System for transmitting and receiving combination of compressed digital information and embedded strobe bit between computer and external device through parallel printer port of computer

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, comprising:

• a computer with a parallel printer port;
• an external communications device connected to said computer through said parallel printer port;
• embedding means for embedding an embedded strobe bit, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of an eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;
• compressing means for compressing digital information into compressed digital information, said compressed digital information further comprises seven bits of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;
• combining means for combining said embedded strobe bit and said compressed digital information;
• means for transmitting and receiving said combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between said computer and said external communications device through said parallel printer port;
• and
• decompressing means for decompressing said compressed digital information.

A method for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, comprising the steps of:

• compressing digital information into compressed digital information, said compressed digital information further comprises seven bits of an eight bit data port of a parallel printer port;
• combining said compressed digital information with an embedded strobe bit, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;
• transmitting and receiving the combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between a computer and an external communications device through said parallel printer port;
• and
• decompressing said compressed digital information into said digital information.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for transmitting and receiving digital information through a parallel printer port, said method steps comprising the following steps:

• compressing digital information into compressed digital information, said compressed digital information further comprises seven bits of an eight bit data port of a parallel printer port;
• combining said compressed digital information with an embedded strobe bit, said embedded strobe further comprises one bit of said eight bit data port of said parallel printer port;
• transmitting and receiving the combination of said compressed digital information and said embedded strobe bit between a computer and an external communications device through said parallel printer port;
• and
• decompressing said compressed digital information into said digital information.

A method that provides digital information with the ability to transfer through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• providing a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires;
• and
• providing a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface.

A communications device that is external to a computer that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• a digital interface circuit that comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said digital interface circuit couples to a parallel printer interface, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;
• a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit that detects a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• and
• a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit, said control logic circuit controls the transferring of digital information through said parallel printer interface.

A method that uses a communications device that is external to a computer to transfer digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• clocking digital information with a strobe;
• transferring digital information through a parallel printer interface coupled to a digital interface circuit, said digital interface circuit comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;
• detecting said strobe with a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• and
• controlling the transferring of said digital information through said parallel printer interface with a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit.

A system that uses a communications device that is external to a computer that transfers digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• a digital interface circuit that comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said digital interface circuit couples to a parallel printer interface, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;
• a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit that detects a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• and
• a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit, said control logic circuit controls the transferring of digital information through said parallel printer interface.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method that uses a communications device that is external to a computer to transfer digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• clocking digital information with a strobe;
• transferring digital information through a parallel printer interface coupled to a digital interface circuit, said digital interface circuit comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;
• detecting said strobe with a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit, said strobe comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• and
• controlling the transferring of said digital information through said parallel printer interface with a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit.

A method that provides a communications device that is external to a computer with the ability to transfer digital information through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• providing a digital interface circuit that comprises a data interface circuit and a status transmit circuit, said digital interface circuit couples to a parallel printer interface, said parallel printer interface comprises a data port interface that comprises a plurality of wires and a status port interface that comprises a plurality of wires;
• providing a strobe detect circuit coupled to said digital interface circuit that detects a strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• and
• coupling a control logic circuit coupled to said strobe detect circuit and said digital interface circuit, said control logic circuit controls the transferring of digital information through said parallel printer interface.

A method that provides digital information with the ability to transfer through a parallel printer interface, comprising:

• providing a parallel printer interface that comprises a data port interface and a status port interface wherein said data port interface comprises a plurality of wires and said status port interface comprises a plurality of wires;
• and
• providing an embedded strobe that comprises one wire of said data port interface;
• said strobe clocks digital information transferred through said parallel printer interface.