An image acquisition system has a computer and one or more imaging devices coupled
thereto. Each imaging device has a device memory and is capable of capturing and
storing a digital image in its memory. An image device manager is implemented in
software on the computer to control imaging device operation. The image device
manager presents a user interface (UI) within the familiar graphical windowing
environment. The UI has a context space pertaining to a particular imaging context
(e.g., scanning, photography, and video). The UI also has a persistently-visible
imaging menu positioned within the context space that lists options particular
to the imaging context. The image acquisition system also includes a set of application
program interfaces (APIs) that enable applications to manage loading and unloading
of imaging devices, monitor device events, query device information properties,
create device objects, capture images using the devices, and store or manipulate
the captured images.
