Method for synchronizing software application and user data for asynchronous client-server and peer to peer computer networks

Abstract

Web Applications run as software which is served through a portal or browser. However this precludes their use offline or when connectivity is not present. The present invention is a method for creating offline web applications and managing associated user data which is created offline and must later be reconciled with one or more central servers without a data collision. This allows the system to efficiently know which version of different pieces of user data are new and which need to be added to centralized servers. This method also applies to the actual web application program files so that software applications can be synchronized in addition to user data enabling a transparent online and offline user experience. The method described here also applies to mobile computing devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants. A side benefit of the method introduced here is that data sets can be distributed in manner which allows peer to peer synchronization and filedata distribution. Lastly the method described herein minimizes the amount of transactional data required to synchronize data sets across a network thereby increasing efficiency of available bandwidth on a computer network using the system.