diff --git a/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.cpp b/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.cpp
index 6578c594da..e96a8d793c 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.cpp
@@ -124,3 +124,23 @@ CamSensor::Device()
 {
 	return fCamDevice;
 }
+
+
+status_t
+CamSensor::ProbeByIICSignature(const uint8 *regList, const uint8 *matchList,
+	size_t count)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
+		uint8 value = 0;
+		ssize_t len;
+		len = Device()->ReadIIC8(regList[i], &value);
+		PRINT((CH ": ReadIIC8 = %d val = %d" CT, len, value));
+		if (len < 1)
+			return ENODEV;
+		if (value != matchList[i])
+			return ENODEV;
+	}
+	return B_OK;
+}
diff --git a/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.h b/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.h
index b51ca2b183..79cc7a9f17 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.h
+++ b/src/add-ons/media/media-add-ons/usb_webcam/CamSensor.h
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ class CamSensor
 	virtual status_t	ReadIIC(uint8 address, uint8 *data);
 #endif
 	protected:
+
+	status_t			ProbeByIICSignature(const uint8 *regList,
+											const uint8 *matchList,
+											size_t count);
+
 		status_t		fInitStatus;
 		bool			fIsBigEndian;
 		bool			fTransferEnabled;