An apparatus and method for information processing in a network system providing shared folders across a plurality of information processing apparatuses (personal computers) via network. A shared folder management table contains the IP addresses, identifiers of the personal computers, the names of shared folders, and the number of times or attempts to transmit data, etc. Searching of the shared folders is performed at given intervals of time and a search result is compared with the last search result. Based on the search result, a new management data founded is registered in the management table. If a destination personal computer remains inaccessible longer than predetermined time, management data of such personal computers are deleted from the management table.