
We invite comments on the definition of "data service" for the OGSA Data Architecture (and hence the OGSA Glossary). Currently we're looking at something like the following: A service that exposes the capabilities or data of one or more data resources within a service-oriented architecture. or A service that exposes the capabilities of one or more data resources within a service-oriented architecture. These capabilities might include data access, data transfer or data management. We think either of these would be a significant improvement on our previous definition. The emphasis in these new proposals is on linking data resources into an SOA, which fits nicely with the OGSA definition of a service: A software component participating in a service-oriented architecture that provides functionality and/or participates in realizing one or more capabilities. Our previous definition mentioned specific types of interfaces, which we think is too specific and not resistant to change: A service that is primarily intended to provide access to data stored in one or more data resources. A data service will provide one or more of the data access, data source or data sink interfaces defined in the OGSA Data Architecture. Comments welcome, especially before Monday's OGSA-WG call. Dave Berry Deputy Director, Research & E-infrastructure Development National e-Science Centre 15 South College Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AA +44 131 651 4039 www.nesc.ac.uk <http://www.nesc.ac.uk/>