Patent ID: 8285756

Claim:
A storage medium in which an operation support program is stored, the operation support program including a support database or a plurality of support program components for supporting a plurality of tasks that are different from one another and are carried out as a result of execution of a plurality of device control programs that are different from one another, the operation support program causing a computer to function as constituent sections comprising: an update data acquiring section that establishes connection with a server at predetermined timing to acquire update data for updating the support database or the plurality of support program components from the server via communication lines; an updating section that updates the support database or the plurality of support program components on the basis of the update data; and a graphical user interface configuring section that configures a support graphical user interface for supporting the plurality of tasks that are different from one another by utilizing the support database or the plurality of support program components, wherein the update data acquiring section transmits update control information for acquiring the update data in accordance with types of the plurality of device control programs to the server, the update data acquiring section receives a server update record that indicates the last update time of the update data corresponding to the update control information at the server from the server, the update data acquiring section transmits a preceding server update record, which was acquired the last time, as a client update record to the server, and if time indicated by a current server update record, which has been acquired this time, does not agree with time indicated by the client update record, the update data acquiring section acquires the update data from the server and updates the preceding server update record acquired the last time into the current server update record acquired this time.