Printer/powered peripheral node system

• US 6,944,689 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bradley, Chris, Billington, Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US10/633,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 347/198, 358/498, 358/474
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A printer/powered peripheral node system, wherein a printer and at least one other peripheral device connectable thereto share a footprint and a power supply and a data bus connection, whereby one or more additional peripheral devices can be located at the location of the printer.

Claims

1. A printer/powered peripheral node (P/PPN) system, comprising:

a housing configured to house a printer and at least one additional peripheral device; and

,

a powered peripheral node (PPN), further comprising;

a data connection enabling data communication with the printer and a plurality of additional peripheral device; and

,

a power supply configured to provide power to the printer and the plurality of additional peripheral device;

whereby, the plurality of additional peripheral device can be located at a location of the printer and share the power supply and the data connection with the printer.

2. A printer/powered peripheral node module as in claim 1, further comprising a bay carried by the housing, the bay configured to receive the at least one additional a peripheral device.

3. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing portions, a first portion of which is configured to enclose at least the printer, and a second portion of which is configured to enclose at least one additional peripheral device, said peripheral module portion being configured to attach to the printer housing portion.

4. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 3, wherein the peripheral module portion is configured to attach to a bottom side of the printer housing portion, and reside underneath the printer.

5. A printer/powered peripheral node system as m claim 3, wherein the peripheral module portion is configured to attach to the printer housing portion by replacing an auxiliary paper tray of the printer.

6. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 5, further comprising at least one connector configured for making power and data communication connections between the peripheral module portion and the printer housing portion when the module is inserted into an auxiliary paper tray slot.

7. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 3, wherein the peripheral module portion is configured to be connectable to another attachable module portion that includes power and data connections to the printer;

whereby a plurality of the peripheral module portions can be attached to the printer housing portion.

8. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 7, wherein each of the peripheral module portions is configured to carry at least one peripheral device, whereby a plurality of the peripheral devices can be added and deleted from connection to the printer housing portion by adding and deleting the peripheral module portions.

9. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 2, wherein the bay is configured to slidably receive a swappable peripheral device, and further comprising power and data connections configured to make data and power connections to the swappable peripheral device when it is inserted into the bay.

10. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 1, further comprising a wireless data connection device, whereby the P/PPN can data communicate wirelessly with a remote device.

11. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 1, further comprising a key which can allow or not allow connection of the additional peripheral device.

12. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 11, wherein the key comprises one of a physical key and an electronic key.

13. A printer/powered peripheral node system, comprising:

a printer configured to be connectable to at least one attachable module, the attachable module being configured to carry a peripheral device;

a shared data bus connection facilitating data communication with the printer and said at least one peripheral device via the connection; and

a shared power connection facilitating supply of power to the printer and to said at least one peripheral device carried by the module; and

,

wherein at least one attachable module is configured to carry a peripheral device other than an image capture device.

14. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 13, the attachable module further comprising a bay configured to receive the peripheral device.

15. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 13, wherein the system is configured such that the attachable module can attach to a side of the printer.

16. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 15, wherein the attachable module is configured to attach to a bottom side of, and reside underneath, the printer.

17. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 13, wherein the attachable module is configured to attach to the printer by replacing an auxiliary paper tray of the printer.

18. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 17, further comprising connectors configured for making power and data signal connections when the attachable module is inserted in an auxiliary paper tray slot.

19. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 13, wherein the attachable module is configured to be connectable to another attachable module, and further comprises power and data connections whereby a plurality of the attachable modules can be attached to the printer.

20. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 19, wherein each of the attachable modules is configured to carry at least one of the peripheral devices, whereby the peripheral devices can be added to and deleted from connection to the printer by adding and deleting the attachable modules.

21. A printer/powered peripheral node module system as in claim 13, wherein the attachable module is configured to slidably receive a swappable peripheral device, and further comprising power and data connections configured to connect the swappable peripheral device when it is inserted into the attachable module.

22. A printer/powered peripheral node system, comprising

a printer configured to be connectable to a plurality of peripheral devices so that each of said peripheral devices reside within a housing which is one of:

a) attached to, and b) enclosing, the printer;

a data bus connection configured to facilitate data communication with the printer and with each of said peripheral devices;

a power connection configured to facilitate power supply to the printer and to said plurality of peripheral devices; and

a key configured to facilitate connection of compatible devices and de-facilitate connection of incompatible devices.

23. A printer/ powered peripheral node system as in claim 22, wherein the power supply is housed with the printer and is configured to provide power to the printer and to said plurality of peripheral devices.

24. A printer powered peripheral node system as in claim 22, wherein the key is physical and comprises a physical compatibility including at least one of:

electrical connector shape, housing connector shape, housing shape, electrical connector location, and housing connector location.

25. A printer/ powered peripheral node system as in claim 22, wherein the key comprises an electronic key.

26. A printer/ powered peripheral node system as in claim 25, wherein the electronic key comprises at least one of an electronic identification code, a power supply compatibility, a communications protocol compatibility, an identification signal, a software negotiation, a firmware recognition routine, a hardware recognition system, a circuit that enables a determination of whether a connection is one of:

a) an allowed; and

, b) a disallowed connection, based on a predetermined criteria.

27. A method enabling provision of at least one additional peripheral device other than an image capture device at a printer location, comprising:

providing and configuring a power supply to provide power to the printer and the at least one additional peripheral device;

providing and configuring a data connection to enable data communication with the printer and the at least one additional peripheral device;

providing at least one housing enabling the printer and the at least one additional peripheral device to be carried within a common housing footprint, whereby a printer/powered peripheral node can be created enabling at least one additional peripheral device other than an image capture device to be so carried at a printer location.

28. A method as set forth in claim 27, further comprising a wireless data connection between the printer location, and one of a) another device;

b) a PC;

c) a server; and

, d) a network.

29. A printer/powered peripheral node system, comprising:

a printer configured to be connectable to a peripheral device so that said peripheral device resides within a housing which is one of;

a) attached to, and b) enclosing, the printer;

a data bus connection configured to facilitate data communication to and from the printer and to and from said peripheral device and one of;

a) a PC, b) a server, and, c) a network;

a power connection configured to facilitate power supply to the printer and to said peripheral device;

an electronic key configured to facilitate connection of compatible devices and de-facilitate connection of incompatible devices, wherein the electronic key comprises at least one of an electronic identification code, a power supply compatibility, a communications protocol compatibility, an identification signal, a software negotiation, a firmware recognition routine, a hardware recognition system, a circuit that enables a determination of whether a connection is one of;

a) an allowed; and

, b) a disallowed connection, based on a predetermined criteria.

30. A printer and housing including a powered peripheral node, comprising;

a housing configured for carrying the printer and powered peripheral node;

a power supply carried by the housing, configured to provide power to the printer, and in addition to the printer, at least one of a plurality of peripheral devices different from each other;

a data connection carried by the housing, configured to facilitate connection to and provide data communication to at least one of a plurality of peripheral devices different from each other;

a power connection carried by the housing, configured to facilitate connection to and powering of at least one of a plurality of peripheral devices different from each other;

the printer and powered peripheral node being configured so that at least one of a plurality of peripheral devices different from each other is connectable and locatable at the location of the printer, whereby a node for connecting any one or more of said plurality of peripheral devices is created allowing a consumer to choose a peripheral device and printer combination to be located at a location of the printer.

31. A printer and housing including a powered peripheral node as set forth in claim 30, further comprising a bay carried by the housing, the bay configured to receive at least one additional a peripheral device.

32. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 31, wherein the bay is configured to slidably receive a swappable peripheral device, and further comprising power and data connections configured to make data and power connections to the swappable peripheral device when it is inserted into the bay.

33. A printer and housing including a powered peripheral node as set forth in claim 30, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing portions, a first portion of which is configured to enclose at least the printer, and a second portion of which is configured to enclose at least one additional peripheral device, said peripheral module portion being configured to attach to the printer housing portion.

34. A printer and housing including a powered peripheral node as set forth in claim 33, wherein the peripheral module portion is configured to attach to the printer housing portion by replacing an auxiliary paper tray of the printer.

35. A printer and housing including a powered peripheral node as set forth in claim 30, wherein the peripheral module portion is configured to be connectable to another attachable module portion that includes power and data connections to the printer;

whereby a plurality of the peripheral module portions can be attached to the printer housing portion.

36. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 35, wherein each of the peripheral module portions is configured to carry at least one peripheral device, whereby a plurality of the peripheral devices can be added and deleted from connection to the printer housing portion by adding and deleting the peripheral module portions.

37. A printer/powered peripheral node (P/PPN) system as in claim 30, further comprising a wireless data connection device, whereby the P/PPN can data communicate wirelessly with a remote device.

38. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 30, further comprising a key which can allow and not allow connection of the additional peripheral device.

39. A printer/powered peripheral node system as in claim 38, wherein the key comprises one of a physical key and an electronic key.