Integrating with data sources

A data source is used to exchange information between the IBM® Intelligent Operations Center and external systems.

In IBM Intelligent Operations Center, data sources provide a generic format for exchanging data. Data source configuration is compatible with emerging techniques, such as web services, while offering enhanced capabilities. Data sources provide the following capabilities:
  • Flexible geographic targeting using latitude and longitude shapes and other geospatial representations in three dimensions
  • Multilingual and multi-audience messaging
  • Phased and delayed effective times and expirations
  • Enhanced message update and cancellation features
  • Digital encryption and signature compatibility
  • Digital images and audio facilities

Data items are self-contained data messages that can be sent or used by components of the solution. Data items can be published to topic queues and read by all potentially interested subscribing IT systems. Data source configuration standardizes content so multiple domains can send and receive events in a common format using common conventions. The standard defines the mandatory and optional fields in the data item and the acceptable values for those fields. Data item processing management can mediate between earlier formats and the standardized format. Data sources can be configured to handle day-to-day operations in addition to emergency situations. For more information about the configuration of data items, see the link at the end of the topic.

The data source configuration helps minimize data exchange per item. Because data items are formatted in XML, the data format can be written and read by various systems, thereby preventing the exchange of meaningless data or data creating dangerous confusion.

IBM Intelligent Operations Center provides persistent storage of data items and a standard interface for presenting them.

While the entire data item is accepted by the IBM Intelligent Operations Center, some data can be used to calculate key performance indicators (KPI), to activate standard operating procedures, or other customized applications.

IBM Intelligent Operations Center uses the WebSphere® Message Broker to integrate data items.