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From: Steph on 16 Feb 2010 10:13
I work for a hardware manufacturer and we're including a still camera in our
PC. We need to provide an interface for applications to access and control
this camera and don't know how best to do this.

My reading so far suggests there are 3 options: A DirectX filter, a WIA
driver or a WPD driver. Most documentation seems to suggest that we should
use WPD, but as an application developer, I would expect to be provided with
a DirectX filter, and as far as I can see WPD does not provide this.

Given that we need to support windows XP onwards, which route should we take?

All advice is appreciated,
From: Steph on 19 Feb 2010 06:15
Can anyone offer any advice please? I could really do with some help.

Thanks

"Steph" wrote:

> I work for a hardware manufacturer and we're including a still camera in our
> PC. We need to provide an interface for applications to access and control
> this camera and don't know how best to do this.
>
> My reading so far suggests there are 3 options: A DirectX filter, a WIA
> driver or a WPD driver. Most documentation seems to suggest that we should
> use WPD, but as an application developer, I would expect to be provided with
> a DirectX filter, and as far as I can see WPD does not provide this.
>
> Given that we need to support windows XP onwards, which route should we take?
>
> All advice is appreciated,
From: Tim Roberts on 20 Feb 2010 18:51
Steph <steph(a)newsgroups.nospam> wrote:
>
>I work for a hardware manufacturer and we're including a still camera in our
>PC. We need to provide an interface for applications to access and control
>this camera and don't know how best to do this.

Do you really mean a still camera, or do you mean a USB streaming camera,
like a web cam? Most laptops include a streaming camera. How will this
connect? What bus?

>My reading so far suggests there are 3 options: A DirectX filter, a WIA
>driver or a WPD driver. Most documentation seems to suggest that we should
>use WPD, but as an application developer, I would expect to be provided with
>a DirectX filter, and as far as I can see WPD does not provide this.

You would not expect a DirectShow filter for a still camera. Tethered
still cameras are somewhat unusual; usually, a still camera operates
offline, and connects to Windows as a mass storage device. A tethered
still camera would presumably be more likely to have a WIA driver or a
TWAIN data source.

>Given that we need to support windows XP onwards, which route should we take?

If this is a USB device, you should design your camera to meet either the
USB Video Class Spec or the USB Still Image Class Spec. That way, you
don't have to write a driver at all.

If it's not USB, then a little more information would be helpful.
--
Tim Roberts, timr(a)probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
From: Steph on 22 Feb 2010 07:20
Hi Tim,

Thank you for your reply, Yes it is a USB streaming camera, sorry for the
confusion.

Am I correct in thinking that the USB Video Class specification involves
Microsoft certification? I have been unable to find details of the spec so
far. Could you please give me some pointers to its location?

Also, if we were to do this, how would the device appear to a high level
user application? Does it provide a DirectX filter?

Thank you and regards,
Steph


"Tim Roberts" wrote:

> Steph <steph(a)newsgroups.nospam> wrote:
> >
> >I work for a hardware manufacturer and we're including a still camera in our
> >PC. We need to provide an interface for applications to access and control
> >this camera and don't know how best to do this.
>
> Do you really mean a still camera, or do you mean a USB streaming camera,
> like a web cam? Most laptops include a streaming camera. How will this
> connect? What bus?
>
> >My reading so far suggests there are 3 options: A DirectX filter, a WIA
> >driver or a WPD driver. Most documentation seems to suggest that we should
> >use WPD, but as an application developer, I would expect to be provided with
> >a DirectX filter, and as far as I can see WPD does not provide this.
>
> You would not expect a DirectShow filter for a still camera. Tethered
> still cameras are somewhat unusual; usually, a still camera operates
> offline, and connects to Windows as a mass storage device. A tethered
> still camera would presumably be more likely to have a WIA driver or a
> TWAIN data source.
>
> >Given that we need to support windows XP onwards, which route should we take?
>
> If this is a USB device, you should design your camera to meet either the
> USB Video Class Spec or the USB Still Image Class Spec. That way, you
> don't have to write a driver at all.
>
> If it's not USB, then a little more information would be helpful.
> --
> Tim Roberts, timr(a)probo.com
> Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
> .
>
From: Steph on 22 Feb 2010 07:30
I spoke too soon. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms803117.aspx gives
an overview to the USB Video Class Driver. Is this what you meant?


"Steph" wrote:

> Hi Tim,
>
> Thank you for your reply, Yes it is a USB streaming camera, sorry for the
> confusion.
>
> Am I correct in thinking that the USB Video Class specification involves
> Microsoft certification? I have been unable to find details of the spec so
> far. Could you please give me some pointers to its location?
>
> Also, if we were to do this, how would the device appear to a high level
> user application? Does it provide a DirectX filter?
>
> Thank you and regards,
> Steph
>
>
> "Tim Roberts" wrote:
>
> > Steph <steph(a)newsgroups.nospam> wrote:
> > >
> > >I work for a hardware manufacturer and we're including a still camera in our
> > >PC. We need to provide an interface for applications to access and control
> > >this camera and don't know how best to do this.
> >
> > Do you really mean a still camera, or do you mean a USB streaming camera,
> > like a web cam? Most laptops include a streaming camera. How will this
> > connect? What bus?
> >
> > >My reading so far suggests there are 3 options: A DirectX filter, a WIA
> > >driver or a WPD driver. Most documentation seems to suggest that we should
> > >use WPD, but as an application developer, I would expect to be provided with
> > >a DirectX filter, and as far as I can see WPD does not provide this.
> >
> > You would not expect a DirectShow filter for a still camera. Tethered
> > still cameras are somewhat unusual; usually, a still camera operates
> > offline, and connects to Windows as a mass storage device. A tethered
> > still camera would presumably be more likely to have a WIA driver or a
> > TWAIN data source.
> >
> > >Given that we need to support windows XP onwards, which route should we take?
> >
> > If this is a USB device, you should design your camera to meet either the
> > USB Video Class Spec or the USB Still Image Class Spec. That way, you
> > don't have to write a driver at all.
> >
> > If it's not USB, then a little more information would be helpful.
> > --
> > Tim Roberts, timr(a)probo.com
> > Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
> > .
> >
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