A method for managing timings of checking update of a download control metafile by a downloader of an information processing apparatus including a real time clock , the method comprising a system initial setup processing and a timer interrupt processing , the system initial setup processing being characterized by : a step of receiving an input of a check cycle time of the download control metafile from an user; a step of setting the input of the check cycle time in a field of the check cycle time ; a step of generating a random number in such a way as to cause every information processing apparatus to generate a different value; based said value, a step of generating a reference time-and-date for checking the download control metafile ; a step of storing the time-and-date thus generated in a next check schedule time/date ; and a step of setting a timer interrupt generation request of the time point of the next check schedule time/date in the real time clock ; the timer interrupt processing being executed after having set up the timer interrupt generation request and comprising: when it becomes the time point that is set by the timer interrupt generation request, a step of copying the value of the next check schedule time/date to a last check time/date ; a step of executing a download update processing ; a step of storing a value obtained by adding the check cycle time to the last check time/date in the next check schedule time/date ; a step of setting the timer interrupt generation request of the time point of the next check schedule time/date in the real time clock , wherein the timer interrupt processing is performed in accordance with the check cycle time . a step of receiving an input of a check cycle time of the download control metafile from an user; a step of setting the input of the check cycle time in a field of the check cycle time ; a step of generating a random number in such a way as to cause every information processing apparatus to generate a different value; based said value, a step of generating a reference time-and-date for checking the download control metafile ; a step of storing the time-and-date thus generated in a next check schedule time/date ; and a step of setting a timer interrupt generation request of the time point of the next check schedule time/date in the real time clock ; the timer interrupt processing being executed after having set up the timer interrupt generation request and comprising: when it becomes the time point that is set by the timer interrupt generation request, a step of copying the value of the next check schedule time/date to a last check time/date ; a step of executing a download update processing ; a step of storing a value obtained by adding the check cycle time to the last check time/date in the next check schedule time/date ; a step of setting the timer interrupt generation request of the time point of the next check schedule time/date in the real time clock , wherein the timer interrupt processing is performed in accordance with the check cycle time . when it becomes the time point that is set by the timer interrupt generation request, a step of copying the value of the next check schedule time/date to a last check time/date ; a step of executing a download update processing ; a step of storing a value obtained by adding the check cycle time to the last check time/date in the next check schedule time/date ; a step of setting the timer interrupt generation request of the time point of the next check schedule time/date in the real time clock , wherein the timer interrupt processing is performed in accordance with the check cycle time . <EOS>