Remote management system, intermediary apparatus therefor, and method of updating software in the intermediary apparatus

• US 20040148379A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogura, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A remote management system for performing remote management of electronic apparatuses via a communication line and an intermediary apparatus by a managing apparatus is provided. The managing apparatus includes a storage part storing first software for updating second software of each of the electronic apparatuses and a software transmitting part that transmits the first software to the intermediary apparatus. The intermediary apparatus includes a storage part, a software writing part that writes the first software to the second storage part, and a software transmitting part that transmits the first software to one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires the second software thereof to be updated. The electronic apparatuses each includes a non-volatile storage part storing the second software and a software updating part that updates the second software based on the first software received from the intermediary apparatus.

Claims

1. A remote management system for performing remote management of a plurality of electronic apparatuses via a communication line and an intermediary apparatus by a managing apparatus, wherein:

the managing apparatus comprises;

a first storage part storing first software with which second software of each of the electronic apparatuses is overwritten to be updated; and

a software transmitting part that transmits the first software to the intermediary apparatus via the communication line;

the intermediary apparatus comprises;

a second storage part;

a software writing part that writes the first software to the second storage part when acquiring the first software from the managing apparatus; and

a software transmitting part that transmits the first software stored in the second storage part to one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires the second software thereof to be updated; and

the electronic apparatuses each comprises;

a non-volatile storage part storing the second software controlling an operation of the electronic apparatus; and

a software updating part that updates the second software stored in the non-volatile storage part based on the first software when receiving the first software from the intermediary apparatus.

2. The remote management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when two or more of the electronic apparatuses require the second software thereof to be updated, the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus transmits the first software stored in the second storage part to each of the two or more of the electronic apparatuses.

3. The remote management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the first software stored in the storage part of the managing apparatus comprises software programs of different types;

the second software differs in type between two or more of the electronic apparatuses; and

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus transmits two or more of the software programs of the first software to the two or more of the electronic apparatuses in accordance with the types of the second software thereof.

4. The remote management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the managing apparatus further comprises;

a schedule generating part that generates an update date and time for updating the second software; and

a schedule transmitting part that transmits the generated update date and time to the intermediary apparatus;

the software transmitting part of the managing apparatus transmits the first software stored in the first storage part to the intermediary apparatus at a request thereof; and

the intermediary apparatus further comprises;

a schedule writing part that writes the update date and time to the second storage part when receiving the update date and time from the managing apparatus; and

a transmission requesting part that requests the managing apparatus to transmit the first software to the intermediary apparatus when the update date and time stored in the second storage part is reached.

5. The remote management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the intermediary apparatus further comprises;

a transmission rate measuring part that measures a first transmission rate between the intermediary apparatus and the managing apparatus and a second transmission rate between the intermediary apparatus and the one of the electronic apparatus which one requires the second software thereof to be updated; and

a transmission rate reporting part that reports the first and second transmission rates to the managing apparatus; and

the schedule generating part of the managing apparatus generates the update date and time based on an amount of data of the first software stored in the first storage part and the first and second transmission rates received from the intermediary apparatus.

6. The remote management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus comprises a communication requesting part that makes a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when receiving a response to said request therefrom; and

each of the electronic apparatuses comprises a response part that responds to said request when receiving said request from the intermediary apparatus.

7. The remote management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus comprises a communication requesting part that makes a request for the one of the electronic apparatuses to communicate with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

each of the electronic apparatuses comprises;

a deferment period managing part that manages a performance deferment period from when said request from the intermediary apparatus is received to when it becomes possible to update the second software; and

a response part that responds to said request after passage of the performance deferment period.

8. The remote management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the intermediary apparatus further comprises;

a status checking part that checks a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the second storage part so that a start of the updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by the status checking part that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

9. The remote management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the intermediary apparatus further comprises an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the second storage part so that a start of the updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when receiving a request to defer the updating of the second software from outside the intermediary apparatus.

10. The remote management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the managing apparatus further comprises a schedule generating part generating a transmission date and time for transmitting the first software and an update date and time for updating the second software;

the software transmitting part of the managing apparatus transmits the first software stored in the first storage part and the generated update date and time to the intermediary apparatus when the generated transmission date and time is reached;

the software writing part of the intermediary apparatus writes the first software and the update date and time to the second storage part when receiving the first software and the update date and time from the managing apparatus; and

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus transmits the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires the second software thereof to be updated when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

11. The remote management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the intermediary apparatus further comprises;

a transmission rate measuring part measuring a first transmission rate between the intermediary apparatus and the managing apparatus and a second transmission rate between the intermediary apparatus and the one of the electronic apparatus which one requires the second software thereof to be updated; and

a transmission rate reporting part reporting the first and second transmission rates to the managing apparatus; and

the schedule generating part of the managing apparatus generates the transmission date and time and the update date and time based on an amount of data of the first software stored in the first storage part and the first and second transmission rates received from the intermediary apparatus.

12. The remote management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus comprises a communication requesting part that makes a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when receiving a response to said request therefrom; and

each of the electronic apparatuses comprises a response part that responds to said request when receiving said request from the intermediary apparatus.

13. The remote management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus comprises a communication requesting part that makes a request for the one of the electronic apparatuses to communicate with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the second storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

each of the electronic apparatuses comprises;

a deferment period managing part that manages a performance deferment period from when said request from the intermediary apparatus is received to when it becomes possible to update the second software; and

a response part that responds to said request after passage of the performance deferment period.

14. The remote management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the intermediary apparatus further comprises;

a status checking part that checks a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the second storage part so that a start of the updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by the status checking part that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

15. The remote management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the intermediary apparatus further comprises an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the second storage part so that a start of the updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when receiving a request to defer the updating of the second software from outside the intermediary apparatus.

16. The remote management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the intermediary apparatus comprises a status checking part that checks a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus comprises an updating necessity determining part that determines whether the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended based on a result of the checking by the status checking part, and repeats the transmission of the first software stored in the second storage to the one of the electronic apparatuses until the updating necessity determining part determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended.

17. The remote management system as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the updating necessity determining part of the intermediary apparatus determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended when receiving a power-on report indicating that power is turned on from the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

each of the electronic apparatuses comprises;

a restart commanding part that causes the electronic apparatus to restart after the updating of the second software by the software updating part is completed; and

a power-on reporting part that reports to the intermediary apparatus that the power is turned on after the restarting of the electronic apparatus.

18. The remote management system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the software transmitting part of the intermediary apparatus comprises a part that stops the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

19. The remote management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software updating part of each of the electronic apparatuses comprises a part that cancels the updating of the second software when receiving a request to cancel the updating of the software from outside the electronic apparatus.

20. An intermediary apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a communication line so as to control communication between the managing apparatus and one or more electronic apparatuses managed remotely by the managing apparatus, the intermediary apparatus comprising:

a storage part;

a software writing part that writes first software to the storage part when receiving the first software from the managing apparatus; and

a software transmitting part that transmits the first software stored in the storage part to one of the electronic apparatuses each storing second software therein which one requires the second software to be updated.

21. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein, when two or more of the electronic apparatuses require the second software stored therein to be updated, the software transmitting part transmits the first software to each of the two or more of the electronic apparatuses.

22. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first software comprises software programs of different types;

the second software differs in type between two or more of the electronic apparatuses; and

the software transmitting part transmits two or more of the software programs of the first software to the two or more of the electronic apparatuses in accordance with the types of the second software thereof.

23. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a schedule writing part that writes an update date and time to the storage part when receiving the update date and time from the managing apparatus; and

a transmission requesting part that requests the managing apparatus to transmit the first software to the intermediary apparatus when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

24. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the software transmitting part comprises a communication requesting part that makes a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when receiving a response to said request therefrom.

25. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

a status checking part that checks a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by the status checking part that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

26. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when receiving a request to defer the updating of the second software from outside the intermediary apparatus.

27. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the software transmitting part comprises a part that stops the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

28. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the software writing part writes the first software and an update date and time to the storage part when receiving the first software and the update date and time from the managing apparatus; and

the software transmitting part transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires the second software thereof to be updated when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

29. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the software transmitting part comprises a communication requesting part that makes a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when receiving a response to said request therefrom.

30. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

a status checking part that checks a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by the status checking part that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

31. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 28, further comprising an update date and time changing part that changes the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when receiving a request to defer the updating of the second software from outside the intermediary apparatus.

32. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the software transmitting part comprises a part that stops the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

33. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a status checking part that checks a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses;

and

the software transmitting part comprises an updating necessity determining part that determines whether updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended based on a result of the checking by the status checking part, and repeats the transmission of the first software stored in the storage to the one of the electronic apparatuses until the updating necessity determining part determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended.

34. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the updating necessity determining part determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended when receiving a power-on report indicating that power is turned on from the one of the electronic apparatuses

35. The intermediary apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the software transmitting part comprises a part that stops the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

36. A software updating method in an intermediary apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a communication line so as to control communication between the managing apparatus and one or more electronic apparatuses managed remotely by the managing apparatus, the software updating method comprising the steps of:

(a) writing an update date and time to a storage part of the intermediary apparatus when the update date and time is received from the managing apparatus;

(b) requesting the managing apparatus to transmit software to the intermediary apparatus when the update date and time in the storage part is reached; and

(c) writing the software to the storage part when the software transmitted in response to said step (b) from the managing apparatus is acquired, transmitting the software in the storage part to at least one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires software thereof to be updated, and causing the one of the electronic apparatuses to update the software thereof.

37. The software updating method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

(d) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(e) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of the updating of the software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (d) that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the software immediately.

38. The software updating method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising the step of (d) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of the updating of the software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when receiving a request to defer the updating of the software from outside the intermediary apparatus.

39. The software updating method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

(d) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(e) repeating the transmission of the software stored in the storage to the one of the electronic apparatuses until it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (d) that the updating of the software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended.

40. The software updating method as claimed in claim 39, further comprising the step of (f) stopping the transmission of the software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

41. A software updating method in an intermediary apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a communication line so as to control communication between the managing apparatus and one or more electronic apparatuses managed remotely by the managing apparatus, the software updating method comprising the steps of:

(a) writing software and an update date and time to a storage part of the intermediary apparatus when the software and the update date and time are received from the managing apparatus; and

(b) transmitting the software in the storage part to at least one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires software thereof to be updated and causing the one of the electronic apparatuses to update the software thereof when the update date and time in the storage part is reached.

42. The software updating method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising the step of:

(c) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(d) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of the updating of the software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (c) that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the software immediately.

43. The software updating method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising the step of (c) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of the updating of the software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when receiving a request to defer the updating of the software from outside the intermediary apparatus.

44. The software updating method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

(c) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(d) repeating the transmission of the software stored in the storage to the one of the electronic apparatuses until it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (c) that the updating of the software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended.

45. The software updating method as claimed in claim 44, further comprising the step of (e) stopping the transmission of the software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

46. A software updating method in an intermediary apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a communication line so as to control communication between the managing apparatus and one or more electronic apparatuses managed remotely by the managing apparatus, the software updating method comprising the steps of:

(a) writing first software to a storage part of the intermediary apparatus when the first software is received from the managing apparatus; and

(b) transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to one of the electronic apparatuses each storing second software therein which one requires the second software to be updated.

47. The software updating method as claimed in claim 46, wherein, when two or more of the electronic apparatuses require the second software stored therein to be updated, said step (b) transmits the first software to each of the two or more of the electronic apparatuses.

48. The software updating method as claimed in claim 47, wherein

the first software comprises software programs of different types;

the second software differs in type between two or more of the electronic apparatuses; and

said step (b) transmits two or more of the software programs of the first software to the two or more of the electronic apparatuses in accordance with the types of the second software thereof.

49. The software updating method as claimed in claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

(c) writing an update date and time to the storage part when the update date and time is received from the managing apparatus; and

(d) requesting the managing apparatus to transmit the first software to the intermediary apparatus when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

50. The software updating method as claimed in claim 49, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (e) making a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when a response to said request is received therefrom.

51. The software updating method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

(e) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(f) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (e) that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

52. The software updating method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising the step of (e) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when a request to defer the updating of the second software is received from outside the intermediary apparatus.

53. The software updating method as claimed in claim 52, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (f) stopping the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

54. The software updating method as claimed in claim 46, wherein:

said step (a) writes the first software and an update date and time to the storage part when the first software and the update date and time are received from the managing apparatus; and

said step (b) transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires the second software thereof to be updated when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

55. The software updating method as claimed in claim 54, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (c) making a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when a response to said request is received therefrom.

56. The software updating method as claimed in claim 54, further comprising the steps of:

(c) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(d) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (c) that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

57. The software updating method as claimed in claim 54, further comprising the step of (c) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when a request to defer the updating of the second software is received from outside the intermediary apparatus.

58. The software updating method as claimed in claim 57, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of stopping the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

59. The software updating method as claimed in claim 46, further comprising the step of (c) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses,

wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (d) determining whether updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended based on a result of the checking by said step (c), and repeats the transmission of the first software stored in the storage to the one of the electronic apparatuses until said step (d) determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended.

60. The software updating method as claimed in claim 59, wherein said step (d) determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended when a power-on report indicating that power is turned on is received from the one of the electronic apparatuses

61. The software updating method as claimed in claim 59, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (e) stopping the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

62. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a software updating method in an intermediary apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a communication line so as to control communication between the managing apparatus and one or more electronic apparatuses managed remotely by the managing apparatus, the software updating method comprising the steps of:

(a) writing first software to a storage part of the intermediary apparatus when the first software is received from the managing apparatus; and

(b) transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to one of the electronic apparatuses each storing second software therein which one requires the second software to be updated.

63. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 62, wherein, when two or more of the electronic apparatuses require the second software stored therein to be updated, said step (b) transmits the first software to each of the two or more of the electronic apparatuses.

64. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 63, wherein

the first software comprises software programs of different types;

the second software differs in type between two or more of the electronic apparatuses; and

said step (b) transmits two or more of the software programs of the first software to the two or more of the electronic apparatuses in accordance with the types of the second software thereof.

65. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 62, wherein the software updating method further comprises the steps of:

(c) writing an update date and time to the storage part when the update date and time is received from the managing apparatus; and

(d) requesting the managing apparatus to transmit the first software to the intermediary apparatus when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

66. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 65, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (e) making a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when a response to said request is received therefrom.

67. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 65, wherein the software updating method further comprises the steps of:

(e) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(f) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (e) that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

68. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 65, wherein the software updating method further comprises the step of (e) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when a request to defer the updating of the second software is received from outside the intermediary apparatus.

69. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 68, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (f) stopping the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

70. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 62, wherein:

said step (a) writes the first software and an update date and time to the storage part when the first software and the update date and time are received from the managing apparatus; and

said step (b) transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses which one requires the second software thereof to be updated when the update date and time stored in the storage part is reached.

71. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 70, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (c) making a request to the one of the electronic apparatuses for communication with the intermediary apparatus before transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses, and transmits the first software stored in the storage part to the one of the electronic apparatuses when a response to said request is received therefrom.

72. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 70, wherein the software updating method further comprises the steps of:

(c) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

(d) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when it is determined based on a result of the checking by said step (c) that the one of the electronic apparatuses is prevented from starting the updating of the second software immediately.

73. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 70, wherein the software updating method further comprises the step of (c) changing the update date and time stored in the storage part so that a start of updating of the second software is deferred for a predetermined period of time when a request to defer the updating of the second software is received from outside the intermediary apparatus.

74. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 73, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of stopping the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

75. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 62, wherein:

the software updating method further comprises the step of (c) checking a status of the one of the electronic apparatuses; and

said step (b) comprises the step of (d) determining whether updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended based on a result of the checking by said step (c), and repeats the transmission of the first software stored in the storage to the one of the electronic apparatuses until said step (d) determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended.

76. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 75, wherein said step (d) determines that the updating of the second software of the one of the electronic apparatuses has normally ended when a power-on report indicating that power is turned on is received from the one of the electronic apparatuses

77. The computer-readable recording medium as claimed in claim 75, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of (e) stopping the transmission of the first software to the one of the electronic apparatuses when the transmission is prevented from being completed by a preset expiration date and time.

78. A program for causing a computer to execute a software updating method in an intermediary apparatus connected to a managing apparatus via a communication line so as to control communication between the managing apparatus and one or more electronic apparatuses managed remotely by the managing apparatus, the software updating method comprising the steps of:

(a) writing first software to a storage part of the intermediary apparatus when the first software is received from the managing apparatus; and

(b) transmitting the first software stored in the storage part to one of the electronic apparatuses each storing second software therein which one requires the second software to be updated.