Mechanisms for managing a first unit and one or more other units connected to the first unit over a network are provided. The mechanisms detect, by a management unit, an operating state of the other units positioned within a specific range from the first unit on the basis of a location of each of the first and other units over the network. The operating state includes at least an operating state at which a service request is capable of being transmitted to the first unit. The mechanisms further transmit, by the management unit, to the first unit, an instruction to change an operating state of the first unit depending on a number of the other units being in the detected operating state at which the service request is capable of being transmitted.