System for loading control information from peripheral devices which are represented as objects to a controller in a predetermined format in response to connection operation

A system control apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of peripheral devices represented as objects;
• and
• a controller for unitarily of controlling said plurality of peripheral devices via a common communication line,
• said controller and said plurality of peripheral devices each including a bi-directional interface for bi-directionally communicating data over the communication line,
• object data about control of a function of each of said plurality of peripheral devices being stored in memory means of a respective one of said plurality of peripheral devices in advance,
• said controller automatically loading in response to connecting to an arbitrary peripheral device selected from among said plurality of peripheral devices, the object data read out from the said memory means of arbitrary peripheral device to form an object corresponding to the arbitrary peripheral device and also to display under control of said controller an operating screen for operating the arbitrary peripheral device on the basis of the object data,
• said controller outputting an instruction to the communication line via the object in accordance with an operation based on the operating screen displayed on said controller, and controlling the arbitrary peripheral device.

A system control method comprising the steps of:

• representing a plurality of peripheral devices as objects;
• and
• controlling said plurality of peripheral devices via a common communication line,
• bi-directionally communicating data over the communication line, between said controller and said plurality of peripheral devices,
• storing object data about control of a function of each of said plurality of peripheral devices in memory means of a respective one of said plurality of peripheral devices in advance,
• automatically loading, in response to connecting an arbitrary peripheral device selected from among said plurality of peripheral devices to said controller, the object data read out from the said memory means of arbitrary peripheral device to form an object corresponding to the arbitrary peripheral device and also to display under control of said controller an operating screen for operating the arbitrary peripheral device on the basis of the object data,
• outputting from said controller an instruction to the communication line via the object in accordance with an operation based on the operation screen displayed on said controller, and controlling the arbitrary peripheral device.