Automatic address assignment apparatus, control method, and program

A method for managing an address assignment service of an apparatus connected to a wireless network, the method comprising:

• sending a message to search for an automatic address assignment apparatus in a local area network including the wireless network;
• determining whether a message offering to perform address assignment is received in response to sending the message to search for an automatic address assignment apparatus;
• starting the address assignment service of the apparatus connected to the wireless network where it is determined that a message offering to perform address assignment has not been received and it is determined that the address assignment service of the apparatus is in the middle of being stopped;
• and
• stopping the address assignment service of the apparatus connected to the wireless network where it is determined that a message offering to perform address assignment has been received and it is determined that the message offering to perform address assignment is from another apparatus.

A system for managing an address assignment service of an apparatus connected to a wireless network, the system comprising:

• means for sending a message to search for an automatic address assignment apparatus in a local area network including the wireless network;
• means for determining whether a message offering to perform address assignment is received in response to sending the message to search for an automatic address assignment apparatus;
• and
• means for starting the address assignment service of the apparatus connected to the wireless network where it is determined that a message offering to perform address assignment has not been received and it is determined that the address assignment service of the apparatus is in the middle of being stopped, and for stopping the address assignment service of the apparatus connected to the wireless network where it is determined that a message offering to perform address assignment has been received and it is determined that the message offering to perform address assignment is from another apparatus.

A computer program product for managing an address assignment service of an apparatus connected to a wireless network, the computer program product comprising program code stored on a computer readable medium and configured to perform operations comprising:

• sending a message to search for an automatic address assignment apparatus in a local area network including the wireless network;
• determining whether a message offering to perform address assignment is received in response to sending the message to search for an automatic address assignment apparatus;
• starting the address assignment service of the apparatus connected to the wireless network where it is determined that a message offering to perform address assignment has not been received and it is determined that the address assignment service of the apparatus is in the middle of being stopped;
• and
• stopping the address assignment service of the apparatus connected to the wireless network where it is determined that a message offering to perform address assignment has been received and it is determined that the message offering to perform address assignment is from another apparatus.