Method and system for supplying programs

• US 20020002630A1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshiura, Syoichiro, Nomura, Tatsuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An operating environment of an image forming apparatus 3 is judged, and a program list which indicates programs which can be operated in this operating environment is generated by a server 1. The program list is then supplied to the image forming apparatus 3, and the server 1 is requested to transmit a program selected from the program list. The program is then supplied to the image forming apparatus 3 from the server 1. That is, a program is selected from the program list which indicates programs which are judged to be operable in the operating environment of the image forming apparatus 3. Thereafter, the program is supplied to the image forming apparatus 3.

Claims

1. A program supply method for transmitting a program from a server via a network to a user system, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an operating environment of the user system from the user system via the network to the server before supplying the program; and

judging whether the program is operable or not in the operating environment, and transmitting a result of judgement from the server via the network to the user system.

2. The program supply method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the result of judgement as to whether the program is operable or not in the user system.

3. The program supply method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting an order for the program from the user system via the network to the server when the program is judged to be operable.

4. The program supply method set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a program list made up of programs which can be supplied from the server;

transmitting the program list from the server via the network to the user system; and

selecting a program from the program list.

5. The program supply method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating by the server a program list made up of programs which can be operated in the operating environment of the user system;

transmitting the program list from the server via the network to the user system; and

selecting a program from the program list.

6. The program supply method set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the result of judgement as data of the user system in the server when the program is judged to be inoperable.

7. The program supply method set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of expanding functions of the user system when a program supplied from the server via the network to the user system is installed.

26. A computer-readable recording medium having a program for executing the program receiving method of claim 1 recorded thereon.

8. A program supply method, comprising the steps of:

receiving by a server an order for a program via a network from a user system;

transmitting a program in response to the order via the network to the user system; and

asking a user to pay for the program after confirming that the program is operable in the user system.

9. The program supply method set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of requesting the user system by the server to inform the server of an operating environment via the network.

10. The program supply method set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of generating by the server a program list made up of programs which are operable in the user system and which can be provided by the server, and providing the program list via the network to the user system.

11. The program supply method set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of storing by the server an operating environment of the user system.

12. A program supply system which supplies programs from a server via a network to a user system,

wherein:

said user system includes operating environment judging means for judging an operating environment of the user system, and before having a program supplied, transmits the judged operating environment via the network to the server, and

said server includes operation judging means for judging whether the program is operable or not in the received operating environment, and transmits a result of judgement as to whether the program is operable or not via the network to the user system.

13. The program supply system set forth in claim 12, wherein said user system includes:

operation input means to be operated by a user; and

display means for displaying data,

said user system is activated in response to operation on the operation input means, and the user system transmits the operating environment judged by the operation environment judging means via the network to the server, and displays the result of judgement given by the operation judging means of the server on the display means.

14. The program supply system set forth in claim 12, wherein said user system orders the program to the server when the result of judgement received from the server indicates that the program is operable.

15. The program supply system set forth in claim 12, wherein said server further includes storing means for storing data of the user system.

16. The program supply system set forth in claim 12, wherein said user system expands its functions when a program supplied via the network from the server is installed.

17. The program supply system set forth in claim 12, wherein said user system is any of a personal computer, a portable terminal, and a complex digital image forming apparatus.

18. The program supply system set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said server further includes list generating means for generating a program list made up of programs which can be supplied to the user system, and transmits the program list via the network to the user system, and

said user system displays the program list on the display means, and selects a program from the program list according to operation on the operation input means.

19. The program supply system set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said server further includes list generating means for generating a program list made up of programs which are operable in the operating environment of the user system, and transmits the program list via the network to the user system, and

said user system displays the program list on the display means and selects a program from the program list according to operation on the operation input means.

20. The program supply system set forth in claim 15, wherein said server stores the result of judgement by the operation judging means when the program is judged to be inoperable.

21. A program supply system which supplies programs from a server via a network to a user system,

wherein:

said user system includes;

operating environment judging means for judging an operating environment of the user system; and

user-side communication means for transmitting data to and receiving data from the server via the network,

said server includes;

server-side communication means for transmitting data to and receiving data from the user system via the network; and

operation judging means for judging whether a program can be operated or not in the operating environment of the user system received via the server-side communication means.

22. A program supply system which transmits a program in response to an order received via a network from a user system to the user system via the network, comprising:

server-side operation judging means for confirming an operation state of the program in the user system; and

accounting means for asking a user to pay for the program after confirming the operation of the program.

25. A program transmitting receiving system, comprising:

the program supply system of claim 22 and the program receiving apparatus of claim 24 which are connected to each other via the network.

23. A program receiving method, comprising the steps of:

transmitting by a user system an order for a program via a network to a server;

receiving the program in response to the order from the server via the network;

confirming operation of the program; and

transmitting a notification of operation confirmation via the network to the server so as to allow the server to confirm an operation state of the program.

27. A computer-readable recording medium having a program for executing the program receiving method of claim 23 recorded thereon.

24. A program receiving apparatus for receiving a program from a server via a network, comprising:

user-side operation judging means for confirming operation of the program; and

operation confirmation notification transmitting means for transmitting a notification of operation confirmation to the server so as to allow the server to confirm an operation state of the program.