Data routing device and system

A serial data routing device for use in routing serial data between a computer and a peripheral device, the data routing device including:

• a computer data converter which communicates data under the USB protocol with a computer and which converts data received from the computer into converted computer data;
• a peripheral data converter which communicates data under the USB protocol with the peripheral device and which converts data received from the peripheral device into converted peripheral data;
• and
• a data router in communication with the computer data converter and the peripheral data converter which transfers converted computer data and converted peripheral data therebetween, said data router including:
• an emulator which generates data causing USB protocol signals to be output from the computer data converter to the computer, emulating the presence of a USB peripheral device connected to the computer, and from the peripheral data converter to the peripheral device, emulating the presence of a USB host connected to the peripheral device;
• and
• a data routing controller which controls the routing of the converted computer data and the converted peripheral data between the computer data converter and the peripheral data converter,
• such that the computer and peripheral device operate as though directly connected by a USB bus.