Framework for a device and a computer system needing synchronization

• US 20030055927A1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Sapmarkets Incorporated
• Inventors: Fischer, Claudius, Schmidt-Karaca, Markus, Muller, Franz, Stephan, Thorsten, Hertweck, Jochen
• Application Number:
  US10/164,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A platform-independent framework that enables devices, such as handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Internet enabled phones, laptops, and desktop computers or the like to run business applications offline and synchronize data with a computer system, such as a business electronic commerce system via a standard Internet connection or other network connection. Further, it allows the automatic installation and/or deinstallation of applications on the mobile devices or desktops from the computer system.

Claims

1. A framework for use with a device and a computer system comprising:

a web server, said web server being located on said device;

a programming model said programming model being used to run an offline application on said device;

an offline application, said offline application being related to an application resident on said computer system;

applications data,

an API layer, said APT layer providing an interface between said programming model and said applications data;

a synchronization layer, said synchronization layer being capable of performing a synchronization of applications data upon said device and upon said computer system.

2. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said web server is programmed in Java.

3. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said synchronization layer supports a plurality of types of synchronization.

4. A framework as in claim 3, wherein said plurality of types of synchronization comprise publish, subscribe and online synchronization.

5. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said synchronization layer synchronizes data between said device and said computer system through data containers, each of said data containers comprising a header.

6. A framework as in claim 5, wherein said header comprises a container ID, a user ID, a type of container, a method ID, a send date, a send time, an execution date, an execution time, and a status.

7. A framework as in claim 5, wherein at least one of said data containers further comprises a body, said body comprising a container ID, line number, field name, and field value.

8. A framework as in claim 5, wherein said container remains on said device at least until said device has received notification from said computer system that said container was received.

9. A framework as in claim 1, wherein additional offline applications can be deployed automatically from said computer system to said device.

10. A framework as in claim 9, wherein said deployment is at least in part role-based.

11. A framework as in claim 9, wherein said computer system comprises a deployment console, said deployment console comprising information related to which offline applications are intended to be installed on said device.

12. A framework as in claim 11, wherein said deployment console facilitates version management.

13. A framework as in claim 11, wherein said deployment console facilitates manual assignment of offline applications to be installed on said device.

14. A framework as in claim 11, wherein said deployment console comprises a log of errors sent by said device.

15. A framework as in claim 11, wherein said device comprises a registry, said registry comprising an indication of all offline applications resident on said device.

16. A framework as in claim 15, wherein said registry is sent to said computer system upon said connection being made between said device and said computer system.

17. A framework as in claim 16, wherein said deployment consol compares said registry to said information related to which offline applications are intended to be installed.

18. A framework as in claim 17, wherein if said comparison determines that an offline application not intended to be installed on said device is installed on said device, said computer system sends a message to said device, said message comprising an instruction to deinstall said offline application not intended to be installed on said device.

19. A framework as in claim 18, wherein said deinstallation takes place automatically in the background.

20. A framework as in claim 17, wherein if said comparison determines that an offline application intended to be installed on said device is not installed on said device, said computer system downloads said offline application to said device for installation by said device.

21. A framework as in claim 20, wherein said installation takes place automatically in the background.

22. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a personalized start page displaying offline applications available to a user of said device.

23. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a library, said library offering standard functionality for application methods.

24. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said synchronization occurs upon initiation by a user on a homepage of said device when a connection between said device and said computer system is present.

25. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said offline application comprises a shopping application, said shopping application providing catalog, search functionality, shopping baskets, and status information.

26. A framework as in claim 25, wherein during a synchronization, catalog content and orders in said shopping application are able to be updated.

27. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said offline application comprises a manager'"'"'s inbox application, said manager'"'"'s inbox application facilitating a users'"'"' handling of incoming messages, work tasks, said work tasks being subject to approval or disapproval by said user, forms, said manager'"'"'s inbox further providing view selection capability.

28. A framework as in claim 27, wherein during a synchronization, incoming messages, work tasks, approvals, disapprovals and forms in said manager'"'"'s inbox application are able to be updated.

29. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said offline application comprises a plant maintenance application, said plant maintenance application facilitating a user'"'"'s search for open/released orders, selection of operations, addition of components, said plant maintenance application further providing a catalog with search functionality.

30. A framework as in claim 29, wherein during a synchronization, open/released orders, catalogs, and new components in said plant maintenance application are able to be updated.

31. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a handheld computer.

32. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a personal digital assistant.

33. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises an Internet-enabled phone.

34. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a laptop computer.

35. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said device comprises a desktop computer.

36. A framework as in claim 1, wherein said computer system comprises an application server.