The present invention provides the ability to use an existing store-and-forward
messaging network such as an electronic mail system to replicate data between computer
sites. The replication provided by the present invention can be used with software
applications, such as workgroup applications, to replicate data located on multiple
sites. Workgroup replication data is sent to other sites via electronic mail ("e-mail")
messages. The present invention provides reliability features to handle errors
in electronic mail transmissions. For example, the present invention provides the
ability to reassemble objects at a replication site such that an object and all
of its dependencies exist prior to the object's use at the site. Messages referred
to as "ACK" messages are used to communicate a site's state and to provide other
control information. Each site maintains latency information to determine transmission failures.
