Patent Publication Number: US-2016226953-A1

Title: Device management apparatus, relay apparatus, relay method, and computer readable medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-015439 filed on Jan. 29, 2015. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a device management apparatus, a relay apparatus, a relay method, and a computer readable medium. 
     2. Related Art 
     In a case of installing a device driver for controlling a device such as a printer in a device such as a personal computer (PC), in general, the device driver is acquired from a management apparatus such as a management server storing the device driver and installed in the device such as the PC. For example, the device driver is installed in the device such as the PC by a user accessing a web page that provides the device driver by using the device such as the PC and selecting a device driver for a target device out of plural device drivers on the web page. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a device management system including: a management apparatus including a first memory unit that stores a control program for controlling a management target device, for each type of the management target device; and a relay apparatus including an acquisition unit that acquires the control program corresponding to a type of the management target device connected to the relay apparatus from the management apparatus, and an execution unit that executes a process for supplying the control program acquired by the acquisition unit to a control device connected to the relay apparatus, the control device controlling the management target device connected to the relay apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a management apparatus according to the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer driver management table stored in the management apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a relay apparatus according to the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal device management table stored in the relay apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer driver management table stored in the relay apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process by the relay apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process by the device management system; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the terminal device; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process by the relay apparatus; and 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal device management table according to a modification. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device management system includes a single or plural management units  10  (as an example, management units  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C), and a management apparatus  60  provided outside the management unit  10 . In addition, if there is no need to distinguish between the management units  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C, they are referred to as “a management unit  10 ”. The plural management units  10  and the management apparatus  60  are connected to a communication path N. The communication path N includes, for example, a network such as the Internet. Further, a terminal device  80  may be connected to the communication path N. In addition, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , although three management units  10  are included in the device management system, it is only an example, and one management unit  10  or four or more management units  10  may be included in the device management system. Further, plural terminal devices  80  may be connected to the communication path N. A server such as a print server may be connected to the communication path N. 
     The management runt  10  is an array of a computer and other devices. The array may be an organization of users utilizing the devices. The devices have a function of communicating data through a communication path Na such as a local area network (LAN) or an intranet. The management unit  10  is, for example, one office, factory, home, or the like. 
     The management unit  10  includes a relay apparatus  20 , a single or plural image forming devices  40  (as an example, image forming devices  40 A,  40 B, . . . ,  40 N), and a single or plural terminal devices  50  (as an example, terminal devices  50 A,  50 B, . . . ,  50 N). In addition, if there is no need to distinguish between the image forming devices  40 A,  40 B, . . . ,  40 N, they are referred to as “an image forming device  40 ”. The plural image forming devices  40  are connected to the communication path Na. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , although the plural image forming device  40  are included in the management unit  10 , it is only an example, and one image forming device  40  may be included in the management unit  10 . Further, if there is no need to distinguish between the terminal devices  50 A,  50 B, . . . ,  50 N, they are referred to as “a terminal device  50 ”. The plural terminal devices  50  are connected to the communication path Na. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , although the plural terminal devices  50  are included in the management unit  10 , it is only an example, and one terminal device  50  may be included in the management unit  10 . 
     The communication path Na may be either a wired system or a wireless system, or a combination thereof. The communication path Na is connected to the communication path N, for example, through a firewall, a gateway, or the like. 
     The image forming device  40  is an example of a device to be managed (management target device) by the device management system. The image forming device  40  is, for example, a printer, a complex machine (a multifunction device equipped with a copy function, a printing function, a scanning function, and the like), a scanner, a facsimile, or the like. Various types (for example, various models or specifications) of image forming devices  40  can be connected to the communication path Na. For example, plural image forming devices  40  which have been manufactured by the same manufacturer may be connected to the communication path Na, and plural image forming devices  40  which have been manufactured by different manufacturers may be connected to the communication path Na. There are cases where plural image forming devices  40  which have been manufactured by the same manufacturer include various models of image forming devices  40 . Further, there are cases where plural image forming devices  40  of the same model include various specifications of image forming devices  40 . In the present embodiment, the image forming device  40  corresponds to the management target device, but a device other than the image forming device  40  may correspond to the management target device. 
     The terminal device  50  is, for example, a device such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. The terminal device  50  has a function of using the image forming device  40  through the communication path Na. 
     The relay apparatus  20  has a function of receiving, firmware for each image forming device  40 , a device driver such as a printer driver, and updated version data of the device driver, from the management apparatus  60 . The device driver is a program for allowing the terminal device  50  to use to control the management target device. The printer driver is a control program for allowing the terminal device  50  to control the image forming device  40 . The relay apparatus  20  stores the firmware and the device driver so as to install them in the respective corresponding image forming device  40  and the terminal device  50 . Further, the relay apparatus  20  may have a function of collecting, device information used for managing each image forming device  40 , from each image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na, and supplying the device information to the management apparatus  60 . 
     It is also conceivable to install a program describing a function of the relay apparatus  20  in a certain terminal device  50  connected to the communication path Na, and use the terminal device  50  as the relay apparatus  20 . However, in the present embodiment, as an example, the relay apparatus  20  which is designed as a dedicated device is used in view of the convenience of operation and the robustness of the device itself. The relay apparatus  20  which is a dedicated device may have a performance of executing a limited program necessary for the device management system. Thus, the hardware performance of the relay apparatus  20  (a CPU performance, a memory capacity, and the like) may not be so high. The relay apparatus  20  may be made as a relatively small and inexpensive device. Further, the relay apparatus  20  may not include a function of performing an unspecified program which is not expected in advance. Therefore, since failure is less likely to occur, there is basically no need for the user to perform maintenance of the relay apparatus  20 , and the number of times of maintenance is reduced. Further, the supply of information to the user side is performed by the management apparatus  60  through the communication path N. Therefore, the relay apparatus  20  may not be equipped with a UI unit (user interface unit) such as a display screen or an input device. 
     The management apparatus  60  collects the device information regarding each image forming device  40  through the communication path N from the relay apparatus  20  in each management unit  10 , and supplies services to each management unit  10  by using the device information. In the present embodiment, the management apparatus  60  has a function of storing a printer driver and supplying the printer driver to the management unit  10 . The management apparatus  60  may be a single server device, or a system including plural computers such as a cloud computing system. An example of the services provided by the management apparatus  60  includes a service of supplying information collected by the management unit  10  (for example, the state, usage, and the like of each image forming device  40 ) and secondary information obtained by analyzing the information to the administrator of the management unit  10 . For example, it is assumed that the administrator of a certain management unit  10  can log in to the management apparatus  60  by using the terminal device  80  and can browse the information regarding the management unit  10 . In addition, the terminal device  80  is a device such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. Further, the management apparatus  60  may provide one or more services out of management of charging for the use of the image forming device  40 , management of the remaining amount of consumables of each image forming device  40 , distribution of the latest version of a device driver and firmware, and setting of various types of setting information for the image forming device  40 . Of course, these are merely examples, and the management apparatus  60  may also provide other various services using the collected information. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of the management apparatus  60 . 
     The relay apparatus management unit  62  manages information regarding each management unit  10 . For example, the relay apparatus management unit  62  manages relay apparatus identification information (for example, a relay apparatus ID) for identifying the relay apparatus  20  of each management unit  10 , the device information regarding the image forming device  40  in each management unit  10 , and the like. Further, the relay apparatus management unit  62  may manage the information of the administrator of each management unit  10  (for example, the user ID of the administrator, and the like). The information is stored in the storage unit  66 . For example, the user ID (administrator ID) of the administrator who manages the relay apparatus  20 , the name (for example, a group name) of the management unit  10  in which the relay apparatus  20  is provided, and the device information regarding the image forming device  40  in the management unit  10  are stored in the storage unit  66 , in association with the relay apparatus ID of each relay apparatus  20 . For example, the e-mail address of the administrator may be used as the administrator ID. The device information includes, for example, device identification information (for example, a device ID, a device name, and the like) for identifying the image forming device  40 , device model information (for example, a model name, and the like) indicating the model of the image forming device  40 , usage history information indicating the usage history of the image forming device  40 , operation state information indicating an operation state (for example, a normal state, an out-of-toner state, and the like) of the image forming device  40 , and the like. The usage history information is information indicating a date and time when, for example, the image forming device  40  is used (for example, a print date and time, and the like), the number of outputs at the time of each use (for example, a count value indicating the number of prints), and the like. Of course, other information may be included in the usage history information. 
     The driver management unit  64  stores a device driver such as a printer driver in the storage unit  66 , and manages the device driver. For example, if a new device driver or the updated version of the device driver is generated and supplied to the management apparatus  60 , the driver management unit  64  stores the new device driver and the updated version of the device driver in the storage unit  66 . Further, the driver management unit  64  driver identification information for identifying the printer driver stored in the storage unit  66  (for example, a driver ID and name, and the like), device model information indicating the model of the image forming device controlled by the printer driver (for example, a model name, and the like), and OS information (for example, an OS name) indicating an operating system (OS) corresponding to the printer driver are associated with each other. The driver management unit  64  creates a printer driver management table  68  representing the association. The printer driver management table  68  is stored in the storage unit  66 . The printer driver may be automatically supplied, for example, from the manufacturer of the image forming device  40  to the management apparatus  60 , or may be supplied to the management apparatus  60  by an administrator or the like. 
     The storage unit  66  is a storage device such as a hard disk. The storage unit  66  stores a device driver, a printer driver management table  68 , and information (a relay apparatus ID, device information, and the like) managed by the relay apparatus management unit  62 . Further, the storage unit  66  stores address information of the relay apparatus  20  for communicating with the relay apparatus  20 . 
     The communication unit  70  is a communication interface connected to the communication path N. The communication unit  70  has a function of receiving data from other devices and a function of transmitting data to other devices. The control unit  72  controls the operation of each unit of the management apparatus  60 . In addition, the management apparatus  60  may be equipped with a UI unit. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the printer driver management table  68 . As an example, a model name, an OS name, and driver identification information (for example, an driver ID) of an image forming device are associated with each other. For example, a driver A 1  is a printer driver for OS “Windows (registered trademark) 7 (32 bit version)” for controlling an image forming device of which the model name is “image forming device A”. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a configuration of the relay apparatus  20 . 
     The device management unit  22  acquires device information regarding each image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and terminal information regarding each terminal device  50  connected to the communication path Na, and manages the device information and the terminal information. The device information and the terminal information are stored in the storage unit  28 . The terminal information contains, for example, terminal device identification information for identifying the terminal device  50  (for example, a terminal device ID), terminal device model information indicating the model of the terminal device  50  (for example, a model name), OS information indicating an OS installed in the terminal device  50  (for example, an OS name), state information, and the like. 
     For example, the device management unit  22  manages the type of the OS installed in each terminal device  50 , and the type of the image forming device  40  that can be used by each terminal device  50  (the image forming device  40  connected to each terminal device  50 ). The device management unit  22  associates terminal device identification information for identifying each terminal device  50  (for example, a terminal device ID), OS information indicating the OS installed in each terminal device  50  (for example, an OS name), and device information regarding the image forming device  40  that can be used by each terminal device  50  with each other. The device management unit  22  creates a terminal device management table  30  representing the association. The terminal device management table  30  is stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     Further, the device management unit  22  manages the type of the printer driver associated with each image forming device  40  (the type of the printer driver required for using each image forming device  40 ). The device management unit  22  creates a printer driver management table  32  representing the printer driver associated with each image forming device  40 . The printer driver management table  32  is stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     The driver management unit  24  acquires the printer driver from the management apparatus  60 , and stores the acquired printer driver in the storage unit  28 . The driver management unit  24  manages driver identification information for identifying the printer driver stored in the storage unit  28  (for example, a driver ID and name, and the like), and device model information indicating the model of the image forming device  40  controlled by the printer driver (for example, a model name and the like) in association with each other. The driver management unit  24  acquires the printer driver corresponding to the type (for example, a model and a specification) of each image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na, from the management apparatus  60 . For example, when a new printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na is stored in the management apparatus  60 , the driver management unit  24  acquires the new printer driver from the management apparatus  60 . The printer driver acquired in this manner is stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     The communication unit  26  is a communication interface, and has a function of being connected to the communication path N and the communication path Na. The communication unit  26  has a function of receiving data from other devices and a function of transmitting data to other devices. 
     Device information, terminal information, and a device driver acquired by the driver management unit  24  are stored in the storage unit  28 . Further, a terminal device management table  30  and a printer driver management table  32  are stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     The control unit  34  controls the operation of each unit of the relay apparatus  20 . Further, the control unit  34  includes a notification unit  36  and a supply unit  38 . 
     The notification unit  36  transmits information indicating that the driver management unit  24  has newly acquired a printer driver, to the terminal device  50  connected to the communication path Na. For example, when the terminal device  50  having an OS corresponding to the printer driver acquired by the driver management unit  24  mounted therein is connected to the communication path Na, the notification unit  36  transmits the information to the terminal device  50 . Further, when a new terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na, if the printer driver corresponding to the OS installed in the new terminal device  50  is stored in the storage unit  28 , the notification unit  36  transmits information indicating the presence of the printer driver, to the new terminal device  50 . 
     The supply unit  38  transmits the printer driver to the terminal device  50 , in response to an acquisition request for a printer driver from the terminal device  50 . Thus, the printer driver is installed in the terminal device  50 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of the terminal device management table  30 . As an example, terminal device identification information of each terminal device  50  (for example, a terminal device ID), the name of OS installed in each terminal device  50 , and device identification information of the image forming device  40  that can be used by each terminal device  50  (for example, a device ID and a device name) are associated with each other. For example, the OS installed in the terminal device  50 A is “Windows (registered trademark) 7 (32 bit version)”. The image forming devices that can be used by the terminal device  50 A (image forming devices connected to the terminal device  50 A) are image forming devices  40 A,  40 B, . . . ,  40 N. Further, the OS installed in the terminal device  50 B is “Windows (registered trademark) 8 (64 bit version)”. The image forming device that can be used by the terminal device  50 B is the image forming device  40 A. In addition, the terminal device management table  30  may be generated through a manual operation by a user such as the administrator. The terminal device management table  30  may be stored in the management apparatus  60 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of the printer driver management table  32 . As an example, driver identification information of the printer driver required for using each image forming device  40  (for example, a driver ID and name, and the like), and device identification information of the image forming device  40  controlled by the printer driver (for example, a device ID and a device name) are associated with each other. For example, the printer driver required for using the image forming devices  40 A and  40 B is “driver A 1 ”. Further, the printer driver required for using the image forming device  40 N is “driver A 2 ”. In addition, the printer driver management table  32  may be generated through a manual operation by a user such as the administrator. The printer driver management table  32  may be stored in the management apparatus  60 . 
     Here, a registration process by the relay apparatus  20  to the management apparatus  60  will be described. The relay apparatus  20  corresponds to a protocol for remote management of devices from the management apparatus  60 . The relay apparatus  20  has a function of communicating with the management apparatus  60  by using the protocol. As such a protocol for remote management, for example. TR-069 is known. Of course, a protocol other than this protocol may be used. The relay apparatus  20  stores information indicating the address of the management apparatus  60 . If a communication session is established between the relay apparatus  20  and the management apparatus  60 , the relay apparatus  20  notifies the management apparatus  60  of identification information of the relay apparatus  20 , in other words, a relay apparatus ID, through the communication path N. Thus, the relay apparatus  20  is registered in the management apparatus  60 . 
     Next, an acquisition process of the device information and the terminal information by the relay apparatus  20  will be described. For example, the device management unit  22  transmits a request for acquiring device information to the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na, and transmits a request for acquiring terminal information to each terminal device  50  connected to the communication path Na. In the acquisition request process, for example, the relay apparatus  20  multicasts or broadcasts a packet to the communication path Na. The device management unit  22  identifies individual devices on the communication path Na, based on the packets that are returned from the individual devices on the communication path Na in response to the packets. The packet that is returned from each device contains the type and address of the device. In addition, the device management unit  22  may receive a reply packet from other devices (for example, a household electrical appliance, and the like) on the communication path Na, and manage the other devices. 
     If each image forming device  40  and each terminal device  50  on the communication path Na are recognized, the device management unit  22  makes a request for device information to each image forming device  40 . Further, the device management unit  22  makes a request for terminal information to each terminal device  50 . These requests are made, by using, for example, a simple network management protocol (SNMP). 
     Each image forming device  40  transmits its own device information to the relay apparatus  20 . For example, each image forming device  40  includes a database termed a management information base (MIB), holds its own device information in the MIB, and updates the contents depending on a change in its own state (for example, an increase in the number of printed sheets). The image forming device  40  returns the device information in the MIB, to the relay apparatus  20 , in response to the acquisition request from the relay apparatus  20 . The device management unit  22  stores the device information acquired from each image forming device  40  in the storage unit  28 . Further, each terminal device  50  transmits its own terminal information to the relay apparatus  20 , in response to the acquisition request from the relay apparatus  20 . The device management unit  22  stores the terminal information acquired from each terminal device  50  in the storage unit  28 . 
     The relay apparatus  20  transmits the device information regarding each image forming device  40  to the management apparatus  60 . Here, the relay apparatus  20  may transmit the device information in association with its own relay apparatus ID. 
     The relay apparatus management unit  62  of the management apparatus  60  stores the device information regarding each image forming device  40  that has been acquired from the relay apparatus  20  in the storage unit  66 , in association with the relay apparatus ID. Thus, each image forming device  40  included in each management unit  10  is registered in the management apparatus  60 . In this manner, the management apparatus  60  recognizes the name and the model name of each image forming device  40  present on the same communication path Na as in the relay apparatus  20 , and registers the information. Further, when information such as usage history and the device state is contained in the device information regarding each image forming device  40  transmitted from the relay apparatus  20 , the information is also stored in the storage unit  66  of the management apparatus  60 . 
     Through the above process, the relay apparatus  20  provided in the management unit  10  is registered in the management apparatus  60 , in association with the administrator. After the registration, if the administrator logs in to the management apparatus  60 , the administrator can browse the states of each image forming device  40  in the management unit  10 . 
     The relay apparatus  20  periodically acquires, for example, device information from the image forming device  40 , and acquires terminal information from each terminal device  50 . Further, each image forming device  40  may transmit information indicating the occurrence of a predetermined event to the relay apparatus  20 , if the event occurs. The event to be reported includes a change in the state of consumables such as being out-of-paper or out-of-toner, the occurrence of a failure in the image forming device  40 , and the like. The relay apparatus  20  transmits the information collected from each image forming device  40  in this manner to the management apparatus  60 , autonomously or in response to the request from the management apparatus  60 . 
     The management apparatus  60  may have a function of performing the setting of the image forming device  40  on the same communication path Na as in the relay apparatus  20  through the relay apparatus  20  that has been registered, or updating the setting thereof. The information such as the device information or the setting information regarding the image forming device  40  is stored, for example, in the MIB held by the image forming device  40 . The management apparatus  60  updates the collection and setting of the state information, by performing reading and writing to the MIB through the relay apparatus  20 . 
     Further, the management apparatus  60  may have a function of updating the firmware of the relay apparatus  20  by using the protocol for remote management. When detecting the update of the firmware of a certain image forming device  40  in the management unit  10 , the management apparatus  60  may acquire the updated version data, and update the firmware of the image forming device  40  through the relay apparatus  20  in the management unit  10  with the updated version data. In this case, the management apparatus  60  transmits the updated version data to the relay apparatus  20  using the protocol for remote management, and the relay apparatus  20  stores the received updated version data. The relay apparatus  20  may install the stored updated version data in the corresponding image forming device  40  in a push method, or transmit the updated version data in response to a download request from the corresponding image forming device  40 . In the latter case, for example, the management apparatus  60  provides information indicating the update of the firmware of the image forming device  40 , to the administrator of the management unit  10 . For example, the information is displayed on the web page for the administrator. If the administrator who receives the information operates the image forming device  40 , the updated version data is downloaded from the relay apparatus  20  to the image forming device  40 , and installed in the image forming device  40 . 
     The management apparatus  60  may generate a screen (for example, a web page) displaying information regarding each image forming device  40  which is collected through the relay apparatus  20  and information obtained by processing the information. If the administrator logs in to the management apparatus  60  from the terminal device  80 , a screen displaying such information may be provided in the terminal device  80 . For example, the name, the model name, the usage history, the version of the present installed firmware, and the like of the image forming device  40  are displayed on the terminal device  80 . Further, a user interface (UI) for instructing the stopping and resuming of the use of the image forming device  40  may be provided in the terminal device  80 . If the administrator operates the UI, the state of the image forming device  40  may be set to a use stopped state or a use state. For example, the instructions of stopping and resuming are transferred to the image forming device  40  through the relay apparatus  20  from the management apparatus  60 . 
     Next, the process by the relay apparatus  20  when a new printer driver is registered in the management apparatus  60  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     First, if a new printer driver is registered in the management apparatus  60 , the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  detects the registration (S 01 ). For example, the driver management unit  64  of the management apparatus  60  transmits information indicating the registration of the new printer driver to the relay apparatus  20 . The driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  detects the registration of the new printer driver by receiving the information. As another example, the registration of the new printer driver may be detected by the relay apparatus  20  periodically polling the management apparatus  60 . 
     Next, the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  specifies the model of the image forming device  40  and the type of the OS corresponding to the newly registered punter driver (S 02 ). For example, the driver management unit  24  specifies the model of the image forming device  40  and the type of the OS by acquiring information indicating the model of the image forming device  40  and the type of the OS from the management apparatus  60 . The driver management unit  64  of the management apparatus  60  may transmit the information indicating the model of the image forming device  40  and the type of the OS to the relay apparatus  20 . 
     If there is an image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the printer driver that is newly registered to the management apparatus  60 , out of the plural image forming devices  40  connected to the communication path Na (Yes in S 03 ), the process proceeds to step S 04 . In contrast, if there is not an image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the printer driver that is newly registered to the management apparatus  60 , out of the plural image forming devices  40  connected to the communication path Na (No in S 03 ), the process is ended. For example, the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  checks whether or not there is an image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the printer driver that is newly registered to the management apparatus  60 , by referring to the device information stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     In step S 04 , the driver management unit  24  downloads the printer driver that is newly registered to the management apparatus  60 , from the management apparatus  60 . The printer driver is stored in the storage unit  28 . Further, driver identification information regarding the printer driver and device model information (for example, a model name) indicating the model of the image forming device  40  that is controlled by the printer driver are associated and stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     Next, the control unit  34  of the relay apparatus  20  specifies the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the downloaded printer driver is mounted. For example, the control unit  34  specifies the terminal device  50  by referring to the terminal information stored in the storage unit  28  or the terminal device management table  30 . Alternatively, the control unit  34  may specify the terminal device  50  capable of using the image forming device  40  which is controlled by the downloaded printer driver (the terminal device  50  connected to the image forming device  40 ) and having the OS installed therein corresponding to the printer driver, by referring to the terminal device management table  30 . 
     When the terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na (Yes in S 05 ), the notification unit  36  transmits information indicating the presence of the new printer driver to the terminal device  50  (S 06 ). When the terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na (No in S 05 ), the process is ended. 
     In addition, when plural new printer drivers are registered to the management apparatus  60  and the plural printer drivers are downloaded to the relay apparatus  20 , the notification unit  36  transmits information indicating the presence of all of the printer drivers corresponding to the OS installed in the terminal device  50 , to the terminal device  50 . 
     The information indicating the presence of a new printer driver is displayed on the display of the terminal device  50 . If the user instructs the installation of the new printer driver, by using the terminal device  50 , the terminal device  50  transmits information indicating the instruction (acquisition request information) to the relay apparatus  20 . The supply unit  38  of the relay apparatus  20  transmits the new printer driver to the terminal device  50  in response to the acquisition request. Thus, the new printer driver is installed in the terminal device  50 . The image forming device  40  corresponding to the printer driver is controlled by the terminal device  50 , using the printer driver. 
     In addition, in the above description, when the image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the newly registered printer driver is connected to the communication path Na, even if the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the printer driver is mounted is not connected to the communication path Na, the driver management unit  24  downloads the printer driver (S 04 ). Thus, when a new terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the printer driver is mounted is connected to the communication path Na, the printer driver is more rapidly supplied to the terminal device  50  than in a case where the printer driver is downloaded after connection is established. 
     As another example, the driver management unit  24  may download the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and the type of the OS installed in the terminal device  50  connected to the communication path Na, from the management apparatus  60 . In other words, the image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the newly registered printer driver is connected to the communication path Na, when the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the newly registered printer driver is mounted is connected to the communication path N, and the driver management unit  24  may download the printer driver from the management apparatus  60 . The model of the image forming device  40  corresponding to the newly registered printer driver and the type of the corresponding OS are specified in the process of step S 02 . The driver management unit  24  downloads the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and the OS of the terminal device  50  connected to the communication path N, from the management apparatus  60 , by referring to the specified information and the information (device information and terminal information) stored in the storage unit  28 . 
     In the present embodiment, as step S 06 , the information indicating the presence of the new printer driver is transmitted to the terminal device  50 , and the printer driver is supplied to the terminal device  50  in response to the acquisition request from the terminal device  50 . Thus, it is possible to inadvertently prevent the printer driver having, a possibility of the occurrence of a defect (bug) from being installed in the terminal device  50 . Of course, the supply unit  38  may supply the printer driver to the terminal device  50  in a push manner without transmitting the information indicating the presence of a new printer driver to the terminal device  50 . In this case, a new printer driver is installed in the terminal device  50  without receiving the acquisition request from the terminal device  50 . 
     Next, the entire process of the device management system will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . First, a new printer driver is registered in the management apparatus  60  (S 10 ). As described above, the registration is detected by the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20 . 
     If the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  detects the registration, it searches for the image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the printer driver which is newly registered to the management apparatus  60 , out of the plural image forming devices  40  connected to the communication path Na (S 11 ). When the image forming device  40  of the model corresponding to the newly registered printer driver is connected to the communication path Na, the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  downloads the newly registered printer driver from the management apparatus  60  (S 12 ). The printer driver is stored in the storage unit  28  of the relay apparatus  20  (S 13 ). 
     Next, the control unit  34  searches for the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the downloaded printer driver is mounted, out of the plural terminal devices  50  connected to the communication path Na (S 14 ). For example, the control unit  34  specifies the terminal device  50 , by referring to the terminal information or the terminal device management table  30 . 
     When the terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na, the notification unit  36  transmits the information indicating the presence of the new printer driver to the terminal device  50  (S 15 ). The display of the terminal device  50  displays that the new printer driver is present (S 16 ). 
       FIG. 9  displays an example of a screen  90  displayed on the terminal device  50 . As an example, information indicating three types of printer drivers (a driver for a printer X, a driver for a printer Y and a driver for a printer Z) is displayed. Each printer driver is a printer driver acquired by the relay apparatus  20  that is newly registered to the management apparatus  60 . Each printer driver is the printer driver corresponding to the OS of the terminal device  50 . In other words, it is illustrated that three new printer drivers corresponding to the OS of the terminal device  50  are present in the relay apparatus  20 . The user specifies the printer driver to be installed, by using the user interface (UI) of the terminal device  50 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the driver for the printer Y is designated. Then, if the user instructs installation thereof by using the UI, information for instructing the installation of the driver for the printer Y is transmitted from the terminal device  50  to the relay apparatus  20  (S 17 ). For example, an installation instruction is given by the user pressing an installation button  92 . 
     If the supply unit  38  of the relay apparatus  20  receives information indicating the installation instruction from the terminal device  50 , the printer driver designated by the user in response to the instruction is transmitted to the terminal device  50  (S 18 ). For example, the driver for the printer Y is transmitted from the relay apparatus  20  to the terminal device  50 . Thus, the driver for the printer Y is installed in the terminal device  50  (S 19 ). 
     As described above, if a new printer driver is registered to the management apparatus  60 , the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na is downloaded from the management apparatus  60  to the relay apparatus  20 . In other words, a necessary printer driver in a local management unit  10  is downloaded in the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10 , and an unnecessary printer driver in the management unit  10  is not downloaded. Then, information indicating the addition of the new printer driver is transmitted to the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the downloaded printer driver is mounted. Thus, information indicating the presence of the printer driver that can be used in the terminal device  50  is transmitted to the terminal device  50 . Information indicating the presence of the printer driver that cannot be used in the terminal device  50  is not transmitted to the terminal device  50 . The user selects a target printer driver out of a single or plural printer drivers that can be used. According to the present embodiment, the number of choices of the printer driver is reduced as compared to the case of selecting the target printer driver out of a printer driver group including the printer drivers that can be used. Thus, the selection of the printer driver by the user is facilitated. For example, there is a case which does not include a printer driver for controlling the image forming devices  40  which are not included in the management unit  10 A, out of all of the printer drivers which are newly registered to the management apparatus  60 . According to the present embodiment, the printer driver for controlling the image forming devices  40  which are included in the management unit  10 A is supplied to the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10 A. The printer driver for controlling the image forming devices  40  which are not included in the management unit  10 A is not supplied to the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10 A. Therefore, since the number of choices of the printer driver is reduced as compared to the case of selecting the target printer driver out of all of the newly registered printer drivers, the selection of the printer driver by the user is facilitated. 
     For example, it is assumed that  100  new printer drivers are registered in the management apparatus  60 . Without applying the present embodiment, when information regarding all printer drivers which have been newly registered in the management apparatus  60  is displayed on the screen of the terminal device  50 , 100 printer drivers are displayed. In contrast, in the present embodiment, out of the 100 printer drivers, the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  included in the management unit  10 A is downloaded from the management apparatus  60  to the relay apparatus  20 . Then, information indicating the presence of the printer driver is transmitted to the terminal device  50  having an OS installed therein corresponding to the downloaded printer driver, out of a single or plural terminal devices  50  included in the management unit  10 A. For example, it is assumed that three new printer drivers are associated with the OS of a certain terminal device  50 . In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , only three printer drivers are displayed on the terminal device  50 . According to the present embodiment, in the above example, the number of choices is reduced from 100 to three, and therefore the selection of the printer driver by the user is facilitated. 
     For example, there is a case of storing printer drivers of plural manufacturers in the management apparatus  60 . In this case, the number of stored printer drivers may be enormous. By applying the present embodiment to such a case, the number of choices of the printer driver is expected to be greatly reduced. Accordingly, the selection of the printer driver by the user is facilitated. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, the relay apparatus  20  communicates with the management apparatus  60 . In this case, the terminal device  50  does not directly communicate with the management apparatus  60 . Of course, the terminal device  50  may directly communicate with the management apparatus  60 . 
     Next, the process by the relay apparatus  20  in the case where a new terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     When the new terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na, the device management unit  22  detects the connection of the terminal device  50  (S 30 ). As described above, the device management unit  22  acquires terminal information from the terminal device  50 . 
     When the printer driver which controls the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and corresponds to the OS installed in a newly detected terminal device  50  is already stored in the storage unit  28  (Yes in S 31 ), the process proceeds to step S 32 . In contrast, when the printer driver is not stored in the storage unit  28  (No in S 31 ), the process proceeds to step S 33 . 
     In step S 32 , the notification unit  36  transmits information indicating the presence of the corresponding printer driver to the new terminal device  50 . If the acquisition request of the printer driver is transmitted from the terminal device  50 , the supply unit  38  transmits the corresponding printer driver to the terminal device  50 . Thus, the printer driver is installed in the new terminal device  50 . 
     In step S 33 , the driver management unit  24  downloads the printer driver for the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and corresponding to the OS installed in the newly detected terminal device  50 , from the management apparatus  60 . For example, the driver management unit  24  transmits OS information indicating the OS installed in the new terminal device  50  to the management apparatus  60 . Device information regarding the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na is stored in the management apparatus  60 . Accordingly the driver management unit  64  of the management apparatus  60  specifies the printer driver for controlling the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and corresponding to the OS installed in the new terminal device  50  based on the OS information and the device information. When the specified printer driver is stored in the storage unit  66  of the management apparatus  60 , the driver management unit  64  transmits the printer driver to the relay apparatus  20 . Thus, the printer driver is downloaded to the relay apparatus  20 . Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S 32 . In addition, when the printer driver which is used in the new terminal device  50  is not used management apparatus  60 , the process is ended. 
     In this manner, even if the new terminal device  50  is connected to the communication path Na, it is in a state where the printer driver corresponding to the OS of the terminal device  50  can be transmitted to the terminal device  50 . 
     Further, when the new image forming device  40  is connected to the communication path Na, the device management unit  22  of the relay apparatus  20  collects the device information regarding the image forming device  40  from the image forming device  40 . When the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  is not stored in the storage unit  28  of the relay apparatus  20 , the driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  acquires the printer driver from the management apparatus  60 . The notification unit  36  of the relay apparatus  20  transmits information indicating the acquisition of the printer driver, to the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding, to the printer driver is mounted. The supply unit  38  of the relay apparatus  20  supplies the printer driver to the terminal device  50  in response to the acquisition request from the terminal device  50 . Thus, the printer driver for installing the new image forming device  40  is installed in the terminal device  50 . When the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  is stored in the storage unit  28  of the relay apparatus  20 , the notification unit  36  of the relay apparatus  20  transmits information indicating the presence of the printer driver to the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the printer driver is mounted. The supply unit  38  of the relay apparatus  20  supplies the printer driver to the terminal device  50 , in response to the acquisition request from the terminal device  50 . Thus, the printer driver for controlling the new image forming device  40  is installed in the terminal device  50 . In this manner, even when the new image forming device  40  is connected to the communication path Na, it is in a state where the printer driver for the image forming device  40  can be supplied to the terminal device  50 . 
     Next, a modification will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . In the modification, the relay apparatus  20  notifies the terminal device  50  of guidance regarding uninstallation of the printer driver which is installed in the terminal device  50 , depending on the position of the terminal device  50 . Hereinafter, a specific example will be described. 
     The control unit  34  of the relay apparatus  20  acquires positional information regarding the terminal device  50 , by using a technology such as a global positioning system (GPS), a radio frequency identifier (RFID), and iBeacon. The device management unit  22  of the relay apparatus  20  associates terminal device identification information of each terminal device  50  (for example, a terminal device ID), OS information indicating the OS stored in each terminal device  50  (for example, an OS name), driver identification information of the printer driver installed in each terminal device  50  (for example, a driver ID and name, and the like), and the positional information of each terminal device  50  with each other. The device management unit  22  generates a terminal device management table representing the association. The terminal device management table is stored in the storage unit  28 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an example of the terminal device management table. For example. the OS installed in the terminal device  50 A is “Windows (registered trademark) 7 (32 bit version)”. Plural printer drivers are installed in the terminal device  50 A. The names of the printer drivers installed in the terminal device  50 A are “driver A 1 ”, “driver A 2 ”, . . . , and “driver Nn”. Further, the OS installed in the terminal device  50 B is “Windows (registered trademark) 8 (64 bit version)”. One printer driver is installed in the terminal device  50 B. The name of the printer driver is “driver A 1 ”. Similarly, for other terminal devices, the mounted OS and the installed printer driver are managed using a table. Further, the positional information of the terminal device  50  is included in the table. “Position” is an item representing the latitude and longitude of a position in which the terminal device  50  is provided. “Coordinate” is an item representing the three-dimensional coordinates of the terminal device  50  relative to a reference position. The reference position is a pre-set position, for example, a position that is set in the management unit  10 . The reference position is set, as an example, in an office, a factory, a home or the like. Of course, the reference position may also be set outside the management unit  10 . 
     The relay apparatus  20  communicates with the terminal device  50 , and acquires terminal information from the terminal device  50 . The terminal information contains OS information indicating the OS, driver identification information regarding an installed printer driver, information indicating whether or not the user of the terminal device  50  is a visitor, and the like. The notification unit  36  of the relay apparatus  20  transmits a printer driver for controlling the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na, out of the  28 , plural printer drivers stored in the storage unit and indicating the presence of the printer driver corresponding to the OS installed in the terminal device  50 , to the terminal device  50 . If the acquisition request of the printer driver is transmitted from the terminal device  50 , the supply unit  38  of the relay apparatus  20  transmits the printer driver corresponding to the acquisition request, to the terminal device  50 . Thus, the printer driver is installed in the terminal device  50 . 
     A specific example will be described. For example, it is assumed that the user such as a business traveler visits a certain office (for example, an area within the management unit  10 A). In this case, the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10 A communicates with the terminal device  50 N that the user carries. The relay apparatus  20  acquires the terminal information from the terminal device  50 N, and transmits the printer driver (for example, a printer driver Nn) to the terminal device  50 N, according to the above process. Thus, the state is such that the image forming device  40  controlled by the printer driver Nn can be used by the terminal device  50 N. The table illustrated in  FIG. 11  represents a state after the printer driver Nu is installed in the terminal device  50 N. In addition, the terminal device  50 N is registered as a visitor. 
     The control unit  34  of the relay apparatus  20  acquires the positional information regarding the terminal device  50 N. When a difference between the position of the terminal device  50 N and the reference position is equal to or greater than a pre-set threshold, the control unit  34  transmits information for inquiring as to whether or not the printer driver Nn is uninstalled to the terminal device  50 N. The reference position is, for example, a pre-set position, as an example, a position in an office (in the management unit  10 A) under the control of the relay apparatus  20 . For example, if the user moves away from the office while carrying the terminal device  50 N, and the difference between the position of the terminal device  50 N and the reference position is equal to or greater than the threshold, information indicating an inquiry regarding uninstallation is transmitted from the relay apparatus  20  to the terminal device  50 N. The inquiry is transmitted in, for example, an e-mail. 
     If the user (business traveler) instructs installation of the printer driver Nn by using the terminal device  50 N, the terminal device  50 N uninstalls (deletes) the printer driver Nn stored in the storage unit of the terminal device  50 N. When an uninstallation instruction is not given by the user, the printer driver Nn is not uninstalled. 
     Through the above process, an unnecessary printer driver is uninstalled. As compared to a case where the unnecessary printer driver is not uninstalled, the memory capacity of the terminal device is larger. For example, it is assumed that the punter driver for the image forming device  40  used in the office in the business trip destination is installed in the terminal device  50 . In this case, the image forming device  40  is used only a few times. According to the modification, after the business trip ends, the printer driver is uninstalled. In this manner, the printer driver that is no longer necessary for the business traveler is uninstalled. In addition, if the printer driver is necessary after the uninstallation, in response to the process illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the printer driver may be installed in the terminal device. 
     In the above-described embodiment and modification, the relay apparatus  20  may acquire the printer driver from the management apparatus  60 , according to the usage history of the image forming device  40 . As described above, the relay apparatus  20  acquires device information from the image forming. device  40 . The device information contains information indicating the usage history of the image forming device  40 . The usage history is, for example, the date and time (for example, such as the print date and time) when the image forming device  40  is used, the number of outputs at the time of each use (for example, the number of prints), and the like. 
     The driver management unit  24  of the relay apparatus  20  acquires the printer driver of each image forming device  40  from the management apparatus  60 , depending on, for example, the frequency of use of each image forming device  40 , by referring to the usage history information of each image forming device  40 . The frequency of use is, for example, the number of uses per a unit period of time (for example, a unit number of days). The driver management unit  24  acquires the printer driver corresponding to the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na and for the image forming device  40  in which the frequency of use is equal to or greater than the pre-set threshold, from the management apparatus  60 . Even in the printer driver corresponding to the image forming device  40  connected to the communication path Na, the driver management unit  24  does not acquire the printer driver for the image forming device  40  in which the frequency of use is less than the threshold. 
     Through the above process, the printer driver for the image forming device  40  having a relatively high frequency of use is acquired by the relay apparatus  20 , and information indicating that the printer driver is newly acquired is transmitted to the terminal device  50 . The printer driver for the image forming device  40  having a relatively low frequency of use is not acquired by the relay apparatus  20 , and information indicating the presence of the printer driver is not transmitted to the terminal device  50 . Thus, since information indicating the image forming device  40  having a relatively low frequency of use is not displayed on the terminal device  50 , the number of choices of the printer driver is reduced, and the selection of the printer driver by the user is further facilitated. 
     In the above-described embodiment and modification, the management apparatus  60  may not be equipped with the function of the relay apparatus  20 . For example, the relay apparatus management unit  62  of the management apparatus  60  may acquire the terminal device information of the terminal device  50  included in the management unit  10 . In this case, the device information regarding the image forming device  40  and terminal device information regarding the terminal device  50  are stored in the management apparatus  60 , and the image forming device  40  and the terminal device  50  are managed by the management apparatus  60 . 
     Further, the driver management unit  64  of the management apparatus  60  may provide the printer driver corresponding to the model of the image forming device  40  included in the management unit  10  to the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10 , by referring to the device information. For example, if a new printer driver is registered in the management apparatus  60 , the driver management unit  64  specifies the image forming device  40  of the model controlled by the printer driver, by referring to the device information, and supplies the printer driver to the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10  including the image forming device  40 . Further, the driver management unit  64  may specify the image forming device  40  of the model controlled by the new printer driver, by referring to the device information, and may specify the terminal device  50  in which the OS corresponding to the new printer driver is mounted, by referring to the terminal information. Then, the driver management unit  64  may supply the new printer driver to the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10  including the specified image forming device  40  and the specified terminal device  50 . 
     Further, the driver management unit  64  of the management apparatus  60  may supply the printer driver to the relay apparatus  20  of the management unit  10  depending on the frequency of use of the image forming device  40 . 
     Both the relay apparatus  20  and the management apparatus  60  are realized due to cooperation of hardware resources and software, as an example. Specifically, both the relay apparatus  20  and the management apparatus  60  include a CPU which is not illustrated, and the like. The function of each part of the relay apparatus  20  and the management apparatus  60  is realized by the processor reading and executing a program stored in a storage device which is not illustrated. The program is stored in the storage device through a storage medium such as a CD or a DVD, or a communication path such as a network. Alternatively each part of the relay apparatus  20  and the management apparatus  60  may be realized by a hardware resource such as, for example, a processor or an electronic circuit. For achieving realization, a device such as a memory may be used. As another example, each part of the relay apparatus  20  and the management apparatus  60  may be realized by a digital signal processor (DSP) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.