Device associative management system, network device, and program for device, as well as device associative management method

A device associative management system for networks in which a plurality of network devices are connected so as to be capable of communicating with each other, and any one of said plurality of network devices can become a representative network device, said device associative management system comprising a management information storage section for storing management information, and wherein each of the network devices comprises:

• a mode switching section which switches said network device to a mode in which said network device becomes said representative network device and a mode in which said network device becomes a dependent network device other than said representative network device among said plurality of network devices;
• a management information section of said network device itself;
• a management information transmission section which sends management information of said network device itself to said representative network device;
• a management information reception section which receives the management information;
• and
• a management information registration section which registers the management information received by said management information reception section in said management information storage section,
• wherein said network device when in said mode of the representative network device validates operations of said management information reception section and said management information registration section, and
• wherein said network device when in said mode of the dependent network device validates operations of said management information transmission section.

A device associative management system for networks in which a plurality of network devices are connected so as to be capable of communicating with each other and any one of said plurality of network devices can become a representative network device, wherein each of the network devices comprises:

• a mode switching section which switches said network device to a mode in which said network device becomes said representative network device and a mode in which said network device becomes a dependent network device other than said representative network device among said plurality of network devices;
• a first management information storage section for storing management information of said network device itself;
• a second management information storage section for storing management information of said representative network device and said dependent network device;
• a management information transmission section which sends management information in said first management information storage section to said representative network device;
• a management information reception section which receives the management information;
• and
• a management information registration section which registers the management information received by said management information reception section in said second management information storage section,
• wherein, when said network device itself is said representative network device, said network device validates operations of said management information reception section and said management information registration section, and
• wherein, when the network device itself is the dependent network device, said network device validates operations of said management information transmission section.

A device associative management system for networks in which a plurality of network devices are connected so as to be capable of communicating with each other and any one of said plurality of network devices can become a representative network device, wherein each of the network devices comprises:

• a mode switching section which switches said network device to a mode in which said network device becomes said representative network device and a mode in which said network device becomes a dependent network device other than said representative network device among said plurality of network devices;
• a first management information storage section for storing management information of said network device itself;
• a second management information storage section for storing management information of said representative network device and said dependent network device;
• a management information transmission section which sends management information in said first management information storage section to said representative network device;
• a management information reception section which receives the management information;
• and
• a management information registration section which registers the management information received by said management information reception section in said second management information storage section,
• wherein, when the network device is in said mode of the representative network device, said network device validates operations of said management information reception section and said management information registration section, and
• wherein, said network device when in said mode of the dependent network device validates operations of said management information transmission section.

A device which is connected to other network devices so as to be capable of communicating with each other, said network device comprising:

• a mode switching section which switches said network device to a mode in which said network device becomes said representative network device and a mode in which said network device becomes a dependent network device other than said representative network device among said plurality of network devices;
• a management information transmission section which sends management information of said network device itself to said representative network device;
• a management information reception section which receives the management information;
• and
• a management information registration section which registers the management information received by said management information reception section in said management information storage section,
• wherein, when said network device itself is said representative network device, said network device validates operations of said management information reception section and said management information registration section, and
• wherein, when said network device itself is said dependent network device, said network device validates operations of said management information transmission section.

A computer having a program stored therein for operating a network device comprising:

• a mode switching section which switches said network device to a mode in which said network device becomes a representative network device and a mode in which said network device becomes a dependent network device other than said representative network device among said plurality of network devices;
• a management information transmission section which sends management information of said network device itself to said representative network device;
• a management information reception section which receives the management information;
• and
• a management information registration section which registers the management information received by said management information reception section in said management information storage section, and
• wherein, when said network device itself is said representative network device, the computer performs validating operations of said management information reception section and said management information registration section, and
• wherein, when said network device itself is said dependent network device, said computer performs validating operations of said management information transmission section.