Network identification information automatic management system and method

8) A program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for use with a computer that communicates with equipment on a network using a terminal identification information acquired from a server, the computer readable program code in said program product implementing functions effective to:
• halt the communication operation of the computer for reducing the power consumption of the computer;
• determine whether said halt communication function of the computer has been initiated;
• and
• send the server a message that the use of the terminal identification information is terminated when it has been determined said halt communication function has been initiated on the computer.

10) A program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for use with a computer that communicates with equipment on a network using a terminal identification information acquired from a server, the computer readable program code in said program product implementing functions effective to:
• determine whether a communication application program that uses the communication interface controller of the computer is operating;
• and
• send information that the use of the terminal identification information is terminated to the server when it is determined that the communication application program is not operating.

11) A program product comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for setting a computer in a halt state in which an operating system is halted and wherein the execution state of the operating system is preserved, said computer readable program code being provided for use with a computer that communicates with equipment on a network using a terminal identification information acquired from a server, the computer readable program code implementing functions effective to:
• recover from the halt state in response to external directions;
• and
• query the server whether the terminal identification information that was used prior to entering the halt state can be reused for communication with the equipment on a network when the computer has resumed operation from the halt state.

15) A device comprising:

• a communication interface controller which controls communication with equipment on a network using terminal identification information acquired from a server;
• an operation halt controller, coupled to an operating system, that performs a halting process of terminating the operation of said communication interface controller;
• a determination controller, coupled to said operation halt controller, which determines whether the halting process has been initiated by said operation halt controller;
• and
• a sending controller which sends information that the use of the terminal identification information is terminated to the server when it is determined that the halting process has been initiated.

17) A device comprising:

• a control command controller for use with a computer that communicates with equipment on a network using a terminal identification acquired from a server, where the control command controller, coupled to an operation halt controller, which sets the computer to a halt state in which an operating system is halted with the execution state of the operating system preserved;
• a recovery controller, coupled to said control command controller, which recovers the operating system from the halt state in response to external directions;
• and
• a terminal identification information validation controller, coupled to said recovery controller, which queries the server whether the terminal identification information that was used prior to entering the halt state can be reused for communication with the equipment on the network when the operating system has recovered from the halt state.

18) A method comprising the steps of:

• controlling a computer that communicates with equipment on a network using a terminal identification information acquired from a server;
• halting computer operation;
• determining whether said halting step has been initiated;
• and
• sending information that the use of the terminal identification information is terminated to the server when it is determined that said halting step has been initiated.

19) A method comprising the steps of:

• controlling a computer with an operating system wherein the computer communicates with equipment on a network using a terminal identification information acquired from a server;
• setting the computer to enter a halt state in which the operating system is halted with the execution state of the operating system preserved;
• resuming operation from the halt state in response to external directions;
• and
• querying said server whether the terminal identification information that was used prior to entering the halt state can be reused for communication with the equipment on the network when the computer has resumed operation from the halt state.