Resource distribution system and method

A computer-readable medium having a program stored therein that causes a computer to execute an operation including functioning as a distribution apparatus that distributes a software resource to terminal apparatuses, comprising:

• receiving a distribution instruction including resource information indicating the software resource to be distributed to the terminal apparatuses and terminal information indicating the terminal apparatuses which are destinations of the resource;
• specifying some of the terminal apparatuses indicated by the terminal information included in the received distribution instruction, the some of the terminal apparatuses being specified as targets of distribution executed based on the resource information included in the distribution instruction;
• distributing the software resource indicated by the resource information included in the distribution instruction to the specified terminal apparatuses;
• receiving, from the terminal apparatuses to which the software resource has been distributed, control information used to control the distribution of the software resource;
• managing the received control information by associating the control information with the distribution instruction;
• making a determination whether a distribution range is to be extended based on the managed control information;
• and
• specifying distribution targets among the terminal apparatuses that are not specified in the specifying among the terminal apparatuses indicated by the terminal information included in the distribution instruction when determining that the distribution range can be extended, and distributing the software resource to the specified terminal apparatuses.

A resource distribution method used in a computer functioning as a distribution apparatus that distributes a software resource to terminal apparatus, the resource distribution method comprising:

• receiving a distribution instruction including resource information indicating the software resource to be distributed to the terminal apparatuses and terminal information indicating the terminal apparatuses which are destinations of the resource;
• specifying some of the terminal apparatuses indicated by the terminal information included in the received distribution instruction, the some of the terminal apparatuses being specified as targets of distribution executed based on the resource information included in the distribution instruction;
• distributing the software resource indicated by the resource information included in the distribution instruction to the specified terminal apparatuses;
• receiving, from the terminal apparatuses to which the software resource has been distributed, control information used to control the distribution of the software resource;
• managing the received control information by associating the control information with the distribution instruction;
• making a determination whether a distribution range can be extended based on the managed control information;
• and
• specifying distribution targets among the terminal apparatuses that are not specified in the specifying among the terminal apparatuses indicated by the terminal information included in the distribution instruction when determining that the distribution range can be extended, and distributing the software resource to the specified terminal apparatuses.

A computer-readable medium having a program stored therein that causes a computer to execute an operation including functioning as a terminal apparatus that installs a software resource distributed by a distribution apparatus, comprising:

• receiving a software resource distributed by a distribution apparatus;
• installing the received software resource;
• requesting an operator of the terminal apparatus to input information used to control distribution of the resource after completing the installing;
• and
• transmitting the input information to the distribution apparatus.