Patent ID: 7490112

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a request specifying synchronization of information records of a source dataset residing on a first device with information records of a target dataset residing on a second device; determining a synchronization set by: (i) determining which, if any, information records have been previously transmitted to the target dataset but no longer exists at the source dataset, and (ii) determining which, if any, information records have been added to or modified at the source dataset since the source dataset was last synchronized with the target dataset, wherein each information record of the source dataset is assigned a globally unique identifier that is independent of either of the devices, for identifying said each information record at both the source dataset and the target dataset, said globally unique identifier being maintained in a device-independent record map that allows the globally unique identifier to be traced back to a specific information record regardless of whether the specific information record resides on the first or second device; and based on said synchronization set, synchronizing information records of the source dataset with information records of the target dataset by: (i) using said globally unique identifiers to delete from the target dataset any information records which have been previously transmitted to the target dataset but no longer exist at the source dataset, and (ii) using said globally unique identifiers to update the target dataset so that said target dataset includes those information records determined to have been added to or modified at the source dataset since the source dataset was last synchronized with the target dataset, wherein each of the globally unique identifiers comprises a non-modifiable hidden field containing a record identifier which is maintained throughout the existence of a corresponding information record.