ResourceSync: A Modular Framework For Web-Based Resource Synchronization

Herbert Van de Sompel
Scientist
Los Alamos National Laboratory

Martin Klein
Scientist
Los Alamos National Laboratory

ResourceSync: A Modular Framework For Web-Based Resource Synchronization
http://www.cni.org/topics/information-access-retrieval/resourcesync/

The launch of ResourceSync, a joint project of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and the Open Archives Initiative (OAI) funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, was motivated by the ubiquitous need to synchronize resources for applications in the realm of cultural heritage and research communication. At the Spring 2012 CNI Meeting, a perspective on the resource synchronization problem was presented that resulted from initial project discussions. Since then, the project has designed, specified, and tested a framework for web-based synchronization that is based on SiteMaps, a protocol widely used by web servers to advertise the resources they make available to search engines for indexing. This choice allows repositories to address both search engine optimization and resource synchronization needs using the same technology.

The ResourceSync framework specifies various modular capabilities that a repository can support in order to allow third party systems to remain synchronized with its evolving resources. For example, a Resource List provides an inventory of resources whereas a Change List details resources that were created, deleted or updated during a given temporal interval. Support for capabilities can be combined in order to meet local or community requirements. The framework specifies capabilities that require a third party to recurrently poll for up-to-date information about a repositories' resources but also publish/subscribe capabilities that keep third parties informed about changes through notifications, thereby significantly reducing synchronization latency.

This presentation provides an overview of the modular ResourceSync framework as well as of the state of the specifications.

Project Team: Todd Carpenter (NISO), Berhard Haslhofer, (University of Vienna), Martin Klein (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Graham Klyne (Oxford University), Nettie Lagace (NISO), Carl Lagoze (University of Michigan), Peter Murray (Lyrasis), Michael L. Nelson (Old Dominion University), Robert Sanderson (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Herbert Van de Sompel (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Simeon Warner (Cornell University)

http://www.openarchives.org/rs/
http://www.slideshare.net/hvdsomp/resource-sync-overview-33045191

Coalition for Networked Information (CNI)
Spring 2014 Membership Meeting
March 31 - April 1, 2014
St. Louis, Missouri
http://www.cni.org/mm/spring-2014/