System for authenticating communications between a non-cloud ready networked printer and a cloud-based servise through a virtual printer interface device

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 housing, said 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 housing and operatively connected between said first communication interface and said second communication interface;

said microcontroller converting commands, received through said first communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer;

said microcontroller communicating, through said second communication interface, the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer;

said microcontroller converting commands associated with a first application programming interface language, received through said first communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to commands associated with a native application programming interface language of the non-cloud-ready networked printer, the first application programming interface language being different from the native application programming interface language of the non-cloud-ready networked printer;

said microcontroller communicating, through said second communication interface, the converted commands associated with the native application programming interface language of the non-cloud-ready networked printer;

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 device;

said microcontroller registering the created authentication code with 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 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 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 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 second cable connected to 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 a network port 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 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 device 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 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. The inline virtual printer interface device 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 device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface device is a media access control address.

13. The inline virtual printer interface device 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 and identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface device.

14. A system 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, comprising:

a non-cloud-ready networked printer having a first housing and a local area network communication interface;

a network router having a second housing, an internet communication interface, and a local area network communication interface; and

an inline virtual printer interface device;

said inline virtual printer interface device consisting essentially of,

a third housing, said third housing distinct from said first housing and said second 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 third housing and operatively connected between said first communication interface and said second communication interface;

said microcontroller converting commands, received through said first communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of said non-cloud-ready networked printer;

said microcontroller communicating, through said second communication interface, the converted native protocols to said non-cloud-ready networked printer;

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 device;

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 device 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 and identification information associated with the inline virtual printer interface device.