Software Frameworks Future Work

The Open GIS Abstract Specification Page 55 Volume 15: Image Exploitation Services 00-115 corrigendum

5. Future Work

5.1. Software Frameworks

The interfaces to each image exploitation service or category could be defined independently. If defined independently, the interfaces to each service or category would tend to use different formats and contents for the same or similar data, used as inputs andor outputs of different services. However, it would be better if multiple service categories use interfaces that are defined to use the same data formats and contents for the same or similar data, used as inputs andor outputs of different services. Such use of the same interface formats and contents by multiple service categories means developing what is often called a software framework. A software framework defines standardized interface aspects across multiple software components, where these components often provide different user services. Use of a software framework facilitates using multiple complementary services together, including using different services in mix-and-match fashion. A key issue is: How can the Open GIS Consortium OGC obtain multiple implementation specifications that fit into one or more software frameworks, to the maximum useful extent? More detailed questions include: 1. Should the OGC request that vendors propose a software framework, or just trust that vendors will propose a framework when appropriate? 2. If the OGC requests that vendors propose a software framework, should this request be in a separate RFP, or in an RFP that also requests implementation specifications for interfaces to specific services? 3. If the OGC requests a software framework in an RFP for specific service interfaces, in which specific RFPs should a software framework be requested? 4. How should selected image exploitation services be combined into one RFP or separated into different RFPs to improve the probability and quality of proposed software frameworks? Note that the taxonomy of image exploitation services groups these services into categories with similar interfaces. We hope that such a grouping of services will improve the probability and quality of proposed software frameworks. For example, item 3 in Section 1 Image Modification Services includes many lower level services because they need somewhat similar interfaces. Specifically, these Image Modification Services include many Change pixel values services item 3.1, many Change pixel positions services item 3.2, and many other services items 3.3 and 3.4. Similarly, item 1 in Section 1 Ground Coordinate Transformation Services includes many services that should have largely identical interfaces. Also, Section 2 Image Coordinate Transformation Services includes many services that should have largely identical interfaces. Furthermore, both ground and image coordinate transformation services should have largely identical interfaces. The Open GIS Abstract Specification Page 56 Volume 15: Image Exploitation Services 00-115 corrigendum

6. Appendix A. Acronyms and Glossary