Offline web services api to mirror online web services api

Abstract

Methods and systems for simulating an online session between the client and a remote server when the client is offline including simulating a web services API to access information when the client is offline. The client includes a local interface that can communicate with the remote server. During an online session, the data and the functional logic that is invoked to manipulate the data reside on the remote server. As such, the user transmits instructions to view, create, update, delete, or otherwise modify portions of data through the local interface and subsequently through the underlying network. These instructions are ultimately received at the remote server, which then invokes the proper functional logic to perform the instructions in order to manipulate the data. An API is provided that is substantially identical to the web services API that is typically accessed over the internet, but which simulates online functionality when offline. The client program talks to a single API, and in certain aspects that API determines whether to direct requests to a local database (which can later be synchronized with the online system) if the client is offline, or directly against the online system (e.g., if the client is connected via the Internet).