Apparatus and method for information processing in network system

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a memory unit which stores a shared folder management table which contains information about a plurality of shared folders and states of a plurality of information processing apparatuses being associated with the shared folders, wherein each of said shared folders stores image data therein and is shared by one or more of the plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to a network;
• a search controller which executes searching of said shared folders;
• a comparator which compares shared folders of a present search with those of a last search;
• an updating controller which updates said states of the information processing apparatuses in said shared folder management table based on present states of the information processing apparatuses determined from the information about shared folders stored in said shared folder management table and a result of the comparison made by said comparator;
• and
• a display unit which displays updated states of the information processing apparatuses;
• wherein said states of a plurality of information processing apparatuses in said shared folder management table include a power ON/OFF state of each information processing apparatus;
• said updated controller updates the power ON/OFF state of each information processing apparatus based on present ON/OFF states of the information processing apparatuses determined from the information about shared folders stored in said shared folder management table and the result of the comparison made by said comparator;
• and
• said display unit displays updated states of information processing apparatuses in a manner according to the updated power ON/OFF state of each information processing apparatus.