Patent ID: 8670143

Claim:
An image forming apparatus communicable with a server system that delivers firmware, comprising: a storing unit configured to store the firmware after it is delivered from the server system and before it is applied; a notification unit configured to notify a start of application of the firmware to the server system in a case where the application of the firmware stored in the storing unit to the image forming apparatus is started in response to an instruction from a user; a first application unit configured to perform control that the firmware is applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is permitted is received from the server system in reply to the notification of the notification unit, and that the firmware is not applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is prohibited is received; a first confirmation unit configured to periodically confirm whether the firmware stored in the storing unit before the application, is to be deleted, to the server system; and a delete unit configured to delete the firmware stored in the storing unit before the application in a case where a response to the effect that the firmware is to be deleted is received from the server system in reply to the confirmation of the first confirmation unit; wherein the response to the effect that the application of the firmware is prohibited is transmitted from the server system in order to prevent the application of the firmware that is in a release stop status in the server system during a period after the firmware is delivered and before the application of the firmware is started in the image forming apparatus.