PURPOSE: To load the firmware in response to the purpose of a work station by reading the firmware out of a firmware loading file designated by the read information and loading the firmware into a terminal designated by the transfer destination information.

CONSTITUTION: A loading part 33 of a firmware loading mechanism 3 checks whether a power supply is applied to a work station 4 or not. If so, the part 33 reads the firmware of a firmware loading file designated by the file name and the device name stored in a control block 32 out of a storage 34 and then loads the firmware into the station 4. The storage 34 stores plural firmware loading files storing the firmware respectively and therefore serves as a magnetic disk device or a floppy disk device, etc. As a result, the firmware can be loaded in response to the purpose of the station 4.