Method and system for supporting multiple capture devices

Details Method and system for supporting multiple capture devices Method and system for supporting multiple capture devices

1997-10-27

2001-09-04

Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput

Computer-to-computer data routing

Least weight routing

C710S064000, C709S241000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286054

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to image capture devices and more particularly to a method and system for supporting multiple capture devices in a host system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, image capture devices, including digital cameras and other image capture devices, are used to obtain multimedia content. This multimedia content may include digital images, any sound annotating the image, and tags containing information about the image. Typically, a host such as a computer is used to view, print, edit and otherwise manipulate data from a capture device. In order to retrieve data from a capture device, an application on the host must be capable of communicating with the image capture device. A user interface is also provided to allow the user to control the host's communication with the capture device, for example to choose which data is transferred from the capture device to the host.
Typically, a conventional TWAIN data source both provides the user interface for the capture device and connectivity to the capture device. In the context of this application, connectivity includes the physical connection to the capture device, for example via USB (Uniform Serial Bus), the accompanying protocols, and control of or communication with the capture device. Although a conventional TWAIN data source does allow communication with a capture device, such a conventional TWAIN data source is specific to a particular capture device. For example, one TWAIN data source would be used to communicate with a given digital camera. If an application on the host is to communicate with a different type of digital camera or other capture device, a completely new TWAIN data source must be provided. Thus, a developer desiring to allow an application to communicate with another capture device must provide both the user interface and the connectivity for the new capture device through a completely new TWAIN data source. Moreover, a conventional TWAIN data source can only acquire data. An application using a conventional TWAIN data source can, therefore, only receive data from a particular capture device. Finally, the conventional TWAIN data source also takes control of the host when acquiring data, precluding the user from accessing other features of the application while the conventional TWAIN data source is working.
Some conventional monolithic applications are capable of directly communicating with multiple capture devices. Such applications have built-in support for multiple cameras. As a result, such a conventional application can provide connectivity for each of the plurality cameras the application supports. However, once the capture devices supported are set, new capture devices cannot be supported without rewriting the application. Consequently, the number and type of capture devices supported by such conventional applications is limited to those chosen when the application was developed.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for supporting a plurality of different capture devices on a host which requires minimal software development. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for allowing a host, which includes an application program, to support a plurality of capture devices. In one aspect, the method and system comprise providing a first digital imaging device module, providing an interface layer, and providing a second digital imaging device module. The first digital imaging device module includes information relating to a first digital imaging device and is for controlling and providing connectivity to the first digital imaging device. The interface layer is for communicating between the application and the first digital imaging device module. The second digital imaging device module includes information relating to a second digital imaging device. The second digital imaging device module is for controlling and providing connectivity to the second digital imaging device and is accessible by the application through the interface layer. In another aspect, the method and system comprise providing a plurality of capture device modules and providing an interface control layer. The plurality of capture device modules corresponds to the plurality of capture devices. Each capture device module is for controlling, providing a user interface for, and providing connectivity to the corresponding capture device. The interface control layer is for communicating between the application and each of the plurality of control device modules.
According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention allows a host to relatively easily support a plurality of capture devices and include new capture devices.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5680618 (1997-10-01), Freund
patent: 5878056 (1999-03-01), Black et al.
patent: 5961620 (1999-10-01), Trent et al.
patent: 6003093 (1999-12-01), Kester

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