Program management apparatus, program management system, and program management method

Abstract

The present invention is intended to provide a program management system for, upon activation of a program updating operation, automatically performing according to a mode selected by preparing plural kinds of program updating modes and previously selecting one of them. There is disclosed a program management apparatus adapted to perform a program updating operation of a program by downloading the program from a server which manages an information of the program to a predetermined terminal device, comprising: pattern setting means, which retains plural kinds of patterns each serving as a mode for giving an information inclusive of a program and updating such a program, for allowing a user to select one of the patterns so as to previously set it as a selected pattern; and program updating means for, upon activation of a program updating operation, automatically performing said program updating operation according to said selected pattern set by said pattern setting means.

1 . A program management method, comprising: 
 performing a program updating operation of a program by downloading the program from a server which manages an information of the program to a terminal device that is controlled by a separate administrative computer;    allowing a user to select, as a selected pattern, one of a plurality of patterns each serving as a mode for giving an information inclusive of a program and updating such a program; and    upon activation of a program updating operation, automatically performing the updating operation according to the selected pattern,    wherein the plurality of patterns include at least two of: a) a full automatic type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device without notifying said separate administrative computer, b) a partial automatic type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device with notification being made to said separate administrative computer, c) a push-manual type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device only upon approval by said user using said separate administrative computer after being informed of said updates, and d) a pull-manual type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device by said terminal device requesting a version management server to transmit version information to said terminal device so that said user using said separate administrative computer can compare a current version of said program with an updated version of said program and decide whether or not an update should be made.    
   
   
       2 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said pattern setting step and said program updating step is performed by said terminal device.  
   
   
       3 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said terminal device includes one of business machines.  
   
   
       4 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said terminal device is a multi-function peripheral (MFP).  
   
   
       5 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of patterns includes a pattern having a selection function to notify the user of the completion of a download job.  
   
   
       6 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 notifying, by the selection function, the user of the completed version-up content.    
   
   
       7 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of patterns includes a pattern having a selection function not to notify the user of the completion of a download job.  
   
   
       8 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of patterns includes a pattern comprising the step of giving the user a query whether or not the program updating operation should be performed when an information of the program is sent from said server.  
   
   
       9 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the information of the program sent from said server includes a plurality of models required to be updated which are simultaneously sent from said server.  
   
   
       10 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said plural models required to be updated are enabled to be updated.  
   
   
       11 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of patterns includes a pattern comprising the step of requesting transmission of an information of the program from said server.  
   
   
       12 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the information of the program sent from said server includes a plurality of models required to be updated which are simultaneously sent from said server.  
   
   
       13 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said plural models required to be updated are enabled to be updated.  
   
   
       14 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the information of the program sent from said server includes a plurality of models required to be updated which are simultaneously sent from said server.  
   
   
       15 . In a program management system, which includes a server for managing an information of a program and a program management apparatus connectable to the server via a communication line, adapted to perform a program updating operation of the program by downloading the program from the server to a terminal device via the communication line, a program management method comprising: 
 retaining a plurality of patterns each serving as a mode for giving an information inclusive of a program and updating such a program, for allowing a user to select one of the patterns so as to previously set it as a selected pattern; and    upon activation of a program updating operation, automatically performing the updating operation according to said selected pattern,    wherein said plural kinds of patterns include at least two of: a) a full automatic type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device without notifying said separate administrative computer, b) a partial automatic type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device with notification being made to said separate administrative computer, c) a push-manual type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device only upon approval by said user using said separate administrative computer after being informed of said updates, and d) a pull-manual type by which updates are performed for said program in said terminal device by said terminal device requesting a version management server to transmit version information to said terminal device so that said user using said separate administrative computer can compare a current version of said program with an updated version of said program and decide whether or not an update should be made.    
   
   
       16 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of patterns include the partial automatic type of updating and, in the partial automatic type of updating, the version management server transmits a job-completion notification table via a first network to the terminal device, and wherein the program is updated by said version management server sending information to said terminal device via a second network different from the first network.  
   
   
       17 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the job-completion notification table includes information to be displayed at the separate administrative computer that indicates capability differences with respect to utilization of said terminal device when said program is updated in said terminal device.  
   
   
       18 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of patterns include the push-manual type and the pull-manual type of updating and, in the push-manual type and in the pull-manual type of updating, the version management server also transmits the job-completion notification table via the first network to the terminal device, in which the job-completion notification table further includes added information that is not included in the job-completion notification table for the partial automatic type of updating, the added information including a check box that is displayed on a display of the separate administrative computer for the user to use in order to select one or more updates for the program.  
   
   
       19 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of patterns include the partial automatic type of updating and, in the partial automatic type of updating, the version management server transmits a job-completion notification table via a first network to the terminal device, and wherein the program is updated by said version management server sending information to said terminal device via a second network different from the first network.  
   
   
       20 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the job-completion notification table includes information to be displayed at the separate administrative computer that indicates capability differences with respect to utilization of said terminal device when said program is updated in said terminal device.  
   
   
       21 . A program management method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of patterns include the push-manual type and the pull-manual type of updating and, in the push-manual type and in the pull-manual type of updating, the version management server also transmits the job-completion notification table via the first network to the terminal device, in which the job-completion notification table further includes added information that is not included in the job-completion notification table for the partial automatic type of updating, the added information including a check box that is displayed on a display of the separate administrative computer for the user to use in order to select one or more updates for the program.