Network-based synchronization system and method

A network-based synchronization system, comprising:

• at least one server comprising at least one server processor and a memory storing an electronic form preparation program operable to prepare an electronic form, the at least one server being in communication with a first computing device comprising a first processor through at least one network and in communication with a second computing device comprising a second processor through the at least one network, the first computing device utilizing the electronic form preparation program and the second computing device being a mobile communication device including an image acquisition component;
• the at least one server processor generating and sending an image acquisition request including a unique session identifier to the second processor, the image acquisition request comprising a message including the unique session identifier and a hyperlink, the second processor being configured to activate a mobile application to start an image acquisition session when the hyperlink is selected;
• the mobile application executing on the second computing device and being in communication with the at least one server;
• the second computing device, the at least one server and the first computing device being cooperatively operable through the at least one network to synchronize the electronic form preparation program utilized by the first computing device and the mobile application executing on the second computing device based at least in part upon image data acquired by the image acquisition component of the second computing device;
• and
• the at least one server being configured to receive the image data acquired by the image acquisition component from the second computing device through the at least one network, and the at least one server being configured to transmit the image data received from the second computing device to the first computing device through the at least one network to synchronize the mobile application executing on the second computing device and the electronic form preparation program utilized by the first computing device,
• wherein synchronizing the mobile application and the electronic form preparation program comprises adjusting a state of the electronic form preparation program in response to a change in a state of the mobile application or adjusting the state of the mobile application in response to a change in the state of the electronic form preparation program.