Middleware filter agent between server and PDA

A network of devices to filter synchronized data, the network of devices comprising:

• a. a content server to store content;
• b. a personal digital assistant;
• and
• c. a personal computer coupled to the personal digital assistant and to the content server, wherein the personal computer includes a middleware filter programmed such that during a data synchronization, content received by the personal computer from the content server according to the data synchronization is selectively filtered according to the middleware filter, resulting in filtered content, wherein only the filtered content is sent to the personal digital assistant by the personal computer, wherein the middleware filter selectively filters the content in response to meta data within the content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content,
• wherein the personal computer reads the meta data of the content received from the content server and sends the content to the personal digital assistant if the data type of the read meta data matches an authorized data type associated with the personal digital assistant,
• wherein the personal computer stores the authorized data type of the personal digital assistant, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

A method of filtering synchronized data, the method comprising:

• a. determining content to be sent from a content server to a first network device during a data synchronization;
• b. sending the content from the content server to a second network device coupled between the content server and the first network device, wherein the second network device includes a middleware filter;
• c. selectively filtering the content according to the middleware filter in response to meta data contained within the content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content;
• and
• d. sending only the filtered content from the second network device to the first network device,
• wherein selectively filtering the content includes reading the meta data of the content received from the content server by the middleware filter, matching the data type of the read meta data to an authorized data type associated with the first network device, and sending the content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches the authorized data type associated with the first network device,
• wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

A method of filtering synchronized data, the method comprising:

• a. determining content to be sent from a content server to a first network device during a data synchronization, wherein the content server includes a middleware filter;
• b. selectively filtering the determined content according to the middleware filter in response to meta data contained within the content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content;
• and
• c. sending only the filtered content from the content server to the first network device,
• wherein selectively filtering the determined content includes reading the meta data of the determined content by the middleware filter, matching the data type of the read meta data to an authorized data type associated with the first network device, and sending the determined content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches the authorized data type associated with the first network device,
• wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

An apparatus including at least one processor to filter synchronized data, the apparatus comprising:

• a middleware filter programmed such that during a data synchronization, content is received by the apparatus from a content server according to the data synchronization, and the received content is selectively sent to a network device by the apparatus according to the middleware filter, wherein the received content is selectively filtered by the middleware filter and wherein only the filtered content is sent to the network device in response to meta data within the received content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the received content,
• wherein the middleware filter reads the meta data of the content received from the content server and sends the content to the network device if the data type of the read meta data matches an authorized data type associated with the network device,
• wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

An apparatus for filtering synchronized data comprising:

• a. means for determining content to be sent from a content server to a first network device during a data synchronization;
• b. means for sending the content from the content server to a second network device coupled between the content server and the first network device, wherein the second network device includes a middleware filter;
• c. means for selectively filtering the content in response to meta data contained within the content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content;
• and
• d. means for sending only the filtered content from the second network device to the first network device,
• wherein selectively filtering the content includes reading the meta data of the content received from the content server by the middleware filter, matching the data type of the read meta data to an authorized data type associated with the first network device, and sending the content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches the authorized data type associated with the first network device, wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

A network of devices to filter synchronized data, the network of devices comprising:

• a. a content server to store content;
• b. a first network device, wherein a communications channel is established for communicating content from the content server to the first network device;
• and
• c. a middleware filter coupled to the first network device and to the content server such that during a data synchronization, all content sent over the communications channel from the content server is received by the middleware filter according to the data synchronization and the middleware filter is programmed to selectively filter the content in response to meta data containing device specifications within the content resulting in filtered content and send only the filtered content to the first network device, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content,
• wherein the middleware filter reads the meta data of the content received from the content server and sends the content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches an authorized data type associated with the first network device,
• wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

A network of devices to filter synchronized data, the network of devices comprising:

• a. a content server to store content;
• b. a first network device;
• and
• c. a second network device coupled between the first network device and the content server, the second network device comprising a middleware filter, such that during a data synchronization, content is received by the middleware filter from the content server according to the data synchronization and the middleware filter is programmed to selectively filter the content in response to meta data within the content, the metadata comprising an attribute-value pair, resulting in filtered content and send only the filtered content to the first network device, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content, and further wherein the first network device and the second network device are local and the content server is remote from the first network device and the second network device,
• wherein the middleware filter reads the meta data of the content received from the content server and sends the content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches an authorized data type associated with the first network device, wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

A method of filtering synchronized data, the method comprising:

• a. determining content to be sent from a content server to a first network device during a bi-directional data synchronization;
• b. sending the content from the content server to a second network device coupled between the content server and the first network device, wherein the second network device includes a middleware filter;
• c. selectively filtering the content according to the middleware filter in response to meta data contained within the content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content;
• and
• d. sending only the filtered content from the second network device to the first network device,
• wherein selectively filtering the content includes reading the meta data of the content received from the content server by the middleware filter, matching the data type of the read meta data to an authorized data type associated with the first network device, and sending the content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches the authorized data type associated with the first network device,
• wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.

A network of devices to filter synchronized data, the network of devices comprising:

• a. a content server to store content;
• b. a first network device;
• and
• c. a middleware filter coupled to the first network device and to the content server such that during a bi-directional data synchronization, content is received by the middleware filter from the content server according to the bi-directional data synchronization and the middleware filter is programmed to selectively filter the content resulting in filtered content and send only the filtered content to the first network device, wherein the middleware filter selectively filters the content in response to meta data within the content, wherein the meta data comprises a data type of the content,
• wherein the middleware filter reads the meta data of the content received from the content server and sends the content to the first network device if the data type of the read meta data matches an authorized data type associated with the first network device,
• wherein the middleware filter stores the authorized data type of the first network device, and
• wherein the meta data is added to the content by the content server.