Abstract: A method transfers data from a data source to multiple data sink objects. The data acquired from the data source is encapsulated into a data object. Identification information of the data object is posted to a data server. The data server shares the identification information with the data sink objects that are registered with the data server. The data sink objects access the data object with the identification information at execution time. A counter indicates the number of data sink objects that currently use the data object. The data object is removed from the memory of the computer systems when the counter indicates that the data object is no longer used by the data sink objects. Alternatively, the data object that is no longer used may be stored in a separate memory location of the computer systems for a future use.

Abstract: An image acquisition facility for linking a user of an application to an image acquisition device independent of an interface protocol of the image acquisition device. The image acquisition facility establishes a communication channel between the user and the image acquisition device and manages communication across the established channel. In this manner, the user of the application is free to select a desired image acquisition device for interfacing with and interacting with the selected image acquisition device independent of the interface bus standard, communication protocol and driver type supported by the selected image acquisition device.