Focus Group (?) Transit Data Terms of Use

[rob_giggey]

Hello, as the OpenData lead for the City I will be helping OC Transpo
as they prepare for the release of their live GPS data. As part of
this we're planning to have a public session that will provide
developers, and others with interest, access to OC Transpo experts on
both routes/services, but also for the data feed itself. We're hoping
to run this session in early March. And I will make sure to include
more information about that session here in this group.

Prior to that we were hoping that a few people might be avaialble
during the week of Feb. 20th (except 22nd) for a small focus group to
look at a draft of their terms of use for this specific feed before it
goes to the Transit Commission. We'd make ourselves available in the
evenings, and could host a conference call for those that can't make
it in person. The terms of use would be expected to cover items such
as any limitations on the number of calls that could be made by an API
key, how service disruptions would be handled, etc. vs. the more
general T.o.U. of the opendata site.

If you are interested please let me know by sending me an email:
robert.giggey at ottawa.ca. You can also reach me at 613-580-2424
x22480.

Thanks for your continued interest, and hope to hear from some of you.

[swf...@gmail.com]

Hi Rob,

I'm interested in helping out with this -- only issue is I can only make Tuesday and Wednesday evenings next week.

John

[rob_giggey]

Ok, thanks John. I have another person that could come on Tuesday
evening so that might work best. If anyone else is available Tuesday
let me know. A few people should be sufficient to make sure we're
going down the right path.

When I'm back in the office on Tuesday I'll follow-up via email.

Thanks again,

[Kevin O'Donnell]

Hi Rob,

I can't make any meetings but would like to ask if the API will allow for a "firehose" mode where with a single long-lasting HTTP connection can receive a stream of GPS updates as they are received by OC?

The app I would like to develop requires a city-wide "last 5 minutes" view. Clearly issuing a request for all bus stops, city wide, all day long would not work well. So instead I'd like have access to the same pipeline that likely exists somewhere within the current IT pipeline inside OC.

Do you know what the meta-data on that pipeline is? Is it opaque (unique GPS unit-id and lat/long) or is it already marked up with useful information (trip_id, etc)?

Cheers,

Kevin.

[Michael Richardson]

Rob, thank you for the information.
Can you send us the technical details for the feed now?

You don't have to tell us where the feed is, but at least tell us what
the format is. The terms of use might not make any sense without
understanding what's in the feed.

--
] He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life! | firewalls [
] Michael Richardson, Sandelman Software Works, Ottawa, ON |net architect[
] m...@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/ |device driver[
Kyoto Plus: watch the video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzx1ycLXQSE>
then sign the petition.

[rob_giggey]

Kevin, Michael, and rest. I don't have the details on the format of
the feed yet. I'm hoping that the planned format will be available
this week and hoping that I can share it here. Further I'll pass
along the suggestions regarding the feed itself.

[Michael Richardson]

>>>>> "rob" == rob giggey <rob_giggey> writes:
rob> Kevin, Michael, and rest. I don't have the details on the format of
rob> the feed yet. I'm hoping that the planned format will be available
rob> this week and hoping that I can share it here. Further I'll pass
rob> along the suggestions regarding the feed itself.

thank you.
I am very concerned about the system failing due to success.
(the "slashdot" effect)

Please be aware that there is a significant amount of expertise out here
that wants to help. I and others have access to a number of rather
big internet pipes.