n-cubes in the VO

[Arnold Rots]

Last month we started thinking about what would be needed in order to
integrate multi-dimensional data into the the VO's DM and DAL.
The requirement was that it be simple, extensible, comprehensive, and
building on existing standards and efforts.

The result is the attached vision document.
We believe that the proposed direction will allow us to:
- cover almost all types of data through an abstract data model that
  encompasses filled and sparse n-cubes, including photon lists
- provide access through SIAP2 with relatively minor extensions of
  the current WD (though dropping the 'S' would be appropriate)
It will require establishing metadata encoding conventions for
supported data serializations (FITS, HDF5, Casa), but the basic
infrastructure for these conventions is in place.

Cheers,

  - Arnold

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Arnold H. Rots                                Chandra X-ray Science Center
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                tel:  +1 617 496 7701
60 Garden Street, MS 67                              fax:  +1 617 495 7356
Cambridge, MA 02138                             arots at head.cfa.harvard.edu
USA                                     http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~arots/
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