GDS Architecture
The Global Data
Server (patent pending) is a web server enhanced by specific modules to
handle publishing of real-time data. GDS provides access to
information stored in “data cells.” Data cells behave similarly to a
directory or link in a file system, or similarly to data.
Basic Functions
Data cells are
accessible via the Actual Data Image (ADI) module. All requests (e.g.,
read/write/create/delete) are initiated through a very simple, unified
URL interface. Using ADI, data can be presented in a hierarchy:
Directories group items together; variables hold the information; links
can be used to tailor physical structures to specific needs. A
“variable” type of data cell has several attributes, and each attribute
has a specific “basic type.” Basic types include int, float,
double, text and mime-encoded binary data (of various formats,
including images, audio and video data).
GDS creates synergy between ADI and the HISTO module, so that archived
data is easy to access. ADI maintains the data cell history: Every time a variable (i.e., one of its attributes) is modified, a
time-stamped indicator is written to the archive. The HISTO
module allows you to access the archived data within a specified time
interval, and delivers the value to the caller. Through HISTO,
the data gains a new dimension: History. As a result, the
user can scroll through the most current value information - or access the history of value information. It also offers a
built-in mailbox functionality.
The combination of HISTO with ADI offers a wide range of application –
from general mailbox functionality, to blogging and online chat
capabilities - and more.
The ALARM module provides management and interface functions to alarm
and event lists. The lists may be maintained by the GDS itself or can
be retrieved from external systems on demand.
GDS also offers a modular extension function for integration of
legacy modules that require a special functionality, such as search capability based on geographic parameters.
Access Control
To control access to data cells, GDS ties access rights to users
and groups. For every cell, GDS maintains access rights for the owning
user, the owning group and others, and supports access control lists as
well. Every user accessing GDS needs to authenticate himself or
herself with a user ID and a password. Access control is
performed for each of the client’s operations.
All administrative operations are performed via the administration interface to GDS.
Displaying Data
A consumer or end-user can access data on GDS from any IP(Internet
Protocol)-capable desktop or mobile device, using MS Office or other
applications to access and display data:
MS Office applications, for example, make it easy to copy a URL into a
spreadsheet and thereby display the most current value in the system.
- Content management systems may merge the URLs to retrieve data items from GDS into a html page.
- The specific value could be copied to or referenced by other legacy applications.
- data2c’s Personal View Builder™ enables its customers to display data.
The Builder allows end users to create graphic
presentations of data, and to animate these presentations with values
contained in the data cells stored on GDS. The Builder currently
supports a range of display items, such as image files, text files, and
tickers. It will soon be able to support even more data elements, such
as color change based on thresholds, or the ability to navigate to another view. The
end user’s presentation becomes a “view” that is stored on GDS. A
client viewer application is provided as an applet (for desktop
systems). A MIDlet for mobile systems retrieves the view from
GDS when started, and displays the latest data from the data cells
animating the graphical elements.
Publishing Data
Every data cell used to publish data can be reached via a URL.
Usually, complete data structures are published or mirrored on the
GDS.
Using an Adaptor
An adaptor is a utility program, in any language, that reads
data available in a specific structure (e.g. XML, CSV) and writes the
specific values into data cells on the GDS. To update data cells, an
adaptor may operate on an event-driven basis, or it can run 24/7 on a
given schedule.
Existing Applications
The interface for data published via GDS is simple: a URL for
each data cell and its attributes. For corporate applications,
this means live data can be accessed via GDS, which enhances company
performance. Interesting opportunities for new applications arise
by combining viewer capabilities with adaptor capabilities (e.g. chat
applications).
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