Patent ID: 7693961

Claim:
A program supply method for transmitting a program from a server via a network to a user system to which one or more expansion units are attached, the method comprising: transmitting a request from the user system via the network to the server without selecting specific program-related information, the request requesting the server to provide a list of programs which can be supplied by the server; transmitting an operating environment of the user system from the user system via the network to the server; providing, from the server to the user system, a program list which prioritizes programs that are likely to be operable in the operating environment of the user system based on the operating environment transmitted from the user system; after a program is selected from the program list, transmitting the program from the server to the user system; executing the program on the user system after the program is supplied from the server and installed on the user system to thereby confirm proper operation of each expansion unit by the program; and after receiving confirmation at the server of proper operation of each expansion unit of the user system, requesting payment for the program.