METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SYNCHRONIZING DATA

• US 20100325089A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Hopkins, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/622
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/214 Database migration support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2372 Updates performed during offline database operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for conducting an offline session simulating an online session between a client and server in a network environment. The client imports data and functional logic from the server prior to going offline. The imported functional logic is embedded into a format or document that is capable of being interpreted and performed by the local interface at the client that is used to interact with server during an online session. Whether offline or online, the user utilizes the same local interface at the client to transmit instructions to the functional logic in order to manipulate the data. In an offline session, such instructions cause the imported and embedded functional logic to execute, thereby manipulating the data that is imported at the client. Known synchronization methods may also be used in order to maintain consistency and coherency between the imported data at the client and the database at the server.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A method for simulating an online session while offline, comprising:

invoking functional logic associated with a remote server to manipulate data in a database associated with the remote server;

allowing a client to establish one or more communication channels through a network that connects the client to the remote server;

importing to the client at least a portion of the data from the database and at least a portion of the functional logic associated with the remote server so that the client can conduct an offline session in isolation;

wherein the importing to the client further comprises establishing a directory structure in the client;

while offline, allowing a user to manipulate, view, and modify the at least a portion of the data; and

after the client returns online, performing a synchronization process by uploading the modified or newly created data records from the client to the database.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising allowing the user to manipulate the portion of the data by selecting from one or more options through a web browser while offline.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the database is a relational database management system.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the invoking the functional logic further comprises invoking the functional logic through a remote server API solution.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the importing the portion of the functional logic further comprises embedding the functional logic in at least one document.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one document utilizes a markup language.

37. A system for simulating an online session while offline, comprising:

invoking functional logic associated with a remote server to manipulate data in a database associated with the remote server;

logic for allowing a client to establish one or more communication channels through a network that connects the client to the remote server;

logic for importing to the client at least a portion of the data from the database and at least a portion of the functional logic associated with the remote server so that the client can conduct an offline session in isolation;

wherein the system is operable such that the importing to the client further comprises establishing a directory structure in the client;

while offline, logic for allowing a user to manipulate, view, and modify the at least a portion of the data; and

after the client returns online, logic for performing a synchronization process by uploading the modified or newly created data records from the client to the database.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprising logic for allowing the user to manipulate the portion of the data by selecting from one or more options through a web browser while offline.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the system is operable such that the database is a relational database management system.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the system is operable such that the invoking the functional logic further comprises invoking the functional logic through a remote server API solution.

41. The system of claim 37 wherein the system is operable such that the importing the portion of the functional logic further comprises embedding the functional logic in at least one document.

43. A computer program product for simulating an online session while offline, comprising:

computer code for invoking functional logic associated with a remote server to manipulate data in a database associated with the remote server;

computer code for allowing a client to establish one or more communication channels through a network that connects the client to the remote server;

computer code for importing to the client at least a portion of the data from the database and at least a portion of the functional logic associated with the remote server so that the client can conduct an offline session in isolation;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the importing to the client further comprises establishing a directory structure in the client;

while offline, computer code for allowing a user to manipulate, view, and modify the at least a portion of the data; and

after the client returns online, computer code for performing a synchronization process by uploading the modified or newly created data records from the client to the database.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 further comprising computer code for allowing the user to manipulate the portion of the data by selecting from one or more options through a web browser while offline.

45. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the database is a relational database management system.

46. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the invoking the functional logic further comprises invoking the functional logic through a remote server API solution.

47. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the computer program product is operable such that the importing the portion of the functional logic further comprises embedding the functional logic in at least one document.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the at least one document utilizes a markup language.