Abstract: A technique is described providing offline support to business applications. Offline support allows a business application running on a portable electronic device without connectivity to a backend server to operate as though the business application has access to a backend server. The technique receives a sync request for content from the portable electronic device. A sync task is generated from the sync requests and processed to generate a package that contains the desired content. Once the package is generated, the package is stored in a package repository and a download notification is transmitted to the portable electronic device to notify the user that the package is ready. The package can in turn be delivered to the portable electronic device when a download request is received from the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A technique is described providing offline support to business applications. Offline support allows a business application running on a portable electronic device without connectivity to a backend server to operate as though the business application has access to a backend server. The technique receives a client request to operate the application in an offline mode. The technique then retrieves a business object to be utilized in the offline mode and an event trigger for interacting with the business object. The native programming language is then determined and then an event handler written in a native language of the client device and that is associated with the event trigger is retrieved. The event trigger is then modified to point to the event handler. The business object, event trigger, and event handler are then packaged together.

Abstract: A technique is described providing offline support to business applications. Offline support allows a business application running on a portable electronic device without connectivity to a backend server to operate as though the business application has access to a backend server. The technique receives a client request to operate the application in an offline mode. The technique then retrieves a business object to be utilized in the offline mode and an event trigger for interacting with the business object. The native programming language is then determined and then an event handler written in a native language of the client device and that is associated with the event trigger is retrieved. The event trigger is then modified to point to the event handler. The business object, event trigger, and event handler are then packaged together.

Abstract: A technique is described providing offline support to business applications. Offline support allows a business application running on a portable electronic device without connectivity to a backend server to operate as though the business application has access to a backend server. The technique receives a sync request for content from the portable electronic device. A sync task is generated from the sync requests and processed to generate a package that contains the desired content. Once the package is generated, the package is stored in a package repository and a download notification is transmitted to the portable electronic device to notify the user that the package is ready. The package can in turn be delivered to the portable electronic device when a download request is received from the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A method for unlocking a touch screen includes: in response to tapping by a user on a screen, receiving a time sequence of data samples representing the tapping by the user; comparing the time sequence of data samples with a stored data samples to determine if the time sequence of data samples matches the stored data samples; if there is a match, unlocking, the screen; and if there is no match, notifying the user.

Abstract: Creating expense reports in a remote business system for payments made with a mobile computing device by: making an electronic payment using a mobile computing device, for example via Near Field Communication; collecting data from the mobile device that is relevant to the submission of an expense report for the payment in the remote business system; creating an expense object associated with the electronic payment on the mobile computing device; transmitting the expense object to the remote business system if the mobile computing device has a connection to the remote business system; and creating an expense report in the remote business system based on the expense object. The collected data may include, for example, data regarding: amount of the payment; nature of items or services purchased the payee; a client account to be billed; user of the mobile computing device; time of the payment; or location of the payment.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display. In embodiments, initial touch zones are enabled on the left- and right-hand sides of the display. A person grasping the device with one hand may navigate using their thumb by making gestures in the touch zones. For example, one such gesture may select a touch zone as the default. A selection menu may then be displayed in the region of the touch zone. Suitable gestures (e.g. using the thumb) can manipulate the selection menu.