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Discussion of Synchronisation Standards. SWG2 Technical Report T2-(99)669 V0.1 Helsinki, FI TSG-T WG2 #5 06-09 Sep ‘99. Discussion of Sync Standards. 3G Information Device Users Require Access to the Same Information Regardless of Location Regardless of Device Types Personal Computers
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Discussion of Synchronisation Standards SWG2 Technical Report T2-(99)669 V0.1 Helsinki, FI TSG-T WG2 #5 06-09 Sep ‘99 T2-99669 v0.1
Discussion of Sync Standards • 3G Information Device Users Require Access to the Same Information • Regardless of Location • Regardless of Device Types • Personal Computers • Servers • Handheld or Palm-size Devices or • Mobile Phones. • This Means The Information Needs to be Synchronised • T2-(99)669 Provides Information on Existing Synchronisation Protocols By • Summarizing Proprietary and Open Standard Protocols Relevant to Current and Future Mobile Communication Devices and • Covering Only Synchronisation Between End-user Devices, Desktop Applications, and Server-based Information Services but • Not Covering Replication or Synchronisation Between Enterprise Databases. T2-99669 v0.1
Existing Standards IrMC • Extension to IrDA For Data Exchange Between • Mobile Devices and • Mobile Devices and Desktops or PDAs • Defines Four Levels of Support for Information Exchange • Each Higher Level Must Support All of the Preceding Levels • Level 1 (Minimum Level) • Level 2 (Access Level) • Level 3 (Index Level), and • Level 4 (Sync Level). • Level 4 Does Not Require Level 3 • Levels 2 and 4 Are the Most Relevant for Sync • Has Been Adopted by IrDA and Bluetooth • Has Wide Industry Support. T2-99669 v0.1
Existing Standards Bluetooth • Adopted the IrMC Standard for Sync WAP • Has Not Specified a Sync Standard • Attempts to Form a Work Group Last Year Were Abandoned. MNCRS (Mobile Network Computer Reference Specification) • Specified an API Providing Data-sync Services Focused on Java-enabled Devices • Promoted by a Number of Companies • Has Not Been Adopted by Any Formal Standards Body. Symbian’s ‘Synchronisation’ • Composed of Puma, Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, Starfish, and Lotus • Disbanded Before Any Agreement Was Reached. T2-99669 v0.1
Existing Standards MDSP (Mobile Data Synchronisation Protocol) • Promoted by IBM • Designed for Use Between • Mobile Devices Sporadically Connected to the Network and • Servers Continuously Connected to the Network • Designed to Handle the Case Where Server and Device • Store Data in Different Formats and • Use Different Software Systems • Can Be Used to Push Data Elements to One-Way Devices • Has Not Been Adopted by Any Formal Standards Body. T2-99669 v0.1
Narrowing the Playing Field • One Adopted Mobile Standard that Addresses Sync: IrMC • Used in IrDA and BlueTooth • Defined by Handset Manufacturers to Provide a Means for Exchanging Data Between Mobile Devices, Desktops, Handhelds, Printers ... • Supports Data Exchange With Phone Book, Calendar, Messaging and Note Applications • Works With Either Low or High Bandwidth Networks • May Be Used in Connection-oriented or Connectionless Links • Includes Stuff Like Call Control, Isochronous Audio Transmission, and Permissions for Getting and Setting the Real Time Clock. • Doesn’t Specifically Support an Optimized Mode for WAN Sync WAN Sync Presents a Unique Set of Problems for Efficient and Accurate Synchronisation. T2-99669 v0.1
IrMC WAN Sync Issues • Written to Exchange PIM Data in a PAN or Peer-to-Peer Environment • Hasn’t Addressed Sync in a WAN Environment • Level 4 Dependent on Connection-Based Transport Protocol • Requires a Connection-Oriented Service (in IrDA - IrLAP and IrLMP) • A Persistent Connection Between Devices Is Difficult to Maintain in Some WANs (Latency Can Slow the Transactions to an Unacceptable Level or Cause Sync to Be Stopped) • Inefficient Data Exchange • Data Exchanges Between an IrMC Client and Server Tend to Be Chatty and Inefficient. • Each Object Sent Between Devices Requires a Separate Request/response Pair • GET Operations Entail a Request and Response for Each Object. • PUT Operations Can Be More Efficient in a Connectionless Environment, Since No Response Is Expected. T2-99669 v0.1
Recommendations Address the Limitations of IrMC Level 4 Sync in a WAN by .. • Modifying IrMC Level 4 to Address the WAN Limitations or • Extending IrMC Level 4 to Include WAN Sync • Operate on Top of Existing Stacks • Use As Much Existing Code Base As Possible T2-99669 v0.1
IrMC Technical Overview • The IrMC Specification and Its Supporting OBEX Object Exchange Layer • In an IrDA Application, Requires IrLAP, IrLMP, TTP, and IAS • In a Bluetooth Application, Requires the Bluetooth Equivalent of These Layers • Designed to Swap Transport and Below Layers While Keeping a Common Set of Applications. • The Information Exchange Levels of Irmc Starts With Text-based Data Formats • Using Industry-standard Data Formats - vCard, vCalendar, plus IETF Versions (in Proc) • Adding Telecom-Specific Extensions to vCard • Defining New Formats Where None Existed - vMessage, vNote • Defining Space-Saving Binary Formats - bvCard, GBO (In Proc) • Adding Sync-Specific Exchange Data Objects • Change Logs, Change Counters, Time Stamps • Information Logs on Database Characteristics • Device Information Block for Device Capabilities • Database and Unique Object Identifiers • Optional Error Logs for Record-level Error Codes • Detect Activity During Sync • Detect Device Reset T2-99669 v0.1
IrMC Technical Overview IrDA Data Hardware/Protocol Stacks Graphical Representation T2-99669 v0.1