Control method for peripheral device in host computer connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices

A method of loading a program on a host computer connected to a bus, from an external memory connected thereto, said external memory storing a plurality of control programs each corresponding to a plurality of types of peripheral devices connectable to the bus, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

• issuing an identification number on the bus for checking whether the identification number is assigned to any of a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the bus;
• selecting a peripheral device in which the identification number is assigned, if a first response to the issue of the identification number is received within a predetermined interval;
• transmitting an inquiry command to the selected peripheral device for inquiring of the selected peripheral device about a device type thereof;
• receiving a second response representing the device type to said inquiry command from said selected peripheral device;
• determining the device type of said selected peripheral device on the basis of the second response;
• loading one of said plurality of control programs corresponding to the determined device type of said selected peripheral device on said host computer from said external memory;
• incrementing the identification number if the loading is completed or the first response in not received within the predetermined interval;
• and
• repeating the preceding steps with the incremented identification number until the incremented identification number exceeds a predetermined number.

A method of controlling a peripheral device connected to a bus by a host computer connected thereto, wherein said host computer is connectable to a plurality of types of peripheral devices, comprising the steps of:

• providing each of a plurality of peripheral devices connected to said bus with a program memory storing a control program for controlling a respective peripheral device by the host computer in advance;
• selecting each of a plurality of peripheral devices connected to said bus, one by one;
• transmitting a request command from said host computer to the selected one of the peripheral devices for requesting transfer of the control program for controlling said selected peripheral device;
• transferring the control program from said selected peripheral device to said host computer in response to said request command;
• storing said control program transferred from said selected peripheral device in an internal memory in said host computer;
• controlling said selected peripheral device by said host computer with said control program stored in said internal memory;
• operating an operation unit on said peripheral device;
• determining control parameters by reading operation results on said operation unit by said peripheral device;
• transmitting a second request command from said host computer to said peripheral device for requesting transfer of the control parameters;
• transferring said control parameters determined by said determining step from said peripheral device to said host computer in response to said second request command;
• storing said control parameters transferred from said peripheral device in said internal memory in said host computer;
• and
• controlling said peripheral device by said host computer with said control program and said control parameters stored in said internal memory.

A host computer connected to an external memory via a bus, said external memory storing a plurality of control programs each corresponding to a plurality of types of peripheral devices connectable to said bus, respectively, said host computer comprising:

• issuing means for issuing an identification number on the bus for checking whether the identification number is assigned to any of a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the bus;
• receiving means for receiving a response from one of said plurality of peripheral devices;
• selecting means for selecting a peripheral device to which the identification number is assigned, if a first response to the issue of the identification number is received by said receiving means within a predetermined interval;
• transmission means for transmitting an inquiry command to the peripheral device selected by said selecting means for inquiring of the selected peripheral device about a device type thereof;
• judging means for judging the device type of said selected peripheral device on the basis of a second response representing the device type to the inquiry command,, received by said receiving means;
• loading means for loading one of said plurality of control programs corresponding to the device type of said selected peripheral device on said host computer from said external memory;
• increment means for incrementing the identification number if the loading by said loading means is completed or the first response is not received within the predetermined interval;
• and
• control means for controlling said issuing means to issue the incremented identification number unless the incremented identification number exceeds a predetermined number.