Method and apparatus for mobile data collection and management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a middleware approach to initializing and updating required data entry fields, pushing such required data entry fields to mobile devices and applications, collecting entered data from such mobile devices, and the synchronizing and integrating of the data is presented. A “form builder” software component of the present invention allows for the creation of easy to read and use data entry forms by company management. A “web application” software component of the present invention allows for the forms to then be distributed via electronic and/or wireless means to mobile client devices, such as PDA's, Tablets, and Laptops, and to Desktop computers. The mobile client devices run applications to utilize the data entry forms and are that into which collected data can be entered. A “synchronization server” software component of the present invention then allows for two-way communication, storage and conflict resolution (versioning) of the collected data. An “integration server” software component of the present invention allows for external access to the collected and versioned data and modeling/mapping of such data. Thus seamless data entry, collection, updating, conflict resolution, versioning, storage, access and utilization is available.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of synchronizing a set of data resident in a mobile device as between the mobile device and a customer system, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving at a system server a first communication with a set of data from the mobile device;   versioning at the system server the set of data sent with the first communication;   directing from the system server the first communication with the versioned set of data to the customer server;   receiving at the system server a second communication with a set of data from the customer server based on the processing of the first communication with the versioned set of data pursuant to the set of applied business rules for forms, surveys and applications;   versioning at the system server the set of data sent with the second communication;   sending from the system server the second communication with the versioned set of data to the mobile device,   wherein the set of data resident in the mobile device is synchronized according to the second communication with the versioned set of data when there is continuous connectivity between the mobile device and the customer server, and   wherein the set of data resident in the mobile device is synchronized according to the first communication with the versioned set of data when there is discontinuous connectivity between the mobile device and the customer server when connectivity is restored.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
 sending from the system server an instruction to “pull” the first communication with data from the mobile device thereby allowing the processing of the set of data in the customer server pursuant to a set of applied business rules.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
 sending from the system server an instruction to “push” the second communication with data to the mobile device thereby allowing synchronizing the set of data as between a mobile device and a customer server.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the further step of:
 the system server conducts conflict resolution as between a plurality of sets of data resident on the mobile device and the customer server.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 performing a specific task on the mobile device as a result of the processing of the set of data pursuant to the set of applied business rules.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the specific task includes at least one of a price checking capacity, a product description retrieval capacity and an inventory management capacity. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for synchronizing a set of data as between at least one mobile device and at least one server with communications sent over a communications architecture, the apparatus comprising:
 a mobile device, in which the set of data and an application programming interface (API) reside, and wherein the API sends from the mobile device a first communication with the set of data;   a synchronization server,
 which receives the first communication with the set of data from the mobile device and versions the received set of data, and 
 which then versions a set of data sent with a second communication, and then sends the second communication with the versioned set of data to the API; 
   an integration server,
 which receives the first communication with the versioned set of data from the synchronization server and redirects the first communication with the versioned set of data, and 
 which then sends the second communication with data to the synchronization server; 
   a customer server,
 which receives the first communication with the versioned set of data from the integration server, processes the versioned set of data in the first communication pursuant to a set of applied business rules for forms, surveys and applications, and 
 which then creates the second communication with data on the basis of the processing of the first communication with the versioned set of data pursuant to the set of applied business rules for forms, surveys and applications, and then sends the second communication with data to the integration server; and 
   wherein when there is continuous connectivity between the mobile device and the customer server the set of data resident in the mobile device is synchronized according to the second communication with the versioned set of data, and   wherein when there is discontinuous connectivity between the mobile device and the customer server and only when connectivity is restored the set of data resident in the mobile device is synchronized according to the first communication with the versioned set of data.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization server sends an instruction to “pull” the first communication with data from the mobile device thereby allowing the processing of the set of data in the customer server pursuant to a set of applied business rules. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization server sends an instruction to “push” the second communication with data to the mobile device thereby allowing synchronizing the set of data as between a mobile device and a customer server. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the synchronization server conducts conflict resolution as between a plurality of sets of data resident on the mobile device and the customer server. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing of the set of data in the customer server pursuant to a set of applied business rules allows the mobile device to perform a specific task. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the specific task includes at least one of a price checking capacity, a product description retrieval capacity and an inventory management capacity. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a database, tied to the customer server, and on which the data of the first communication is stored.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a memory, resident on the mobile device, and on which the data of the second communication is stored.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processed set of data is displayed on the mobile device.