JP5825302B2 - REMOTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, MANAGEMENT DEVICE, DEVICE, PROGRAM UPDATE METHOD, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote management system, a management apparatus, a device, a program update method, a program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, the functions of image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, scanners, facsimiles, or multifunction devices that implement the functions of these devices in a single housing have been calculated in the internal processing of devices such as CPUs (Central Processing Units). The processing apparatus is realized by executing an application program (hereinafter abbreviated as application). In such an image forming apparatus, a platform for mounting and executing an application is provided. By using this platform, an application suitable for a user's usage environment can be created and installed, so that it can function after shipment. Some can be strengthened.

  On the other hand, with the recent increase in functionality and complexity of software, the load required for application development and maintenance is increasing. In view of this, with regard to image forming apparatuses, multi-platform applications are being promoted. In other words, by installing compatible platforms that absorb differences in operating systems (OS) and platforms, it is possible to reuse applications created for different OSs and platforms, thereby reducing the number of man-hours required for redevelopment of applications. There is provided an image forming apparatus that achieves the above.

  Generally, when installing or updating an application on multiple image forming devices or remote image forming devices, information processing such as a PC (Personal Computer) connected to the image forming device via an electric communication line It is efficient to work from a remote place by operating a remote management tool that is one of the applications using the device. In particular, when a compatible platform is installed in the image forming apparatus, the compatible platform has an application management function (installation, update, uninstallation, etc.), so that the remote location is independent of the OS and platform of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to work from the beginning and is efficient.

  However, when updating computer programs that depend on the OS or platform below the compatible platform, such as system firmware, it is necessary to change the operation contents from a remote location according to the OS and platform of the image forming apparatus A lot of labor is required for the update work. Specifically, the operator can change the instructions for the image forming apparatus by using the remote management tool depending on the OS and platform of the image forming apparatus, or the update procedure (update order and restart when there are multiple update programs) For example, whether or not is necessary). The remote management tool is software installed on the information processing apparatus side and cannot be easily updated after distribution, and thus may not be compatible with the OS and platform of the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote management system, a management apparatus, a device, and a program update that can easily update a computer program without depending on the OS or platform of the information processing apparatus. A method, a program, and a recording medium are provided.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a device that executes information processing according to a computer program and a management device that updates a computer program stored in the device via a network. The management device has an acquisition unit that acquires device information including the type or function of the device, and a computer stored in the device to be transmitted to the device based on the device information acquired by the acquisition unit. An update program including update data for updating the program, an update program determining means for determining an update method of a computer program including information specifying a storage destination of the update data, and the update included in the device information and the update program Including information specifying the storage location of the update data based on the content of the data Generation means for generating update method instruction data for instructing an update method of a computer program, and update program transmission means for transmitting the update program including the update method instruction data generated by the generation means to the device. The apparatus includes: an update method determination unit that determines an update method of a computer program based on the update method instruction data included in the update program transmitted from the update program transmission unit; and the update method determination unit According to the update method determined by the above, there is provided a remote management system having update means for updating a computer program using the update program transmitted from the update program transmission means.

  According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to change the operation content according to the OS or platform of the information processing apparatus, the computer program can be easily updated without depending on the OS or platform of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a remote management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the multifunction machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the scanner apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the scanner apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the remote management apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the flow of update processing. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of device information. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the update program. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the flow of update processing. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an update method instruction sheet.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a remote management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of remote management system]
First, the configuration of a remote management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a remote management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a multifunction device 2, a scanner device 3, a remote management device 4, and a server device 5 as main components. The multifunction device 2, the scanner device 3, and the remote management device 4 are connected via a telecommunication line 6, and a common information communication protocol corresponding to the type of the telecommunication line 6 (HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) in this embodiment). ) Communicate with each other. The remote management device 4 and the server device 5 are connected via an electric communication line 7 and communicate information with each other according to a common information communication protocol corresponding to the type of the electric communication line 7. In this embodiment, the multifunction device 2 and the scanner device 3 are exemplified as the components of the remote management system 1, but the present invention is not limited to this component, and other components such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, and the like. The image forming apparatus may be used. Further, the number of image forming apparatuses may be one or plural.

[Software configuration of MFP]
Next, the software configuration of the multifunction machine 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 2 includes a controller layer 11 and an application layer 12 as a software configuration, and software modules included in the controller layer 11 and the application layer 12 are processed in units of an OS such as UNIX (registered trademark). Run in parallel.

  The controller layer 11 is firmware that controls hardware in accordance with processing requests from the application layer 12. The controller layer 11 interprets the processing request from the application layer 12 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources to receive the acquisition request from the control service layer. A system resource manager that performs arbitration and a handler layer that manages hardware resources in response to an acquisition request from the system resource manager are provided.

  The application layer 12 includes a copy application 13a that is a copy application, a scanner application 13b that is a scanner application, a printer application 13c that is a printer application, a facsimile application 13d that is a facsimile application, and an electric communication line. And a standard application 13 including an application such as a remote update application 13e which is an application for updating a computer program from a remote place.

  The application layer 12 includes a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine (JVM) 14 and an OSGi (Open Service Gateway initiative) platform 15 that realize an execution environment of an application implemented by Java (registered trademark), and software development of an embedded software architecture. It has an SDK (Software Development Kit) / J (compatible platform layer) 16 that is a kit and an application 17 that is implemented using the SDK / J16. These applications are stored in an SD card, which is a non-volatile recording medium that can be inserted into and removed from the multifunction device 2 and can be read and written. In the case where a hard disk device is mounted on the multifunction device 2, a part of the application layer 12 is also stored in the hard disk device.

[Software configuration of the scanner device]
Next, the software configuration of the scanner device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the scanner device 3 includes an OS 21, an application layer 22, and a user interface layer 23 as software configurations, and software modules included in the application layer 22 are processed in units of processes by the OS 21 such as UNIX (registered trademark). Are executed in parallel.

  The OS 21 is firmware that controls hardware according to a processing request from the application layer 22. The OS 21 interprets a processing request from the application layer 22 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources to arbitrate the acquisition request from the control service layer. A system resource manager and a handler layer for managing hardware resources in response to an acquisition request from the system resource manager are provided.

  The application layer 22 includes a copy application 24a that is a copy application, a scanner application 24b that is a scanner application, a printer application 24c that is a printer application, a facsimile application 24d that is a facsimile application, It has a framework 25 that realizes an application mounting environment, an HTTP server 26 that acquires various types of information via the telecommunication line 6, and a web browser 27 that displays information acquired by the HTTP server 26. These applications receive information between the copy user interface (U / I) 31, the electronic mail U / I 32, the folder U / I 33, and the facsimile U / I 34 constituting the user interface layer 23 via the Scanner API 30. Input and output.

  The application layer 22 includes a boot file 36, a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine (JVM) 37 and an OSGi platform 38 that implement an implementation environment of an application implemented by Java (registered trademark), and an embedded Java (registered trademark) language. It has a JSDK (compatible platform layer) 39, which is a software development kit of software architecture, and an application 41 implemented using the JSDK 39 via the JSDK API 40. These applications are stored in an SD card 35 that is a non-volatile recording medium that can be inserted into and removed from the scanner device 3 and that can be read and written.

  The application layer 22 includes an SDK application service (SAS) 42 that acquires the JVM 37 from the SD card 35 or the HTTP server 26 and installs or updates the JVM 37.

[Hardware configuration of MFP]
Next, the hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 2 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) interface 51, a LAN controller 52, a DCR 53, a scanner unit 54, an encoding / decoding unit 55, a plotter unit 56, an operation display unit 57, an input / output unit. A device (I / O device) 58, an IC card controller 59, a storage device 60, an image storage memory 61, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 62, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 63, and a CPU 64 are provided.

  The LAN interface 51 and the LAN controller 52 control information communication via the telecommunication line 6. The DCR 53 is connected to an analog public line PSTN, and performs transmission processing of image data according to a G3 facsimile transmission procedure using this public network as a transmission path. The scanner unit 54 reads a document image to be printed and converts it into data. The converted image data is encoded and stored in the image storage memory 61. The encoding / combining unit 55 encodes and compresses the image data and decodes the encoded and compressed image data into the original image data.

  The plotter unit 56 forms and outputs a document image on a predetermined medium such as paper. The operation display unit 57 includes an operation panel in which a touch panel is stacked on a liquid crystal display, various keys, and the like, a function for displaying a message and a GUI (Graphical User Interface) on a screen, and a function for receiving an operation instruction and information input by a user. Have The input / output device 58 is an interface for inputting / outputting signals to / from electrical components.

  The IC card controller 59 executes various processes using information on the IC card read by the IC card reader. The storage device 60 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage means composed of a nonvolatile RAM, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc., and data and parameter values that need to be retained even when the power is turned off. Remember. The image storage memory 61 is a memory for storing image data received by the facsimile function, image data read by the scanner function, and the like.

  The RAM 62 is used as a partial work area by the CPU 64 for performing each control process, and is also used for developing image data when an image is formed. The ROM 63 stores a program for the CPU 64 to perform each control process and data necessary for control. The CPU 64 controls the overall operation of the multifunction device 2.

  Various programs executed by the CPU 64 are installed in an installable or executable file on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Recorded and provided. Further, various programs executed by the CPU 64 may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, various programs executed by the CPU 64 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Further, various programs executed by the CPU 64 may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

[Hardware configuration of the scanner device]
Next, the hardware configuration of the scanner device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the scanner device 3 includes a network / USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface (I / F) 71, a scanner unit 72, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 73, a storage device 74, a ROM 75, a RAM 76, and a CPU 77. Prepare. The network / USB interface 71 controls information communication via the electric communication line 6 or the USB wiring. The scanner unit 54 reads a document image to be printed and converts it into data. The converted image data is encoded and stored in the RAM 76. The LCD 73 includes an operation panel in which a touch panel is stacked on a liquid crystal display, various keys, and the like, and has a function of displaying a message and a GUI on a screen and a function of accepting an operation instruction and information input by a user.

  The storage device 74 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage means constituted by a nonvolatile RAM, HDD, SD card, etc., and stores data, parameter values, etc. that need to be retained even when the power is turned off. To do. The ROM 75 stores a program for the CPU 77 to perform each control process and data necessary for control. The RAM 76 is used as a partial work area by the CPU 77 for performing each control process, and is also used for developing image data when an image is formed. The CPU 77 controls the operation of the entire scanner device 3.

  Various programs executed by the CPU 77 are provided in a form that can be installed or executed and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a CD-R, or a DVD. Further, various programs executed by the CPU 77 may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, various programs executed by the CPU 77 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. Further, various programs executed by the CPU 77 may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

[Configuration of remote management device]
The remote management device 4 includes an information processing device such as a PC, and includes a CPU 81, a RAM 82, a ROM 83, and a network interface (I / F) 84, as shown in FIG. The CPU 81 controls the overall operation of the remote management device 4. The RAM 82 is used as a work area by the CPU 81 for performing each control process. The ROM 83 stores a program for the CPU 81 to perform each control process and data necessary for control. Specifically, the ROM 83 is a remote management that is an application for managing (installing, updating, uninstalling, etc.) computer programs installed in the multifunction device 2 and the scanner device 3 via the telecommunication line 6. The tool is remembered. The operator of the remote management device 4 can manage the computer program installed in the multifunction device 2 and the scanner device 3 from a remote location by operating this remote management tool. The network I / F 84 controls information communication processing via the telecommunication lines 6 and 7.

  The remote management tool is provided in the form of an installable or executable format recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk, CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). . Further, the remote management tool may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The remote management tool may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. In addition, the remote management tool may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

[Configuration of server device]
The server device 5 cooperates with the remote management device 4 in response to a request from the remote management device 4, thereby supporting the management operation of the computer program by the remote management tool.

  The remote management system 1 having such a configuration executes the update process described below, thereby performing a computer program for the device without depending on the OS or platform of the multifunction device 2 or the scanner device 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as device). Can be easily updated. The operation of the remote management system 1 when executing the first and second update processes will be described below with reference to the timing charts shown in FIGS. The operation of the remote management device 4 shown below is realized by the CPU in the remote management device 4 executing the remote management tool. The operation of the device described below is realized by the CPU in the device executing a computer program for management operation such as the remote update application 13e and the SAS 42.

[First Embodiment]
First, the operation of the remote management system 1 when executing the update process of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG.

  The timing chart shown in FIG. 7 is the timing when the operator of the remote management device 4 starts the remote management tool, selects the update target device (multiple selections are possible), and instructs the remote management tool to execute the update process. The update process proceeds to step S1.

  In the process of step S <b> 1, the remote management device 4 transmits a device information acquisition request to the device via the telecommunication line 6. Thereby, the process of step S1 is completed and an update process progresses to the process of step S2.

  In the process of step S <b> 2, the device transmits device information to the remote management device 4 via the telecommunication line 6 in response to receiving the device information acquisition request. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the device information includes device system information, device module information, and device state information indicating the state of the device. The device system information includes information related to the device system, such as model name, model name, version, machine number, storage device (presence / absence and type (SD card, USB memory, HDD, etc.)), and free memory capacity. The device module information includes information such as the module name, module ID, module version, and module dependency information of the software module installed in the device. Thereby, the process of step S2 is completed and the update process proceeds to the process of step S3.

  In the process of step S3, the remote management device 4 determines whether there is an update program to be transmitted to the device based on the content of the device information in response to receiving the device information. In this process, the remote management device 4 may request the server device 5 to determine the update program to be transmitted via the telecommunication line 7 or download the update program from the server device 5. Further, the operator of the remote management device 4 may directly specify the update program. Thereby, the process of step S3 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S4.

  In the process of step S4, when it is determined that there is an update program to be transmitted by the process of step S3, the remote management device 4 transmits a computer program update request to the device via the telecommunication line 6. Thereby, the process of step S4 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S5.

  In step S5, the device transmits a confirmation response to the computer program update request to the remote management device 4 via the telecommunication line 6. Thereby, the process of step S5 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S6.

  In step S6, the remote management device 4 transmits an update program to the device via the telecommunication line 6. In the present embodiment, the update program includes update data and update data information as shown in FIG. The update data includes application update data, compatible platform update data, platform update data, firmware update data, and update data authentication information. The update data information includes information such as an update data ID, an update data name, an update data version, an update data size, an update data use memory capacity, and dependency information. Thereby, the process of step S6 is completed and the update process proceeds to the process of step S7.

  In the process of step S7, the device compares the update data information included in the update program with the device information. Specifically, the device compares the update data use memory capacity described in the update data information with the memory free capacity described in the device system information, or depends on the dependency described in the update data information. Compare the module dependency information described in the information and device module information, or compare the update data version described in the update data information and the module version described in the device module information. Thus, it is determined whether or not the computer program can be updated by the update program. Thereby, the process of step S7 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S8.

  In the process of step S8, the device determines whether or not the computer program can be updated based on the process result of step S7. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the computer program cannot be updated because, for example, the memory capacity used by the update data is insufficient, the device cannot update the computer program as a process of step S9 ( After notifying the remote management device 4 that the update is interrupted, the series of update processing is terminated. Through the processing in step S9, the operator can confirm that the computer program update processing has been interrupted. On the other hand, if it is determined that the computer program can be updated, the device advances the update process to the process of step S10.

  In the process of step S10, the device determines a computer program update method based on update data information and device system information included in the update program. Specifically, when the device is the scanner device 3 and the update data includes the update data of the compatible platform, the scanner device 3 executes the restart process after overwriting / adding the update data to the SD card 35. When the device is the multifunction device 2 and the update data includes two update data of the system firmware and the operation unit firmware, the multifunction device 2 executes the restart process after overwriting and adding the system firmware to the ROM 63. Then, after the operation unit firmware is overwritten / added to the ROM 63, the restart process is executed. Thereby, the process of step S10 is completed and the update process proceeds to the process of step S11.

  In the process of step S11, the device updates the computer program using the update data according to the update method determined by the process of step S10. Thereby, the process of step S11 is completed and an update process progresses to the process of step S12.

  In step S12, the device notifies the remote management device 4 that the computer program update processing has been completed. Through the processing in step S12, the operator can confirm that the computer program update processing has been completed. Thereby, the process of step S12 is completed and a series of update processes are complete | finished.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the update process according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the remote management device 4 determines an update program to be transmitted to the device based on the device information, Based on the device information and the update program, it is determined whether the computer program can be updated.If it is determined that the computer program can be updated, the computer program update method is determined based on the device information and the update program. The computer program is updated using the update program according to the determined update method. According to such a configuration, the operator does not need to change the operation content in accordance with the OS and platform of the device, so that the computer program can be easily updated without depending on the OS or platform of the device. .

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the remote management system 1 when executing the update process of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG.

  The timing chart shown in FIG. 10 is the timing when the operator of the remote management device 4 starts the remote management tool, selects the update target device (multiple selections are possible), and instructs the remote management tool to execute the update process. The update process proceeds to step S21. Since the processing from step S21 to step S23 has the same contents as the processing from step S1 to step S3, the description thereof will be omitted below and the description will be started from the processing of step S24.

  In the process of step S24, the remote management device 4 creates an update method instruction that instructs the update method of the computer program based on the device system information and the update data information. In this process, the remote management device 4 may request the server device 5 to create an update method instruction to be transmitted via the telecommunication line 7. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the update method instruction sheet requires update data storage destination designation information for designating a storage destination (type of storage device) of update data, and a restart process after the update process is completed. And the restart instruction information indicating the timing for executing the restart process, and the information for instructing the copy / move / delete of the data accompanying the update process, the update method instruction data is the update data information Stored in. Thereby, the process of step S24 is completed and the update process proceeds to the process of step S25.

  In step S25, the remote management device 4 transmits a computer program update request to the device via the telecommunication line 6. Thereby, the process of step S25 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S26.

  In the process of step S <b> 26, the device transmits a confirmation response to the computer program update request to the remote management device 4 via the telecommunication line 6. Thereby, the process of step S26 is completed and the update process proceeds to the process of step S27.

  In the process of step S27, the remote management device 4 transmits an update program to the device via the telecommunication line 6. Thereby, the process of step S27 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S28.

  In the process of step S28, the device compares the update data information included in the update program with the device information. Thereby, the process of step S28 is completed and the update process proceeds to the process of step S29.

  In the process of step S29, the device determines whether or not the computer program can be updated based on the process result of step S28. If it is determined that the computer program cannot be updated as a result of the determination, the device notifies the remote management device 4 that the computer program cannot be updated (update interruption) as a process of step S29, and then performs a series of update processes. finish. On the other hand, if the computer program can be updated, the device advances the update process to the process of step S30.

  In the process of step S30, the device determines the update method of the computer program by analyzing the contents of the update method instruction in the update data information. Thereby, the process of step S30 is completed, and the update process proceeds to the process of step S31.

  In the process in step S31, the device updates the computer program using the update data according to the update method determined in the process in step S30. Thereby, the process of step S31 is completed and an update process progresses to the process of step S32.

  In the process of step S32, the device notifies the remote management device 4 that the computer program update process has been completed. Thereby, the process of step S32 is completed and a series of update processes are complete | finished.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the update processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the remote management device 4 updates the computer program update method based on the device system information and the update data information. A method instruction is created, an update program to be transmitted to the device is determined based on the device information, the device determines whether the computer program can be updated based on the device information and the update program, and updates the computer program If it is determined that the update is possible, the update method of the computer program is determined according to the update method instruction in the update program, and the computer program is updated using the update program according to the determined update method. According to such a configuration, the operator does not need to change the operation content in accordance with the OS and platform of the device, so that the computer program can be easily updated without depending on the OS or platform of the device. .

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which applied the invention made | formed by this inventor was demonstrated, this invention is not limited with the description and drawing which make a part of indication of this invention by this embodiment. That is, other embodiments, examples, operational techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on the above-described embodiments are all included in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote management system 2 Multifunction machine 3 Scanner apparatus 4 Remote management apparatus 5 Server apparatus 6,7 Electrical communication line 11 Controller layer 12 Application layer 13 Standard application 13a, 24a Copy application 13b, 24b Scanner application 13c, 24c Printer application 13d, 24d Facsimile application 13e Remote update application 14,37 JVM
15,38 OSGi platform 16 SDK / J (compatible platform layer)
17 Application 21 OS
22 Application Layer 23 User Interface Layer 25 Framework 26 HTTP Server 27 Web Browser 30 Scanner API
31 copy U / I
32 E-mail U / I
33 Folder U / I
34 Facsimile U / I
35 SD card 36 Boot file 39 JSDK platform (compatible platform layer)
40 JSDK API
41 Application 42 SAS
51 LAN interface 52 LAN controller 53 DCR
54, 72 Scanner unit 55 Coding / combining unit 56 Plotter unit 57 Operation display unit 58 Input / output device (I / O device)
59 IC card controller 60, 74 Storage device 61 Image storage memory 62, 76, 82 RAM
63, 75, 83 ROM
64, 77, 81 CPU
71 Network / USB interface (I / F)
73 LCD
84 Network I / F

JP 2008-084304 A JP 2001-067232 A JP 2003-228486 A

Claims (11)

A device that executes information processing according to a computer program;
A management device that updates a computer program stored in the device via a network,
The management device
Obtaining means for obtaining device information including the type or function of the device;
Based on the device information acquired by the acquisition means, an update program including update data for updating a computer program stored in the device to be transmitted to the device, and information for specifying a storage destination of the update data Update program determining means for determining a computer program update method including :
Generating means for generating update method instruction data for instructing an update method of a computer program including information specifying a storage destination of the update data, based on the device information and the content of update data included in the update program;
Update program transmission means for transmitting the update program including the update method instruction data generated by the generation means to the device;
The equipment is
Update method determining means for determining a method for updating a computer program based on the update method instruction data included in the update program transmitted from the update program transmitting means;
A remote management system comprising: update means for updating a computer program using the update program transmitted from the update program transmission means in accordance with the update method determined by the update method determination means. The remote management system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the device information from the device via the network. Based on the update program and the device information transmitted from the update program transmission means, further comprising a determination means for determining whether or not the computer program can be updated,
3. The remote management system according to claim 1, wherein the update method determination unit determines a computer program update method when the determination unit determines that the computer program can be updated. 4. 4. The update unit according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates update method instruction data including information indicating whether or not a restart process is necessary after the end of the update process and a timing for executing the restart process. 5. The remote management system described. The remote management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the generation unit generates update method instruction data including information instructing at least one of data copy, movement, and deletion associated with update processing. A management device that updates the computer program stored in a device that executes information processing according to a computer program via a network,
The management device
Obtaining means for obtaining device information including the type or function of the device;
Based on the device information acquired by the acquisition means, an update program including update data for updating a computer program stored in the device to be transmitted to the device, and information for specifying a storage destination of the update data Update program determining means for determining a computer program update method including :
Generating means for generating update method instruction data for instructing an update method of a computer program including information specifying a storage destination of the update data, based on the device information and the content of update data included in the update program;
Update program transmission means for transmitting the update program including the update method instruction data generated by the generation means to the device;
The equipment is
Update method determining means for determining a method for updating a computer program based on the update method instruction data included in the update program transmitted from the update program transmitting means;
A management apparatus comprising: update means for updating a computer program using the update program transmitted from the update program transmission means according to the update method determined by the update method determination means. Information processing is performed according to a computer program, and the stored computer program is a device that is updated by a management device via a network,
The management device
Obtaining means for obtaining device information including the type or function of the device;
Based on the device information acquired by the acquisition means, an update program including update data for updating a computer program stored in the device to be transmitted to the device, and information for specifying a storage destination of the update data Update program determining means for determining a computer program update method including :
Generating means for generating update method instruction data for instructing an update method of a computer program including information specifying a storage destination of the update data, based on the device information and the content of update data included in the update program;
Update program transmission means for transmitting the update program including the update method instruction data generated by the generation means to the device;
The equipment is
Update method determining means for determining a method for updating a computer program based on the update method instruction data included in the update program transmitted from the update program transmitting means;
An update unit that updates a computer program using the update program transmitted from the update program transmission unit according to the update method determined by the update method determination unit. A program update method in which a management device updates a computer program stored in a device by operating a management device connected to the device via a network,
The management device acquiring device information including the type or function of the device;
Based on the acquired device information, the management device designates an update program including update data for updating a computer program stored in the device to be transmitted to the device and a storage destination of the update data Determining a method for updating a computer program containing information ;
The management device generates update method instruction data for instructing an update method of a computer program including information for specifying a storage destination of the update data, based on the device information and the content of update data included in the update program And a process of
The management device transmitting the update program including the generated update method instruction data in the update data to the device;
The device determines a computer program update method based on the update method instruction data included in the update program transmitted from the management device;
And a step of updating the computer program using the update program transmitted from the management device in accordance with the determined update method.   A program for causing an information processing apparatus to function as the management apparatus according to claim 6.   A program for causing an information processing apparatus to function as the device according to claim 7.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 9 is recorded.

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