Synchronization

Abstract

In a mobile world, a lot of data, like contacts, calendar information, email or corporate data, is stored on different mobile devices as well as on one or more central servers. If you just think of contact information, like names, email addresses, and phone numbers, these are usually stored somewhere in a central directory database in your company, like for example a Lotus Domino Public Names Address Book database. The same information, or parts of it, can also be stored in the phone book in your Nokia mobile phone, as well as in the address list in your Palm Pilot. Exchanging this type of information between a network server and a mobile device allows the information to be used by the mobile device when it is disconnected from the network. When disconnected, the information on the mobile device can be changed or added-to. The challenge of data synchronization is to keep this information up-to-date.