System for input and output of data with non-standard i/o devices for web applications

Abstract

A system for input and output of data with non-standard I/O devices for web and other applications. In one aspect, non-standard input data is received from the non-standard input device at a client, and the non-standard input data is provided as equivalent standard input data to the standard browser running on the client, so that the standard browser can submit the input data to an application running on a server in communication with the client over a network. In another aspect, a server receives a request from a user, and requested data and instructions are sent to the client, where a standard browser running on the client receives the data and instructions and the data can be sent to be output by a non-standard output device in communication with the client.

1 . A system for providing input data from a non-standard input device to a standard browser, the system comprising:
 a client operative to receive non-standard input data from the non-standard input device to a client in communication with the non-standard device, the client having one or more device drivers associated with the non-standard input device and one or more platform-independent applications, and provide the non-standard input data as equivalent standard input data to the standard browser running on the client so that the standard browser can submit the input data to an application running on a server in communication with the client over a network and provide a client interface; and   a server running an application and in communication with the client over a network, the application operative to receive the input data submitted from the standard browser running on the client.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a standalone application runs on the client, the standalone application operative to communicate with the non-standard input device and receive the non-standard input data. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the browser is running a program that receives the non-standard input data from the standalone application and places the non-standard input data as standard input data into at least one field of a web page displayed by the standard browser. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the program running in the browser is a Java applet. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the web page displayed by the standard browser is a form having at least one field into which the input data is placed by the program. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the standalone application is a Java application, and wherein the device drivers used to read the non-standard input device include JavaPOS. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the program running in the browser is configured by page data downloaded to the browser from the server, the page data generated by a JSP tag on the server. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the browser displays a web form that is defined by the page data downloaded from the server, the web form generated by a custom JSP tag on the server. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the non-standard input device is a scanner. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the non-standard input device is a magnetic stripe reader (MSR). 
   
   
       11 . A computer readable medium including program instructions to be implemented by a computer for providing input data from a non-standard input device to standard browser, the program instructions performing steps comprising:
 receiving non-standard input data from the non-standard input device to a client in communication with the non-standard device, the client having one or more device drivers associated with the non-standard input device and one or more platform-independent applications; and   providing the non-standard input data as equivalent standard input data to the standard browser running on the client so that the standard browser can submit the input data to an application running on a server in communication with the client over a network and provide a client interface.   
   
   
       12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the non-standard input data is received by a standalone application running on the client that is able to communicate with the non-standard input device. 
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the browser is running a program that receives the non-standard input data from the standalone application and places the non-standard input data as standard input data into at least one field of a web page displayed by the standard browser. 
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the program running in the browser is a Java applet. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the web page displayed by the standard browser is a form having at least one field into which the input data is placed by the program. 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the standalone application is a Java application, and wherein the device drivers used to read the non-standard input device include JavaPOS. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the program running in the browser is configured by page data downloaded to the browser from the server, the page data generated by a JSP tag on the server. 
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the browser displays a web form that is defined by the page data downloaded from the server, the web form generated by a custom JSP tag on the server. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the non-standard input device is a scanner. 
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the non-standard input device is a magnetic stripe reader (MSR).