Digital image capture and processing system employing multi-layer software-based system architecture permitting modification and/or extension of system features and functions by way of third party code plug-ins
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital image capture and processing system, and software development environment, that supports manufacturer-constrained system behavior modification and/or extension by end-users and third-parties through the development and installation/deployment of plug-in modules within the application layer of the system by persons other than the original system designers. By virtue of the present invention, the standard features and functionalities of such systems can now be flexibly modified and/or extended by end-users and third-parties (e.g. VARs, OEMs etc), and thus satisfy customized end-user application requirements, without possessing or acquiring detailed knowledge about the hard-ware platform of the system, its communication interfaces with the outside environment, and user-related interfaces.
-
Citations
154 Claims
-
1-102. -102. (canceled)
-
103. A digital image capture and processing system having a set of standard features and functions, and a set of custom features and functionalities that satisfy customized end-user application requirements, said digital image capture and processing system comprising:
-
a digital camera subsystem for projecting a field of view (FOV) upon an object to be imaged in said FOV, and detecting imaged light reflected off the object during illumination operations in an image capture mode in which one or more digital images of the object are formed and detected by said digital camera subsystem;
a digital image processing subsystem for processing said one or more digital images and producing raw or processed data, or recognizing or acquiring information graphically represented therein, and producing output data representative of said recognized information;
an input/output subsystem for transmitting said output data to an external host system or other information receiving or responding device;
a system control system for controlling and/or coordinating the operation of said subsystems above; and
a computing platform for supporting the implementation of one or more of said subsystems above, and the features and functions of said digital image capture and processing system;
said computing platform including (i) memory for storing pieces of original product code written by the original designers of said digital image capture and processing system, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications by calling and executing pieces of said original product code in a particular sequence, so as support a set of standard features and functions which characterize a standard behavior of said digital image capture and processing system;
wherein said one or more pieces of original product code have a set of place holders into which third-party product code can be inserted or plugged by third parties, including value-added resellers (VARs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and also end-users of said digital image capture and processing system; and
wherein one or more pieces of third-party code that have been plugged into said set of place holders, operate to extend the features and functions of said digital image capture and processing system, and modify the standard behavior of said digital image capture and processing system into a custom behavior for said digital image capture and processing system. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 15, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154)
-
Specification