Variable data marking unit with multiple connectivity modes

A method for marking variable data content with a marking unit on a product or product packaging, the marking unit having a processor programmed with machine-readable instructions and a plurality of communications interface modules, the method comprising:

• the marking unit sending or receiving one or more communications via one or more of the plurality of communications interface modules, each of the one or more communications defined by a category selected from the group consisting of:
• a) sending telemetric data to a telemetric data collection/remote support node,
• b) receiving remote support communications from the telemetric data collection/remote support node;
• b) receiving updates to the machine-readable instructions, and
• c) receiving variable data content;
• the marking unit determining which of the plurality of communications interface modules is available;
• the marking unit selecting which of a plurality of communications interface modules to use for sending or receiving each communication based on the category of the communication and the determination as to which of the plurality of communications interface modules is available;
• and
• the marking unit receiving the variable data content and marking the product or product packaging in accordance with received variable data content.

A system for marking variable data content on a product or product packaging, the system comprising:

• a marking unit comprising:
• a marker module configured to mark the product or product packaging in accordance with the variable data content;
• at least one computer processor connected to at least one computer memory and the marker module, the computer memory comprising machine-readable instructions for causing the marker module to mark the variable data content on the product or product packaging;
• one or more sensors, connected to the computer processor and/or the computer memory, each sensor configured to generate monitoring data relating to at least one operational variable of marker module, wherein the machine-readable instructions including instructions for causing the at least one computer processor to generate telemetric data corresponding at least in part to the monitoring data;
• a plurality of interface modules comprising:
• a wired Ethernet connection module configured to connect via a wire to an external router;
• a wireless WI-FI module configured to connect wirelessly to an external router;
• and
• a cellular data module;
• one or more communication ports connected to the at least one computer processor and at least one of the plurality of interface modules, wherein the machine-readable instructions executable by the at least one computer processor include instructions for:
• a) sending or receiving communications, including communications defined by a category of communication selected from the group consisting of:
• i. sending the telemetric data to a telemetric data collection/remote support node;
• ii. receiving remote support communications from the telemetric data collection/remote support node;
• iii. receiving updates to the machine-readable instructions;
• iv. receiving the variable data content;
• b) selecting which of the plurality of interface modules to use for sending or receiving each communication based on the category of communication and whether each of the plurality of interface modules is available;
• and
• a variable data content communications sub-system, comprising a content computer processor, a variable data content communicator connected to the content computer processor and in communication with the marking unit, and a content computer memory connected to the content computer processor, the content computer memory programmed with machine-readable instructions for generating variable data content and/or receiving user input corresponding at least in part to the variable data content and for sending variable data content communications to the marking unit.