Information processing apparatus and method

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• acquisition means for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;
• setting means for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to said serial bus and priorities of the search conditions;
• and
• control means for generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities, based on the device information acquired by said acquisition means.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• acquisition means for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;
• setting means for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus, priorities of the search conditions, and a search range;
• and
• control means for acquiring the device information within the set search range by using said acquisition means, and generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities.

An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

• acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;
• setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus and priorities of the search conditions;
• and
• generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities, based on the device information at acquired in said acquiring step.

An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

• acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;
• setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus, priorities of the search conditions, and a search range;
• and
• acquiring the device information within the set search range set, and generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities.

A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium with computer program code for executing an information processing method, said program product comprising:

• acquiring process procedure code for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;
• setting process procedure code for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus and priorities of the search conditions;
• and
• generating process procedure code for generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities, based on the device information acquired by said acquiring process.

A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium with computer program code for executing an information processing method, said program product comprising:

• acquiring process procedure code for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;
• setting process procedure code for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus, priorities of the search conditions, and a search range;
• and
• generating process procedure code for acquiring the device information within the set search range by using acquisition means, and generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities.

An information processing method that switches a protocol for a plurality of types of devices, said method comprising the steps of:

• executing an initial protocol regardless of a switched protocol;
• and
• executing protocols unique to the plurality of types of devices, subsequent to the initial protocol,
• wherein the initial protocol includes a first process for examining a topology map of a first type of devices on a serial bus, and a second process for examining a topology map of a second type of devices to output data to the first type of devices on the serial bus,
• wherein the first process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of a printer device, and
• wherein the second process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of an image input device.

A printer device that switches a protocol in accordance with a host device, said printer device comprising:

• protocol execution means for executing an initial protocol regardless of a switched protocol, and a protocol unique to a printer device subsequent to the initial protocol;
• and
• reception means for receiving image data for printing after execution of the protocol unique to the printer device,
• wherein the initial protocol includes a first process for examining a topology map of printer devices on a serial bus, and a second process for examining a topology map of image input devices to output data to the printer devices on the serial bus,
• wherein the first process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of the printer devices, and
• wherein the second process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of the image input devices.