Image forming apparatus, network system, and method for controlling image forming apparatus

A network system including an image forming apparatus and a server system for delivering firmware to the image forming apparatus:

• wherein the image forming apparatus comprises,
• a storing unit configured to store the firmware after it is delivered from the server system and before it is applied;
• a notification unit configured to notify a start of the application of the firmware to the server system in a case where application of the firmware stored in the storing unit to the image forming apparatus is started in response to an instruction from a user;
• a first application unit configured to perform control that the firmware is applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is permitted is received from the server system in reply to the notification of the notification unit, and that the firmware is not applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is prohibited is received;
• a first confirmation unit configured to periodically confirm whether the firmware stored in the storing unit before the application is to be deleted, to the server system;
• and
• a delete unit configured to delete the firmware stored in the storing unit before the application in a case where a response to the effect that the firmware is to be deleted is received from the server system in reply to the confirmation of the first confirmation unit;
• and
• wherein the server system comprises,
• a first reply unit configured to make a response to the effect that the application of the firmware to the image forming apparatus is permitted or prohibited by determining whether the application of the firmware delivered to the image forming apparatus is permitted or prohibited in reply to the notification from the image forming apparatus that is made in a case where the application of the delivered firmware is started in response to the instruction from the user in the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a second reply unit configured to make a response to the effect that the firmware is deleted or not deleted to the image forming apparatus by determining whether the firmware after it is delivered to the image forming apparatus and before it is applied, is deleted in reply to a periodical firmware delete confirmation from the image forming apparatus before the application.

A method for delivering firmware to an image forming apparatus communicable with a server system, comprising:

• notifying a start of application of the firmware to the server system in a case where the application to the image forming apparatus of the firmware stored in the storing unit for storing the firmware after it is delivered from the server system and before it is applied is started in reply to an instruction from a user;
• performing control that the firmware is applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is permitted is received from the server system in reply to the notification made in the notifying processing, and that the firmware is not applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is prohibited is received;
• confirming periodically whether the firmware stored in the storing unit before it is applied is to be deleted, to the server system;
• and
• deleting the firmware stored in the storing unit before it is applied in a case where a response to the effect that the firmware is to be deleted is received from the server system in reply to the confirmation made in the confirming processing;
• wherein the response to the effect that the application of the firmware is prohibited is transmitted from the server system in order to prevent the application of the firmware that is in a release stop status in the server system, during a period after the firmware is delivered and before the application of the firmware is started in the image forming apparatus.

A computer readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute a method for an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• notifying a start of an application of firmware to the server system in a case where the application to the image forming apparatus of the firmware delivered from the server system and stored in the storing unit that stores the firmware before the application, is started in response to an instruction from a user;
• performing control that the firmware is applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is permitted is received from the server system in reply to the notification notified in the notifying processing, and that the firmware is not applied to the image forming apparatus in a case where a response to the effect that the application of the firmware is prohibited is received;
• confirming periodically whether the firmware stored in the storing unit before the application, is to be deleted, to the server system;
• and
• deleting the firmware stored in the storing unit before the application in a case where a response to the effect that the firmware is to be deleted is received from the server system in reply to the confirmation made in the confirming processing;
• wherein the response to the effect that the application of the firmware is to be prohibited is transmitted from the server system in order to prevent the application of the firmware, which is in a release stop status in the server system, from being applied during a period after the firmware is delivered and before the application of the firmware is started in the image forming apparatus.