Devices and methods for monitoring transaction data from point-of-sale devices

An inline component for monitoring transaction data in a point-of-sale system, the inline component comprising:

• a receive/transmit module that transmits data from a POS terminal to a printer and from the printer to the POS terminal;
• a first processor that filters the data transmitted by the receive/transmit module, wherein the first processor extracts a portion of the data;
• a second processor in communication with the first processor, the second processor providing network communications;
• and
• a switch that connects the second processor directly with an external network and a POS server, wherein the second processor sends the portion of the data to a remote processing server over the external network or to the POS server over an internal network and receives information from the remote processing server and the POS server that is sent to the printer for presentation to a user.

A method for monitoring transaction data for a point-of-sale (POS) system with an inline component, the method comprising:

• monitoring data communicated on a network link between a POS terminal and a printer;
• extracting a portion of the data, wherein the portion of the data includes information provided to the POS terminal by a user;
• sending the portion of the data to a remote processing server via a switch which communicates directly with a POS server and the remote processing server, without reconnecting to the POS terminal;
• sending a second portion of the data to a POS server directly connected with the inline component via the switch;
• receiving information from the remote processing server via the switch, wherein the information is related to the portion of the data sent to the remote processing server;
• receiving additional information from the POS server via the switch, wherein the additional information is related to the second portion of the data sent to the POS server;
• and
• sending the information from the remote server and the additional information from the POS server to the printer for delivery to the user.

An inline component for monitoring communications in a point-of-sale (POS) system, the inline component comprising:

• a connection with a POS terminal;
• a connection with a printer;
• a switch which communicates with a POS server and a remote processing server;
• and
• at least one processor configured to communicate with the POS terminal and the printer, and directly monitor the communications with the POS server and the remote processing server via a connection to the switch without reconnecting to the POS terminal, wherein the at least one processor extracts data from the communications in order to generate information delivered through the connection to the printer.

A point-of-sale (POS) system comprising:

• a POS terminal connected to one or more devices;
• a printer;
• and
• an inline component connected to the POS terminal and the printer, the inline component configured to send and receive communications with the POS terminal and the printer using a switch which communicates directly with each of the POS terminal, a POS server, and a remote processing server, the inline component comprising one or more processors which are configured to monitor the communications with the POS terminal, POS server, remote processing server, and the printer, wherein the at least one processor extracts data from the communications in order to generate information for delivery through the connection to the printer;
• wherein the POS terminal is configured to communicate directly with the one or more devices without reconnecting to the at least one processor.