System, method, and computer program product for online and offline interactive applications on mobile devices

• US 20030208559A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iAnywhere Solutions Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: iAnywhere Solutions Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Velline, Andrew, Kacin, Martin, Sodhi, Rajpal S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product for exchanging data between a client and information sources via a server. The invention operates by obtaining data objects from a plurality of sources, wherein the data objects have native data formats specific to the sources. The data objects are converted to a common data format, and are then transmitted to the client. At the client, the data objects are modified. The modified data objects are compliant with the common data format. The modified data objects are transmitted to the server, where they are converted to the native data formats specific to the sources associated therewith. Then, the converted modified data objects are transmitted to the associated sources.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging data between a client and information sources via a server, comprising:

(1) obtaining data objects from a plurality of sources, said data objects having native data formats specific to said sources;

(2) converting said data objects to a common data format; and

(3) transmitting said converted data objects to said client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(4) modifying data objects at said client, said modified data objects in said common data format;

(5) transmitting said modified data objects to said server;

(6) converting said modified data objects to native data formats specific with sources associated with said modified data objects; and

(7) transmitting said converted modified data objects to said associated sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises:

converting ODBC data objects to said common data format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises:

converting XML data objects to said common data format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises:

converting word processor data objects to said common data format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said common data format defines an XML data object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(4) accessing data objects at said client using a single user interface irrespective of the respective sources and native data formats of said data objects.

8. A computer program product having control logic stored therein, said control logic enabling a computer to exchange data between a client and information sources via a server, said control logic comprising:

means for enabling a computer to obtain data objects from a plurality of sources, said data objects having native data formats specific to said sources;

converting means for enabling a computer to convert said data objects to a common data format; and

means for enabling a computer to transmit said converted data objects to said client.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said control logic further comprises:

means for enabling a computer to receive modified data objects in said common data format;

means for enabling a computer to convert said modified data objects to native data formats specific with sources associated with said modified data objects; and

means for enabling a computer to transmit said converted modified data objects to said associated sources.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said converting means comprises:

means for enabling a computer to convert ODBC data objects to said common data format.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said converting means comprises:

means for enabling a computer to convert XML data objects to said common data format.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said converting means comprises:

means for enabling a computer to convert word processor data objects to said common data format.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said common data format defines an XML data object.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

means for enabling a computer to access data objects using a single user interface irrespective of the respective sources and native data formats of said data objects.

15. A system to exchange data between a client and information sources via a server, comprising:

means for obtaining data objects from a plurality of sources, said data objects having native data formats specific to said sources;

converting means for converting said data objects to a common data format; and

means for transmitting said converted data objects to said client.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving modified data objects in said common data format;

means for converting said modified data objects to native data formats specific with sources associated with said modified data objects; and

means for transmitting said converted modified data objects to said associated sources.

17. A method of synchronizing a client with information sources via a server, comprising:

(1) querying a source to obtain first information;

(2) transmitting said first information to a client;

(3) receiving second information from said client, said second information including at least some modifications of said first information;

(4) re-querying said source to obtain third information;

(5) comparing said first information to said third information; and

(6) if said first information corresponds to said third information, then updating said source with said second information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(7) if said first information does not correspond to said third information, then implementing a conflict resolution procedure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said conflict resolution procedure dictates that said source should be updated with said second information.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said conflict resolution procedure dictates that said source should not be updated with said second information.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said conflict resolution procedure dictates that a user should be queried for instructions on resolving said conflict.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said first information is cached in said client.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said first information is cached in said server.

24. A computer program product having control logic stored therein, said control logic enabling a computer to synchronize a client with information sources via a server, said control logic comprising:

means for enabling a computer to query a source to obtain first information;

means for enabling a computer to transmit said first information to a client;

means for enabling a computer to receive second information from said client, said second information including at least some modifications of said first information;

means for enabling a computer to re-query said source to obtain third information;

means for enabling a computer to compare said first information to said third information; and

means for enabling a computer to update said source with said second information if said first information corresponds to said third information.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, said control logic comprising:

means for enabling a computer to implement a conflict resolution procedure if said first information does not correspond to said third information.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said conflict resolution procedure dictates that said source should be updated with said second information.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said conflict resolution procedure dictates that said source should not be updated with said second information.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein said conflict resolution procedure dictates that a user should be queried for instructions on resolving said conflict.

29. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said first information is cached in said client.

30. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said first information is cached in said server.

31. A system to synchronize a client with information sources via a server, comprising:

means for querying a source to obtain first information;

means for transmitting said first information to a client;

means for receiving second information from said client, said second information including at least some modifications of said first information;

means for re-querying said source to obtain third information;

means for comparing said first information to said third information; and

means for updating said source with said second information if said first information corresponds to said third information.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for implementing a conflict resolution procedure if said first information does not correspond to said third information.