Printer Application for Secure Cross-Vendor Device Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication between electronic devices, such as a computer system with a billing application and a POS terminal, from different vendors often requires significant software and hardware integration changes, which can compromise security and is not seamless.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a printer application to detect connections, determine device identifiers, configure host and accessory modes, and send an Android Open Accessory command to enable communication between devices, minimizing integration changes and ensuring security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If significant integration changes are made in billing application or POS terminal to enable communication between devices from different vendors, then communication compatibility is improved, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a printer application as an intermediary component that facilitates communication between the billing application and POS terminal without requiring integration changes in either system. The printer application acts as a mediator that receives data from the billing application, processes it through standard printer protocols, and transmits it to the POS terminal, thereby enabling cross-vendor communication while preserving the security integrity of both systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into distinct functional components: the billing application, the printer application, and the POS terminal. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently with well-defined interfaces, enabling communication between different vendors' systems without requiring them to share proprietary protocols or expose security vulnerabilities.
2Reliability
If no integration changes are made in billing application or POS terminal, then security is maintained, but communication compatibility between devices from different vendors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The printer application is designed with universal functionality that can interface with multiple different billing applications and POS terminals from various vendors. By implementing standard printer communication protocols, it serves as a multi-functional bridge that works across different vendor ecosystems without requiring custom integration for each device pair, thus improving compatibility while maintaining security.
3Device complexity
If printer application is used to enable communication between devices from different vendors, then integration complexity is reduced, but communication protocol compatibility must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in communication protocols, specifically leveraging standard printer protocol parameters and Android Open Accessory (AOA) commands, to enable compatibility across different device types. By translating various billing application data formats into standard printer protocols and vice versa, the system reduces integration complexity while maintaining broad protocol compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method and a system for enabling communication between electronic devices using a printer application. The method comprising detecting a connection with a second electronic device, wherein the connection is detected by a printer application installed in a first electronic device. Thereafter, the method comprising determining a device identifier of the second electronic device when the second electronic device is connected to the first electronic device. Subsequently, the method comprising configuring the first electronic device to be in a host mode and the second electronic device to be in an accessory mode when the device identifier of the second electronic device matches with a device identifier list of the printer application. Lastly, the method comprising sending an Android Open Accessory command to the second electronic device for enabling communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.