PURPOSE: To reduce management work and to attain accurate management by providing this automatic program collecting/distributing system with a means for monitoring the updating state of a program stored in an auxiliary storage device (aux. ST) for a terminal equipment from a center computer at each fixed time and a means for collecting/distributing the updated program.

CONSTITUTION: The center computer 1 transmits a program generation management number informing instruction (PGMNII) to the terminal equipment 6 at each fixed time. The terminal equipment 6 receiving the PGMNII message edits a program generation management information area 71 stored in the aux. ST 7 as a PGMNI and informs the edited result to the computer 1. A center side collection/distribution management control part 3 compares a program name included in the message with a program name storing area 72 stored in an aux. ST 2, and when the former value is lower, transmits a program transfer instruction to the equipment 6 and requests the equipment 6 to transmit an updated program. Consequently, program malfunction due to a program generation management error or unnecessary updating can be prevented, management work can be reduced and accurate management can be attained.