Abstract: A method of controlling objects in an information processing system includes the steps of representing objects by a tree having a hierarchical structure, providing each of the objects with a first operation-target flag which indicates whether a corresponding object is a target of a given operation, and performing the given operation on an object upon receiving of an object handling request for the given operation only if the first operation-target flag of the object indicates that the object is a target of the given operation.

Abstract: A hierarchical processing system includes processors connected in a hierarchical formation having first, second and third hierarchical levels, for down loading information to the processors in parallel. The system comprises a memory unit provided at the first hierarchical level, for storing information to be down loaded to the processors located at the second and third hierarchical levels and for receiving configuration data about the processors located at the second and third hierarchical levels therefrom, a receiving unit provided at the second hierarchical level, for receiving the information to be down loaded to the processors located at the second and third hierarchical levels from the memory unit and for sending the configuration data about processors located at the second and third hierarchical levels to the memory unit.