Data synchronization system, apparatus used for the system, and data synchonization method

(Amended) A client device comprising:

• a client data storing portion (12) storing client data formed of a part or a whole of server data stored in a server data storing portion (3) of a data server device (1);
• a client data managing portion updating a portion included in information stored in said client data storing portion and corresponding to processed update notification provided from a data server device (10);
• and
• a control portion (15) connected to said client data storing portion (12), determining Whether intended data is stored in said client data storing portion (12) or not, and reading the data from said client data storing portion (12) or said server data storing portion (3) of the data server device (1) based on results of the determination for utilizing the read data.

(Amended) A data synchronizing method of synchronizing server data and client data, being used in a data access system including a data server device (1) storing the server data to be utilized by one or a plurality of client device(s) (10) and a correlation between said server data and the client device(s) (10), and a client device (10) connected to said data server device (1) over a network, and storing the client data formed of a part or the whole of the server data, and comprising the steps of:

• determining a state of matching between the server data stored in said data server device (1) and the client data stored in said client device (10) by said data server device (1);
• providing a notification about data updating to said data server device (1) when the client data stored in said client device (10) is updated;
• providing a notification about the fact of updating of the data to other client device(s) storing, as said client data, data including an updated portion of the data when said data server device (1) receives the notification about the data updating from said client device (10);
• and
• updating the client data of said other client device (10).

(Amended) A data server device comprising:

• a server data storing portion (3) storing server data to be utilized by one or a plurality of client device(s) (10) and a correlation between said server data and the client device(s) (10);
• a client device profile storing portion storing client device data representing a feature of said client device, said client device storing client device profile information based on at least one of a type of said client device, a display performance of said client device and a type of a communication path between said data server device and said client device;
• and
• a processing determining portion connected to said server data storing portion for determining processing for the client data stored in the client device based on said correlation.

(Amended) A data server device comprising:

• a server data storing portion (3) storing server data to be utilized by one or a plurality of client device(s) (10) and a correlation between said server data and the client device(s) (10);
• and
• a processing determining portion connected to said server data storing portion (3) for determining processing for the client data stored in the client device based on said correlation, wherein
• a server data managing portion manages the server data an element at a time, and said processing determining portion processes the element or operates to accept or reject the element for updating the client data.

(Amended) A client device comprising:

• a client data storing portion (12) storing client data formed of a part or the whole of server data stored in a server data storing portion (3) of a data server device (10);
• a receiving portion receiving update information including updated client data and notification information from said data server device (1);
• a notifying portion notifying a user of said client device that the client data was updated;
• and
• a control portion (15) controlling said client data storing portion (12) and said notifying portion in response to reception of said update information such that the corresponding data stored in said client data storing portion is updated, and that a notification about the updating of the client data is provided or is not provided to the user in accordance with necessity derived from any one of an attribute of said data, an attribute of said client and an attribute of the user.

(Amended) A data synchronizing method used for synchronizing server data and client data with each other in a data access system including a data server device (10) storing said server data to be utilized by one or a plurality of client device(s) (10) and a correlation between said server data and said client device(s) (10), and said client device(s) (10) connected to said data server device (1) and storing said client data formed of a part or the whole of said server data, said data synchronizing method comprising the steps of:

• notifying, by said client device (10), said data server device (1) about updating of the client data when the client data stored in said client device (10) is updated;
• extracting the client device (10) as a receiver of information relating to the updating of the client data based on said correlation when said data server device (1) is notified of the data updating by said client device (10);
• sending, by said data server device (1), the information relating to the update of said client data to said extracted client device;
• receiving the information relating to said update and sent from said data server device (1) by said client device (10);
• and
• updating said client data by said client device (10) based on the received information relating to said update.

(Added) A computer-readable record medium storing a program for achieving a client function by a computer, said program providing the computer with functions as:

• client data storing means for storing client data formed of a part or the whole of server data stored in a server data storing portion (3) of a data server device (1);
• receiving means for receiving update information including updated client data and notification information from said data server device (1);
• notifying means notifying a user of said client device (10) that the client data was updated;
• and
• control means controlling said client data storing means and said notifying means to store the updated client data included in the update information received by said receiving means in said client data storing means, and notify the user about the updating of the client data based on the notification information included in said update information.

(Added) A computer-readable record medium storing a program for achieving a client function by a computer, said program providing the computer with functions as:

• client data storing means for storing client data formed of a part or the whole of server data stored in a server data storing portion (3) of a data server device (1);
• receiving means for receiving update information including updated client data and notification information from said data server device (1);
• and
• control means controlling said client data storing means to store the updated client data included in the update information received by said receiving means in said client data storing means, and erase the client data stored in said client data storage means based on the erasing information included in said update information.