Patent ID: 7333226

Claim:
A program distributing method of a program distributing source, comprising: acquiring information relating to respective units composing image forming apparatuses and information relating to modules in which programs for realizing functions of the respective units are stored each predetermined hierarchy, via a network and each predetermined period and for each image forming apparatus connected to the network; receiving a module operating the unit, operation requesting information requesting an operation of whether distribution of the module is necessary or not to the respective image forming apparatus, and information of a device which is necessary for realizing a function of the module; determining whether or not each image forming apparatus is configured to be able to realize the function of the module; transmitting notifying information describing contents that an operation of requesting distribution of the module to the image forming apparatus configured to be able to realize the module function by the determination is to be carried out, the notifying information indicating that a new function of the module has been disclosed; receiving distribution requesting information requesting distribution of the module from the image forming apparatus to which the notifying information has been transmitted; preparing program distributing information including the module operating the unit, and transmitting the program distributing information to the image forming apparatus to which the distribution has been requested, wherein the distribution requesting information further includes device information, when the distribution requesting information including the device information is received, carrying out a determination as to whether or not the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to realize the function of the module, on the basis of the new device information; transmitting the program distributing information including the module to the image forming apparatus when it is determined that the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to realize the function of the module by the determination; and preparing dependent relationship information showing a dependent relationship when the module has a dependent relationship with the modules stored in the respective hierarchies on the basis of the new device information, wherein the program distributing information further includes the dependent relationship information.