Management system, management method, terminal device, management server and program

A management method of a management system having a terminal device and a management server for managing firmware of the terminal device, wherein:

• the management method includes for managing the terminal apparatus:
• a storing step of storing the firmware to be capable of being updated by a user of said terminal device, and storing version information of the firmware to be incapable of being updated by said user;
• a firmware updating step of updating, on the basis of the version information, the firmware stored by processing in the storing step with newer version firmware transmitted from the management server;
• a version information updating step of updating the version information stored by processing in the storing step with the version information of the firmware updated by processing in the firmware updating step;
• and
• controlling transfer of the newer version firmware between the terminal device and the management server via a transmitting means, and
• the management method includes for managing the management server:
• a judging step of judging, on the basis of the version information of the terminal firmware transmitted from the terminal device, a need or not to update the firmware, and a transmitting step of transmitting the newer version firmware to the terminal device if it is judged by processing in the judging step that the firmware needs to be updated.

A program stored on non-transitory computer readable medium, the program causing, among computers for controlling a management system having a terminal device and a management server for managing firmware of the terminal device:

• a computer for controlling the terminal device to perform processing including:
• a storing step of storing the firmware to be capable of being updated by a user of the terminal device, and storing version information of the firmware to be incapable of being updated by the user;
• a firmware updating step of updating, on the basis of the version information, the firmware stored by processing in the storing step with newer version firmware transmitted from the management server;
• a version information updating step of updating the version information stored by processing in the storing step with the version information of the firmware updated by processing in the firmware updating step, and
• controlling transfer of the newer version firmware between the terminal device and the management server via a transmitting means, and
• a computer for controlling the management server to perform processing including:
• a judging step of judging, on the basis of the version information of the terminal firmware transmitted from the terminal device, a need or not to update the firmware, and
• a transmitting step of transmitting the newer version firmware to the terminal device if it is judged by processing in the judging step that the firmware needs to be updated.

A terminal device, comprising:

• storing means which stores firmware to be capable of being updated by a user of one's own terminal device, and stores version information of the firmware to be incapable of being updated by the user;
• firmware updating means which updates, on the basis of the version information, the firmware stored in the storing means with newer version firmware transmitted from a management server;
• version information updating means which updates the version information stored in the storing means with the version information of the firmware updated by the firmware updating means;
• and
• a control unit that controls a transmitting means of the management server, wherein the control unit is configured to transfer the newer version firmware between the terminal device and the management server via the transmitting means.

A management server comprising:

• judging means which judges, on the basis of version information of terminal firmware transmitted from a terminal device, a need or not to update the firmware;
• and
• transmitting means which transmits newer version firmware to the terminal device if it is judged by the judging means that the firmware needs to be updated;
• wherein
• the management server is configured to manage terminal firmware of a terminal device having storing means and a control unit, wherein the storing means stores the firmware to be capable of being updated by a user of the terminal device, and stores version information of the firmware to be incapable of being updated by the user, and wherein the control unit controls the transmitting means and is configured to transfer the newer version firmware between the terminal device and the management server via the transmitting means.