Patent ID: 9098218
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
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.