An imaging device receives from a host image data and commands including a normal command and a real-time command to be processed prior to the normal command. A receiver receives a real-time processing disable command, and a processor processes the image data without processing the real-time command, even if a data sequence identical to the byte stream of the real-time command is included in the image data, after processing the real-time processing disable command. In a method for so controlling an imaging device, a real-time processing disable command is received from the host, after which the real-time processing disable command is processed, after which the image data is processed without processing the real-time command, even if a data sequence identical to the byte stream of the real-time command is included in the image data.