Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: 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 (GI) within the familiar graphical windowing environment. The GI has a context space to a particular imaging context (e.g., scanning, photography, and video). The GI 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: An image acquisition system has a computer and one or more imaging devices coupled to the computer. Each imaging device has a device memory and is capable of capturing a digital image and storing the image in its memory. An image device manager is implemented in software on the computer to control operation of the imaging devices. The image device manager presents a user interface (UI) within the familiar graphical windowing environment. The UI has a context space that pertains 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. For example, if the context space pertains to the digital camera context, the menu lists options to take a picture, store the image on the computer, send the image in an email, and so on.

Abstract: An image acquisition system has a computer and one or more imaging devices coupled to the computer. Each imaging device has a device memory and is capable of capturing a digital image and storing the image in its memory. An image device manager is implemented in software on the computer to control operation of the imaging devices. The image device manager presents a user interface (UI) within the familiar graphical windowing environment. The UI has a context space that pertains 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. For example, if the context space pertains to the digital camera context, the menu lists options to take a picture, store the image on the computer, send the image in an email, and so on.

Abstract: An image acquisition system has a computer and one or more imaging devices coupled to the computer. Each imaging device has a device memory and is capable of capturing a digital image and storing the image in its memory. An image device manager is implemented in software on the computer to control operation of the imaging devices. The image device manager presents a user interface (UI) within the familiar graphical windowing environment. The UI has a context space that pertains 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. For example, if the context space pertains to the digital camera context, the menu lists options to take a picture, store the image on the computer, send the image in an email, and so on.

Abstract: A system for configuring a network adapter of a computer without user intervention. Device information for the devices of the computer, including each network adapter, is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices. A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the allocation of computer resources. In response to loading the driver for each network adapter, each network configuration routine or layer for a particular interface of the corresponding network adapter is identified.

Abstract: A system for configuring a network adapter of a computer without user intervention. Device information for the devices of the computer, including each network adapter, is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices. A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the allocation of computer resources. In response to loading the driver for each network adapter, each network configuration routine or layer for a particular interface of the corresponding network adapter is identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards used in a computer system. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that enables the circuit cards to be automatically configured during system boot up without any user intervention. The present invention also includes a method for the computer system software to detect resources requested by the circuit cards in order to resolve any system resource conflicts.

Abstract: A system for managing the assignment of device drivers to devices of a computer system. The computer system can maintain device-related information for a primary device and for devices that are "compatible" with the primary device. This device information supplies an indication of whether a device driver intended for primary use with a device is maintained by the computer system. Moreover, the device information provides an indication of whether one or more device drivers compatible with the primary device are maintained by the computer system. During assignment of device drivers to devices of the computer system, the device information is examined to determine whether the intended device driver for the primary device is available to support the operations of that device. If not, the device information is examined to determine whether a device driver for a device that is compatible with the primary device is available for supporting computer operations of the primary device.

Abstract: A system for managing the configuration of devices of a computer system. Device information is obtained to uniquely identify each device and to describe the device characteristics associated with device operation. To obtain device information, a particular device is detected on a selected system bus and thereafter assigned an identification code that uniquely identifies the detected device. A system bus code, which uniquely identifies the selected system bus, is appended to the identification code, thereby forming a device identification code associated with the particular device. Logical configuration data, which supplies configuration requirements for device operation, is also obtained for the detected device. This data collection process is repeated until device information is obtained for each of the devices connected to the selected system bus. Resources are allocated to each device based on the device identification code and the logical configuration data.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer system. A possible configuration of elements of a resource is obtained. This possible configuration defines the resource elements that are appropriate for operating the devices within the computer system. For a selected device, a determination is made whether a particular resource element is available for use by this device. If not, another possible configuration is obtained and the process begins anew. In contrast, if the particular resource element is available, then this resource element is assigned for use by the selected device. This resource allocation process continues until resource elements have been assigned to the remaining devices.

Abstract: A system for configuring devices of a computer system without user intervention. Device information for each of the devices is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of the resources by the devices. A device driver, which enables communications between the corresponding device and the computer system, is also identified for each of the devices in response to the device information. In response to the allocation of resources, the identified device drivers are loaded and the devices are activated for operation with the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards used in a computer system. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that enables the circuit cards to be automatically configured during system boot up without any user intervention. The present invention also includes a method for the computer system software to detect resources requested by the circuit cards in order to resolve any system resource conflicts.

Abstract: A system for configuring a network adapter of a computer without user intervention. Device information for the devices of the computer, including each network adapter, is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon this device information. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices. A device driver, which enables communications between a corresponding device and the computer, is also identified and loaded for each of the devices in response to the allocation of computer resources. In response to loading the driver for each network adapter, each network configuration routine or layer for a particular interface of the corresponding network adapter is identified.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically identifying and configuring interface boards connected to a computer bus is disclosed. Each interface board contains a pair of interface ports that can be addressed by the system and a unique identification address. The interface boards are instructed to serially read the identification address and place a logic 10 in the two least significant bits of the data bus if the first data bit is a logic one. The serial read instruction is performed twice for each data bit in the identification address with a logic 01 data pattern placed on the data bus for the second serial read to assure that a floating data bus is not causing false readings. If no interface board responds to any particular read identification instruction, the system assigns a logic zero for that particular bit of the identification address.

Abstract: The invention uses a small sized, low cost, high accuracy, semiconductor laser interferometer to position the transducer in a disc storage system. Light is reflected back over the path to be measured and directly back into the semiconductor laser. This causes the power present in the laser to be varied. Unexpectedly, the output of the photosensor associated with the laser has an asymmetric, sawtooth waveform.