Communication design for image systems including printers with information processing options

摘要

The printing system includes a printer including a printer controller. One or more support optional devices are associated with the printer, and each of the optional support devices of the printer includes a device controller. The system further includes a bi-directional serial communication path comprising one or more trunk lines, wherein the trunk line provides a serial electrical interconnect between the printer controller and the respective device controller of each of the optional supporting devices of the system. The printer controller automatically assigns a unique device address to each of the optional support devices. Each of the support option apparatuses further includes a logic circuit for assigning a first device address to the first option device for support, based on an instruction from the printer controller, To enable the passage of information generated by the printer controller to the electrically connected serially connected support option device of the printer.