Patent ID: 7600119

Claim:
A data update system comprising: an apparatus that executes a program of performing a predetermined function; and a data supply device connected to said apparatus via a network, that possesses a plurality of expansion data that expands a function of said apparatus and transmits said expansion data to said apparatus; wherein said apparatus includes: a data storage unit that stores said program; a receiving unit that receives said expansion data for expanding said function from said data supply device; an update unit that stores said expansion data received by said receiving unit in said data storage unit, thus to add a new program or update said program; a decision unit that decides whether a condition that permits accepting said expansion data is satisfied; a password storage unit that stores a password associated with said plurality of expansion data acquirable under each said condition, to be used when receiving said expansion data from said data supply device; and a password output unit that makes access to said password storage unit and obtains said password for said expansion data corresponding to said decided condition, to output said obtained password to a user; and said data supply device includes: a table storage unit that stores a table in which said plurality of expansion data and said password are associated; a password acceptance unit that accepts an input of said password by said user; a presentation unit that makes access to said table storage unit, to thereby obtain said plurality of expansion data corresponding to said password accepted by said password acceptance unit and present said expansion data to said user; a selection acceptance unit that accepts said expansion data selected by said user out of said plurality of expansion data presented by said presentation unit; and a transmission unit that reads out said expansion data accepted by said selection acceptance unit from said expansion data storage unit, and transmits said expansion data together with said password to said apparatus via said network.