Synchronization framework for occasionally connected applications

A method for synchronizing at least one data group between a server and at least one client according to a synchronization framework, comprising:

• connecting a sync application of the at least one client to the server;
• requesting synchronization by the sync application of a client sync provider component of the at least one client that interfaces to client storage independently of structure of the client storage;
• receiving synchronization metadata maintained by the at least one client including a synchronization anchor by a sync agent component of the at least one client that interfaces with and instructs one or more components of the server that perform synchronization;
• and
• at least one of uploading or downloading changes to the at least one data group to or from server storage by the sync agent component.

A method for synchronizing at least one data group between a server and a loosely coupled client according to a synchronization framework, comprising:

• receiving by a server sync provider component a request from the loosely coupled client for synchronization with at least one synchronization group of the server including receiving synchronization metadata maintained by the client enabling determination of the synchronization state of the client;
• for each synchronization group of the at least one synchronization group,
• receiving by the server sync provider component any changes to the synchronization group from the client;
• and
• updating the at least one synchronization group of the server based on the changes via at least one sync adapter that communicates with server storage independent of the structure of the server storage.