Information processing apparatus for customizing printer driver program, and method of customizing printer driver program

Abstract

According to this invention, an information processing apparatus which customizes a device driver for controlling an image forming apparatus includes an issuing unit which issues identification information for specifying a customized driver, and a storage unit which stores, in association with the customized driver, the identification information issued by the issuing unit.

1 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A serving apparatus which distributes a piece of software using an agent of a client, comprising:
 a first selection unit which selects a client to which a piece of software is distributed;   a second selection unit which selects a piece of software to be distributed;   a setting unit which sets a schedule of distribution of the selected piece of software;   a request unit which makes a request to the agent of the selected client for making the agent inquire according to the schedule set by the setting unit;   a distribution unit which distributes the selected piece of software in response to an inquiry from the agent of the selected client.   
     
     
         39 . The serving apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the selected client performs queuing processing information on the distributed piece of software, and
 the agent of the selected client controls installation of the distributed piece of software using the information on the distributed piece of software which is queued by the agent of the selected client.   
     
     
         40 . The serving apparatus according to  claim 39 , further comprising a display unit which controls a display screen to display a result of installation of the piece of software in response to reception of the result from the agent of the selected client. 
     
     
         41 . The serving apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein information regarding an operating system of the client is presented at the time of selection by the first selection unit. 
     
     
         42 . The serving apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the piece of software is a printer driver or a facsimile driver. 
     
     
         43 . The serving apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the piece of software is a printer driver, and
 a name of a printer associated to the printer driver is presented at the time of selection by the second selection unit.   
     
     
         44 . A serving method for distributing a piece of software using an agent of a client, comprising:
 selecting a client to which a piece of software is distributed;   selecting a piece of software to be distributed;   setting a schedule of distribution of the selected piece of software;   making a request to the agent of the selected client for making the agent inquire according to the schedule set in the setting;   distributing the selected piece of software in response to an inquiry from the agent of the selected client.   
     
     
         45 . The serving method according to  claim 44 , wherein the selected client performs queuing processing information on the distributed piece of software, and
 the agent of the selected client controls installation of the distributed piece of software using the information on the distributed piece of software which is queued by the agent of the selected client.   
     
     
         46 . The serving method according to  claim 45 , further comprising controlling a display screen to display a result of installation of the piece of software in response to reception of the result from the agent of the selected client. 
     
     
         47 . The serving method according to  claim 44 , wherein information regarding an operating system of the client is presented at the time of selection in the first selecting. 
     
     
         48 . The serving method according to  claim 44 , wherein the piece of software is a printer driver or a facsimile driver. 
     
     
         49 . The serving method according to  claim 44 , wherein the piece of software is a printer driver, and
 a name of a printer associated to the printer driver is presented at the time of selection in the second selecting.   
     
     
         50 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a program for causing a computer to perform a method for distributing a piece of software using an agent of a client, said method comprising:
 selecting a client to which a piece of software is distributed;   selecting a piece of software to be distributed;   setting a schedule of distribution of the selected piece of software;   making a request to the agent of the selected client for making the agent inquire according to the schedule set in the setting;   distributing the selected piece of software in response to an inquiry from the agent of the selected client.   
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 50 , wherein the selected client performs queuing processing information on the distributed piece of software, and
 the agent of the selected client controls installation of the distributed piece of software using the information on the distributed piece of software which is queued by the agent of the selected client.   
     
     
         52 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 51 , wherein the method further comprises controlling a display screen to display a result of installation of the piece of software in response to reception of the result from the agent of the selected client. 
     
     
         53 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 50 , wherein information regarding an operating system of the client is presented at the time of selection in the first selecting. 
     
     
         54 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 50 , wherein the piece of software is a printer driver or a facsimile driver. 
     
     
         55 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 50 , wherein the piece of software is a printer driver, and
 a name of a printer associated to the printer driver is presented at the time of selection in the second selecting.