Patent ID: 7720890

Claim:
A method comprising: using a computer comprising a memory, storing a file in a first file store on a first system; using the computer, creating metadata relating to said file in a first item store on said first system, said metadata being derived from the contents of said file and contained in a file backed item; connecting a second system to said first system, said second system having a second file store and a second item store, and while connected, synchronizing said first item store with said second item store without synchronizing the file to which said metadata refers, wherein after synchronization, the second item store comprises a copy of the metadata related to the file; disconnecting said second system from said first system, and while disconnected, modifying the copy of the metadata; and reconnecting said second system to said first system, and while connected, synchronizing said first item store with said second item store without synchronizing the file, wherein after synchronization, the metadata of the item store comprises the modification to the copy of the metadata.