17.11. SyncML

SyncML is a protocol for synchronization of data collections between two devices - a SyncML Client and SyncML Server using an XML data representation. The client is typically some mobile device or mobile PC. The Virtuoso server implements the SyncML server protocol over HTTP.

The SyncML server maintains the data collections within the WebDAV repository. The items (resources) in the collections (folders) represents items found on the client, e.g. VCARD, vcalendar records. As the WebDAV repository does not restrict the type of data that can be stored, likewise there are no restrictions on the type of data that can be synchronized. Also every WebDAV virtual directory can act as a SyncML server endpoint, the SyncML processing is triggered via the Content-Type , detected on the POST request (see below).

	See Also:
	SyncML Schema Tables

The SyncML server detects the following formats from the Content-Type header string:

application/vnd.syncml+wbxml - WBXML coded XML documents

application/vnd.syncml+xml - plain text XML document

These are detected during the POST request to a WebDAV virtual directory thus triggering SyncML processing. When a device makes creates 'application/vnd.syncml+wbxml ' session, the SyncML server will respond with the WBXML format. Otherwise plain XML will be used to encode SyncML messages.

Basic and MD5 digest SyncML authorization schemes are supported. The WebDAV enabled user accounts are used to perform authentication.

It is possible to query the HTTP authentication type supported by the target device by assigning an authentication hook to a given virtual directory. By default SyncML authentication is digest-md5, so HTTP authentication is off (note that HTTP authentication is different from SyncML authentication).

The following synchronization methods are supported:

Two-way sync

Slow two-way sync

Every item sent from the client device is mapped to a WebDAV resource under a given WebDAV collection. Every device database, such as contacts, calendar, usually requires that a different WebDAV collection be specified because the devices usually can not maintain items of different kinds with a single database. For example, when synchronizing the Contacts of a Nokia 9210 with the server, we can specify ./contacts/ , and likewise for the Calendar database, ./calendar/ . This keeps VCARDS (contacts) and vCalendars in separate collections (folders) on a given virtual directory. It is not possible to keep calendar and contacts (for example) in the same WebDAV collection, unless the device supports such items in a single database.

	Important Note:
	The target folders (Virtuoso server-side collections) must exists and must be accessible by the WebDAV account used to authenticate against the SyncML server. If credentials or permissions are insufficient then an Error 403 (Forbidden) will be returned to the client.

Example 17.38. Example of a SyncML session

The client begins initial request

  <SyncML>
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>1</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Source>
      <Meta>
        <MaxMsgSize>10000</MaxMsgSize>
      </Meta>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Alert>
        <CmdID>1</CmdID>
        <Data>201</Data>
        <Item>
          <Target>
            <LocURI>./calendar</LocURI>
          </Target>
          <Source>
            <LocURI>./C\System\Data\Calendar</LocURI>
          </Source>
          <Meta>
            <Anchor>
              <Next>20031202T165103Z</Next>
            </Anchor>
          </Meta>
        </Item>
      </Alert>
      <Put>
        <CmdID>2</CmdID>
        <Meta>
          <Type>application/vnd.syncml-devinf+wbxml</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Item>
          <Source>
            <LocURI>./devinf10</LocURI>
          </Source>
          <Data>
            <DevInf>
              <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
              <Man>NOKIA</Man>
              <Mod>9210</Mod>
              <SwV>256</SwV>
              <HwV>1.0</HwV>
              <DevID>IMEI:57471724140229</DevID>
              <DevTyp>phone</DevTyp>
	      ....
            </DevInf>
          </Data>
        </Item>
      </Put>
      <Get>
        <CmdID>3</CmdID>
        <Meta>
          <Type>application/vnd.syncml-devinf+wbxml</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Item>
          <Target>
            <LocURI>./devinf10</LocURI>
          </Target>
        </Item>
      </Get>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Server rejects credential, because no credentials.

  <SyncML xmlns:n0="syncml:SYNCML1.0">
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>1</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Source>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>1</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>1</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <TargetRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>IMEI:57471724140229</SourceRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <Chal>
          <Meta>
            <Type xmlns:n2="syncml:metinf">syncml:auth-md5</Type>
            <Format xmlns:n2="syncml:metinf">b64</Format>
            <NextNonce xmlns:n2="syncml:metinf">NzcyYTgyMDRjMGM2NzRlYTZjYWVmNGY4ZjNjMGYzMDk=</NextNonce>
          </Meta>
        </Chal>
        <Data>401</Data>
      </Status>
      ....
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Client sends back credentials.

  <SyncML>
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>2</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
        <LocName>imitko</LocName>
      </Source>
      <Cred>
        <Meta>
          <Format>b64</Format>
          <Type>syncml:auth-md5</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Data>X8uGR8CX4ogw8Ux+ZWIzkg==</Data>
      </Cred>
      <Meta>
        <MaxMsgSize>10000</MaxMsgSize>
      </Meta>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>1</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>1</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <TargetRef>IMEI:57471724140229</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</SourceRef>
        <Data>200</Data>
      </Status>
      <Alert>
        <CmdID>2</CmdID>
        <Data>201</Data>
        <Item>
          <Target>
            <LocURI>./calendar</LocURI>
          </Target>
          <Source>
            <LocURI>./C\System\Data\Calendar</LocURI>
          </Source>
          <Meta>
            <Anchor>
              <Next>20031202T165103Z</Next>
            </Anchor>
          </Meta>
        </Item>
      </Alert>
      <Put>
        <CmdID>3</CmdID>
        <Meta>
          <Type>application/vnd.syncml-devinf+wbxml</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Item>
          <Source>
            <LocURI>./devinf10</LocURI>
          </Source>
          <Data>
            <DevInf>
              <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
              <Man>NOKIA</Man>
              <Mod>9210</Mod>
              <SwV>256</SwV>
              <HwV>1.0</HwV>
              <DevID>IMEI:57471724140229</DevID>
              <DevTyp>phone</DevTyp>
	      ...
            </DevInf>
          </Data>
        </Item>
      </Put>
      <Get>
        <CmdID>4</CmdID>
        <Meta>
          <Type>application/vnd.syncml-devinf+wbxml</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Item>
          <Target>
            <LocURI>./devinf10</LocURI>
          </Target>
        </Item>
      </Get>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Server accepts the request.

  <SyncML xmlns="syncml:SYNCML1.0">
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>2</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Source>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>5</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <TargetRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>IMEI:57471724140229</SourceRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <Data>212</Data> <!-- Authenticated for session -->

      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>7</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>2</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Alert</Cmd>
        <Data>200</Data> <!- two-way alert accepted, 'next' anchor echoed -->

        <Item>
          <Data>
            <Anchor xmlns:n2="syncml:metinf">
              <Next>20031202T165103Z</Next>
            </Anchor>
          </Data>
        </Item>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>8</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>3</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Put</Cmd>
        <Data>200</Data> <!-- the 'put' command succeeded;
		                      device info is written ->
      </Status>
      <Results> <!-- the following are server's device info  -->

        <CmdID>9</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>4</CmdRef>
        <Meta>
          <Type xmlns:n2="syncml:metinf">application/vnd.syncml-devinf+wbxml</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Item>
          <Source>
            <LocURI>./devinf10</LocURI>
          </Source>
          <Data>
            <DevInf xmlns:n2="syncml:devinf">
              <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
              <Man>OpenLink Software Ltd</Man>
              <Mod>Virtuoso</Mod>
              <OEM>OpenLink</OEM>
              <FwV>3.5</FwV>
              <SwV>2602</SwV>
              <HwV>0</HwV>
              <DevID>http://example.com/</DevID>
              <DevTyp>server</DevTyp>
              <SyncCap>
                <SyncType>1</SyncType>
                <SyncType>2</SyncType>
              </SyncCap>
	      ...
              <UTC/>
              <SupportLargeObjs/>
              <SupportNumberOfChanges/>
            </DevInf>
          </Data>
        </Item>
      </Results>
      <Alert>
        <CmdID>6</CmdID>
        <Data>201</Data> <!-- the ./calendar/ is new empty collection;
		                      server asks client for slow two-way sync.  -->

        <Item>
          <Target>
            <LocURI>./C\System\Data\Calendar</LocURI>
          </Target>
          <Source>
            <LocURI>./calendar/</LocURI>
          </Source>
          <Meta>
            <Anchor xmlns:n2="syncml:metinf">
              <Last>1970-01-01T00:00:00.000+02:00</Last>
              <Next>2003-12-02T18:51:05.000+02:00</Next>
            </Anchor>
          </Meta>
        </Item>
      </Alert>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Client sends to server all calendar items. See 'Sync' element below.

  <SyncML>
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>3</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Source>
      <Meta>
        <MaxMsgSize>10000</MaxMsgSize>
      </Meta>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>1</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <TargetRef>IMEI:57471724140229</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</SourceRef>
        <Data>200</Data>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>2</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>9</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Results</Cmd>
        <Data>200</Data>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>3</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>2</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>6</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Alert</Cmd>
        <TargetRef>./C\System\Data\Calendar</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>./calendar/</SourceRef>
        <Data>200</Data>
        <Item>
          <Data>
            <Anchor>
              <Next>2003-12-02T18:51:05.000+02:00</Next>
            </Anchor>
          </Data>
        </Item>
      </Status>
      <Sync>
        <CmdID>4</CmdID>
        <Target>
          <LocURI>./calendar</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Source>
          <LocURI>./C\System\Data\Calendar</LocURI>
        </Source>
        <Meta>
          <Mem>
            <FreeMem>7627614408</FreeMem>
            <FreeID>59590737</FreeID>
          </Mem>
        </Meta>
        <Replace> <!-- the client uses 'Replace' command -->

          <CmdID>5</CmdID>
          <Meta>
            <Type>text/x-vcalendar</Type>
          </Meta>
          <Item>
            <Source>
              <LocURI>2</LocURI>
            </Source>
            <Data>
		BEGIN:VCALENDAR
		VERSION:1.0
		BEGIN:VEVENT
		UID:2
		DESCRIPTION:tests
		DTSTART:20031127T090000
		DTEND:20031127T090000
		X-EPOCAGENDAENTRYTYPE:APPOINTMENT
		CLASS:PUBLIC
		DCREATED:20031128T000000
		LAST-MODIFIED:20031201T123500
		END:VEVENT
		END:VCALENDAR
            </Data>
          </Item>
        </Replace>
        <Replace>
          <CmdID>6</CmdID>
          <Meta>
            <Type>text/x-vcalendar</Type>
          </Meta>
          <Item>
            <Source>
              <LocURI>3</LocURI>
            </Source>
            <Data>
		BEGIN:VCALENDAR
		VERSION:1.0
		BEGIN:VEVENT
		UID:3
		DESCRIPTION:tests more
		DTSTART:20031128T090000
		DTEND:20031128T190000
		X-EPOCAGENDAENTRYTYPE:APPOINTMENT
		CLASS:PUBLIC
		DCREATED:20031128T000000
		LAST-MODIFIED:20031201T123500
		END:VEVENT
		END:VCALENDAR
            </Data>
          </Item>
        </Replace>
        <Replace>
          <CmdID>7</CmdID>
          <Meta>
            <Type>text/x-vcalendar</Type>
          </Meta>
          <Item>
            <Source>
              <LocURI>5</LocURI>
            </Source>
            <Data>
		BEGIN:VCALENDAR
		VERSION:1.0
		BEGIN:VEVENT
		UID:5
		DESCRIPTION:today integration
		DTSTART:20031201T090000
		DTEND:20031201T090000
		X-EPOCAGENDAENTRYTYPE:APPOINTMENT
		CLASS:PUBLIC
		DCREATED:20031201T000000
		LAST-MODIFIED:20031201T125400
		END:VEVENT
		END:VCALENDAR
            </Data>
          </Item>
        </Replace>
      </Sync>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Server stores new items.

  <SyncML xmlns:n0="syncml:SYNCML1.0">
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>3</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Source>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>10</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <TargetRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>IMEI:57471724140229</SourceRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <Data>212</Data>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>11</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>5</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Replace</Cmd>
        <Data>201</Data> <!-- 201 (Added) is used to indicate
		                      that item is added as new. -->

      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>12</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>6</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Replace</Cmd>
        <Data>201</Data>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>13</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>7</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Replace</Cmd>
        <Data>201</Data>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>15</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>4</CmdRef>
        <TargetRef>./calendar/</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>./C\System\Data\Calendar</SourceRef>
        <Cmd>Sync</Cmd>
        <Data>200</Data>
      </Status>
      <Sync> <!-- an empty Sync is sent from server. -->

        <CmdID>14</CmdID>
        <Source>
          <LocURI>./calendar/</LocURI>
        </Source>
        <Target>
          <LocURI>./C\System\Data\Calendar</LocURI>
        </Target>
      </Sync>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Final SyncML message from client with status to server's Sync command.

  <SyncML>
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>4</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Source>
      <Meta>
        <MaxMsgSize>10000</MaxMsgSize>
      </Meta>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>1</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <TargetRef>IMEI:57471724140229</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</SourceRef>
        <Data>200</Data>
      </Status>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>2</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>3</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>14</CmdRef>
        <Cmd>Sync</Cmd>
        <TargetRef>./C\System\Data\Calendar</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>./calendar/</SourceRef>
        <Data>200</Data>
      </Status>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

Final message from SyncML server; no more commands issued.

  <SyncML xmlns:n0="syncml:SYNCML1.0">
    <SyncHdr>
      <VerDTD>1.0</VerDTD>
      <VerProto>SyncML/1.0</VerProto>
      <SessionID>88</SessionID>
      <MsgID>4</MsgID>
      <Target>
        <LocURI>IMEI:57471724140229</LocURI>
      </Target>
      <Source>
        <LocURI>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</LocURI>
      </Source>
    </SyncHdr>
    <SyncBody>
      <Status>
        <CmdID>16</CmdID>
        <MsgRef>4</MsgRef>
        <CmdRef>0</CmdRef>
        <TargetRef>http://192.168.1.1:6666/</TargetRef>
        <SourceRef>IMEI:57471724140229</SourceRef>
        <Cmd>SyncHdr</Cmd>
        <Data>212</Data>
      </Status>
      <Final/>
    </SyncBody>
  </SyncML>

	See Also:
	References : www.syncml.org

Prev	Up	Next
17.10. XML-RPC support	Home	17.12. UDDI

Prefix	IRI
schema	http://schema.org/
n5	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
n4	http://docs.openlinksw.com/virtuoso/syncml/
rdf	http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#
n3	http://www.openlinksw.com/#
xsdh	http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#

Prefix	URI
xmlns:schema	http://schema.org/
xmlns:n5	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
xmlns:n4	http://docs.openlinksw.com/virtuoso/syncml/
xmlns:rdf	http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#
xmlns:n3	http://www.openlinksw.com/#
xmlns:xsdh	http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#

Subject	Predicate	Object
n4:	rdf:type	schema:TechArticle
n4:	rdf:type	schema:APIReference
n4:	schema:name	17.11.ÃÂ SyncML
n4:	schema:copyrightHolder	_:vb81826
n4:	schema:datePublished	2016-09-09 16:16:54
n4:	schema:headline	17.11.ÃÂ SyncML
n4:	schema:keywords	OpenLink,Virtuoso,database,RDBMS,relational,SQL,RDF,triple store,linked data,linked open data,Big Data
n4:	schema:license	n5:deed.en_US
n4:	schema:publisher	_:vb81825
n4:	schema:url	n4:
_:vb81825	rdf:type	schema:Organization
_:vb81825	schema:name	OpenLink Software
_:vb81825	schema:url	n3:this
_:vb81826	rdf:type	schema:Organization
_:vb81826	schema:name	OpenLink Software
_:vb81826	schema:url	n3:this

17.11. SyncML

Namespace Prefixes

Statements

Namespace Prefixes

Statements