Application programming interface for measuring devices

Abstract

An application programming interface (API) that provides a common interface between an application program and plural different types of color measuring devices each having at least one color measuring sensor. The API includes plural functions for operating any of the plural different types of color measuring devices. In order to complete an operation performed by at least one of the plural functions, the function that performs the operation must be called a number of times which is different for at least two different types of color measuring devices. For a particular color measuring device, the API provides the application program with flow control data of the number of times that the function must be called. This flow control data preferably can be provided by the function, in the form of a call-again value or as a numerical value, or by a separate function in the API such as a get-device-capabilities function. In some embodiments of the invention, a combination of these methods of providing the flow control data is utilized. Preferred functions for operating any of the plural different types of color measuring devices include a calibrate-position function, a calibrate-sensor function, a move-to-patch function, and a make-measurement function.

1 .- 90 . (canceled)  
   
   
       91 . Computer-executable process steps to provide a software application programming interface (API) comprising a common interface between an application program and plural different types of color measuring devices, and plural functions for operating the plural different types of color measuring devices, the process steps comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a call to a function from the application program, and    calling a measuring device driver based on the called function to operate a color measurement device;    wherein, for the color measuring device that is being operated, the API provides the application program with flow control data of the number of times that the function must be called.    
   
   
       92 . Computer-executable process steps according to  claim 91 , wherein the flow data is provided by the function which must be called a number of times in order to complete the operation.  
   
   
       93 . Computer-executable process steps according to  claim 92 , wherein the flow control data is provided in the form of a call-again value.  
   
   
       94 . Computer-executable process steps according to claim  2 , wherein the flow control data is provided in the form of a numerical value.  
   
   
       95 . Computer-executable process steps according to claim  1 , wherein the flow control data is provided by a separate function other than the function which must be called the number of times in order to complete the operation.  
   
   
       96 . Computer-readable memory medium in which computer-executable process steps are stored, the process steps provide a software application programming interface (API) comprising a common interface between an application program and plural different types of color measuring devices, and plural functions for operating the plural different types of color measuring devices, the process steps comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a call to a function from the application program, and    calling a measuring device driver based on the called function to operate a color measurement device;    wherein, for the color measuring device that is being operated, the API provides the application program with flow control data of the number of times that the function must be called.