The invention is to provide a technique for improving the usage efficiency
of user licenses in an environment in which the simultaneous connection
number of users is limited. This invention comprises: determining a
predetermined allowable time based on a task selected by a user and an
attribute of the user; and forcibly making the user log off in a case
where it is detected that data relating to the selected task is not
inputted or received for a time exceeding the predetermined allowable
time. Thus, the time until the logoff is forcibly performed is
automatically and suitably set according to, for example, the task
conducted by the user or a department to which the user belongs.