Patent ID: 7257649

Claim:
A method, comprising: a server sending an identification to a synchronization client executing on a handheld device, wherein the identification relates to a database version; the synchronization client comparing the identification received from the server with a locally stored identification; the synchronization client sending a first message to the server if the identification does not compare equally with the locally stored identification; in response to receiving the first message, the server sending a size of binary information to the synchronization client; the synchronization client comparing the size of the binary information with an amount of storage available in the handheld device; the synchronization client sending a second message to the server if the synchronization client determines that the amount of storage available in the handheld is greater than the size of the binary information in response to the server receiving the message, the server compressing the binary information prior to transfer; the server encoding the compressed binary information using a text encoder prior to transfer; and the server encoding the text encoded information prior to transfer according to a protocol associated with a connection between the server and the synchronization client.