Remote data access and synchronization

A method for providing a remote computer access to a local database, the method comprising:

• sending a message, including information related to a local update to the local database over a first data network to a networked computer;
• receiving the message at the networked computer;
• updating a networked database hosted on the networked computer using the information related to the local update;
• accessing and updating the networked database from a remote computer over a second data network;
• sending a message that includes information related to the update of the networked database from the networked computer over the first data network;
• receiving the message that includes the information related to the update of the networked database;
• and
• updating the local database using the information related to the update of the networked database.

A system comprising:

• a local database;
• an agent for accessing information related to a local update of the local database, and for forming a message including that information for transmission to a remote computer;
• a message router for accepting the message from the agent, and for selecting a path from one or more communication paths coupling the message router and the remote computer to pass the message to the remote computer;
• and
• a local communication interface for accepting data including the message and transmitting the data to the remote computer over the selected path.

Software stored on a computer readable medium for causing a computer to perform the functions of:

• assessing information related to an update of a local database;
• determining whether to forward the information to a remote computer;
• selecting a communication path for passing the information to the remote computer;
• forming a message including the information;
• and
• sending the message on the selected communication path to the remote computer.

Software stored on a computer readable medium for causing a computer to perform the functions of:

• accepting a message from another computer including remote update information related to a database update;
• providing the remote update information to an application program for updating a local database stored on the computer;
• accepting local update information related to an update of the local database from the application program;
• determining whether to send the local update information to the other computer;
• and
• sending the local update information to the other computer.