Multi-point to point usb system

Abstract

Provided are a system and method for combining USB data streams. In one example, the method may include receiving, via an input port, a first universal serial bus (USB) input signal from a first device that is connected to the input port, receiving, via an interface, a second USB input signal from a second device, combining data from the first USB input signal and data from the second USB input signal to generate a combined USB data signal, and outputting, via an output port, the combined USB data signal to a third device that is connected to the output port. The system and method described herein can improve USB data transfer by combining USB data from multiple USB streams into a single USB output stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an input configured to receive a universal serial bus (USB) input signal comprising a USB data stream including print data from a connected device;   a network interface configured to receive a data signal including additional print data from a remote device;   a processor configured to inject the additional print data into the USB data stream to create a combined printer output including the print data and the additional print data; and   a storage configured to store the combined printer output.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an output configured to output the USB data stream including the combined printer output to a print device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to insert the additional print data inside of the print data within the USB data stream. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to at least one of append the additional print data to the print data within the USB data stream, prepend the additional print data to the print data within the USB data stream, and embed the additional print data into the print data within the USB data stream. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the print data comprises a first USB resource block (URB) and the additional print data comprises a second URB, and the processor is configured to insert the second URB into the first URB. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input comprises a USB port that connects the apparatus to the connected device via a cable, and the network interface connects the apparatus to the remote device via the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the connected device comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and the remote device comprises a web server. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to insert a print object of the additional print data within a printable receipt of the print data included in the USB data stream. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the network interface is further configured to transmit the combined printer output including the print data and the additional print data to the remote device. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 receiving a universal serial bus (USB) input signal comprising a USB data stream including print data from a connected device;   receiving a data signal including additional print data from a remote device;   injecting the additional print data into the USB data stream to create a combined printer output including the print data and the additional print data; and   storing the combined printer output in a memory.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises outputting the USB data stream including the combined printer output to a print device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the injecting comprising inserting the additional print data inside of the print data within the USB data stream. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the injecting comprises at least one of appending the additional print data to the print data within the USB data stream, prepending the additional print data to the print data within the USB data stream, and embedding the additional print data into the print data within the USB data stream. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the print data comprises a first USB resource block (URB) and the additional print data comprises a second URB, and the injecting comprising inserting the second URB into the first URB. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the receiving of the input signal is received via a USB port that connects to the connected device via a cable, and data signal is received via a network interface that connects to the remote device via the Internet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the connected device comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and the remote device comprises a web server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the injecting comprises inserting a print object of the additional print data within a printable receipt of the print data included in the USB data stream. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting, via a network interface, the combined printer output including the print data and the additional print data to the remote device. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a universal serial bus (USB) input signal comprising a USB data stream including print data from a connected device;   receiving a data signal including additional print data from a remote device;   injecting the additional print data into the USB data stream to create a combined printer output including the print data and the additional print data; and   storing the combined printer output in a memory.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the injecting comprising inserting the additional print data inside of the print data within the USB data stream.