Data processing systems and methods for transmitting and modifying data via a smart data cable

Abstract

Various embodiments are described herein that relate to data transmission system and methods that may be implemented in a system configured between a source device and a destination device. Data generated at the source device may be received at the data transmission system and processed to determine appropriate modifications. Modified data may then be transmitted to the destination device. In the event that the data transmission system is unable to process data, the system transmits the data directly to the recipient device to ensure continued operation of the source and destination devices. The data transmission system is capable of converting any form of signal into USB and/or UART signals for processing.

1 . A smart data cable comprising:
 a first connection that communicatively couples the smart data cable to at least one of a point-of-sale system or a printer, wherein:
 the point-of-sale system is configured to generate transaction data for a transaction, and 
 the printer is configured to receive the transaction data; 
   a second connection that communicatively couples the smart data cable to a transaction processing server; and   circuitry within the smart data cable and coupled to the first connection and the second connection, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 establish a wireless communications link with the transaction processing server via the second connection, 
 receive the transaction data from at least one of the point-of-sale system or the printer via the first connection, 
 parse the transaction data and identify an element of the transaction data, 
 generate transaction processing data comprising the element, 
 transmit the transaction processing data to the transaction processing server via the second connection for processing by the transaction processing server, 
 receive, from the transaction processing server, a confirmation that the transaction processing server has processed the transaction using the transaction processing data, and 
 responsive to receiving the confirmation, transmit at least one of the element or additional transaction data comprising an indication of the confirmation to at least one of the point-of-sale system or the printer via the first connection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The smart data cable of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection is a physical connection that physically connects the smart data cable to at least one of the point-of-sale system or the printer. 
     
     
         3 . The smart data cable of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive power from at least one of the point-of-sale system or the printer using the first connection. 
     
     
         4 . The smart data cable of  claim 1 , wherein a representation of the additional transaction data is included on a receipt printed by the printer. 
     
     
         5 . The smart data cable of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction processing server processes the transaction also using data that the transaction processing server received from a device associated with a customer associated with the transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The smart data cable of  claim 1 , wherein a second smart data cable comprises:
 a third connection that communicatively couples the second smart data cable to a destination device;   a fourth connection that communicatively couples the second smart data cable to the transaction processing server; and   second circuitry within the second smart data cable that is coupled to the third connection and the fourth connection, and is configured to:
 establish a second wireless communications link with the transaction processing server via the fourth connection, 
 receive, from the transaction processing server, the confirmation that the transaction processing server has processed the transaction using the transaction processing data, and 
 responsive to receiving the confirmation, transmit at least a portion of the additional transaction data to the destination device via the third connection. 
   
     
     
         7 . The smart data cable of  claim 6 , wherein the printer is located at a first physical location and the destination device is located at a second, different physical location. 
     
     
         8 . A smart data cable comprising:
 a first connection that communicatively couples the smart data cable to at least one of a source device or a first destination device, wherein:
 the source device is configured to generate transaction data for a transaction, and 
 the first destination device is configured to receive the transaction data; 
   a second connection that communicatively couples the smart data cable to a transaction processing server; and   circuitry within the smart data cable and coupled to the first connection and the second connection, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 establish a wireless communications link with the transaction processing server via the second connection, 
 receive the transaction data from at least one of the source device or the first destination device via the first connection, 
 parse the transaction data and identify an element of the transaction data, 
 generate a request for payment data, the request comprising the element, 
 transmit the request for the payment data to the transaction processing server via the second connection for processing by the transaction processing server, 
 receive the payment data from the transaction processing server, 
 generate, based at least on the payment data, additional transaction data comprising a machine-readable code, and 
 transmit the additional transaction data to at least one of the source device or the first destination device via the first connection. 
   
     
     
         9 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein the source device comprises a point-of-sale system and the first destination device comprises a printer. 
     
     
         10 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein the payment data comprises the machine-readable code. 
     
     
         11 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable code comprises a barcode. 
     
     
         12 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable code is included on a receipt printed by the first destination device. 
     
     
         13 . The smart data cable of  claim 12 , wherein the machine-readable code is configured to be scanned using a device associated with a customer to complete the transaction. 
     
     
         14 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein the first connection is a physical connection that physically connects the smart data cable to at least one of the source device or the first destination device. 
     
     
         15 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive power from at least one of the source device or the first destination device using the first connection. 
     
     
         16 . The smart data cable of  claim 8 , wherein a second smart data cable comprises:
 a third connection that communicatively couples the second smart data cable to a second destination device;   a fourth connection that communicatively couples the second smart data cable to the transaction processing server; and   second circuitry within the second smart data cable that is coupled to the third connection and the fourth connection, and is configured to:
 establish a second wireless communications link with the transaction processing server via the fourth connection, 
 receive, from the transaction processing server, the payment data, and 
 responsive to receiving the payment data, transmit at least a portion of the payment data to the second destination device via the third connection. 
   
     
     
         17 . The smart data cable of  claim 16 , wherein the first destination device is located at a first physical location and the second destination device is located at a second, different physical location. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first smart data cable, transaction data for a transaction from a source device via a first connection that communicatively couples the first smart data cable to the source device;   parsing, by the first smart data cable, the transaction data to identify an element of the transaction data;   generating, by the first smart data cable, a request for payment data, the request comprising the element;   transmitting, by the first smart data cable, the request to a transaction processing server via a second connection that communicatively couples the first smart data cable to the transaction processing server via a first wireless communications link, wherein the transaction processing server processes the request to produce the payment data,   receiving, by a second smart data cable, the payment data from the transaction processing server via a third connection that communicatively couples the second smart data cable to the transaction processing server via a second wireless communications link, and   transmitting, by the second smart data cable, the payment data to a destination device via a fourth connection that communicatively couples the second smart data cable to the destination device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the source device comprises a point-of-sale system and the destination device comprises a printer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the source device is located at a first physical location and the destination device is located at a second, different physical location.