The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 27, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2007
Donald E. Brooks, Ithaca, NY (US);
Donald E. Brooks, Ithaca, NY (US);
TransAct Technologies Incorporated, Hamden, CT (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for converting a firmware download port on a printer to a communications port are provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board arrangement connected to the firmware download port of the printer. A secondary communications port is provided on the printed circuit board arrangement for enabling communications between the printer and a central system controller. The printer may include one or more primary communications ports. Each of the one or more primary communications ports may be selectable for enabling communications between the printer and a local controller. The local controller may provide data to the printer via a selected one of the primary communications ports indicative of cash information to be printed on a voucher. The central system controller may provide data to the printer via the secondary communications port indicative of non-cash data to be printed on a coupon.