Technical Overview

The Allora DBConnector for Funambol enables you to synchronize PIM (personal information management) data on desktop, handheld or wireless devices with standard relational databases. Funambol includes a simple module for performing this PIM data synchronization with a single database table. However, in situations where you need to integrate and synchronize PIM data with a relational database having a complex schema with multiple tables, Allora DBConnector provides the power and flexibility you need. It is particularly useful in the following situations:

• You are mapping device data to existing relational tables that include additional columns used by other applications.
   
  
• You are mapping device data to more than one table.

For example, assume that your IT department keeps a database of sales contacts in Oracle and each member of the sales force needs to update the corporate database with latest sales contact information, you can use Allora DBConnector to set up an environment where salespeople synchronize their cellphone data with the existing Oracle tables.

The basic steps involved in setting up this type of synchronization are:

1. As for any Funambol application, install an application server (JBoss or tomcat), the Funambol server and the appropriate Funambol Client for your device.
    
   
2. Install Allora.
    
   
3. Configure Allora to use your chosen JDBC driver and database by creating an Allora data source.
    
   
4. Run the Allora Mapper.
    
   
5. Create an Allora project with mappings between the database and the XML schema that represents your device data.
    
   All Allora mapping projects developed for use with the Allora DBConnector for Funambol should use the SIF format XML schema. The SIF format is the "Funambol Interchange Format" and it is an XML format. The details for this format are available in the Funambol documentation.
    
   
6. Launch the Funambol SyncAdmin tool.
    
   
7. Create a new SyncSource with your Allora project information.
    
   
8. Configure your Funambol/SyncML client to use this syncsource.
    
   
9. Start synchronization from your device.

 
Figure 1: Allora DBConnector for Funambol Architecture
 
 

Here is what happens during the synchronization process:

• The Funambol server retrieves the date and time when a synchronization was last done with this Funambol client and the Allora DBConnector syncsource.
   
  
• The Funambol server invokes Allora, through the Allora DBConnector, to get the list of records that have been updated or inserted in the database tables associated with the Allora DBConnector syncsource.
   
  
• The Funambol server retrieves the records in your device that were inserted/deleted/updated after the last synchronization time using the Funambol client. The Funambol client sends these records to the Funambol server in SIF format (XML).
   
  
• The Funambol server compares the 2 sets of records, one from the database and the other from the mobile device.
   
  
• If there are any records that were updated or created in the device, they are updated in the database using Allora (through the Allora DBConnector).
   
  
• Similarly if there are any records that were updated or created in the database, they are updated in the device using the Funambol client.
   
  

 
Funambol is a HiT Software Technology Partner.