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 node for providing communication between a cloud-based service, residing on an internet, and a non-cloud-ready networked printer through to a network router, comprising:
a housing;
a first communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router;
a second communication interface to provide communication directly to the non-cloud-ready networked printer; and
a microcontroller operatively connected between said first communication interface and said second communication interface;
said microcontroller polling the non-cloud-ready networked printer to retrieve identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer;
said microcontroller creating an authentication code based on the identification information retrieved from the non-cloud-ready networked printer and identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface node;
said microcontroller registering the created authentication code with the cloud-based service.
2. The inline virtual printer interface node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a first cable connected to 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 node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a first cable connected to the network router and said second communication interface is a jack for plugging into a network port of the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
4. The inline virtual printer interface node 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 second cable connected to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
5. The inline virtual printer interface node 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 a network port of the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
6. The inline virtual printer interface node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into a network port 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.
7. The inline virtual printer interface node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into a network port 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 node 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 node 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 node 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. The inline virtual printer interface node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer is a media access control address.
12. The inline virtual printer interface node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface node is a media access control address.
13. The inline virtual printer interface node as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said microcontroller polls, in response to an authentication request form the cloud based-service, the non-cloud-ready networked printer to retrieve identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer;
said microcontroller creating an authentication code based on the authentication request triggered identification information retrieved from the non-cloud-ready networked printer, identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer, and identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface node.
14. 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;
a network router; and
an inline virtual printer interface node;
said inline virtual printer interface node including,
a housing,
a first communication interface to provide communication directly to said network router,
a second communication interface to provide communication directly to said non-cloud-ready networked printer, and
a microcontroller operatively connected between said first communication interface and said second communication interface;
said microcontroller polling the non-cloud-ready networked printer to retrieve identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer;
said microcontroller creating an authentication code based on the identification information retrieved from the non-cloud-ready networked printer and identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface node;
said microcontroller registering the created authentication code with the cloud-based service.
15. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a first cable connected to said network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a second cable connected to said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
16. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said first communication interface is a port to receive a first cable connected to said network router and said second communication interface is a jack for plugging into a network port of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
17. The system as claimed in claim 14 , 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 second cable connected to said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
18. The system as claimed in claim 14 , 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 a network port of said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
19. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into a network port of said network router and said second communication interface is a port to receive a second cable connected to said non-cloud-ready networked printer.
20. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said first communication interface is a jack for plugging into a network port 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.
21. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said first communication interface is a transmitter/receiver to create a wireless communication channel with said network router.
22. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said non-cloud-ready networked printer includes scanning, copying, and printing functionality.
23. The system as claimed in claim 14 , 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.
24. The system as claimed in claim 14 , 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.
25. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer is a media access control address.
26. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface node is a media access control address.
27. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said microcontroller polls, in response to an authentication request form the cloud based-service, the non-cloud-ready networked printer to retrieve identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer;
said microcontroller creating an authentication code based on the authentication request triggered identification information retrieved from the non-cloud-ready networked printer, identification information associated with the non-cloud-ready networked printer, and identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface node.