Method, system and program product for synchronizing data elements between devices

A system for synchronizing data elements between devices, comprising:

• means for providing a first anchor and a second anchor for a current synchronization between a first device and a second device, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are configured to reflect initialization times of previous or current synchronizations;
• means for setting the last anchor to an initialization time of a previous synchronization between the first device and the second device, and for setting the next anchor to an initialization time of the current synchronization;
• means for receiving a set of data elements to be synchronized during the current synchronization on the second device from the first device, wherein the set includes data elements that have been modified after the last anchor and before the next anchor;
• and
• means for setting a device modified timestamp (DMT) for each data element within the set of data elements on the second device to the next anchor, wherein the DMT does not reflect the time at which the data element is updated on the second device.

A program product stored on a recordable medium for synchronizing data elements between devices, comprising:

• computer-readable storage medium storing a program having computer executable instructions when executed by a processor to execute;
• program code for providing a first anchor and a second anchor for a current synchronization between a first device and a second device, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are configured to reflect initialization times of previous or current synchronizations;
• program code for setting the last anchor to an initialization time of a previous synchronization between the first device and the second device, and for setting the next anchor to an initialization time of the current synchronization;
• program code for receiving a set of data elements to be synchronized during the current synchronization on the second device from the first device, wherein the set includes data elements that have been modified after the last anchor and before the next anchor;
• and
• program code for setting a device modified timestamp (DMT) for each data element within the set of data elements on the second device to the next anchor wherein the DMT does not reflect the time at which the data element is updated on the second device.

A system for deploying a data element synchronization application, comprising:

• a computer infrastructure being operable to:
• provide a first anchor and a second anchor for a current synchronization between a first device and a second device, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are configured to reflect initialization times of previous or current synchronizations;
• set the last anchor to an initialization time of a previous synchronization between the first device and the second device, and for setting the next anchor to an initialization time of the current synchronization;
• determine a set of data elements to be synchronized during the current synchronization, wherein the set includes data elements that have been modified after the last anchor and before the next anchor;
• and
• set a device modified timestamp (DMT) for each data element within the set of data elements on the second device to the next anchor, wherein the DMT does not reflect the time at which the data element is updated on the second device.

Computer software embodied in a tangible medium for synchronizing data elements between devices, the computer software comprising:

• computer-readable storage medium storing a program having computer executable instructions when executed by a processor;
• provide a first anchor and a second anchor for a current synchronization between a first device and a second device, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are configured to reflect initialization times of previous or current synchronizations;
• set the last anchor to an initialization time of a previous synchronization between the first device and the second device, and set the next anchor to an initialization time of the current synchronization;
• receive a set of data elements to be synchronized during the current synchronization on the second device from the first device, wherein the set includes data elements that have been modified after the last anchor and before the next anchor;
• and
• set a device modified timestamp (DMT) for each data element within the set of data elements on the second device to the next anchor, wherein the DMT does not reflect the time at which the data element is updated on the second device.