Network device, network connection management device, and method for connecting new network device

A network connection management device, comprising:

• a communication interface for connecting itself to a network;
• decision of permission means for receiving a request from a network device for its connection to said network to decide whether to permit said connection, then returns the decision result to said network device;
• displaying means for displaying a message denoting the receiving of the connection request from said network device by said decision for permission means so as to notify the user of said receiving;
• inputting means for enabling said user to input his/her response to said message displayed on said displaying means, then transferring said user's response to said decision for permission means;
• and
• registration processing means for registering address information of said network device connected to said network to device information memory means according to said decision result of said decision for permission means;
• wherein said network connection management device further includes:
• notification sending means for notifying the user that a first network device is requested to connect to said a network, to devices other than said first network device so as to request said user's acknowledgement;
• and
• response receiving means for receiving a user's response to said request for acknowledgement and transfers said user response to said decision for permission means.

A method for connecting a new network device to a network configured by a plurality of network devices and at least one network connection management device, said method comprising the steps of:

• notifying said network of a connection request message issued from said new network device so as to request necessary information required for the connection to said network;
• enabling said network connection management device that has received said connection request message, when one or more network devices other than said request message source network device are already connected to said network, to notify said one or more devices to display a message for denoting a request from said new network device for its connection on the screen of said one or more network devices to request for acknowledgement from the users;
• enabling said one or more network devices that have received said request for acknowledgement to display a message to notify their users that a new network device is requesting its connection to said network;
• enabling said one or more network devices to send their responses to said network connection management device upon an input of each of said users for a response to said request for acknowledgement;
• and
• enabling said network connection management device to determine whether to permit connection of said new network device to said network according to the results received from said one or more network devices.