METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR WORKFLOW PARTICIPATION OF AN IMAGING DEVICE

• US 20120039537A1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited), Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited), Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Keys, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US12/853,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039537A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/182
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00183 Photography assistance, e.g. displaying suggestions to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00949 Combining applications, e.g. to create workflows allocation of computer machine resources considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks G06F9/5038
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for communicating between an apparatus hosting a workflow application and an imaging device, the system including a state engine configured to read and extract data from a first message received from the imaging device, to communicate with an application component, and to advance to a workflow state, a state translator configured to receive the workflow state from the state engine, to convert the workflow state into an imaging device instruction, and to send the imaging device instruction to the imaging device, a state instantiater configured to change a state of a component of the imaging device in accordance with the imaging device instruction, an event responder configured to assemble data in a second message based on the changed state of the component of the imaging device, and an interface configured to send the second message to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A system for communicating between an apparatus hosting a workflow application and an imaging device, the system comprising:

a state engine, at the apparatus, configured to read and extract data from a first message received from the imaging device, to communicate with an application component, and to advance to a workflow state;

a state translator, at the apparatus, configured to receive the workflow state from the state engine, to convert the workflow state into an imaging device instruction, and to send the imaging device instruction to the imaging device;

a state instantiater, at the imaging device, configured to change a state of a component of the imaging device in accordance with the imaging device instruction;

an event responder, at the imaging device, configured to assemble data in a second message based on the changed state of the component of the imaging device; and

an interface, at the imaging device, configured to send the second message to the apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the imaging device is a camera, and

the component of the imaging device is at least one of a shutter motor control, a lens focus motor control, an image sensor, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) preview screen, a battery management component, a photo file component, an LCD status light, a camera flash, and a photo setting.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the application component is further configured to communicate with a second system located outside of the apparatus.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the application component corresponds to one of a database, a file system, a user directory, an optical character recognition component, and a pattern recognition component.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit, at the imaging device, configured to display the imaging device instruction which includes human-readable language.

6. An apparatus hosting a workflow application, the apparatus comprising:

a state engine configured to read and extract data from a first message received from an imaging device;

an application component configured to perform a function based on the read and extracted data, and to send a first result of the function to the state engine;

a state translator configured to receive the first result from the state engine, to convert the first result into an imaging device instruction, and to send the imaging device instruction to the imaging device; and

an interface configured to receive a second message from the imaging device, the second message corresponding to a second result based on the imaging device instruction.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the application component is further configured to communicate with a second system located outside of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the application component corresponds to one of a database, a file system, a user directory, an optical character recognition component, and a pattern recognition component.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the state engine is further configured to read and extract second data from a third message received from a second imaging device,

the application component is further configured to perform a second function based on the read and extracted second data, and to send a third result of the second function to the state engine,

a state translator further configured to receive the third result from the state engine, to convert the third result into a second imaging device instruction, and to send the second imaging device instruction to the second imaging device, and

the interface is further configured to receive a fourth message from the second imaging device, the fourth message corresponding to a fourth result based on the second imaging device instruction.

10. A method for an apparatus hosting a workflow application, the method comprising:

reading and extracting data from a first message received from an imaging device;

performing a function based on the read and extracted data, and sending a first result of the function to the state engine;

converting the first result into an imaging device instruction, and sending the imaging device instruction to the imaging device; and

receiving a second message from the imaging device, the second message corresponding to a second result based on the imaging device instruction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

changing a state of a component of the imaging device in accordance with the imaging device instruction.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

reading and extracting second data from a third message received from a second imaging device;

performing a second function based on the read and extracted second data, and sending a third result of the second function to the state engine;

converting the third result into a second imaging device instruction, and sending the second imaging device instruction to the second imaging device; and

receiving a fourth message from the second imaging device, the fourth message corresponding to a fourth result based on the second imaging device instruction.

13. An imaging device communicating with an apparatus hosting a workflow application, the imaging device comprising:

a state instantiater configured to receive an imaging device instruction from the apparatus, and to change a state of an imaging device feature of the imaging device in accordance with the imaging device instruction;

an event responder configured to assemble data in a message based on the changed state of the imaging device feature; and

an interface configured to send the message to the apparatus.

14. The imaging device of claim 13, wherein

the imaging device is a camera, and

the imaging device feature is at least one of a shutter motor control, a lens focus motor control, an image sensor, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) preview screen, a battery management component, a photo file component, an LCD status light, a camera flash, and a photo setting.

15. The imaging device of claim 13, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display the imaging device instruction which includes human-readable language.

16. The imaging device of claim 13, wherein

the state instantiater is further configured to receive a second imaging device instruction from a second apparatus, and to change a state of a second imaging device feature of the imaging device in accordance with the second imaging device instruction;

the event responder is further configured to assemble second data in a second message based on the changed state of the second imaging device feature; and

the interface is further configured to send the second message to the second apparatus.

17. The imaging device of claim 16, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display the imaging device instruction and the second imagining device instruction, both including human-readable language.