System for accommodating third party imaging processing solutions in a scanner

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.