Offline simulation of online session between client and server

Abstract

A method and system for conducting an offline session simulating an online session between a client and server in a network environment. The client imports data and functional logic from the server prior to going offline. The imported functional logic is embedded into a format or document that is capable of being interpreted and performed by the local interface at the client that is used to interact with server during an online session. Whether offline or online, the user utilizes the same local interface at the client to transmit instructions to the functional logic in order to manipulate the data. In an offline session, such instructions cause the imported and embedded functional logic to execute, thereby manipulating the data that is imported at the client. Known synchronization methods may also be used in order to maintain consistency and coherency between the imported data at the client and the database at the server.

1 . A method for simulating, at a client, an online session between the client and a remote server when the client is offline, wherein the client includes a local interface and the remote server includes data and functional logic that manipulates the data via instructions received through the local interface, the method comprising:
 a. while the client is online,
 1. importing at least a subset of the data; 
 2. importing at least a subset of the functional logic as an embedded portion of a format capable of being interpreted and performed by the local interface; and 
   b. while the client is offline,
 1. invoking the embedded functional logic to manipulate the imported data in response to instructions received through the local interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of importing user customizations for the presentation of the imported data by the local interface while the client is online. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the local interface is a web browser. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the embedded functional logic is expressed in a scripting language understood by the web browser. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the format comprises at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the imported data is stored in at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the imported data and embedded functional logic relate to customer relationship management. 
     
     
         8 . A system for enabling a client to simulate an online session when the client is offline, the system comprising:
 a. a database; and   b. a server capable of conducting an online client session, the server providing:
 1. a synchronization service capable of exporting data from the database for storage at the client, and 
 2. an initiation service for exporting documents, wherein the documents
 a. are capable of being interpreted and performed by a local client interface, and 
 b. include embedded functional logic to manipulate the exported data via instructions received through the local client interface. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the synchronization service is further capable of importing data from the client. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the synchronization service is further capable of exporting user customizations for the presentation of the exported data by the local client interface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the synchronization service is implemented with XML-RPC. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the local client interface is a web browser. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the embedded functional logic is expressed as a scripting language understood by the web browser. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the documents utilize a markup language to identify structures within the documents. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the exported data is exported as at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the exported data and embedded functional logic relate to customer relationship management. 
     
     
         17 . Computer instructions embodied on a computer-readable medium for simulating, when the client is offline, an online session between a client and a remote server, the computer instructions comprising:
 a. logic for manipulating data imported from the remote server;   b. logic for rendering a presentation of the imported data on a local client interface; and   c. logic for communicating with the remote server during a synchronization process;   
       wherein at least a portion of the computer instructions are embedded into a format capable of being interpreted and performed by the local client interface. 
     
     
         18 . The computer instructions of  claim 17  wherein the local client interface is a web browser. 
     
     
         19 . The computer instructions of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the computer instructions are expressed in a scripting language. 
     
     
         20 . The computer instructions of  claim 17  wherein the format comprises at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         21 . The computer instructions of  claim 17  wherein the imported data is stored in at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         22 . The computer instructions of  claim 17  wherein the computer instructions and the imported data relate to customer relationship management. 
     
     
         23 . A system for simulating, at the client, an online session between the client and a remote server when the client is offline, wherein the client includes a local interface and the remote server includes data and functional logic that manipulates the data via instructions received through the local interface, the system comprising:
 a. means for exporting at least a subset of the data while the client is online;   b. means for exporting at least a subset of the functional logic as an embedded portion of a format capable of being interpreted and performed by the local interface while the client is online; and   c. means for synchronizing data at the client with data at the remote server.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising means for exporting user customizations for the presentation of the imported data by the local interface. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the local interface is a web browser. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the embedded functional logic is expressed in a scripting language understood by the web browser. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the synchronization means utilizes remote procedure calls. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the format comprises at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the imported data is stored in at least one document that utilizes a markup language to identify structures within the document. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the imported data and embedded functional logic relate to customer relationship management.