theoretical spectra, TSAP, TAP and Apps

From: Miguel Cerviño <mcs-at-iaa.es>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:28:08 +0200

Dear Ulrike (and Apps, theory and dal)

Regarding theoretical spectra, there is the TSAP protocol (I suppose that TheoSSAP is a similar protocol) that it is included in the SSAP documents. It is based in a "format=metadata" query, you can find more info an possible extensions to results other than spectra (e.g. isochornes) at:

http://svo.laeff.inta.es/modules.php?
op=modload&name=phpWikiP&file=index&pagename=TSAP

In this page you can also find other services that use TSAP (there is at least 12 services, but the list is fairly to be complete).

I completely agree with you about the issue that only VOSpec support this protocol. Of course
it is a handicap for the developing of analysis tools, unless theoretical libraries are included
"ad hoc" in the applications (e.g. specview case). Of course, I would prefer that applications would include simply a TSAP access at the same level that a ConeSearch-like access, and that it queries to services where the models developers are involved (I suppose that Thomas Rauch is involved in your case, as well as some synthesis models developers in my case).

Any case, an additional problem is that TSAP (or TheoSSAP) can be not directly registered, and that TSAP services can only be tested in VOSpec. Carlos Rodrigo has developed a service that browser and verify TSAP services, you can see it at:

http://www.laeff.inta.es/projects/svo/theory/tsap/

Additionally, it is supposed that the TAP protocol can be used instead TSAP since it is more general for "generic" tables. There is now a discussion in the dal list about the protocol itself. However, I have looking for the user cases of the use of TAP protocol and I have not find any info in the wiki pages (Would somebody from TAP send where the TAP user cases can be found and confirm that really TAP would substitute TSAP?). However, the TAP protocol is still in a final draft process and SSAP is ready, so I again agree with you that the it would be fine if current applications would accept this kind of TSAP services (and in to establish some mechanism to register such services).

Finally, I would suggest you (and others interesting in this issue) to also posting his/her comments to the theory IG and to try to coordinate additional requirements needed there. As and example, how to recover the credits (reference papers) of theoretical spectra in a general way and how to recover it from applications... (or any additional issue that is highly welcome :)

cheers

        Miguel

El 11/10/2007, a las 9:01, Ulrike Stampa escribió:

> To all architects and developers of SSAP clients:
>
> within the GAVO (German VO) project we implemented the simple spectra
> access protocol for synthetic spectra. When I started testing our
> service I noticed that most of the client tools do not support search
> for theoretical spectra but only query by position and time. So my
> question to the applications working group: Are there any plans or
> on-going discussions about including theoretical spectra? Or any
> client
> software I do not know yet? (The only one I know dealing with
> parameters
> for theoretical spectra is VOSpec.)
>
> Otherwise I suggest to take this aspect into account for further
> development.
>
> The base url of our SSAP service is:
> http://vo.ari.uni-heidelberg.de/ssatr-0.01/ssatr?request=queryData&
> To get an impression what parameters theoretical spectra would
> typically use, you can look at our browser based interface (or
> contact
> me directly).
> http://vo.ari.uni-heidelberg.de/ssatr-0.01/TrSpectra.jsp
>
> (This service is supposed to comply with SSAP version 1.02. If you
> find
> anything non-conforming, please let me know. )
>
> Best regards,
> Ulrike Stampa, GAVO
Received on 2007-10-11Z11:50:43