Dataspace Protocol overview
Advancing interoperability: the Dataspace Protocol
The Dataspace Protocol is at the very core of the technical implementation of every data space component and guarantees interoperability between components and data space participants.
What is the Dataspace Protocol
Are you familiar with the Internet Protocol? At some point, everyone agreed on the HTTP standard to transport data between a web server and a browser. Now, picture a similar need for data spaces—a universal protocol that doesn’t favor specific business models or technical components.
Enter the Dataspace Protocol. This detailed set of rules is designed to facilitate seamless data sharing between data space components and participants. The Dataspace Protocol ensures trust and interoperability, defining the needed schemas and protocols for cataloging data, negotiating contracts and usage agreements within a data space.
Organizations using this protocol can align with industry standards, foster best practices, and unlock new data-driven business models and opportunities.
Access the Dataspace Protocol 2024-1
is version (2024-1) of the Dataspace Protocol specification is the release candidate and considered to be stable. Further changes shall not affect conformity. Since version 0.8 the specification is stable with changes in details.
The user-friendly version of the Dataspace Protocol is accessible in the IDSA Knowledge Base.
For the version history and changes, refer to the GitHub Repository.
Relation to the IDS-RAM
The IDS Reference Architecture Model (IDS-RAM) provides guidance on implementing functional requirements and design choices for components within a data space, guaranteeing essential data sovereignty for reliable data exchange.
The Dataspace Protocol effectively puts into practice the principles and guidelines outlined in the IDS-RAM. It sets forth technical specifications and mechanisms for standardized data exchange, ensuring consistent interactions among components. This promotes interoperability and maintains data sovereignty within data spaces.
Relation to the IDSA Rulebook
In the IDSA Rulebook, IDSA describes at an organizational level the interaction of roles and components in a data space, which create the foundation for trust and core functions of a data space. It clarifies the business level structures and processes of a data space.
The Dataspace Protocol provides the technical means to implement the compliance, trust, and security measures dictated by the IDSA Rulebook, ensuring that data transactions adhere to the standards and policies detailed in IDSA Rulebook.
Relation to standardization
The Dataspace Protocol provides a standardized set of rules and formats for data exchange. This is necessary for interoperability, allowing different systems and organizations to communicate in a seamless way.
As part of IDSA’s goal to establish the Dataspace Protocol as an ISO standard, plans are underway to integrate the specification document IDSA has created for the Dataspace Protocol with a compatibility kit – an essential software component, crafted by the developer community.
This integration is set to take place within the Eclipse Data Space Working Group (EDWG).
Why we need the Dataspace Protocol
When organizations or companies want to share data, they need to provide details about the data to enable its transfer. The Dataspace Protocol explains how this information is provided:
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- It outlines how datasets are presented as catalogs and how rules about data usage are expressed.
- It defines how agreements governing data usage are written and negotiated electronically.
- It explains how datasets are accessed using specific protocols.
The interactions within a data space involve data connectors, which implement the described protocols. While most interactions occur between data connectors, some involve other systems. An identity provider validates the identity of a connector, with its structure and content varying between different data spaces.
Any questions? Contact us!
Your contact person:
Anil Turkmayali
Senior Project Manager
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