Information management apparatus and method

摘要

An information management apparatus 4 acquires service-specific information which is related to a combination of types of electronic apparatuses 1 required for implementing a service. The information management apparatus 4 having stored there in at least one piece of service-specific information acquired by a service-specific information acquisition section. The information management apparatus 4 acquires apparatus-specific information which is related to an electronic apparatus 1. The electronic apparatus 1 transmits a service search request. In response to the service search request, the information management apparatus 4 searches for services, which can be implemented by the electronic apparatus 1, based on the service-specific information and the apparatus-specific information. The information management apparatus 4 transmits to the electronic apparatus 1 a search result which is information indicting a listing of services which can be implemented by the electronic apparatus 1. In this manner, the information management apparatus 4 facilitates easy search of horizontal services.