Analysis of algorithms for supporting disconnected write operations in mobile client-server environments

A mobile user may voluntarily disconnect itself from the Web server to save its battery life and avoid high communication prices. To allow Web pages to be updated while the mobile user is disconnected from the Web server, updates can be staged in the mobile unit and propagated back to the Web server upon reconnection. We analyze algorithms for supporting disconnected write operations and develop a performance model which helps identify the optimal length of the disconnection period under which the cost of update propagation is minimized. The analysis result is particularly applicable to Web applications which allow wireless mobile users to modify Web contents while on the move. We also show how the result can be applied to real-time Web applications such that the mobile user can determine the longest disconnection period such that it can still propagate updates to the server before the deadline with a minimum communication cost.