Device transfer of a server stored data item based on item ID and determined nature of intended destination

A file processing system in a communication network for communicating data items on behalf of a first device to one or more second devices coupled to the communication network, the file processing system being interposed between said first device and said one or more second devices, the file processing system comprising:

• a communications subsystem for communicating data items;
• and
• a processor and a memory storing computer executable instructions and data to configure the system to:
• intercept an original data item during an original communication, the original communication having been sent by an originating device to the first device via the file processing system using the communications network;
• associate a unique ID with the original data item;
• cache the original data item and the unique ID to a data store coupled to the system to enable the original data item to be referenced using the unique ID;
• send the unique ID and the original data item to the first device in completing the original communication associated with the original data item, provision of the unique ID to the first device enabling the first device to have the file processing system send the original data item or a processed version thereof on its behalf in subsequent communications;
• in a subsequent communication by the first device to said one or more second devices via the file processing system using the communications network, receive the unique ID from the first device instead of the original data item and receive a request to send the original data item or a processed version thereof to said one or more second devices;
• use the received unique ID to access the original data item;
• determine whether the one or more second devices are capable of handling a file type associated with the original data item;
• send to at least one of the one or more second devices capable of handling said file type, on behalf of the first device, either the original data item or a processed data item according to the capabilities of respective ones of the one or more second devices determined by the file processing system;
• and
• send to at least one second device not capable of handling said file type, the unique ID and an indication of the file without the original data item itself.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which when executed by a processor adapt a communications network system for communicating data items on behalf of a first device to one or more second devices via a file processing system in the communication network, the file processing system being interposed between said first device and said one or more second devices, said computer readable medium comprising instructions for having said file processing system:

• intercept an original data item during an original communication, the original communication having been sent by an originating device to the first device via the file processing system using the communications network;
• associate a unique ID with the original data item;
• cache the original data item and the unique ID to a data store coupled to the system to enable the original data item to be referenced using the unique ID;
• send the unique ID and the original data item to the first device in completing the original communication associated with the original data item, provision of the unique ID to the first device enabling the first device to have the file processing system send the original data item or a processed version thereof on its behalf in subsequent communications;
• in a subsequent communication by the first device to said one or more second devices via the file processing system using the communications network, receive the unique ID from the first device instead of the original data item and receive a request to send the original data item or a processed version thereof to said one or more second devices;
• use the received unique ID to access the original data item;
• determine whether the one or more second devices are capable of handling a file type associated with the original data item;
• send to at least one of the one or more second devices capable of handling said file type, on behalf of the first device, either the original data item or a processed data item according to the capabilities of respective ones of the one or more second devices determined by the file processing system;
• and
• send to at least one second device not capable of handling said file type, the unique ID and an indication of the file without the original data item itself.

A method in a first communications device for having a file processing system in a communication network communicate data items on its behalf to one or more second devices, the file processing system being interposed between the first device and the one or more second devices, the first device comprising a communications subsystem for communicating messages comprising data items via the communication network, a storage device for storing instructions and data, and a processor coupled to the storage device and the communication subsystem, the storage device storing instructions and data for carrying out the method, the method comprising:

• during an original communication associated with an original data item having been sent by an originating device to the first device and intercepted and cached by the file processing system with a unique ID, the first device receiving a message comprising the unique ID and the original data item in completion of the original communication, provision of the unique ID enabling the first device to have the file processing system determine whether the one or more second devices are capable of handling a file type associated with the original data item and send the original data item or a processed version thereof on its behalf in subsequent communications, the unique ID having been generated to enable the file processing system to identify the original data item stored to a cache in the file processing system;
• and
• in a subsequent communication to the one or more second devices via the file processing system using the communications network, the first device returning the unique ID to the file processing system over the communications network instead of the original data item with a request to send the original data item or a processed version thereof to the one or more second devices according to the capabilities of the one or more second devices determined by the file processing system to thereby to reduce communication of the original data item about the communication network, the file processing system being enabled to process the original data item for the one or more second devices and send the original data item or the processed version thereof to at least one of the one or more second devices capable of handling said file type, and to send to at least one second device not capable of handling said file type, the unique ID and an indication of the file without the original data item itself.

A first communications device for having a file processing system in a communication network communicate data items on its behalf to one or more second devices, the file processing system being interposed between the first device and the one or more second devices, the first device comprising a communications subsystem for communicating messages comprising data items via the communication network, a storage device for storing instructions and data, and a processor coupled to the storage device and the communication subsystem, the storage device storing instructions and data for:

• during an original communication associated with an original data item having been sent by an originating device to the first device and intercepted and cached by the file processing system with a unique ID, the first device receiving a message comprising the unique ID and the original data item in completion of the original communication, provision of the unique ID enabling the first device to have the file processing system determine whether the one or more second devices are capable of handling a file type associated with the original data item and send the original data item or a processed version thereof on its behalf in subsequent communications, the unique ID having been generated to enable the file processing system to identify the original data item stored to a cache in the file processing system;
• and
• in a subsequent communication to the one or more second devices via the file processing system using the communications network, the first device returning the unique ID to the file processing system over the communications network instead of the original data item with a request to send the original data item or a processed version thereof to the one or more second devices according to the capabilities of the one or more second devices determined by the file processing system to thereby to reduce communication of the original data item about the communication network, the file processing system being enabled to process the original data item for the one or more second devices and send the original data item or the processed version thereof to at least one of the one or more second devices capable of handling said file type, and to send to at least one second device not capable of handling said file type, the unique ID and an indication of the file without the original data item itself.