RWAP Interceptor - what is it?

[RWAP]

The RWAP Interceptor is a break-away project from the Retro-Printer.

Initially, the Interceptor is a software based solution which runs on either a Banana Pi M1+ or an Odroid C1/C1+ / C2. This is the RWAP Interceptor (S)

The RWAP Interceptor (S) uses the USB OTG port on the Banana Pi and Odroid to enable the unit to be plugged inline between a piece of equipment and a USB printer.

As data is sent to the printer, the Interceptor captures the data and stores it for further processing, passing it unchanged to the USB printer. The Interceptor also mimics the parameters of the printer, so that the connected equipment does not notice that the printer is no longer directly connected.

At the moment, we have worked with a couple of companies who wished to use this to implement their own solution for processing of the captured data; including just parsing the data to store it as a PDF, or for inserting additional sheets of information amongst the printout.

This is ideal for equipment which uses proprietary software or operating systems to connect to USB printers; where the source code is not available.

Following on from this, we are now looking to design our own hardware solution, the RWAP Interceptor (H); which will feature a through port for connecting equipment to either a centronics printer; a serial printer or a USB printer.

This will allow for faster throughput of data, as well as providing for bi-directional centronics ports (for example) and other direct feedback from the connected printer to the equipment.

The software side will only need to concern itself with the data being sent to the printer and can be based on our existing Retro-Printer solution.

At the moment, this new RWAP Interceptor (H) is in the design stage, so we would welcome comments on this in the dedicated section of the forum.