In a search server, a search request for searching for a device is received from a client PC, the device satisfying a search condition included in the received search request is searched for, and a searched result is transmitted to the client PC. Further, it is judged whether or not an apparatus at a transfer destination to which the search request is transferred has been registered in the search server. If it is judged that the apparatus at the transfer destination has been registered in the search server, the search request is transferred to the registered apparatus at the transfer destination based on the received search request.