Automatic option setting circuit

A method for automatically setting options in a device for connecting to a computer, comprising the steps of:

• storing, in a memory of said device, pre-settable option setting information, said pre-settable option setting information indicating operating characteristics of said device based on resources of said computer allocated to said device;
• pre-setting a configuration control register in said device, which supplies option setting information for said device, with said pre-settable option setting information from said memory;
• modifying option setting information in said configuration register;
• and
• updating said memory with said modified option setting information in said configuration control register.

An automatic option setting circuit in a device for connecting to a computer, the circuit comprising:

• a configuration control register having at least one storage location, each storage location for storing option setting information for said device;
• a non-volatile memory storing pre-settable option setting information, said pre-settable option setting information indicating operating characteristics of said device based on resources of said computer allocated to said device;
• option processing means for pre-setting said storage location in said configuration control register with said pre-settable option setting information stored in said memory;
• an option mode detecting circuit detecting when said option setting information is being stored in said configuration control register;
• and
• option setting circuit reading said pre-settable option setting information from said memory and writing said pre-settable option information into said configuration control register, and updating said option setting information in said memory based on output from said option mode detecting circuit.