Network-attached peripheral appliance
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsCorey Billington, Chris Bradley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network-attached peripheral appliance (NAPA), including a powered peripheral node (PPN), enabling connection of peripheral devices to a network without a computer at the node. The PPN further comprises a data connection enabling data communication between the appliance and a network, and is configured to accommodate data connection of a plurality of peripheral devices at the appliance, and a power supply configured to provide power to said plurality of peripheral devices. The appliance can include a case which can carry two or more peripheral devices, which are shareable between clients on the network via the NAPA.
Claims28
A network-attached peripheral appliance (NAPA), comprising:
- a powered peripheral node (PPN), enabling connection of a plurality of peripheral devices to a network at a network node without a computer at said network node, the PPN including:
- a data connection enabling data communication between the NAPA and the network, configured to accommodate data connection of the plurality of peripheral devices at the NAPA;
- a power supply configured to provide power to the plurality of peripheral devices, the PPN enabling use of the plurality of peripheral devices connected to the NAPA by users on the network;
- and
- at least one case configured to carry and operatively support the PPN and at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices.
A powered peripheral node (PPN) appliance configured for use in a network environment, comprising:
- a network data connection between the appliance and a network;
- a plurality of peripheral data connections, each configured for data connection of a peripheral device to the appliance, whereby a plurality of peripheral devices can be connected to the appliance and can be in data communication with clients on the network;
- a peripheral device power supply connection configured to provide power to the plurality of peripheral devices, at least one peripheral device supply voltage being thereby made available;
- a housing configured to carry the power supply connection and at least one of the peripheral data connections,
- wherein the PPN appliance is configured to cooperate with the network to provide a PPN and enable data communication between the plurality of peripheral devices connected to the appliance and the network without a computer at a location of the PPN.
A powered peripheral node (PPN) appliance, comprising:
- a housing;
- a power supply carried within the housing;
- a network data connection enabling data communication between the appliance and the network;
- a plurality of peripheral data connections configured for connection of a plurality of peripheral devices with the network via the network data connection;
- the plurality of connected peripheral devices thus being able to be powered by the power supply and to be in data communication with clients on the network via the PPN appliance.
A method for providing network access to a plurality of peripheral devices via a powered peripheral node (PPN) on a network, comprising the steps of:
- providing a PPN appliance, including configuring the PPN appliance with a capability for enabling provision of a network address for connected peripheral devices, and a capability for data communication between the network and the connected peripheral devices;
- enabling connection of a plurality of peripheral devices to a network at a PPN, via the PPN appliance at a network address, and without need for a computer workstation at the PPN appliance location;
- and,
- enabling power supply at the PPN providing a compatible power supply to said plurality of peripheral devices via the PPN appliance;
- whereby a plurality of peripheral devices can be accessed at a network address provided at the PPN, and the plurality of peripheral devices can be conveniently located at a location without need for providing a computer workstation at that location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.