Virtual printer interface node
View Patent ↗A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
1. An inline virtual printer interface device for providing communication between a cloud-based service, residing on an internet, and a non-cloud-ready networked printer, residing on a local area network, through to a network router, the non-cloud-ready networked printer having a printer housing and a local network communication interface, the network router having a router housing, the network router having an internet communication interface, and the network router having a local area network communication interface, the inline virtual printer interface device consisting essentially of:
a device housing, said device housing being distinct from the printer housing and the router housing;
a first communication interface to provide communication to the network router through the local area network communication interface of the network router;
a second communication interface to provide communication to the local area network communication interface of the non-cloud-ready networked printer; and
a microcontroller located in said device housing and operatively connected between said first communication interface and said second communication interface;
said microcontroller converting local area network based protocols received from the non-cloud-ready printer to firewall friendly wide area network based protocols, the firewall friendly wide area network based protocols enabling the non-cloud-ready printer to be able to connect to the cloud-based service;
said microcontroller communicating, through said first communication interface, the firewall friendly wide area network based protocols to the cloud-based service.
2. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a first cable connected to the local area network communication interface of the network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a second cable connected to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
3. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a cable connected to the network router and said second communication interface is a jack for plugging into the local area network communication interface of the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
4. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with the network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a cable connected to the local area network communication interface of the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
5. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with the network router and said second communication interface is a jack for plugging into the local area network communication interface of the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
6. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into the local area network communication interface of the network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive cable connected to the local area network communication interface of the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
7. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into the local area network communication interface of the network router and said second communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
8. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with the network router.
9. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said microcontroller executes a web server application to provide administration, interaction, reporting, and control from a browser which is proxied through the cloud-based service for remote device interaction.
10. The inline virtual printer interface device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said microcontroller gates services provided by the non-cloud-ready networked printer in response to restrictions communicated from the cloud-based service to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
11. A system for providing communication between a cloud-based service, residing on an internet, and a non-cloud-ready networked printer, comprising:
a non-cloud-ready networked printer residing on a local area network;
a network router; and
an inline virtual printer interface device;
said non-cloud-ready networked printer having a printer housing and a local network communication interface;
said network router having a router housing;
said network router having an internet communication interface;
said network router having a local area network communication interface;
said inline virtual printer interface device including,
a device housing, said device housing being distinct from said printer housing and said router housing;
a first communication interface to provide communication to said network router through said local area network communication interface of said network router;
a second communication interface to provide communication to said local area network communication interface of said non-cloud-ready networked printer; and
a microcontroller located in said device housing and operatively connected between said first communication interface and said second communication interface;
said microcontroller converting local area network based protocols received from said non-cloud-ready printer to firewall friendly wide area network based protocols, the firewall friendly wide area network based protocols enabling said non-cloud-ready printer to be able to connect to the cloud-based service;
said microcontroller communicating, through said first communication interface, the firewall friendly wide area network based protocols to the cloud-based service.
12. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a first cable connected to said local area network communication interface of said network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a second cable connected to said local area network communication interface of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
13. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a cable connected to said local area network communication interface of said network router and said second communication interface is a jack for plugging into said local area network communication interface of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
14. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with said network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a cable connected to said local area network communication interface of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
15. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with said network router and said second communication interface is a jack for plugging into said local area network communication interface of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
16. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into said local area network communication interface of said network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a cable connected to said local area network communication interface of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
17. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into said local area network communication interface of said network router and said second communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
18. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with said network router.
19. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said non-cloud-ready networked printer includes scanning, copying, and printing functionality.
20. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said microcontroller executes a web server application to provide administration, interaction, reporting, and control from a browser which is proxied through the cloud-based service for remote device interaction.
21. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said microcontroller gates services provided by said non-cloud-ready networked printer in response to restrictions communicated from the cloud-based service to said non-cloud-ready networked printer.