Unwired Platform packages are administered differently depending on their type. However, all packages types must be deployed and configured.
- Replication-based synchronization mobile business object (MBO) packages use an application layer service that synchronously pulls data changes from the server. Because data updates occur in bursts because of periodic synchronization between the client and server, replication-based synchronization packages use the following package configuration features:
- Subscription templates are created by the administrator and define how the device user is to be notified when cache data changes, depending on the subscription properties configured for that synchronization group in the package.
- Cache groups define policies that determines the frequency and the level to which server data is refreshed and used by the packaged MBO. Create as many cache groups as required to meet the varying data refresh needs of the MBOs for a given mobile application.
- Synchronization groups determine the frequency with which notifications are generated from Unwired Server to initiate MBO synchronization, and thereby access refreshed data. A synchronization group is a collection of MBOs that are synchronized together at regular intervals. Notifications are then delivered, depending on cache group schedule repeat, synchronization group change detection interval, and subscription notification threshold values.
- Message-based synchronization MBO packages create a device service that uses a dedicated channel that is always open to asynchronously push data changes, requests, and notifications between client and server. Because messaging-based MBO packages make use of both replicated and nonreplication (message) data to complete a mobile workflow process, they use these package configuration features:
- Subscriptions are user-defined and specify the synchronization messages mobile device users receive and how they receive these messages. However, administrators can configure some properties to further refine and control the behavior.
- Synchronization groups for messaging-based synchronization packages directly download the unit of changed data to the device, as opposed to sending a notification message. A synchronization group is a collection of MBOs that are synchronized together at regular intervals.
- Mobile workflow packages must be created with the Mobile Workflow Application Designer. This tool allows developer to design mobile workflow screens that can call on the create, update, and delete operations, as well as named queries, of a mobile business object.
- E-mail settings allow the administrator to configure a listener to scan all incoming e-mail messages delivered to the particular inbox that the administrator indicates during configuration.
- Matching rules are used by the e-mail listener to identify e-mail messages that match the rules specified by the administrator. When the e-mail messages match the rule, Unwired Server sends the e-mail message as a mobile workflow to the device that matches the rule.
- Context variables customize how data is loaded into the Unwired Server cache.
By determining the context variables you want to use, you can create a data set that is smaller, more focused, and therefore yields better performance.