Data communication with remote network node

Abstract

Data transfer between remote and base locations over a network is effected. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a data router controls the routing of data between base and remote network appliances as a function of metadata describing the data and capabilities of the remote network appliance.

1 . A method comprising:
 populating at least one asset space with an identification of data stored at a base network appliance as a function of metadata stored at the base network appliance and an authenticated user associated with a remote network appliance;   presenting the at least one asset space to the authenticated user for use in selecting stored data for transfer; and   in response to receiving a request for data identified in the asset space,
 transcoding the data from a first type into a second type according to an application program available at a remote network appliance identified in the request, and 
 causing, at least in part, a transmission of the transcoded data to the remote network appliance. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type, the second type, or a combination thereof is a multipurpose internet mail extensions type. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type is compatible with a software application that is not available at the remote network appliance. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the second type is compatible with a software application programmed on the remote network application. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type is compatible with a first software application and the second type is compatible with a second software application, and wherein the first software application is different from the second software application. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iterating a plurality of type handlers in a random order to find a handler for transcoding the data.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining that no handler is applicable for transcoding the data; and   causing, at least in part, a return of the data un-transcoded.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 populate at least one asset space with an identification of data stored at a base network appliance as a function of metadata stored at the base network appliance and an authenticated user associated with a remote network appliance; 
 present the at least one asset space to the authenticated user for use in selecting stored data for transfer; and 
 in response to receiving a request for data identified in the asset space, 
 transcode the data from a first type into a second type according to an application program available at a remote network appliance identified in the request, and 
 cause, at least in part, a transmission of the transcoded data to the remote network appliance. 
   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first type, the second type, or a combination thereof is a multipurpose internet mail extensions type. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first type is compatible with a software application that is not available at the remote network appliance. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second type is compatible with a software application programmed on the remote network application. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first type is compatible with a first software application and the second type is compatible with a second software application, and wherein the first software application is different from the second software application. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 iterate a plurality of type handlers in a random order to find a handler for transcoding the data.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine that no handler is applicable for transcoding the data; and   cause, at least in part, a return of the data un-transcoded.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform:
 populating at least one asset space with an identification of data stored at a base network appliance as a function of metadata stored at the base network appliance and an authenticated user associated with a remote network appliance;   presenting the at least one asset space to the authenticated user for use in selecting stored data for transfer; and   in response to receiving a request for data identified in the asset space,
 transcoding the data from a first type into a second type according to an application program available at a remote network appliance identified in the request, and 
 causing, at least in part, a transmission of the transcoded data to the remote network appliance. 
   
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first type, the second type, or a combination thereof is a multipurpose internet mail extensions type. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first type is compatible with a software application that is not available at the remote network appliance. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second type is compatible with a software application programmed on the remote network application. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first type is compatible with a first software application and the second type is compatible with a second software application, and wherein the first software application is different from the second software application. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 iterating a plurality of type handlers in a random order to find a handler for transcoding the data;   causing, at least in part, a return of the data un-transcoded if no handler is applicable for transcoding the data.