Patent ID: 8615753
Filing Date: 2013-12-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A distribution apparatus comprising at least a processor, functioning as: a holding unit configured to hold, in a storage device, association information associating model information for identifying a model of a device, device identification information for identifying the device, a pre-update version of a program distributable to the device, and a post-update version of the program distributable to the device; a history storage unit configured to store, in the storage device as a distribution history, the device identification information of the device to which a program was distributed, the pre-update version of the program of the device, a version of the distributed program as the post-update version, and an update result indicating whether updating with the distributed program in the device was successful; an identification unit configured to identify, from the storage device, when a request about a program applicable to the device and including the device identification information and the version of the program of the device is received from the device, association information corresponding to the device identification information and the version of the program included in the request; a search unit configured to search, based on the device identification information, the pre-update version, and the post-update version included in the identified association information from the storage device, a combination of multiple updating for enabling updating to the program of the post-update version by repetition of updating; a history identification unit configured to identify a plurality of different distribution histories corresponding to each the multiple updating included in the searched combination by the search unit; and a response unit configured to transmit, when the update result indicates successful updating in the identified distribution histories, information indicating the post-update versions included in the distribution histories to the device as a response to the request.