Synchronisation adapter connects Android & big data

To synchronise data, an Android app must identify local changes, open a communication channel to a back-end service, and transfer the data. Although a sync adapter can be used to schedule synchronisation in the background, apps that store data in an SQLite database must track changes manually and define protocols for authentication and communication. This represents a development effort for any non-trival data model. The ITTIA DB SQL automatically synchronises local changes with a back-end database quickly and efficiently, making it a drop-in replacement for SQLite.

Developing a custom network service to synchronise with numerous Android devices also represents an effort, especially when every device has a different subset of the available data. Instead, ITTIA DB SQL communicates with ITTIA DB Sync, a bidirectional data synchronisation service for Windows and Linux. To store device data in existing tables and download updates specific to each device, the ITTIA DB Sync uses a back-end RDBMS, such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle Database.

To enable synchronisation, an Android app creates similar tables in its local database and designates which tables should send and/or receive changes. At scheduled times or whenever the device is online, the ITTIA DB SQL sync adapter runs in the background.

The ITTIA DB SQL features a small footprint, providing high-speed mobile synchronisation. Supporting Android Froyo (2.2) and above, including KitKat (4.4), the synchronisation adapter also offers flexibility. Through bidirectional synchronisation, the adapter automatically detects conflicts and provides multiple options for resolution. Tables can also be divided across multiple devices with robust filters through data fragmentation. The synchronisation adapter provides concurrent shared access which optimises multi-threaded apps with row-level locking. With a rich tool set for data management, the adapter simplifies implementation and validation.