How to sync a device using USB

[hcarsten]

I am looking for a way to sync data with the desktop over the USB-port.

For an clients enterprise app I would like to create a "data store". Basically the system should be able to store data on the device and present the data though the various viewers (builded in).

For the sync purpose we look to either use the Wifi or Internet Connection but also over USB. The background this that devices might not have access to Wifi (as been in a "secured" inhouse environment).

Looking around the net I found things like "accessing the DCIM-Folder". Basically all them to "reuse" the iTunesMobileDevice.dll (windows) to push data on the device.

I currently do only have access to jailbroken iphones and only jailed ipod touch devices. For the touch it seems that the folder could be written in this manner. The same also for Iphones (jail-broken). Can somebody confirm that tools like "manzana" also work on jailed iphones (2.2.1 and 3.0) ? So can I send data to /private/var/mobile/Media/DCIM/ ?

Maybe there are other ways to come along with the issue ? I was primary looking for a way to build a "plugin for iTunes" (where this seems not be provided yet). I had done something for Windows CE (ActiveSync DataProvider); but Apple seems to be much more restrive here.

Other way might be to talk "raw over serial". So the app would communicate over the serial port (USB) directly. Is the unix-way (e.g. opening /dev/uart.iap) provided somehow in user-space and also avail. on jailed devices ?

I am open to share experiences here, thanks a lot for any help and hints in advance

Carsten