An information processing method and apparatus for enabling more prompt
sign-up. A network management server at step S62 received am equipment
serial number from an information processing apparatus and, at step s63,
references a database to retrieve a received equipment serial number. If
the equipment serial number has not been found, the program moves to step
S16 where a command for initiating manual setting is sent to an
information processing apparatus. If the equipment serial number has been
found, the program moves to step S81 to verify whether or not the
admittance made or admittance not as yet made, recorded in the database
in association with the equipment serial number received is admittance
made. If the verified result indicates admittance not as yet made, the
program moves to step S82 where the network management server sends an
automatic setting initiating command to the information processing
apparatus.