PS-SDK

PS-SDK is a Software Development Kit for developers, which is intended for controlling Canon PowerShot cameras from a PC.

to manage a list of cameras connected to the PC;
to establish connection with a camera and to close it;
to manage camera settings and image shooting properties;
to receive live-view image from camera viewfinder;
to take photos;
to download image files from the camera.

PS-SDK provides a C language interface for accessing digital cameras and data created by these cameras. PS-SDK is designed to provide standard methods of accessing different camera models and their data.

Modern Canon digital cameras do not provides capabilities for controlling cameras from the PC. By default only access to camera’s flash-card is possible.

To enable camera control features it is required to run additional software on the camera which should handle controlling commands and perform corresponding actions directly in the camera.

This task is performed by PS module component of the PS-SDK. When started, it switches the camera to PC-controlled mode and the camera becomes ready to process commands from the PC.

After finishing of the PS module, the camera returns to standard work mode.

System architecture

Communication with a camera in the Windows system is provided by WinUSB driver. The driver creates separate device entries for camera in pc-controlled mode and for the same camera in standard mode, therefore, from the system’s point of view, the camera in pc-controlled mode and the camera in standard mode are two independent devices.

To provide full-scale communication with a camera specific PTP protocol extension is added to it via PS module installation.

Such feature prevents any possible conflicts with software which use the camera in standard mode (when camera works without installed PS module).

sys-arch

PS-SDK architecture

The SDK provides communication with WinUSB driver, generates PTP-command and sends it to the camera;
PS-module in the camera receives command, executes it and, if necessary, send data back to the PC;
The SDK receives data and decodes it.

Additionally, the SDK monitors camera’s internal events and reports them to client-side software.

PS-SDK objects

sdk-structures

PS-SDK objects structure

CameraManager – an enumeration of all compatible cameras connected to the system via USB interface.;
CameraInfo – structure which describes given camera;
Session – camera controlling object;
FileList – collection with descriptions of files captured during the current session;
FileInfo – structure which describes given captured file;
Prop_Desc – structure which describes given property. Description includes possible values and various auxiliary information;