Patent ID: 8325364

Claim:
A converter unit to transfer real time control data and non-real time data between at least first and second processing units of a printing or copying system, comprising: a first real time control data interface according to a first interface standard for exchange of said real time control data via a first real time data connection between the converter unit and said first processing unit, said first real time data connection comprising at least one signal line associated with only one real time control signal providing at least some of said real time control data to said first control data interface; a second real time control data interface according to a second interface standard for exchange of said real time control data between the converter unit and the second processing unit; a first non-real time data interface for exchange of said non-real time data between the converter unit and the first processing unit; a second non-real time data interface comprising a network interface for exchange of said non-real time data between the converter unit and the second processing unit via a network data connection; and a control unit for converting a signal state of said real time control signal into data conforming to said second real time control data interface according to said second interface standard and said control unit then outputting said real time control data via said second real time control data interface, and said control unit converting said real time control data supplied to the converter unit as said real time control signal into a signal curve of said real time control signal and outputting said signal curve as said real time control data to said second processing unit.