Device Transfer of a Server Stored Data Item Based on Item ID and Determined Nature of Intended Destination

Abstract

There is provided a method and system for communicating data items about a communication network. An original data item for communicating to a destination device is cached to a network data store in association with unique ID (UID) generated to identify the original data item. The UID is then sent as a proxy for the original data item to the destination device. The original data item may be processed (e.g. in response to a type of the destination device) to create a processed data item and the processed data item sent in place of the original data item. The processed data item may also be cached in association with the UID, for example, for reuse to eliminate duplicate processing. The destination device is adapted to return the UID when further communicating the original data item thereby to reduce communication of the original data item about the communication network.

1 . A method of receiving data items, from a file processing system in a communication network on behalf of a first device, at a second device, the second device being coupled to the communication network via the file processing system, the file processing system being interposed between the first device and the second device, the method comprising:
 the second device enabling the file processing system to determine capabilities of the second device for handling file types for the data items;   when the second device is not capable of handling a first file type for an original data item intercepted by the file processing system during an original communication sent by an originating device to the first device, the second device receiving from the file processing system a unique ID associated with the original data item, and an indication of the first file type without the original data item; and   when the second device is capable of handling a second file type for the original data item, the second device receiving from the file processing system on behalf of the first device in completing a subsequent communication either the original data item or a processed data item according to the capabilities of the second device; the file processing system having associated the unique ID with the original data item, cached the original data item and the unique ID, sent the unique ID and the original data item to the first device in completing the original communication, received the unique ID from the first device in the subsequent communication, and having determined whether the data item is associated with the first file type or the second file type in determining whether the second device is capable of handling the original data item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forwarding the unique ID to another device that can process the original data item when the second device is not capable of handling the first file type. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the original data item at the second device when the second device is capable of handling the second file type. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending another data item to a new destination device via the file processing system to have the file processing system generate a new unique ID for the other data item to be provided to the new destination device for further sending the other data item about the communication network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device is a handheld device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device is a desktop computer. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for receiving data items, from a file processing system in a communication network on behalf of a first device, at a second device, the second device being coupled to the communication network via the file processing system, the file processing system being interposed between the first device and the second device, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:
 the second device enabling the file processing system to determine capabilities of the second device for handling file types for the data items;   when the second device is not capable of handling a first file type for an original data item intercepted by the file processing system during an original communication sent by an originating device to the first device, the second device receiving from the file processing system a unique ID and an indication of the first file type without the original data item; and   when the second device is capable of handling a second file type for the original data item, the second device receiving from the file processing system on behalf of the first device in completing a subsequent communication either the original data item or a processed data item according to the capabilities of the second device; the file processing system having associated the unique ID with the original data item, cached the original data item and the unique ID, sent the unique ID and the original data item to the first device in completing the original communication, received the unique ID from the first device in the subsequent communication, and having determined whether the data item is associated with the first file type or the second file type in determining whether the second device is capable of handling the original data item.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising instructions for forwarding the unique ID to another device that can process the original data item when the second device is not capable of handling the first file type. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising instructions for processing the original data item at the second device when the second device is capable of handling the second file type. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising instructions for sending another data item to a new destination device via the file processing system to have the file processing system generate a new unique ID for the other data item to be provided to the new destination device for further sending the other data item about the communication network. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the second device is a handheld device. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the second device is a desktop computer. 
     
     
         13 . A second device configured for receiving data items, from a file processing system in a communication network on behalf of a first device, the second device being coupled to the communication network via the file processing system, the file processing system being interposed between the first device and the second device, the second device comprising a communications subsystem for communicating data items, a processor, and a memory storing computer executable instructions and data to configure the second device to:
 enable the file processing system to determine capabilities of the second device for handling file types for the data items;   when the second device is not capable of handling a first file type for an original data item intercepted by the file processing system during an original communication sent by an originating device to the first device, receive from the file processing system a unique ID and an indication of the first file type without the original data item; and   when the second device is capable of handling a second file type for the original data item, receive from the file processing system on behalf of the first device in completing a subsequent communication either the original data item or a processed data item according to the capabilities of the second device; the file processing system having associated the unique ID with the original data item, cached the original data item and the unique ID, sent the unique ID and the original data item to the first device in completing the original communication, received the unique ID from the first device in the subsequent communication, and having determined whether the data item is associated with the first file type or the second file type in determining whether the second device is capable of handling the original data item.   
     
     
         14 . The second device of  claim 13 , further configured to forward the unique ID to another device that can process the original data item when the second device is not capable of handling the first file type. 
     
     
         15 . The second device of  claim 13 , further configured to process the original data item at the second device when the second device is capable of handling the second file type. 
     
     
         16 . The second device of  claim 13 , further configured to send another data item to a new destination device via the file processing system to have the file processing system generate a new unique ID for the other data item to be provided to the new destination device for further sending the other data item about the communication network. 
     
     
         17 . The second device of  claim 13 , wherein the second device is a handheld device. 
     
     
         18 . The second device of  claim 13 , wherein the second device is a desktop computer