form before conversion or in the form after conversion.

92. An apparatus according to claim 89, wherein the network-device management system further includes network devices, and wherein a program in each of the network devices comprises:

a device-information transmission step, of transmitting device information in accordance with a request to acquire the device information from the network-device management apparatus.

93. A network-device management program product for managing network devices connected to a network, said network-device management program product comprising:

an acquisition step, of acquiring device information relating to a network device;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information; and

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format.

94. A program product according to claim 93, wherein said network-device management program product further comprises a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step to a host computer connected to the network.

95. A program product according to claim 93, wherein said network-device management program product further comprises a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in storage means.

96. A program product according to claim 95, wherein said storage step includes storing the acquired device information and time data in the storage means in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step.

97. A program product according to claim 96, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in the storage means in the form before being converted, said conversion step can convert the device information and the time data stored in the storage means into a form conforming to the predetermined display format.

98. A program product according to claim 96, wherein said network-device management program product further comprises a determination step of determining whether said storage step stores the device information and the time data in the form before being converted or in the form after being converted.

99. A program product according to claim 98, wherein said determination step is performed based on a type of the predetermined display format.

100. A program product according to claim 95, wherein said network-device management program product further comprises a discrimination step, of discriminating whether or not the device information stored in said storage step is old based on a predetermined criterion for discrimation.

101. A program product according to claim 100, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form before conversion, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into the form conforming to-the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

102. A program product according to claim 100, wherein, when the device information and the time data are stored in a form after being converted, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is not old, the device information and the time data stored in the storage means are transmitted in a transmission step, and when it is discriminated in said discrimination step that the device information is old, the device information and the time data are newly acquired in said acquisition step and said time acquisition step, respectively, and are converted into a form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step, and are transmitted in said transmission step.

103. A program product according to claim 95, wherein the time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information has been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format in said conversion step.

104. A program product according to claim 100, wherein said discrimination step is performed using the time data stored in the storage means as a criterion for discrimination.

105. A program product according to claim 100, wherein said network-device management program product further comprises a discrimination-time acquisition step, of acquiring discrimination time data capable of being used as a criterion for discrimination in said discrimination step.

106. A program product according to claim 105, wherein the discrimination time data is one of (1) a time when the device information has been acquired, (2) a time when the device information and the time data have been stored in the storage means, and (3) a time when the device information has been converted into the form conforming to the predetermined display format.

107. A program product according to claim 94, wherein said network-device management program product further comprises a reception step, of receiving a command from the host computer, and wherein, when the command has been received in said reception step, said transmission step is performed, transmitting the device information and the time data to the host computer in the converted form.

108. A program product according to claim 107, wherein said reception step and said transmission step are executed based on a WWW server program.

109. A program product according to claim 93, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and a group of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

110. A program product according to claim 93, wherein every time said acquisition step is performed and each item of the device information is acquired, said time acquisition step is performed to acquire the time data.

111. A program product according to claim 93, wherein said acquisition step is performed using an SNMP, and wherein the device information is MIB information of the network device.

112. A program product for a network-device management system including a network-device management apparatus for managing network devices connected to a network, and an information processing apparatus capable of displaying device information relating to a network device managed by the network-device management apparatus, said product including a program in the network-device management apparatus comprising:

a reception step, of receiving a command from the information processing apparatus;

an acquisition step, of acquiring the device information;

a time acquisition step, of acquiring time data substantially indicating a time of acquisition of the device information;

a conversion step, of converting the device information and the time data into a form conforming to a predetermined display format; and

a transmission step, of transmitting the device information and the time data to the image processing apparatus in the form after being converted in the conversion step,

and a program in the image processing apparatus comprising;

a command transmission step, of transmitting the command to the network-device management apparatus; and

an information reception step, of receiving the device information and the time data in the form after being converted.

113. A program product according to claim 112, wherein said program product in the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a storage step, of storing the device information and the time data in a form before being converted in said conversion step, or in a form after being converted in said conversion step in storage means; and

a discrimination step, of discriminating whether the stored device information and time data are to be transmitted in the form after conversion in said transmission step, or the device information and the time data newly acquired in said information acquisition step are to be transmitted in the form after conversion in said transmission step, based on a predetermined criterion for discrimination.

114. A program product according to claim 113, wherein said program in the network-device management apparatus further comprises:

a determination step, of determining whether the device information and the time data are to be stored in the form before conversion or in the form after conversion.

115. A program product according to claim 112, wherein the network-device management system further includes network devices, and wherein a program product in each of the network devices comprises:

a device-information transmission step, of transmitting device information in accordance with a request to acquire the device information from the network-device management apparatus.