Methods and apparatus for interfacing a host device to a peripheral device in order to increase consumption of consumable products by the peripheral device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9354837-B2
Application number	US-201313935104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2013
Priority date	Jul 6, 2012
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising providing an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to (i) a peripheral device and (ii) a host device. The apparatus includes memory configured to store logic, wherein the logic is configured to (i) allow the host device and the peripheral device to communicate with each other and (ii) operate the peripheral device. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to execute the logic. The method further comprises bundling the apparatus with a consumable product for sale with the consumable product, wherein the consumable product is configured to be consumed by the peripheral device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
facilitating, by a coupling device, communication between a host device and a peripheral device, wherein the communication between the host device and the peripheral device is via the coupling device, wherein the coupling device is separate from each of the host device and the peripheral device, and wherein a cable is permanently coupled to the coupling device such that (i) a first end of the cable is permanently attached to one or more internal components of the coupling device and (ii) a second end of the cable comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection plug that is configured to be inserted in a USB interface of the peripheral device;
receiving, by the coupling device, power from the peripheral device via the USB connection plug and the cable, wherein the received power is used to operate the coupling device;
receiving, by the coupling device, a print command from the host device via a first USB link, wherein the print command to the coupling device does not include a document for printing, and wherein the first USB link is different and separate from the USB connection plug and the cable;
in response to receiving the print command, receiving, by the coupling device, the document from a server over the Internet, wherein the server is different from the host device; and
transmitting, by the coupling device, the contents of the retrieved document to the peripheral device for printing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is a printing device, and the host device is a computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host device is a first host device, and wherein the method further comprises:
facilitating, by the coupling device, communication between each of a plurality of host devices and the peripheral device, wherein the plurality of host devices includes the first host device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host device comprises a desktop computer, a tower computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, or a mobile phone.

5. A coupling device comprising:
a cable, wherein (i) a first end of the cable is permanently attached to one or more internal components of the coupling device and (ii) a second end of the cable comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection plug that is configured to be inserted in a first USB interface of a peripheral device; and
a second USB interface configured to receive a first end of a USB link, wherein a second end of the USB link is configured to be coupled to a host device,
wherein the coupling device is configured to facilitate communication between the host device and the peripheral device,
wherein the communication between the host device and the peripheral device is via the coupling device,
wherein the coupling device is separate from each of the host device and the peripheral device,
wherein the coupling device is configured to receive power from the peripheral device via the USB connection plug and the cable,
wherein the received power is used to operate the coupling device, and
wherein the coupling device is configured to (i) receive a print command from the host device via the USB link and the second USB interface, the print command to the coupling device not including a document to be printed, (ii) receive the document from a server over the Internet, the server being different from the host device, and (iii) transmit the contents of the retrieved document to the peripheral device for printing.

6. The coupling device of claim 5 , wherein the peripheral device is a printing device.

7. The coupling device of claim 5 , wherein the host device is a computing device.

8. The coupling device of claim 5 , wherein the host device is a first host device, and wherein the coupling device further comprises:
a wireless communication interface configured to (i) wirelessly communicate with a second host device, and (ii) facilitate communication between the second host device and the peripheral device.

9. The coupling device of claim 5 , wherein the host device comprises a desktop computer, a tower computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, or a mobile phone.

Assignees

• Marvell World Trade Ltd

Inventors

• Zimmerman Gary D
• Bledsoe J Daren
• Hall Lyman Leonard
• Montierth Mark D
• Allen Greg L

Classifications

• G06F3/1209 Primary

  resulting in adapted or bridged legacy communication protocols, e.g. emulation, protocol extension · CPC title

• G06F3/1293 Primary

  Printer information exchange with computer · CPC title

• G06F3/1237

  Print job management · CPC title

• G06F3/1236

  Connection management · CPC title

• G06F3/1288

  in client-server-printer device configuration · CPC title