Patent ID: 9311074
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A distribution control apparatus that controls distribution of firmware to be mounted on an image forming apparatus in a network, comprising: a non-transitory memory device; a processor; a storage control unit configured to cause a first storage unit connected to the network to store different versions of firmware; a control unit configured to control, based on information of the different versions of firmware, publication and suspension of publication of the different versions of firmware; and a distribution unit configured to cause distribution of a publicized version of firmware from the first storage unit in accordance with a request, wherein the control unit causes deletion, from the first storage unit, of a version of firmware whose publication is suspended, and the distribution unit causes distribution, from a second storage unit different from the first storage unit, of the version of firmware whose publication is suspended when the request is for the version of firmware whose publication is suspended, wherein the storage control unit, the control unit, and the distribution unit are implemented at least in part by the processor executing at least one program recorded on the non-transitory memory device, and wherein the distribution unit causes distribution of the version of firmware whose publication is suspended when the request is from the image forming apparatus, and the distribution unit causes disabling of distribution of the version of firmware whose publication is suspended when the request is from a monitoring center host.