Communication system for managing data of resources of image forming unit

A communication system comprising:

• a) an image forming unit connected to acommunication line through a communication control unit, the image forming unit including:
• 1) at least one component part;
• 2) a first memory device for storing a control program for controlling the at least one component part;
• and
• 3) a central processing unit for transmitting a first code to a management unit via the communication line in response to an update request signal, the first code indicating at least one of a model of the image forming unit and a type of the at least one component part;
• and
• b) the management unit, for managing data of resources of the image forming unit, the management unit being connected to the communication line and including:
• 1) a second memory device for storing a control program of the at least one component part of the image forming unit;
• and
• 2) a host computer for reading out the control program from the second memory device in accordance with the first code received from the central processing unit, and for transmitting the control program to the image forming unit via the communication line, so that the control program is stored in the first memory device.

A method for managing data resources in a communication system, the method comprising:

• providing an image forming unit connected to a communication line through a communication control unit, the image forming unit having at least one component part and first storage means for storing a current control program for the at least one component part;
• providing a management unit for managing data of resources of the image forming unit, the management unit being connected to the communication line and having second storage means for storing an updated control program of the at least one component part of the image forming unit;
• transmitting a first code to the management unit via the communication line in response to an update request signal, the first code indicating at least one of a model of the image forming unit and a type of the at least one component part;
• reading out the updated control program from the second storage means in accordance with the received first code;
• transmitting the updated control program to the image forming unit;
• storing the updated control program in the first storage means;
• and
• controlling the at least one component part in accordance with the updated control program.