Global peripheral device sharing system and method
View Patent ↗A global peripheral device (GPD) sharing system enables users to remotely utilize various peripheral devices via a connection, such as the worldwide web (Internet). Client software is loaded on the computers associated with the users and the owners of the peripheral devices. A centralized GPD server is connected to a storage and queue appliance for maintaining a function queue, such as “print files”. A GPD sharing method is also provided for providing users with temporary or permanent functional access to remote peripheral devices, which can be accessed through PCs or dedicated devices connected to the GPDs owned by the device owners. The GPD system operates cross-platform permitting users and owners of peripheral devices to communicate although they may not be using the same computing platform, or only one party has a license for software or a peripheral device.
1. A global peripheral device (GPD) system for globally sharing peripheral devices via the Internet, which system comprises:
a GPD server connected to the Internet;
a GPD user having a mobile computing device connected to said GPD server, said mobile computing device having a first operating system;
a GPD temporary database including data and command files associated with said GPD user and accessible by said GPD server;
a GPD main database connected to said GPD server, said GPD main database including GPD user files associated with said GPD user and accessible by said GPD server, said GPD user files including profiles of GPD users, global peripheral device IDs, and filters;
a GPD owner connected to the Internet;
said GPD owner having a second operating system;
a peripheral device connected to said GPD owner, said peripheral device having a global peripheral device ID, said global peripheral device ID stored at said GPD server and said GPD owner;
a peer-to-peer client software for connecting said GPD user to said remote peripheral device; said client software including GPD user software and GPD owner software;
said GPD user software including a signup function and adapted for sending said GPD user data, command, and said global peripheral device ID to said GPD owner;
said GPD owner software including a setup/assign global peripheral device ID function and an add/remove GPD user function;
a GPD user submitter function adapted for receiving said GPD user data, command, and global peripheral device IDs communicated to said GPD owner;
a GPD owner listener function adapted for receiving said GPD user data and command files from said GPD temporary database;
a peer-to-peer peripheral device diversion function whereby a GPD user command directed to a remote peripheral device is diverted from an off remote peripheral device not connected to said GPD sever to said GPD server for execution when said off remote peripheral device becomes connected to said GPD server;
a busy peripheral device diversion function whereby a GPD user command is diverted from a busy peripheral device to an available peripheral device;
a peripheral device receiving said GPD user's data, command, and global peripheral device ID;
said GPD system being adapted for sending a file from an owner to said peripheral device, wherein said file has previously been delivered to said owner via additional means;
and said GPD system being adapted for sending a file from a user to said peripheral device using a software license belonging to said GPD owner;
wherein said peripheral device comprising a document printer; and said additional means of delivery being physical delivery.