Routing device and method for use with a HTTP enabled computer peripheral

• US 20050228887A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun, Gomez, Garrison
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

The invention features a system and method for programming, integrating, and controlling the operation of computer peripherals. In brief overview, a computer peripheral is provided with a network communications protocol stack that includes a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) layer. The HTTP layer permits the computer peripheral to function as a thin web server. As such, the computer peripheral is able to respond to HTTP requests. In one embodiment, the invention includes a router that is in communication with the computer peripheral. The computer peripheral has an assigned HTTP port number and an assigned network address. The router includes a routing table that associates the computer peripheral'"'"'s assigned HTTP port number with the computer peripheral'"'"'s assigned network address. According to this embodiment, a message with a computer peripheral HTTP port number identifier is forwarded to the computer peripheral by the router.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a router to forward a hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message, said method comprising:

establishing communication between said router and a computer peripheral;

requesting that a network address be assigned to said computer peripheral;

transmitting an advertisement by said computer peripheral, said advertisement including at least said assigned network address and a hypertext transfer protocol port number assigned to said computer peripheral;

configuring said router to associate said hypertext transfer protocol port number assigned to said computer peripheral with said network address of said computer peripheral automatically in response to said advertisement; and

forwarding said hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message to said computer peripheral based on at least said hypertext transfer port number assigned to said computer peripheral.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said forwarding said hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message to said computer peripheral is also based on at least determining a version of said computer peripheral.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said forwarding said hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message to said computer peripheral is also based on at least determining a network proximity of said computer peripheral.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said network address is an Internet protocol address.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said Internet protocol address is assigned by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said Internet protocol address is assigned in response to a request from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol client on said computer peripheral.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said advertisement further includes at least a list of capabilities of said computer peripheral.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said router is contained in a computing device, said computing device maintaining a list of capabilities of attached computer peripherals.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising transmitting an advertisement by said computing device, said advertisement from said computing device including at least hypertext transfer protocol port numbers of attached computer peripherals and capabilities of attached computer peripherals.

10. A system for enabling messages to be forwarded based on at least hypertext transfer protocol port numbers, said system comprising:

a router in communication with a computer peripheral, said computer peripheral having an assigned hypertext transfer protocol port number and an assigned network address; and

a routing table in said router, said routing table automatically associating said assigned hypertext transfer protocol port number and said assigned network address in response to an advertisement from said computer peripheral, said advertisement including at least said assigned hypertext transfer protocol port number and said assigned network address.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said network address is an Internet protocol address.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein said Internet protocol address is assigned by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein said Internet protocol address is assigned in response to a request from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol client on said computer peripheral.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein said advertisement further includes at least a list of capabilities of said computer peripheral.

15. The system according to claim 10 wherein said router is contained in a computing device, said computing device maintaining a list of capabilities for a plurality of attached computer peripherals.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said computing device transmits an advertisement including at least hypertext transfer protocol port numbers and capabilities for each of said plurality of attached computer peripherals.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein said computing device is a transaction terminal.

18. The system according to claim 15 wherein said computing device is a portable data terminal.

19. The system according to claim 15 wherein said computing device is a personal data assistant.

20. The system according to claim 15 wherein said computing device is a cash register.

21. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is an image reader.

22. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is a RFID reader.

23. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is a RF payment reader.

24. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is a smart card reader.

25. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is a biometric reader.

26. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is a finger print reader.

27. The system according to claim 10 wherein said computer peripheral is a receipt printer.

28. The system according to claim 10 wherein said hypertext transfer protocol port numbers are assigned dynamically.

29. An apparatus for enabling a router to forward hypertext transfer protocol port number identified messages, said apparatus comprising:

means for establishing communication between said router and a computer peripheral;

means for requesting that a network address be assigned to said computer peripheral;

means for transmitting an advertisement by said computer peripheral, said advertisement including at least said assigned network address and a hypertext transfer protocol port number assigned to said computer peripheral;

means for configuring said router to associate said hypertext transfer protocol port number assigned to said computer peripheral with said network address of said computer peripheral automatically in response to said advertisement; and

means for forwarding said hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message to said computer peripheral based on at least said hypertext transfer port number assigned to said computer peripheral.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said forwarding said hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message to said computer peripheral is also based on at least determining a version of said computer peripheral.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said forwarding said hypertext transfer protocol port number identified message to said computer peripheral is also based on at least determining a network proximity of said computer peripheral.

32. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said network address is an Internet protocol address.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said Internet protocol address is assigned by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein said Internet protocol address is assigned in response to a request from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol client on said computer peripheral.

35. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said advertisement further includes at least a list of capabilities of said computer peripheral.

36. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said router is contained in a computing device, said computing device maintaining a list of capabilities of attached computer peripherals.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36 further comprising means for transmitting an advertisement by said computing device, said advertisement from said computing device including at least hypertext transfer protocol port numbers of attached computer peripherals and capabilities of attached computer peripherals.