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Version: 1.0

Synchronization

Synchronization is the process of exchanging data between mobile devices and the Synkronus server.

How Synchronization Works

ODE uses a bidirectional synchronization protocol:

  1. Push: Local observations are sent to the server
  2. Pull: New or updated observations are retrieved from the server
  3. Conflict Resolution: Conflicts are resolved automatically using version numbers

Synchronization Process

Automatic Synchronization

Synchronization occurs automatically when:

  • The app is opened and network connectivity is available
  • A new observation is created or modified
  • A manual sync is triggered by the user
  • A scheduled sync interval elapses

Manual Synchronization

Users can trigger manual synchronization:

  1. Open the app settings
  2. Navigate to synchronization options
  3. Select "Sync Now"
  4. Wait for the sync to complete

Conflict Resolution

When the same observation is modified on multiple devices, ODE resolves conflicts automatically:

  • Each observation has a version number
  • The version number is incremented on each modification
  • During sync, the observation with the highest version number is kept
  • If versions are equal, the most recent modification timestamp is used

Sync Status

Observations have a sync status that indicates their synchronization state:

StatusDescription
PendingObservation is waiting to be synchronized
SyncingSynchronization is in progress
SyncedObservation has been successfully synchronized
ErrorSynchronization failed (will be retried)

Attachment Synchronization

Attachments (photos, audio, files) are synchronized separately from observation metadata:

  1. Observation metadata is synchronized first
  2. Attachments are uploaded or downloaded in a separate phase
  3. Attachment sync status is tracked independently

See the Technical Details section for more information on the sync protocol.

Troubleshooting Sync Issues

If synchronization is not working:

  1. Check network connectivity
  2. Verify server accessibility
  3. Review authentication credentials
  4. Check server logs for errors
  5. Review the Troubleshooting guide

Next Steps