Design and Development of a Space Weather Web Service

1
Design and Development of a Space Weather Web
Service

• Vern Raben
• Raben Systems Inc.

2
Overview of presentation

• Background
• What is a web service?
• Web service architecture
• XML, SOAP and WSDL
• Space weather service implementation
• Lessons learned
• Conclusion

3
Background

• Objective
• Initial implementation
• Transitions

4
What is a web service?

• Web application that is
• Self-contained
• Self-describing
• Modular
• Can be published, located, and invoked across the
  web

5
Web service architecture

• Basic View

SOAP/HTTP Request
SOAP/HTTP Response
6
Enabling Technologies

• XML
• Permits movement of structured data
• Separates content and presentation
• SOAP
• Use XML messages to invoke remote methods

7
SOAP

• What is SOAP
• Provides mechanism for exchanging structured and
  typed information
• Parts of a SOAP Message
• Envelope
• Encoding rules
• Conventions for procedure calls

8
Example SOAP Message

• Request Planetary Kp data from service

9
Example SOAP Message

• Response for Planetary Kp data from service

10
WSDL

• What is WSDL
• XML based language describing web services
• Tools available to generate WSDL from software
  code
• And vice-versa

11
WSDL Example

• Types

12
WSDL Example (Cont'd)

• Messages and Ports

13
WSDL Example (Cont'd)

• Binding

14
WSDL Status

• Tools available from Microsoft, IBM, Sun
  Microsystems
• Interoperability is a problem
• Probably year or so away

15
Space weather services

• Time series data service
• Ap, Flares, Kp, Neutrons, Protons,Radio, Active
  Regions, and X-ray
• Image service
• Synoptic images from Kitt Peak and SOHO

16
Space Weather Service Architecture

• Overview

17
Client applications

• Solar map application
• Real time monitor application
• Graph application
• Wireless application
• Interactive voice application

18
Solar map application
19
Graph application

20
Wireless device application

• Available in October
• Challenges
• Memory scarce
• Processor slow
• Network is slow
• No floating point
• Tiny screen

21
Wireless device application

• Advantages
• Remote data access
• View data graphically
• Interactive

22
Interactive voice application

• .

Voice
VoiceXMLData
HTTP Get
23
Interactive voice application

• Advantages
• Easy to use (accessible)
• Remote data access
• Interactive
• Disadvantages
• Voice menu limitations
• Security

24
Accessibility

• Current applications meet 1st level Java
  Accessibility
• Next release will meet 2nd level
• Don't provide SRAG web content

25
WWW.RABEN.COM

• All static content 508 compliant
• Dynamic content by Nov

26
Lessons Learned

• Early technology adoption has its challenges
• XML datasets very important
• Importance software design

27
Conclusion

• What a web service is
• SOAP and WSDL
• Examples from Space Weather Service

28
Questions?