US 6,452,629 B1 · System for installing image sensing program

Abstract

An external program supplied from an external unit in order to process an image sensed by a camera is prevented from causing a malfunction in the camera. An external program supplied by an personal computer is stored in an EEPROM of the camera. The external program contains version information giving the version of the camera that is capable of using the external program, the name of the program for control, and parameter information corresponding to the program name. A CPU compares each of these items of information with corresponding information that has been set in the camera, thereby determining whether the external program is capable of being used. If the external program cannot be used by the camera, a warning display is presented on a display unit.

Claims81

Dependent claims

An image sensing device capable of installing additional computer software, which controls processing relating to sensing of the image of a subject, from an external device, comprising:

attribute acquisition means for acquiring an attribute of the additional computer software;
discriminating means for determining, based upon the attribute, whether the additional computer software is capable of being used;
inhibiting means for causing said external device to inhibit installation of the additional computer software in said image sensing device in a case where the additional computer software is incapable of being used;
and
memory means for storing at least one auxiliary program for controlling the operation of said image sensing device,
said attribute including auxiliary program information specifying an auxiliary program required by the additional computer software,
said discriminating means further determining that the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device in a case where the auxiliary program specified by the auxiliary program information is not one of the at least one auxiliary program stored in said memory means.

4 more elements

An image processing apparatus having an installing means for installing additional computer software, which controls processing relating to sensing of the image of a subject, in an image sensing device, comprising:

device-information acquisition means for acquiring device information relating to a function of the image sensing device;
discriminating means for determining, based upon the device information, whether the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
and
inhibiting means for inhibiting installation of the additional computer software in the image sensing device by said installing means in a case where the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device,
wherein said device information further includes auxiliary program information specifying an auxiliary program possessed by the image sensing device,
said discriminating means further verifying whether the image sensing device possesses an auxiliary program required by the additional computer software and determining that the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device if the image sensing device does not possess the auxiliary program required by the additional computer software.

3 more elements

An installation system for installing additional computer software, which controls processing relating to sensing of the image of a subject, in an image sensing device from an external device, comprising:

attribute acquisition means for acquiring an attribute of the additional computer software;
discriminating means for determining, based upon the attribute, whether the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
enabling means for enabling installation of the additional computer software in a case where the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
installation means for installing the additional computer software in the image sensing device from the external device in a case where installation has been enabled by said enabling means;
and
memory means for storing at least one auxiliary program for controlling the operation of said image sensing device,
said attribute including auxiliary program information specifying an auxiliary program required by the additional computer software,
said discriminating means further determining that the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device in a case where the auxiliary program specified by the auxiliary program information is not one of the at least one auxiliary program stored in said memory means.

5 more elements

A method for handling a computer software in an image processing apparatus having an installing means for installing additional computer software, which controls processing relating to sensing of the image of a subject, in an image sensing device, comprising:

acquiring device information relating to a function of the image sensing device;
discriminating, based upon the device information, whether the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
and
inhibiting installation of the additional computer software in the image sensing device by said installing means in a case where the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device,
wherein said device information further includes auxiliary program information specifying an auxiliary program possessed by the image sensing device,
said discriminating further verifying whether the image sensing device possesses an auxiliary program required by the additional computer software and determining that the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device if the image sensing device does not possess the auxiliary program required by the additional computer software.

3 more elements

A method for handling a computer software in an installation system for installing additional computer software, which controls processing relating to sensing of the image of a subject, in an image sensing device from an external device, comprising:

acquiring an attribute of the additional computer software;
discriminating, based upon the attribute, whether the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
enabling installation of the additional computer software in a case where the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
installing the additional computer software in the image sensing device from the external device in a case where installation has been enabled by said enabling;
and
storing at least one auxiliary program for controlling the operation of said image sensing device,
said attribute including auxiliary program information specifying an auxiliary program required by the additional computer software,
said discriminating further determining that the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device in a case where the auxiliary program specified by the auxiliary program information is not one of the at least one auxiliary program stored in said storing.

5 more elements

An image processing apparatus having an installation system for installing additional computer software, which controls processing relating to sensing of the image of a subject, in an image sensing device, comprising:

a processor that:
acquires device information relating to a function of the image sensing device;
determines, based upon the device information, whether the additional computer software is capable of being used by the image sensing device;
and
inhibits installation of the additional computer software in the image sensing device by said installation system in a case where the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device,
wherein said device information further includes auxiliary program information specifying an auxiliary program possessed by the image sensing device,
said processor further verifies whether the image sensing device possesses an auxiliary program required by the additional computer software and determines that the additional computer software is incapable of being used by the image sensing device if the image sensing device does not possess the auxiliary program required by the additional computer software.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for installing image sensing program

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System for installing image sensing program

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Abstract

Claims81