Integrating Software in Cooperatives NRECAs MultiSpeak Specification

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Integrating Software in Cooperatives NRECAs
MultiSpeak Specification
Professional Computer Systems User Group
MeetingJune 7, 2006Gary McNaughton
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Overview

• What is MultiSpeak?
• How does MultiSpeak facilitate inter-application
  integration?
• What is the status of the project?

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MultiSpeak Project Objectives

• Industry-wide open initiative sponsored by the
  National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  (NRECA) to facilitate development of software
  interfaces needed by rural electric co-ops
• Developed uniform interface definitions for data
  exchange among commonly used software
• Developed consensus among vendors about details
  of the interfaces, including data dictionary,
  data objects, and messaging framework

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What is MultiSpeak?

• Specification for data exchange interfaces
• Treats software applications as black boxes
• Does not limit vendors from developing new
  features or working together to provide tighter
  integration than presently supported by spec

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What MultiSpeak Does

• Defines which data objects need to be exchanged
  between common software
• Defines structure of those data objects
• Specifies message structures and messaging
  architectures
• Supports real time and/or file-based data
  exchanges

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What MultiSpeak is Not

• Not a product, you dont buy MultiSpeak except as
  part of vendors software
• Not plug and play
• Not a comprehensive utility data model

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Advantages to MultiSpeak

• Fosters development of integrated software
  without the need of custom interfaces
• Enables utilities to choose best of breed
  software without fears of lack of integration
• Gives utilities freedom to change applications
  for others of same type without needing to
  significantly change data updating procedures
• Reduces cost of interoperable software
• Reduces deployment time and risk in
  implementation of new automation applications

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Integration Needs Utility Perspective
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How to Do Integration

• Three approaches
• Single-vendor software suite
• Custom interfaces
• Standards-based integration (MultiSpeak)
• Likely you will use a combination of 1, 2 and 3

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Need for Data Integration
CIS
GIS
Customer Table
Customer Table




Customer Last Name Lname Format C25
Customer Last Name Custlname Format C30
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Custom Interfacing
CIS
GIS
I N T E R F A C E
Customer Table
Customer Table
Lname
Custlname




C30
C25
Customer Last Name Lname Format C25
Customer Last Name Custlname Format C30
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MultiSpeak Approach
CIS
GIS
Customer Table
Customer Table
lastName




C30
Customer Last Name Lname Format C25
Customer Last Name Custlname Format C30
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MultiSpeak Approach

• Data objects are formalized in an XML Schema
• Schema is highly extensible
• New objects can be added
• Existing objects can be extended
• Messaging components defined in messaging schema
  (V2.2) or in Web Services (V3.0)
• Graphical constructs sent as XML in standard
  Geography Markup Language primitives, not
  proprietary graphics formats
• GML is a standard issued by the OpenGIS
  Consortium, Inc.

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Communications Modes

• File-Based Data is buffered and sent in
  batches
• May be automatically scheduled or ad hoc
• Can be dump or incremental update
• Batch that is automatic and fast enough is
  indistinguishable from real-time
• Soft real-time Happens as soon as possible, no
  intentional delays or buffering.
• MultiSpeak V2.2 supports both TCP/IP sockets and
  SOAP delivered over HTTP for real time
  communications
• Version 3.0 uses Web Services
• All transports support request/response and
  publish/subscribe

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Applications vs. Functions

• Applications are software products
• Functions are theoretical capabilities of
  applications
• Used applications in Version 1.1
• Using functions in MultiSpeak2 and 3 spec
• Each vendor will determine which functions their
  applications offer

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MultiSpeak Version 1.1 Process Model
Staking
Staked assemblies Work order changes
Background graphics and existing facilities data
Work orders Units Materials
Facilities GPS Locations
CIS
GIS
Facilities Connectivity
Customer Service Network
Load
Calls
IVR
Results
EA
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MultiSpeak Process Model
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Whats New with MultiSpeak?

• Version 3.0 issued for vendor development - 3/05.
• Version 3.0 issued for public release - 11/05.
• V3 supports batch and web services.
• V3 includes improvements to some interfaces,
  notably Staking-GIS and all OMS.
• Vendors have been installing beta products using
  V2.3 or V3 web services for about 12 months.
• Vendors started issuing normal release products
  supporting V3 in mid-year 2005.

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Project Status(June 2006)

• Conformance testing program is offered by
  independent third party.
• Six pairs of products have passed
  interoperability testing on V3.0 web services.
• One product has tested interoperable with the
  MultiSpeak testing harness software.
• One additional product (4DataLink Core Engine)
  has passed V2.2 compliance testing
• Other web services interfaces in beta testing at
  co-ops now.

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MultiSpeak Vendor Members(June 2006)

• 4DataLink
• Advanced Control Systems
• C3-Ilex
• Cannon Technologies
• CellNet
• Central Service Association
• Cornice Engineering
• Daffron
• DCSI (TWACS)
• Elster Electric
• Enspiria Solutions
• ESRI
• GE Energy
• Hunt Technologies
• IBM
• LiveData

• Milsoft
• Miner Miner
• NISC
• Origin GeoSystems (PDA)
• Partner Software
• Patterson Dewar
• PCS
• Powel/MiniMax
• QEI
• SEDC
• SpatialNet
• Survalent Technologies
• Tantalus
• UAI
• UISOL
• USC

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What are Web Services?

• A standard means to exchange data between
  programs, like calling a subroutine on another
  application.
• Uses any standard web server to transport
  XML-encoded data. Standard HTTP is the transport.
• The way of the future for the larger IT industry.

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Web Services Conceptual Approach
Web Server
2) GetCustomer Request
1) GetCustomer Request
4) GetCustomer Response
3) GetCustomer Response
Server
Client
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Web Services Application
1) GetCustomer Request
Web Server Component
Web Server Component
2) GetCustomer Response
1
1
2
2
Client Application
Server Application
Client
Server
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To Learn More

• Download the V3.0 specification or Utility Users
  Guide at the MultiSpeak web site
  http//www.MultiSpeak.org
• Go to the web site for information on
  interoperable products
• Watch the MultiSpeak web site for new
  developments and/or subscribe to the MultiSpeak
  mailing list

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For Further Information, Contact

• Gary McNaughton Bob Saint
• Cornice Engineering, Inc. NRECA
• P.O. Box 2350 4301 Wilson Blvd.
• Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 Arlington, VA 22203
• Phone [phone] [phone]
• gmcnaughton_at_frontier.net
  Robert.Saint_at_nreca.coop
• www.MultiSpeak.org