Apparatus having network capability and method for assigning IP address

Abstract

An apparatus has network capability for communicating with other device through an IP network. The apparatus includes: a network interface that establishes a connection to the IP network; a DHCP address acquisition unit that acquires a first IP address pursuant to DHCP; an Auto IP address acquisition unit that acquires a second IP address pursuant to AutoIP; and a process controller that controls the DHCP address acquisition unit and the AutoIP address acquisition unit to substantially simultaneously start acquiring the first IP address and the second IP address, and assigns to the network interface either one of the first IP address and the second IP address in accordance with an acquisition state of the first IP address and an acquisition state of the second IP address, when establishing a connection to the IP network.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.