Method and apparatus for collecting attribute-information, and computer product

A method of collecting attribute information of an information processing apparatus to be monitored in a system for monitoring the information processing apparatus via a network, the method comprising:

• storing an attribute information obtained from the information processing apparatus and attribute identifiers corresponding to the attribute information, the attribute identifier including a first identifier indicating a type of the attribute identifier and a second identifier uniquely assigned within the type;
• receiving an attribute information request for a first one of the attribute identifiers;
• determining whether the attribute information corresponding to the first attribute identifier is stored by the storing for more than a predetermined period of time;
• extracting second attribute identifiers of the attribute identifiers, with the second attribute identifiers including the first identifier most frequently appearing in the attribute identifiers stored at the storing and belonging to a group to which the first attribute identifier belongs, the group storing the first identifier of the attribute identifier whose second identifier changes with an identical regularity, when the determining determines that the attribute information corresponding to the first attribute identifier is stored for more than the predetermined period of time;
• and
• generating new attribute identifiers, each including the first identifier of the first attribute identifier and each of the second identifiers of the second attribute identifiers;
• wherein at least one of the storing, receiving, determining, extracting, and generating is to be executed by a processor.

A computer-readable, non-transitory recording medium that stores a computer program for collecting attribute information of an information processing apparatus to be monitored in a system for monitoring the information processing apparatus via a network,

• the computer program causing a computer to execute:
• storing attribute information obtained from the information processing apparatus and attribute identifiers corresponding to the attribute information, the attribute identifier including a first identifier indicating a type of the attribute identifier and a second identifier uniquely assigned within the type;
• receiving an attribute information request for a first one of the attribute identifiers;
• determining whether the attribute information corresponding to the first attribute identifier is stored at the storing for more than a predetermined period of time;
• extracting second attribute identifiers of the attribute identifiers, with the second attribute identifiers including the first identifier most frequently appearing in the attribute identifiers stored by the storing and belonging to a group to which the first attribute identifier belongs, the group storing the first identifier of the attribute identifier whose second identifier changes with an identical regularity, when the determining determines that the attribute information corresponding to the first attribute identifier is stored for more than the predetermined period of time;
• and
• generating new attribute identifiers, each including the first identifier of the first attribute identifier and each of the second identifiers of the second attribute identifiers.