Method and apparatus for communicating summarized data

A method of communicating data between a first data processing device and a third data processing device via a second data processing device, comprising:

• (a) at the second data processing device, controlling communication of qualifying and non-qualifying data units from the first data processing device to the third data processing device including receiving individually filtered data units from the first data processing device based on at least one user-definable filter parameters to identify whether a data unit is a qualifying or non-qualifying data unit, wherein for qualifying data units, an identifying information part and an additional part is received and for non-qualifying data units, the identifying information part without the additional part is received, and providing the third data processing device with the identifying information part and the additional part for qualifying data units and providing the third data processing device with the identifying information part without the additional part for non-qualifying data units.

A communications server adapted for communicating with a host server and a communication unit including a processor, the communications server comprising:

• (a) a user parameter store adapted to store user parameters;
• and
• (b) a data transfer manager, coupled with the user parameter store, adapted to control communication of data units between the communication unit and the host server including receiving individually filtered data units from the host server based on at least one user-definable filter parameters to identify whether a data unit is a qualifying or non-qualifying data unit, wherein for qualifying data units, a summary part and an additional part is received and for non-qualifying data units, the summary part without the additional part is received, and providing the communication unit with the summary part and the additional part for qualifying data units and providing the communication unit with the summary part without the additional part for non-qualifying data units.

A controller of a communication unit adapted for requesting data over a wireless communication channel from a further data processing host via a communication server, the controller comprising:

• (a) a summary store operable for storing identifying information received from the host via the communications server about data units not being sent from the host to the communication unit and not being received at the communication unit.