FIELD: systems incorporating host and slave computers. SUBSTANCE: hardware meant for use in system incorporating host computer has capability information reader and capability information memory; host-slave system has slave and host computers and interface. Method for submitting capability information to host computer involves inseparable linkage between capability information and control program, input of control program and linked capability information to host computer, and read-out of linked capability information in slave computer; method for adding new slave computer to system incorporating host computer involves memorizing of new first and second vectors in host computer, arrangement of additional memory locations in host computer, and re-allocation of first and second vectors. Hardware for determining set of functions supported by slave computer has input facility for receiving first vector as well as first and second facilities for entering variables. EFFECT: provision for supplying host computer with information related to functions supported by slave computer without machine-to-machine communications. 11 cl, 7 dwg
