Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention employ synchronization adapters for synchronizing information between “WinFS” and non-“WinFS” data sources. Examples of adapters include an adapter that synchronizes address book information between a “WinFS” contacts folder and a non-WinFS mailbox. In these instances, adapter developers might use the “WinFS” synchronization core services API described herein for accessing services provided by the “WinFS” synchronization platform in order to develop schema transformation code between the “WinFS” schema and the non-“WinFS” data source schema. Additionally, the adapter developer provides protocol support for communicating changes with the non-“WinFS” data source. A synchronization adapter is invoked and controlled by using the synchronization controller API and reports progress and errors using this API.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing data stores. A framework including a sync runtime enables consistent and manageable synchronization between a data store and multiple, diverse back end data stores. The sync runtime provides services such as change enumeration, conflict detection, metadata management, item ID matching, sync interruptability, and the like that are accessible to configurable adapters over an application programming interface. Each synchronizing data store can uses a sync controller to initialize an adapter that can access the services provided by the sync runtime. The sync controller can use a profile to configure each adapter. The profile can identify conflict resolution policies, synchronization filters, source and destination folders, sync direction, and the like.

Abstract: A shopping basket system includes a shopping basket component and a wish or gift list component. The functionality of the shopping basket system may be invoked via a graphical image, such as an icon, on a web browser or a desktop of the client computer. The user may browse registered sites on the Internet and drag and drop products into the user's shopping basket. All products may then be purchased concurrently regardless of the site that the product was found. The drag and drop capability is provided by the programmability of the shopping basket. A common schema can be employed for describing items (e.g., products and services) to be purchased from registered sites. In one aspect of the invention the common schema is provided in the extensible Markup. Language (XML). The shopping basket system is provided with a search engine for searching for products on a user's wish or gift list over the Internet. The search results are provided to the user, which can be added to the user's shopping basket list.