System for accommodating third party imaging processing solutions in a scanner
View Patent ↗A system for permitting insertion or replacement of electronic cards, the system includes a scanner for scanning hardcopy elements, the scanner including an electronic component for performing at least one processing function on an electronic representation of the hardcopy element; a first processor for directing operations of the scanner and for receiving directions that are passed to other components; a field-installed electronic card that performs additional processing on the electronic representation of the hardcopy element; a second processor electrically connected to the scanner for sending directions to the scanner processor which processor includes field-installed control code for directing the field-installed electronic card.
1. A system for permitting insertion or replacement of electronic cards, the system comprising:
(a) a scanner for scanning hardcopy elements, the scanner comprising:
(a1) an electronic component for performing at least one processing function on an electronic representation of the hardcopy element;
(a2) a first processor for directing operations of the scanner and for receiving directions that are passed to other components;
(a3) a field-installed electronic card that performs additional processing on the electronic representation of the hardcopy element; and
(b) a second processor electrically connected to the scanner for sending directions to the field-installed electronic card through the first processor, where the directions include control instructions and protocols that are provided by the second processor from field-installed control code for directing the field-installed electronic card.
2. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the scanner includes an electronic board into which the field-installed electronic card is inserted.
3. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a computer into which the second processor resides.
4. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the field-installed electronic card includes a third processor.
5. A method for permitting insertion or replacement of electronic cards, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining access to a scanner which scans hardcopy elements and which includes an electronic component for performing at least one processing function on an electronic representation of the hardcopy element, and a first processor for directing operations of the scanner and for receiving directions that are passed to other components;
(b) installing a field-installed electronic card that performs additional processing on the electronic representation of the hardcopy element;
(c) obtaining access to a second processor electrically connected to the scanner for sending directions to the field-installed electronic card through the first processor; and
(d) installing field-installed control code into the second processor for directing the field-installed electronic card, where the directions include control instructions and protocols that are provided by the second processor from the field-installed control code.
6. The method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of installing the field-installed electronic card into an electronic board.
7. The method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of providing a computer into which the second processor resides.
8. The method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of providing a third processor on the field-installed electronic card.
9. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the second processor is external to the scanner.
10. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the second processor is internal to the second processor.
11. The method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of providing the second processor external to the scanner.
12. The method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of providing the second processor internal to the scanner.