JP2013254352A - Management device, management system and management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To differentiate the distribution periods of software in accordance with the location of a user.SOLUTION: A management device includes: a reception part for receiving the acquisition request of software including a first identifier and software identifier of every country; a specification part for specifying a second identifier of every region defined concerning the distribution of software stored in a first storage part in association with the first identifier designated in the acquisition request; a determination part for determining the propriety of the distribution of the software relating to the software identifier on the basis of whether or not a period stored in a second storage part in association with the combination of the second identifier specified by the specification part and the software identifier designated in the acquisition request has come; and a return part for returning the software when it is determined that the distribution of the software is possible.

Description

  The present invention relates to a software management apparatus, management system, and management program.

  Devices such as image forming apparatuses manufactured by global companies are sold all over the world. Software developed for such devices can also be distributed to countries around the world via, for example, the Internet.

  Conventionally, a distribution system for distributing software has been built in a unified manner in the global market for the purpose of simplifying system management. Accordingly, device users around the world access the same distribution system and download software.

  On the other hand, equipment maintenance services and sales activities are under the jurisdiction of locations located around the world. A jurisdiction area is defined for each base, and the jurisdiction area spans one or more countries such as Asia, North America, Europe, and the like.

  Regarding the development of the sales system and support system for the software to be distributed, the time required for each site may differ. Therefore, there is a request from each base that it is desired to set the software distribution start time for each base.

  As a countermeasure against the above requests from bases, it is conceivable to construct a distribution system for each base.

  However, when a distribution system is constructed for each base, there are problems that the construction cost of the distribution system increases and the maintenance work becomes complicated.

  In addition, the user needs to access the distribution system while being aware of which site he belongs to. For example, it becomes necessary for the user to input or select a base to which the user belongs on the screen of the distribution system. However, the user is unlikely to be aware of the location to which the user belongs. Therefore, it is considered that a user interface that allows a user to select a base to which the user belongs is difficult to use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to vary the software distribution time according to the location of the user.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the management apparatus associates a receiving unit that receives a software acquisition request including a first identifier and a software identifier for each country with the first identifier specified in the acquisition request. Specified in the second identifier and the acquisition request specified by the specifying unit, the specifying unit specifying the second identifier for each region defined for software distribution stored in the first storage unit A determination unit that determines whether or not software distribution related to the software identifier is possible based on whether or not a period for storing the second storage unit in association with the combination of the software identifiers has arrived, and distribution of the software A reply unit that returns the software when it is determined that the software is possible.

  The software distribution time can be varied according to the location of the user.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the delivery system in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the management apparatus in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the client apparatus of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the management apparatus of 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which a client apparatus performs in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a conversion information storage part. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the country name selection screen of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a country name list memory | storage part. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which the management apparatus performs in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a group information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the delivery management information storage part of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the country name selection screen of 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which the management apparatus performs in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the delivery management information storage part of 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a distribution system according to the first embodiment. In the distribution system 1 of FIG. 1, the management apparatus 10 is connected to a plurality of user environments E and the like via a wide area network N1 such as the Internet.

  The management device 10 is a computer that centrally manages software used in each user environment E. The management apparatus 10 distributes managed software in response to a request from the client apparatus 20 installed in each user environment E. The “software” is not limited to a program. The content of software is not limited to a specific one as long as it is electronic information that can be licensed, such as still images, moving images, and audio data.

  The user environment E is a place where a device 30 into which software is introduced, such as a company or a private house, is installed. User environments E exist in various countries around the world. In other words, the management apparatus 10 centrally distributes software to user environments around the world.

  In the user environment E shown in FIG. 1, one or more devices 30, a client device 20, a router R1, and the like are installed. The device 30, the client device 20, the router R1, and the like are communicably connected via a network N2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) in the user environment E. The network N2 is connected to the network N1 via the router R1. The router R1 is a device that functions as a router and a proxy server.

  The client device 20 is a computer that functions as a client of the management device 10. For example, the client device 20 downloads a software object (entity) from the management device 10 and installs the software in the device 30. In the present embodiment, the term “software” simply refers to a software object.

  Note that the device 30 may have the function of the client device 20. In this case, the client device 20 is not always necessary.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the management device according to the first embodiment. The management device 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the management apparatus 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 storing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 executes a function related to the management device 10 according to a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  The client device 20 may also have hardware similar to the hardware shown in FIG. However, since the client device 20 is directly operated by the user, it is desirable to include an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard and a display device such as a liquid crystal display.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the client device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the client device 20 includes a country code estimation unit 21, an information reception unit 22, a download unit 23, an installation control unit 24, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed in the client device 20 cause the CPU of the client device 20 to execute. The client device 20 also uses a conversion information storage unit 25, a country name list storage unit 26, a country name code storage unit 27, and the like. Each of these storage units can be realized by using an auxiliary storage device of the client device 20 or a storage device connected to the client device 20 via a network.

  The country name estimation unit 21 estimates the country code of the country to which the user environment E in which the client device 20 is installed belongs. A country name code refers to an identifier (identification code) for each country name. In the present embodiment, a country name code conforming to ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 is used. However, country codes of other systems such as three characters such as ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 or numerical values such as ISO 3166-1 numeric may be used. Further, an identifier corresponding to the country name code may be uniquely defined. The estimation of the country name code is performed based on the country code, locale ID, or language code that can be acquired from the OS (Operating System) of the client device 20 and the information stored in the conversion information storage unit 25. That is, the conversion information storage unit 25 stores correspondence information between a country code, a locale ID or a language code, and a country name code.

  The information receiving unit 22 receives a software download instruction from the user. In the instruction, for example, the software ID of the software to be downloaded, the device ID of the device 30 to which the software is installed, and the country name to which the user environment E belongs are specified.

  The software ID is an example of a software identifier in the present embodiment. The device ID is identification information of each device 30. The country name refers to a character string indicating the name of the country, and refers to a character string that allows the user to clearly identify each country. For example, the information receiving unit 22 displays a display component including a list of country names stored in the country name list storage unit 26 (hereinafter referred to as “country name list”), and receives selection of the country name via the country name list. At this time, the information reception unit 22 displays the country name list in a state where the country name code estimated by the country name code estimation unit 21 or the country name corresponding to the country name code stored in the country name list storage unit 26 is selected.

  The information reception unit 22 specifies a country name code corresponding to the country name selected in the country name list with reference to the country name list storage unit 26. That is, the country name list storage unit 26 stores, for each country name, a country name code corresponding to the country name. The country name code specified by the information receiving unit 22 is stored in the country code storage unit 27. That is, the country name code storage unit 27 stores a country name code corresponding to the country name selected in the past through the country name list.

  The download unit 23 transmits a software download request (acquisition request) related to the software ID received by the information receiving unit 22 to the management apparatus, and receives software returned in response to the download request. In addition to the software ID, the country name code specified by the information receiving unit 22 is also specified in the download request.

  The installation control unit 24 controls the installation process for the device 30 corresponding to the device ID received by the information receiving unit 22 regarding the software downloaded (acquired) by the download unit 23.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the management apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the management apparatus 10 includes a request receiving unit 11, a group ID specifying unit 12, a distribution availability determining unit 13, a response reply unit 14, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 104 by one or more programs installed in the management apparatus 10. The management apparatus 10 also uses a group information storage unit 15, a distribution management information storage unit 16, a software storage unit 17, and the like. These units can be realized using the auxiliary storage device 102 or a storage device connected to the management device 10 via a network.

  The request receiving unit 11 receives a download request transmitted from the client device 20. The group ID identification unit 12 refers to the group information storage unit 15 and identifies the group ID corresponding to the country name code specified in the download request. The group information storage unit 15 stores correspondence information between country name codes and group IDs. The group ID is identification information for each base such as maintenance services and sales activities related to the devices 30 arranged around the world. Each base has jurisdiction over one or more countries. Therefore, jurisdictions do not necessarily correspond one-on-one with countries.

  The distribution permission / inhibition determining unit 13 determines whether or not the software related to the download request can be distributed to the group related to the group ID specified by the group ID specifying unit 12 with reference to the distribution management information storage unit 16. The distribution management information storage unit 16 stores distribution management information for limiting a distribution period, such as a distribution start time, for each combination of group ID and software ID.

  The response reply unit 14 returns the software related to the download request to the download request source client device 20 when the distribution possibility determination unit 13 determines that the distribution is possible. When it is determined by the distribution availability determination unit 13 that distribution is impossible, the response reply unit 14 returns information indicating that distribution is impossible. The software storage unit 17 stores software in association with the software ID.

  Hereinafter, processing procedures executed by the client device 20 and the management device 10 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the client device in the first embodiment. The process of FIG. 5 is started in response to an instruction input by the user of the client device 20.

  In step S <b> 101, the information reception unit 22 acquires a country name code from the country name code storage unit 27. When the country code is stored in the country code storage unit 27 and the country code can be acquired (No in S102), the information receiving unit 22 sets the country code as the default country code.

  If the country code is not stored in the country code storage unit 27 and the country code cannot be acquired (Yes in S102), the country code estimation unit 21 sets, for example, the country code and locale set in the OS of the client device 20. Based on the ID or language code and the conversion information storage unit 25, a country name code is estimated (S103).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the conversion information storage unit. For example, the conversion information storage unit 25 stores one or more tables of a country code conversion table 25Ta, a locale ID conversion table 25Tb, a language code conversion table 25Tc, and the like as shown in FIG.

  The country code conversion table 25Ta stores a country name code in association with the country code. The locale ID conversion table 25Tb stores a country name code in association with the locale ID. The language code conversion table 25Tc stores a country code in association with the language code.

  Accordingly, the country code estimation unit 21 obtains one or more of the country code, locale ID, and language code set in the OS of the client device 20 as the country code conversion table 25Ta, the locale ID conversion table 25Tb, or the language. A country name code is estimated by applying to the code conversion table 25Tc. The country name code estimated by the country name code estimation unit 21 is a default country name code. Note that the information stored in the conversion information storage unit 25 may be defined in a program that causes the client device 20 to function as the information reception unit 22, for example.

  Subsequently, the information receiving unit 22 displays a country name selection screen on the display device.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the country name selection screen according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 7, the country name selection screen 510 includes a country name list 511. The country name list 511 is, for example, a list box that includes a list of country names as options. As shown in FIG. 7, in the country name list 511, a list of country names is displayed instead of a list of country name codes. That is, it may be difficult for the user to understand the country code. Therefore, the information reception unit 22 displays a list of country names as options instead of the country name code. In the initial state of the country name list 511, a country name corresponding to a predetermined country name code is selected. The correspondence relationship between the country name code and the country name is specified with reference to the country name list storage unit 26.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the country name list storage unit. As shown in FIG. 8, the country name list storage unit 26 stores, for each country name code, a character string indicating the country name corresponding to the country name code.

  The list of country names displayed as selection candidates in the country name list may be acquired from the country name list storage unit 26. For each language, a country name list storage unit 26 in which country names are expressed in the language may be prepared. In this case, for example, the country name list storage unit 26 to be used may be selected based on a locale ID or a language code acquired from the OS. The information stored in the country name list storage unit 26 may be defined in a program that causes the client device 20 to function as the information reception unit 22, for example.

  Subsequently, the information receiving unit 22 receives a country name selection via the country name list 511 (S104). That is, the user selects the country name to which the current location belongs from the list of country names included in the country name list 511. However, if the corresponding country name is a country name corresponding to the default country name code (that is, a country name that has already been selected), the selection in the country name list 511 is not performed and the input to the country name selection screen 510 is confirmed. Good. The input is confirmed by, for example, pressing an OK button 512 on the country name selection screen 510 or the like.

  When the input to the country name selection screen 510 is confirmed, the information reception unit 22 stores the country name code corresponding to the country name selected in the country name list 511 in the country name code storage unit 27 (S105). The country code corresponding to the selected country name is specified with reference to, for example, the country name list storage unit 26 (FIG. 8).

  Subsequently, the information reception unit 22 displays an installation setting screen on the display device, and via the installation setting screen, the software ID of the software to be downloaded (that is, the installation target), the device ID of the installation destination device 30, and the like Is received (S106).

  Subsequently, the download unit 23 transmits a download request including the software ID input in step S106 and the country code selected in step S104 to the management apparatus 10 (S107). When a response indicating an error is returned from the management apparatus 10 or when a communication error or the like occurs (No in S108), the process of FIG. 5 ends abnormally.

  When the software corresponding to the software ID is returned from the management device 10 (Yes in S108), the download unit 23 executes reception processing of the returned software (S109). If the software reception has failed (No in S110), the process of FIG. 5 ends abnormally.

  When the software is successfully received (Yes in S110), the installation control unit 24 performs an installation process on the device 30 designated as the installation destination for the received software (S111).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the management apparatus in the first embodiment.

  In step S201, the request reception unit 11 receives a download request including a software ID, a country name code, and the like. Each of the software ID and country code included in the download request is hereinafter referred to as “target software ID” and “target country code”.

  Subsequently, the group ID specifying unit 12 specifies the group ID corresponding to the target country name code with reference to the group information storage unit 15 (S202).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the group information storage unit. In FIG. 10, the group information storage unit 15 stores, for each country name code, a group ID corresponding to the group (jurisdiction) to which the country related to the country name code belongs. Therefore, the group ID specifying unit 12 searches the group information storage unit 15 for a record including the target country name code, and specifies the group ID included in the searched record as the group ID corresponding to the country name code. The specified group ID is hereinafter referred to as “target group ID”.

  For example, when the identification of the group ID fails because there is no record including the target country name code (No in S203), the response reply unit 14 sends a response indicating an error to the client device 20 that is the transmission source of the download request. (S209).

  When the identification of the group ID is successful (Yes in S203), the distribution availability determination unit 13 acquires distribution management information corresponding to the combination of the target group ID and the target software ID from the distribution management information storage unit 16 (S204). .

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a distribution management information storage unit according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 11, the distribution management information storage unit 16 stores distribution management information for each combination of group ID and software ID. The distribution management information includes, for example, information such as a start date, an end date, and validity.

  The start date and the end date are a start date or an end date of distribution of software related to the software ID in the jurisdiction area related to the group ID. That is, the software distribution period is specified by the start date and the end date. The validity is information indicating whether the software distribution related to the software ID is valid or invalid in the jurisdiction area related to the group ID. The validity is used, for example, when it is desired to temporarily stop distribution in a period based on the start date and the end date.

  When acquisition of the corresponding distribution management information has failed (No in S205), the response reply unit 14 returns a response indicating an error to the client device 20 that is the transmission source of the download request (S209).

  When acquisition of the corresponding distribution management information is successful (Yes in S205), the distribution availability determination unit 13 determines whether software distribution relating to the target software ID is possible based on the distribution management information (S206). Specifically, if the validity of the distribution management information is a value indicating validity and the current date and time are included in the period of the start date and the end date of the distribution management information, it is determined that the distribution is possible. The On the other hand, when the validity of the distribution management information is a value indicating invalidity, or when the current date and time is outside the period of the start date and the end date of the distribution management information, it is determined that the distribution is impossible. .

  When it is determined that the distribution is impossible (No in S206), the response reply unit 14 returns a response indicating an error to the client device 20 that is the transmission source of the download request (S209).

  When it is determined that the distribution is possible (Yes in S206), the response reply unit 14 acquires the software corresponding to the target software ID from the software storage unit 17 (S207). Subsequently, the response reply unit 14 returns the acquired software to the client device 20 that is the transmission source of the download request (S208).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, a user selects a country where he / she is located, so that a group (jurisdiction) corresponding to the user is automatically determined, and Distribution management information is applied to determine whether software can be distributed to the user. In other words, it is not necessary for the user to investigate which area his / her jurisdiction is. Therefore, it is possible to vary the software distribution time for each jurisdiction without increasing the operation burden on the user.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, consideration is given to the convenience of corporate users such as organizations or organizations that perform activities across the world. For such corporate users, there may be a demand to start using certain software in the world at the same time. A mechanism for responding to such a request is realized in the second embodiment.

  Note that in the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Accordingly, points not particularly mentioned may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The processing procedure of the client device 20 may be almost as shown in FIG. However, as the country name selection screen 510, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the country name selection screen according to the second embodiment. The country name selection screen 510 a shown in FIG. 12 further has a company code input area 513. The company code input area 513 is an area for receiving an input of a company code. The company code is an identifier given in advance to the company user. Therefore, the company user can input the company code in the company code input area 513 on the country name selection screen 510a.

  When a company code is input to the company code input area 513, the download unit 23 transmits a download request in which the company code is specified instead of the country code to the management apparatus 10 in step S107 of FIG. To do. On the other hand, when the company code is not input to the company code input area 513, in step S107 in FIG. 5, the download unit 23 sends a download request in which the country code is specified, as in the first embodiment. It transmits to the management apparatus 10.

  In the second embodiment, the processing procedure executed by the management apparatus 10 is changed as shown in FIG. 13, for example.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the management apparatus in the second embodiment.

  In step S201, the request reception unit 11 receives a download request. At this time, the request receiving unit 11 treats the company code in the same manner as the country code (target country code) even when the download request includes the company code. That is, the request receiving unit 11 does not make a determination as to whether or not the identifier included in the download request is a company code.

  Subsequently, the group ID specifying unit 12 specifies the group ID corresponding to the target country name code with reference to the group information storage unit 15 (S202). When the target country name code is a company code, the identification of the corresponding group ID fails. Therefore, in this case (No in S203), the distribution possibility determination unit 13 estimates that the target country code is a company code, and distributes distribution management information corresponding to the combination of the company code and the target software ID. Obtained from the information storage unit 16 (S210).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a distribution management information storage unit according to the second embodiment. In the distribution management information storage unit 16 shown in FIG. 14, the record whose group ID is “ZZZ” is a record corresponding to the company code. That is, “ZZZ” is a company code of a certain company. As described above, the distribution management information storage unit 16 according to the second embodiment stores the distribution management information for each combination of the group ID and the software ID or for each combination of the company code and the software ID.

  The subsequent processing procedure may be the same as in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the company code of the company to which the user belongs is input, regardless of the country in which the user is located, The distribution management information corresponding to the company code is applied. Therefore, when each user of the company inputs the same company code, the same distribution management information can be applied to each user belonging to the company regardless of the difference in the country of each user. it can. As a result, the company can start using the software according to a uniform rule in each country in the world.

  In each of the above embodiments, the function of the client device 20 may be implemented in the device 30. That is, the processing procedure in FIG. 5 and the like may be executed by the device 30.

  In addition, as in the case where a Web browser is used in the client device 20 or the device 30, the client device 20 or the device 30 basically displays the user interface and notifies the management device 10 of the input via the user interface. If only the above is performed, the processing executed by the country code estimation unit 21 and the information reception unit 22 may be executed in the management device 10. Further, the conversion information storage unit 25, the country name list storage unit 26, the country name code storage unit 27, and the like may be realized using a storage device connected to the auxiliary storage device 102 or the management device 10 via a network. Good. In this case, information (country code, locale ID, or language code) required for estimating the country name code may be transmitted from the client device 20 or the device 30 to the management device 10. In the management device 10, the country code may be estimated using the information and the conversion information storage unit 25 and the like. Further, the management apparatus 10 may generate a web page corresponding to the country name selection screen 510 or 510 a and transmit it to the client apparatus 20 or the device 30. At this time, the correspondence relationship between the country name and the country name code may be performed with reference to the country name list storage unit 26.

  Moreover, the management apparatus 10 may be a computer system including a plurality of computers. That is, each unit included in the management apparatus 10 may be distributed over a plurality of computers.

  In the present embodiment, the country code or the company code is an example of a first identifier. The group ID is an example of a second identifier. The request receiving unit 11 is an example of a receiving unit. The group ID specifying unit 12 is an example of a specifying unit. The distribution availability determination unit 13 is an example of a determination unit. The response reply unit 14 is an example of a reply unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Distribution system 10 Management apparatus 11 Request receiving part 12 Group ID specific | specification part 13 Distribution availability determination part 14 Response reply part 15 Group information storage part 16 Distribution management information storage part 17 Software storage part 20 Client apparatus 21 Country code estimation part 22 Information reception Unit 23 Download Unit 24 Installation Control Unit 25 Conversion Information Storage Unit 26 Country Name List Storage Unit 27 Country Code Storage Unit 30 Device 100 Drive Device 101 Recording Medium 102 Auxiliary Storage Device 103 Memory Device 104 CPU
105 Interface device B bus

JP-A-11-306107

Claims (4)

A receiving unit for receiving a software acquisition request including a first identifier and a software identifier for each country;
A specifying unit for specifying a second identifier for each region defined for software distribution, stored in the first storage unit in association with the first identifier specified in the acquisition request;
Based on whether or not a period for storing the second storage unit in association with the combination of the second identifier specified by the specifying unit and the software identifier specified in the acquisition request has arrived, A determination unit that determines whether or not software distribution relating to the identifier is possible;
A management apparatus comprising: a reply unit that returns the software when it is determined that the software can be distributed.   The determination unit stores the second storage unit in association with the combination of the first identifier and the software identifier specified in the acquisition request when the second identifier is not specified by the specifying unit. The management device according to claim 1, wherein whether or not software distribution relating to the software identifier is possible is determined based on whether or not the software has arrived. A receiving unit for receiving a software acquisition request including a first identifier and a software identifier for each country;
A specifying unit for specifying a second identifier for each region defined for software distribution, stored in the first storage unit in association with the first identifier specified in the acquisition request;
Based on whether or not a period for storing the second storage unit in association with the combination of the second identifier specified by the specifying unit and the software identifier specified in the acquisition request has arrived, A determination unit that determines whether or not software distribution relating to the identifier is possible;
A management system comprising: a reply unit that returns the software when it is determined that the software can be distributed. On the computer,
A receiving procedure for receiving a software acquisition request including a first identifier and a software identifier for each country;
A specific procedure for identifying a second identifier for each area defined for software distribution, stored in the first storage unit in association with the first identifier specified in the acquisition request;
Based on whether or not a period for storing the second storage unit in association with the combination of the second identifier specified in the specifying procedure and the software identifier specified in the acquisition request has arrived, A determination procedure for determining whether or not software distribution relating to the identifier is possible;
A management program for executing a reply procedure for returning the software when it is determined that the software can be distributed.

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