XMLBased Neutral Language for Data Display Systems

1
XML-Based Neutral Language for Data Display
Systems
John Hamilton Ron Fernandes Mike Graul Knowledge
Based Systems, Inc. Dr. Charles Jones AFFTC,
EAFB Jon Morgan JT3 LLC, EAFB
113th RCC Telemetry Group Conference Albuquerque,
NM March 8th, 2006
2
Agenda

• Background
• Motivation
• DDML and Translator Review
• DDML Status
• DDML Translator Status

3
Background

• Work based on a Phase I and II SBIR sponsored by
  Edwards Air Force Base
• Technical POC Dr. Charles Jones
• Work with
• China Lake / Lockheed Martin, Ridgecrest
• NAWS, Pt. Mugu
• Pax River Test Range Center
• PM Utility Helicopter, U.S. Army
• Sherrill-Lubinski Corp
• Symvionics Corp.
• Bruce Lipe, EAFB
• Jon Morgan, EAFB
• Project ends Nov 2006

4
Why Neutral Language?

• Data display setup is a lengthy procedure
• Diverse data display systems
• Test and Evaluation (TE) performed at different
  locations
• Need reuse of displays for joint service TE
  missions
• Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
• Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)

5
Why Neutral Language?

• Currently, displays are created manually
• Develop translators without neutral language

6
Why Neutral Language?

• Develop translators with neutral language

7
Data Display Markup Language

• Based on eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
• Four logical layers graphics resources,
  dynamics, variables and data sources
• Includes most TE display objects
• plotters, meters, strip charts, etc.
• Primitive graphics resources based on Scalable
  Vector Graphics (SVG)
• rectangles, lines, etc.
• Generic to support nonstandard objects

8
Data Display Markup Language

• Layers similar to typical software architecture

9
DDML Design

• DDML is generic enough to support multiple data
  display systems, despite
• Nomenclature differences across tools
• Different functionality and focus for each system
• Architectural differences and fuzzy specification
  of architectural layers
• Nonstandard, tool-specific concepts

10
DDML Design artifacts

• Data dictionary Excel-based
• Maps vendor objects to DDML elements and
  attributes
• IDEF1X data model
• Special mapping rules file
• XML Schema
• UML Model (in progress)

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DDML Details

• ltmodelgt contains all display objects on a given
  screen.
• Standard display objects including
• ltstripchartgt
• ltbarchartgt
• ltpiechartgt
• ltdialgt
• ltslidergt
• Non-Standard/Custom objects
• ltobjectgt

12
Data Display Translator Framework

• DDML Model Repository with Translators

13
DDML Benefits

• Supports interoperability of display systems
• Same look and feel across environments and test
  centers
• Vendor-independent way of cataloging display
  information
• Can be used in various environments
• TE missions
• Industrial process control
• Cockpit and automobile dashboards
• Health monitoring man and machine

14
DDML Status

• DDML Version 2.0 presented at 112th RCC Telemetry
  Group Conference
• Several Suggestions made by Attendees
• Convert XML Attributes to Elements
• Use MathML for derived variables
• Develop UML model for further documentation.

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DDML Status

• Current DDML Version 3.0
• Changes since 2.0
• All XML attributes have been converted to
  elements, except for id.
• DDML ltexprgt element replaced with MathML ltapplygt
  element.
• Improved ltrulesgt logic for defining thresholds,
  etc.

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Attributes to Elements
DDML 2.0 ltbarchart id"BAGC1
name"BAGC1 scrollDirection"down"
title"Title" titleColor"0
valueAxisMin"0 valueAxisMax"5
valueAxisLabelForegroundColor"0
valueGrid1Color"16711935 valueGrid1Quantity2
valueTicLabelForegroundColor"0
valueTicLabelFormat"4.2f valueGrid2Color58
302
DDML 3.0 ltbarchart id"BAGC1"gt
ltnamegtBAGC1lt/namegt ltscrollDirectiongtdownlt/scro
llDirectiongt lttitlegtTitlelt/titlegt
lttitleColorgt0lt/titleColorgt ltyAxisgt
ltaxisTypegtvaluelt/axisTypegt
ltaxisMingt0lt/axisMingt ltaxisMaxgt5lt/axisMaxgt
ltaxisLabelForegroundColorgt0lt/axisLabelFore
groundColorgt ltaxisGridgt
ltaxisGridColorgt16711935lt/axisGridColorgt
ltaxisGridIntervalgt2.5lt/axisGridIntervalgt
lttickLabelForegroundColorgt0lt/tickLabelForegro
undColorgt lttickLabelFormatgt4.2flt/tick
LabelFormatgt lt/axisGridgt
ltaxisGridgt ltaxisGridColorgt58302lt/axisG
ridColorgt lt/axisGridgt lt/yAxisgt
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MathML for Derived Data

• Example 3x2 sin(y)

DDML 3.0 ltapplygt ltminus /gt ltapplygt
lttimes /gt ltcngt3lt/cngt ltapplygt
ltpower /gt ltcigtxlt/cigt
ltcngt2lt/cngt lt/applygt lt/applygt
ltapplygt ltsin /gt ltcigtylt/cigt
lt/applygt lt/applygt
DDML 2.0 ltexpgt ltexp coef"3" power"2"
var_ref"x" /gt ltexp coef"-1" power"1"
oper"SIN" var_ref"y" /gt lt/expgt
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Improved Rules
Example if (var 0) value16711680 else
if(var 1) value65280
DDML 2.0 ltrulegt ltif start"0" finish"0" /gt
ltthen value"16711680 /gt ltelsegt
ltrulegt ltif start"1" finish"1" /gt
ltthen value"65280 /gt lt/rulegt
lt/elsegt lt/rulegt
DDML 3.0 ltrulegt ltifgt
ltoperatorgtEQlt/operatorgt ltvaluegt0lt/valuegt
lt/ifgt ltthengt ltvaluegt16711680lt/value
gt lt/thengt ltelsegt ltrulegt
ltifgt ltoperatorgtEQlt/operatorgt
ltvaluegt1lt/valuegt lt/ifgt
ltthengt
ltvaluegt65280lt/valuegt lt/thengt
lt/rulegt lt/elsegt lt/rulegt

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DDML Documentation Status

• DDML 3.0 Improvements documented
• ITC 2006 Paper
• ITEA Test Instrumentation Workshop 2006 Paper
• Both of these are intended to gain feedback from
  TE community.
• DDML website maintenance
• http//www.kbsi.com/DDML/DDML.htm
• 3.0 Schema and UML model will be on website soon.

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DDML Translator Status

• DDML translators in use by Pt. Mugu to support
  transition from GRIDS to RangeView.
• Progress on SL-GMS translator
• Maintenance of DataViews, IADS, and C/OpenGL
  translators.

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Conclusions

• DDML is a generic XML-based neutral language for
  data display applications
• DDML has been tested to support at least three
  vendor-specific formats
• DDTF provides integrated framework for future
  translators
• DDML and DDTF have applications beyond TE

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Points of Contact

• Charles Jones, AFFTC, EAFB
• charles.jones_at_edwards.af.mil
• Jon Morgan, JT3 LLC, EAFB
• jon.morgan.ctr_at_edwards.af.mil
• Mike Graul, KBSI
• Mgraul_at_kbsi.com
• John Hamilton, KBSI
• JLHamilton_at_kbsi.com
• Ronald Fernandes, KBSI
• Rfernandes_at_kbsi.com