[HOME_NETWORK_TF] Fwd: [discovery] and [sensors]: Webinos high level service discovery API and sensor API

Hi,
the email below was recently sent to the DAP list and could be of interest for HNTF members.

/g

------- Forwarded message -------
From: "Nilsson, Claes1" <Claes1.Nilsson@sonyericsson.com>
To: "public-device-apis@w3.org" <public-device-apis@w3.org>
Cc:
Subject: [discovery] and [sensors]: Webinos high level service discovery API and sensor API
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:29:11 +0200


Hi,



We have seen very interesting inputs from Rich on Local-Network and Wide-Area Network Service Discovery and Interaction [1] and [2]. Related to this I take the opportunity to share some results of the API specification phase of the Webinos EU-project, http://webinos.org/ as this is very appropriate for the work within DAP.



In Webinos a set of APIs have been specified, http://dev.webinos.org/specifications/draft/.



Among these APIs there is a high level service discovery API and a generic sensor API. Note that these are drafts and will be evaluated during the implementation of the Webinos platform.



A short description of these two APIs follows:



The Discovery Module (http://dev.webinos.org/specifications/draft/servicediscovery.html):



- Provides web applications with an API to discover local and remote services without any previous knowledge of the service.



- A discovered service is accessed through binding to a "standard" API. For example, access to a geolocation service in another device is performed through binding the W3C Geolocation API to the selected remote geolocation service.



- The API is high level and agnostic to underlying low level discovery and communication mechanisms



The Sensors Module (http://dev.webinos.org/specifications/draft/sensors.html):



- Provides web applications with an API to access data from sensors in the device, connected to the device or in another device.



- The API is agnostic to underlying low level methods for sensor discovery and communication with sensors and should be used in combination with Webinos service discovery.



- A DOM event provides sensor data similar to the DeviceOrientation and Battery event specifications.



Comparing the Webinos Discovery Module with the Local-Network Service Messaging API proposal [1] by Rich we have the following differences:



- Rich’s proposal uses messaging (XHR, Web Sockets, Server-sent events, Web Messaging) to communicate with selected service, while Webinos uses JS binding to a well defined JS API and hides underlying communication mechanisms.

- Rich’s proposal builds the service selection mechanism and call backs when the user has selected the service, while Webinos has a callback for each discovered service and the application developer has to build the selection mechanism.

- Rich’s proposal is limited to services in local networks, while Webinos enables both local and remote services. (but Rich address wide area networks in [2]).

- Webinos allows newly installed APIs to be exposed and discoverable.

- Webinos is higher level than Rich’s. Could an implementation of Webinos Service Discovery uses Rich’s proposal as underlying solution?



Comments are welcome.



Best regards

   Claes





[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-device-apis/2011Jul/0073.html

[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-device-apis/2011Aug/0018.html







Claes Nilsson M.Sc.E.E
Senior Technology Strategist
Technology & Research - Advanced Application Lab

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
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