JP2008225878A - Distribution system, distribution server, distribution method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distribution server that can reduce the load of software distribution. <P>SOLUTION: A destination server decision part 204 decides a monitored device that is the destination of an executable program to update implemented software implemented in a plurality of terminal devices, from a plurality of monitored devices. An update program delivery part 206 sends the executable program to the monitored device decided by the destination server decision part 204. An information generation part 205 creates update information that the executable program should be acquired from the monitored device decided by the destination server decision part 204. An update information delivery part 207 sends the update information to monitored devices different from the monitored device decided by the destination server decision part 204. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution system, distribution server, distribution method, and program for distributing software.

  There are services that distribute software to users. Conventionally, software is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and the recording medium is distributed to users.

  However, in recent years, software is often distributed to user terminals via a communication network.

  An example of such a technique is an automatic distribution software distribution system described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-265603).

In this automatic distribution software distribution system, a server creates a distribution schedule for associating software with a terminal to which the software is distributed. Based on the distribution schedule, the server transmits the software to the terminal that is the distribution destination.
JP 2001-265603 A

  One server may distribute software to a plurality of terminals. In such a case, the server distributes a large amount of software at a time, which increases the load.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a distribution system, a distribution server, a distribution method, and a program that can reduce the load on software distribution.

  To achieve the above object, a distribution system of the present invention is a distribution system including a plurality of terminal devices and a distribution server connectable to the plurality of terminal devices, wherein the distribution server is for distribution. A server storage unit that stores software; a determination unit that determines a terminal device to which the distribution software is to be distributed from the plurality of terminal devices; and the distribution software is transmitted to the terminal device determined by the determination unit A software distribution unit that performs, a creation unit that creates an acquisition instruction to acquire the distribution software from the terminal device determined by the determination unit, and a terminal that the determination unit determines the acquisition instruction created by the creation unit An acquisition instruction distribution unit that transmits to a terminal device different from the device, each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a communication unit that communicates with the distribution destination server, and the communication unit When the distribution software is received, the terminal storage unit that stores the distribution software, and when the communication unit receives the acquisition instruction, the distribution from the terminal storage unit of the terminal device that is instructed by the acquisition instruction And an obtaining unit for obtaining software for use.

  The distribution server according to the present invention is a distribution method performed by a distribution system including a distribution server including a server storage unit that stores distribution software, and a plurality of terminal devices connectable to the distribution server. A determining step in which a distribution server determines a terminal device to which the distribution software is distributed from among the plurality of terminal devices; and software in which the distribution server transmits the distribution software to the determined terminal device A distribution step, an instruction creating step for creating an acquisition instruction for the distribution server to acquire the distribution software from the determined terminal device, and the distribution server for determining the generated acquisition instruction An instruction distribution step for transmitting to a terminal device different from the received terminal device, and each of the plurality of terminal devices includes the distribution software. A storage step of storing the distribution software when receiving the software, and when each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the acquisition instruction, the distribution from the terminal storage unit of the terminal device instructed by the acquisition instruction Obtaining the software for use.

  The distribution method performed by the distribution system of the present invention is a distribution method performed by a distribution system including a distribution server including a server storage unit that stores distribution software and a plurality of terminal devices connectable to the distribution server. A determining step in which the distribution server determines a terminal device as a distribution destination of the distribution software from the plurality of terminal devices; and the distribution server sends the distribution software to the determined terminal device. A software distribution step of transmitting, an instruction creation step of creating an acquisition instruction for the distribution server to acquire the distribution software from the determined terminal device, and the distribution server of the generated acquisition instruction Each of the plurality of terminal devices, and an instruction distribution step of transmitting a message to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device; A storage step of storing the distribution software when the distribution software is received, and a terminal storage unit of the terminal device instructed by the acquisition instruction when each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the acquisition instruction Obtaining the distribution software from:

  A distribution method performed by the distribution server of the present invention is a distribution method performed by a distribution server that includes a server storage unit that stores distribution software and can be connected to a plurality of terminals. A determination step of determining a terminal device to which the distribution software is to be distributed; a software distribution step of transmitting the distribution software to the determined terminal device; and acquiring the distribution software from the determined terminal device And an instruction distribution step of transmitting the generated acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device.

  According to the above invention, the distribution software is transmitted to the terminal device determined as the distribution destination. Further, an acquisition instruction for acquiring the distribution software from the determined terminal device is transmitted to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device.

  This eliminates the need for the server to send distribution software to a plurality of terminal devices, thereby reducing the load on software distribution.

  Further, the distribution software is update software for updating the installed software installed in each of the plurality of terminal devices, the server storage unit stores the latest version of the installed software, and the terminal storage unit Stores the installed software installed in the own device and the identification information of the own device, and each of the plurality of terminal devices determines the version of the installed software and sends the version to the distribution server together with the identification information. A version transmitting unit for transmitting, wherein the distribution server receives the version together with the identification information from each of the plurality of terminal devices, and receives the identification information for each identification information received by the receiving unit. A determination unit that determines whether or not the version that is updated is the same as the latest version in the server storage unit; The determination unit determines a terminal device to which the update software is distributed from among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version determined by the determination unit to be different from the latest version, and The acquisition instruction distribution unit sends the acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the terminal device determined by the determination unit among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version determined by the determination unit to be different from the latest version. It is desirable to send.

  According to the above invention, the terminal device that distributes the update software is determined from the terminal device in which the installed software of a version different from the latest version is installed. Further, the acquisition instruction is transmitted to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device among the terminal devices in which the implementation software of a version different from the latest version is installed.

  For this reason, it becomes possible to distribute the update software for updating the installed software only to the terminal device that needs to update the installed software.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on software distribution.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the distribution system includes monitoring target devices 1 to 4 and a monitoring server 10. The number of monitoring target devices is only four in FIG. 1, but is not limited to four and can be changed as appropriate.

  Further, the monitoring target devices 1 to 4 and the monitoring server 10 can be connected to each other via a communication network (not shown).

  The monitoring target devices 1 to 4 are terminal devices such as a PC, for example.

  First, the configuration of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4.

  In FIG. 2, the monitoring target devices 1 to 4 include a terminal storage unit 101, a terminal communication unit 102, an information creation unit 103, an update program acquisition unit 104, an update program execution unit 105, and an update result notification unit 106. including.

  The terminal storage unit 101 stores the installed software installed in the own device and the device name of the own device.

  The installed software includes a software name and setting information. The software name is the name of the installed software, and is information that identifies the installed software. The setting information is information indicating various settings of the installed software, and includes, for example, the version of the installed software. Although there may be one installed software or a plurality of installed software, a plurality of installed software are used in this embodiment.

  The device name is an example of identification information and identifies the device itself.

  The terminal communication unit 102 communicates with the monitoring server 10. Specifically, the terminal communication unit 102 receives an execution program, a version acquisition instruction, and update information from the monitoring server 10.

  The execution program is update software for updating the implementation software, and is determined according to the implementation software.

  The version acquisition instruction is an instruction to acquire the version of the installed software.

  The update information is information including the execution program name and the device name of the monitoring target device that is the distribution destination server, and is used as an acquisition instruction for acquiring the execution program from the distribution destination server of the device name. Here, the monitoring target device to be the distribution destination server is determined by the monitoring server 10. The execution program name is the name of the execution program, and is information that identifies the execution program.

  When the terminal communication unit 102 receives the version acquisition instruction, the information creation unit 103 creates version information from a plurality of installed software in the terminal storage unit 101. In the version information, the version of the installed software is associated with each software name.

  Specifically, the information creation unit 103 determines the version of the installed software from each of the plurality of installed software. For example, if the installed software includes a version, the version is determined as the version of the installed software. The information creation unit 103 creates version information by associating the determined version with each software name included in the installed software.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of version information. In FIG. 3, the version information 300 includes software 301 and a version 302.

  Software 301 is the name of the installed software. Version 302 is a version of the installed software.

  Returning to FIG. The information creation unit 103 transmits the created version information to the monitoring server 10 together with the device name in the terminal storage unit 101.

  When the terminal communication unit 102 receives the execution program, the update program acquisition unit 104 stores the execution program in the terminal storage unit 101.

  Further, when the terminal communication unit 102 receives the update information, the update program acquisition unit 104 receives the update information from the terminal storage unit 101 of the monitoring target device (distribution destination server) instructed by the update information received by the terminal communication unit 102. The execution program designated by the update information is acquired.

  The update program execution unit 105 executes the execution program received by the terminal communication unit 102 or the execution program acquired by the update program acquisition unit 104, and installs the installed software in the terminal storage unit 101 corresponding to the execution program. Update.

  The update result reporting unit 106 transmits the execution result of the update program execution unit 105 to the monitoring server 10. The execution result indicates, for example, whether or not the installed software has been updated.

  Next, the configuration of the monitoring server 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the monitoring server 10.

  4, the monitoring server 10 includes a database storage unit 201, a server communication unit 202, a version comparison unit 203, a distribution destination server determination unit 204, an information generation unit 205, an update program distribution unit 206, and update information. A delivery unit 207.

  The database storage unit 201 stores a device database and a software database.

  The device database includes device names of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4.

  In the software database, the latest version of the installed software and the execution program for updating the installed software to the latest version are associated for each software name. The execution program includes the execution program name. The software database includes software names of all installed software installed in each of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a soft database.

  In FIG. 5, the software database 500 includes software 501, the latest version 502, and the latest execution program 503.

  Software 501 is the name of the installed software. The latest version 502 is the latest version of the installed software. The latest execution program 503 is update software that updates the installed software to the latest version 502.

  Returning to FIG. The server communication unit 202 communicates with each of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4. Specifically, the server communication unit 202 receives version information together with the device name from each of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4.

  The version comparison unit 203 transmits a version acquisition instruction to each of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4. Note that the version comparison unit 203 periodically transmits the version acquisition instruction, for example.

  The version comparison unit 203 performs the following determination process for each device name received by the server communication unit 202 from each of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4.

  Specifically, the version comparison unit 203 associates the version associated with the software name and the software name in the database storage unit 201 for each software name in the version information received together with the device name. Is compared to the latest virgin provided to determine whether the version is the same as the latest version.

  Here, the software name associated with a version different from the latest version is the software name of the installed software that needs to be updated.

  For each software name associated with the version that is determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203, the distribution destination server determination unit 204 includes the monitoring target device of the device name received together with the version information including the version. To determine the distribution destination server for the software name. The distribution destination server for the software name is a monitoring target device that is a distribution destination of the execution program associated with the software name in the database storage unit 201.

  The information generation unit 205 creates update information for the software name for each software name associated with the version determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203. The update information for the software name is an acquisition instruction indicating that the execution program associated with the software name in the database storage unit 201 is acquired from the distribution destination server for the software name, and the execution program name and the distribution destination server Device name of the monitoring target device.

  The information generation unit 205 includes an update information creation unit 205a and an update information addition unit 205b.

  For each version of the software name determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203, the update information creation unit 205a obtains the execution program name in the execution program associated with the software name from the database storage unit 201. And obtained as update information for the software name.

  The update information adding unit 205b, for each version of the software name determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203, is a monitoring target device determined as a distribution destination server for the software name by the distribution destination server determination unit 204 Is added to the update information for the software name created by the update information creation unit 205a.

  As a result, update information for the software name is created for each software name.

  For each software name associated with the version determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203, the update program distribution unit 206 executes the execution program associated with the software name in the database storage unit 201. Sent to the distribution destination server for that software name.

  For each software name associated with the version determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203, the update information distribution unit 207 has received update information for the software name together with version information including the version. The information is transmitted to a monitoring target device different from the distribution destination server (monitoring target device) corresponding to the software name determined by the distribution destination server determination unit 204 among the monitoring target devices of the device name.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of pieces of update information transmitted to a certain monitoring target device. In FIG. 6, the update information 600 includes an execution program name 601 and a distribution destination server 602.

  The execution program name 601 is the name of the execution program. The distribution destination server 602 is the device name of the monitoring target device from which the execution program name 601 is acquired.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the distribution system.

  In step S701, the version comparison unit 203 creates a version acquisition instruction. The version comparison unit 203 confirms all device names in the database storage unit 201. The version comparison unit 203 transmits the version acquisition instruction to the terminal communication units 102 of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4 of all the device names via the server communication unit 202.

  When receiving the version acquisition instruction, the terminal communication unit 102 transmits the version acquisition instruction to the information creation unit 103.

  When receiving the version acquisition instruction, the information creation unit 103 determines the versions of the plurality of installed software in the terminal storage unit 101. The information creating unit 103 creates version information by associating the version with each software name included in the installed software.

  When creating the version information, the information creating unit 103 acquires the device name from the terminal storage unit 101, and transmits the version information together with the device name to the server communication unit 202 of the monitoring server 10 via the terminal communication unit 102. To do. When the server communication unit 202 receives the device name together with the version information, the server communication unit 202 executes step S702.

  In step S702, the server communication unit 202 transmits the version information to the version comparison unit 203 together with the device name.

  When the version comparison unit 203 receives the device name together with the version information, the version comparison unit 203 associates the version information with the device name.

  Whenever the version comparison unit 203 receives the device name together with the version information, the version comparison unit performs the above association, and when all the device names in the database storage unit 201 are associated with the version information, for each device name, The following determination process is performed.

  Specifically, for each software name in the version information associated with the device name, the version comparison unit 203 corresponds to the version associated with the software name and the software name in the database storage unit 201. The latest virgin attached is compared to determine whether the version is the same as the latest version.

  If there is a version different from the latest version in at least one device name, the version comparison unit 203 determines that the installed software needs to be updated, and executes step S703. On the other hand, if there is no version different from the latest version in all device names, the version comparison unit 203 determines that it is not necessary to update the installed software, and executes step S701.

  In step S <b> 703, the version comparison unit 203 creates a device table in which device names of monitoring target devices for which the installed software needs to be updated are associated with the software names of the installed software.

  Here, the device name in the device table is a device name associated with version information including a version different from the latest version. The software name in the device table is a software name associated with a version different from the latest version.

  The version comparison unit 203 transmits the device table to the update information creation unit 205a and the distribution destination server determination unit 204.

  When receiving the device table, the update information creation unit 205a acquires, for each software name in the device table, the execution program name in the execution program associated with the software name as update information for the software name. The update information is added to the device table. At this time, the update information creation unit 205a associates the update information for the software name with the software name in the device table.

  The update information creation unit 205a transmits the device table to which the update information is added to the update information addition unit 205b. The update information adding unit 205b receives the device table.

  On the other hand, when receiving the device table, the delivery destination server determination unit 204 executes step S704.

  In step S704, the distribution destination server determination unit 204 determines, for each software name in the device table, a distribution destination server for the software name from among the monitoring target devices having the device name associated with the software name. . The distribution destination server determination unit 204 creates a server table in which a distribution destination server device name (hereinafter referred to as a server name) corresponding to the software name is associated with each software name.

  The distribution destination server determination unit 204 transmits the server table to the update information addition unit 205b and the update program distribution unit 206.

  When the update information adding unit 205b receives the server table, for each software name in the server table, the update information adding unit 205b updates the server name associated with the software name with the software name in the device table. Add to information.

  The update information adding unit 205b transmits the device table to which the software name has been added to the update information distributing unit 207.

  On the other hand, when receiving the server table, the update program distribution unit 206 executes step S705.

  In step S705, the update program distribution unit 206 acquires an execution program associated with the software from the database storage unit 201 for each software name in the server table. The update program distribution unit 206 transmits the execution program for each software name to the terminal communication unit 102 of the monitoring target apparatus having the server name associated with the software name via the server communication unit 202.

  When the terminal communication unit 102 receives the execution program, the terminal communication unit 102 transmits the execution program to the update program acquisition unit 104.

  When receiving the execution program, the update program acquisition unit 104 stores the execution program in the terminal storage unit 101 and transmits the execution program to the update program execution unit 105.

  When the update program execution unit 105 receives the execution program, the update program execution unit 105 executes the execution program and updates the installed software in the terminal storage unit 101 according to the execution program. The update program execution unit 105 creates an execution program name and an execution result indicating success when the update is successful, and creates an execution program name and an execution result indicating failure when the update fails.

  When the update program execution unit 105 creates the execution result, the update program execution unit 105 acquires the device name from the terminal storage unit 101, and transmits the execution result and the device name to the monitoring server 10 via the terminal communication unit 102.

  When the update information distribution unit 207 receives the device table from the update information addition unit 205b, the update information distribution unit 207 updates the update information in the device table in the monitoring target device having the device name associated with the update information. The information is transmitted via the server communication unit 202 to the terminal communication unit 102 of the monitoring target device different from the monitoring target device of the server name included in the information.

  When the terminal communication unit 102 receives the execution program, the terminal communication unit 102 transmits the execution program to the update program acquisition unit 104.

  When receiving the execution program, the update program acquisition unit 104 executes step S706.

  In step S706, when the update program acquisition unit 104 receives the update information, the update program acquisition unit 104 accesses the terminal storage unit 101 of the monitoring target device of the server name in the update information, and from the terminal storage unit 101 of the monitoring target device, The execution program having the execution program name in the update information is acquired. The update program acquisition unit 104 transmits the execution program to the update program execution unit 105.

  When receiving the execution program, the update program execution unit 105 executes the execution program and updates the installed software in the terminal storage unit 101. The update program execution unit 105 creates an execution program name and an execution result indicating success when the update is successful, and creates an execution program name and an execution result indicating failure when the update fails.

  When the update program execution unit 105 creates the execution result, the update program execution unit 105 acquires the device name from the terminal storage unit 101, and transmits the execution result and the device name to the monitoring server 10 via the terminal communication unit 102.

  When the monitoring server 10 receives the execution result and the device name, the monitoring server 10 performs a result handling process according to the execution result. For example, if the execution result indicates failure, the monitoring server 10 updates the execution program with the execution program name indicated by the execution result or update information including the execution program with the execution program name to the monitoring target device with the device name. Send to.

  According to the present embodiment, the distribution destination server determination unit 204 determines the monitoring target device that is the distribution destination of the execution program from among the monitoring target devices 1 to 4. The update program distribution unit 206 transmits the execution program to the monitoring target device determined by the distribution destination server determination unit 204. The information generation unit 205 creates update information indicating that the execution program is acquired from the monitoring target device determined by the distribution destination server determination unit 204. The update information distribution unit 207 transmits the update information to a monitoring target device different from the monitoring target device determined by the distribution destination server determination unit 204. The terminal communication unit 102 receives the execution program or update information. The terminal storage unit 101 stores the execution program. The update program acquisition unit 104 acquires an execution program from the terminal storage unit 101 of the monitoring target apparatus designated by the update information.

  In this case, it is not necessary for the monitoring server 10 to transmit an execution program (software) to a plurality of monitoring target devices, so that it is possible to reduce the load on software distribution.

  In this embodiment, the server communication unit 202 receives the version of the installed software together with the device name of the monitoring target device from each of the monitoring target devices 1 to 4. For each device name, the version comparison unit 203 determines whether the version received together with the device name is the same as the latest version in the database storage unit 201. The distribution destination server determination unit 204 determines the monitoring target device that is the distribution destination of the execution program from among the monitoring target devices with the device names received together with the version determined to be different from the latest version by the version comparison unit 203. . The update information distribution unit 207 is the monitoring target determined by the distribution destination server determination unit 204 among the monitoring target devices having the device names received together with the version determined by the version comparison unit 203 to be different from the latest version. Transmit to a monitoring target device different from the device.

  In this case, it is possible to distribute the execution program for updating the installed software only to the monitoring target apparatus that needs to update the installed software.

  The distribution method described above is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium by recording a program for realizing the method in addition to that realized by dedicated hardware. The program may be read by a computer system and executed. The computer-readable recording medium refers to a recording medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk device built in the computer system. Furthermore, a computer-readable recording medium is a medium that dynamically holds a program (transmission medium or transmission wave) for a short time, such as when transmitting a program via the Internet, and a server in that case. Such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that holds a program for a certain period of time.

  Moreover, in the Example demonstrated above, the structure shown in figure is only an example, Comprising: This invention is not limited to the structure.

It is the block diagram which showed the distribution system of one Example of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the monitoring object apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of version information. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the monitoring server. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the soft database. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of update information. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of a distribution system.

Explanation of symbols

1 to 4 monitoring target devices 10 monitoring server 101 terminal storage unit 102 terminal communication unit 103 information creation unit 104 update program acquisition unit 105 update program execution unit 106 update result notification unit 201 database storage unit 202 server communication unit 203 version comparison unit 204 distribution Destination server determination unit 205 Information creation unit 205a Update information creation unit 205b Update information addition unit 206 Update program distribution unit 207 Update information distribution unit

Claims (9)

A distribution system including a plurality of terminal devices and a distribution server connectable to the plurality of terminal devices,
The distribution server
A server storage unit for storing distribution software;
A determining unit that determines a terminal device that is a distribution destination of the distribution software from the plurality of terminal devices;
A software distribution unit that transmits the distribution software to the terminal device determined by the determination unit;
A creation unit that creates an acquisition instruction to acquire the distribution software from the terminal device determined by the determination unit;
An acquisition instruction distribution unit that transmits the acquisition instruction created by the creation unit to a terminal device different from the terminal device determined by the determination unit;
Each of the plurality of terminal devices is
A communication unit that communicates with the distribution destination server;
When the communication unit receives the distribution software, a terminal storage unit that stores the distribution software;
A distribution system comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the distribution software from a terminal storage unit of a terminal device instructed by the acquisition instruction when the communication unit receives the acquisition instruction. The distribution system according to claim 1,
The distribution software is update software for updating the installed software installed in each of the plurality of terminal devices,
The server storage unit stores the latest version of the implementation software,
The terminal storage unit stores the installed software installed in the own device and the identification information of the own device,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a version transmission unit that determines a version of the installed software and transmits the version together with the identification information to the distribution server,
The distribution server includes: a receiving unit that receives the version together with the identification information from each of the plurality of terminal devices; and a version received together with the identification information for each identification information received by the receiving unit in the server storage unit A determination unit for determining whether or not the same as the latest version of
The determination unit determines a terminal device that is a distribution destination of the update software from among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version that the determination unit determines to be different from the latest version,
The acquisition instruction distribution unit is a terminal device different from the terminal device determined by the determination unit among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version determined by the determination unit to be different from the latest version. Distribution system to send to. A distribution server that can be connected to a plurality of terminal devices,
A server storage unit for storing distribution software;
A determining unit that determines a terminal device that is a distribution destination of the distribution software from the plurality of terminal devices;
A software distribution unit that transmits the distribution software to the terminal device determined by the determination unit;
A creation unit that creates an acquisition instruction to acquire the distribution software from the terminal device determined by the determination unit;
A distribution server including: an acquisition instruction distribution unit that transmits an acquisition instruction generated by the generation unit to a terminal device different from the terminal device determined by the determination unit. In the distribution server according to claim 3,
The distribution software is update software for updating the installed software installed in each of the plurality of terminal devices,
The server storage unit stores the latest version of the implementation software,
From each of the plurality of terminal devices, a receiving unit that receives the version of the installed software installed in the terminal device together with the identification information of the terminal device, and the identification information received by the receiving unit together with the identification information A determination unit that determines whether or not the version made is the same as the latest version in the server storage unit,
The determination unit determines a terminal device that is a distribution destination of the update software from among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version that the determination unit determines to be different from the latest version,
The acquisition instruction distribution unit is a terminal device different from the terminal device determined by the determination unit among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version determined by the determination unit to be different from the latest version. Distribution server to send to. A distribution method performed by a distribution system including a distribution server including a server storage unit that stores distribution software and a plurality of terminal devices connectable to the distribution server,
A determining step in which the distribution server determines a terminal device that is a distribution destination of the distribution software from the plurality of terminal devices;
A software distribution step in which the distribution server transmits the distribution software to the determined terminal device;
An instruction creating step for creating an acquisition instruction to the effect that the distribution server acquires the distribution software from the determined terminal device;
An instruction distribution step in which the distribution server transmits the created acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device;
When each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the distribution software, a storage step of storing the distribution software;
When each of the plurality of terminal devices receives the acquisition instruction, the distribution method includes an obtaining step of acquiring the distribution software from a terminal storage unit of the terminal device instructed by the acquisition instruction. The distribution method according to claim 5,
The distribution software is update software for updating the installed software installed in each of the plurality of terminal devices,
The server storage unit stores the latest version of the implementation software,
Each of the plurality of terminal devices includes a storage unit that stores mounting software installed in the device and identification information of the device.
A version determination step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices determines a version of the implemented software;
A version transmission step in which each of the plurality of terminal devices transmits the determined version together with the identification information to the distribution server;
A version receiving step in which the distribution server receives the version together with the identification information from each of the plurality of terminal devices;
The distribution server determines for each received identification information whether the version received together with the identification information is the same as the latest version in the server storage unit;
A distribution terminal determining step for determining a terminal device as a distribution destination of the update software from among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version determined that the distribution server is different from the latest version;
Acquisition in which the distribution server transmits the created acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device in the terminal device of the identification information received together with the version determined to be different from the latest version An instruction distribution step. A distribution method performed by a distribution server that includes a server storage unit that stores distribution software and can be connected to a plurality of terminals,
A determining step of determining a terminal device to which the distribution software is distributed from among the plurality of terminal devices;
A software distribution step of transmitting the distribution software to the determined terminal device;
An instruction creating step for creating an acquisition instruction for acquiring the distribution software from the determined terminal device;
An instruction distribution step of transmitting the created acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device. The distribution method according to claim 7,
The distribution software is update software for updating the installed software installed in each of the plurality of terminal devices,
The server storage unit stores the latest version of the implementation software,
A version receiving step of receiving, from each of the plurality of terminal devices, a version of installed software installed in the terminal device together with identification information of the terminal device;
For each received identification information, a determination step of determining whether the version received together with the identification information is the same as the latest version in the server storage unit;
A distribution terminal determination step for determining a terminal device as a distribution destination of the update software from among the terminal devices of the identification information received together with the version determined to be different from the latest version;
An acquisition instruction distribution step of transmitting the created acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device in the terminal device of the identification information received together with the version determined to be different from the latest version; Including distribution method. To a computer connected to a server storage unit storing distribution software and a plurality of terminals,
A determination procedure for determining a terminal device to which the distribution software is to be distributed from among the plurality of terminal devices;
A software distribution procedure for transmitting the distribution software to the determined terminal device;
A creation procedure for creating an acquisition instruction for acquiring the distribution software from the determined terminal device;
A program for executing an instruction distribution procedure for transmitting the created acquisition instruction to a terminal device different from the determined terminal device.

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