WEBBOX
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The document describes WebBox, a platform for storing and sharing personal data across multiple devices and cloud services. WebBox aims to support modern data needs with security, versatility, and adoptability. It uses a PostgreSQL database, object store, and versions data with transactional integrity. WebBox provides APIs for web and mobile applications to access user data stores via an HTTP/WebSocket interface with token-based authentication. Examples provided include a data editor, real-time chat app, and Twitter harvester. The document also discusses enabling communication between WebBox instances.
WEBBOX
- 1. WEBBOX Daniel A. Smith and MaxVan Kleek Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 2. AIMS • Support modern data needs • Multiple devices • Multiple cloud services Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 3. services WHAT AND WHERE are our digital artefacts? what i create what i do RESOURCES I CONSULT Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 4. AIMS • Support modern data needs • Multiple devices • Multiple cloud services • Security of personal data • Trustable • Sharing over the web • Interoperable with other systems • Easy for developers • Support modern standards • Scalable • Open source Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 5. AIMS • Support modern data needs • Multiple devices • Multiple cloud services • Security of personal data • Trustable • Sharing over the web • Interoperable with other systems • Easy for developers • Support modern standards • Scalable • Open source Versatility Security Durability Adoptability Usability Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 6. webbox WEBBOX • Versioned • Transactional Integrity • Encryption • Graph Object Store • JSON and RDF output • Web Sharing • Development Libraries Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 7. ARCHITECTURE • PostgreSQL database • Object store (triples) • Versions • Transactions with table locking • Authentication by DB • HTTP interface to JSON • WebSockets interface: realtime diff updates • Encryption on the wire (TLS/SSL) • Encryption in the DB Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 8. DEMO 1 • Data editor Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 9. APPLICATIONS • HTML5 applications hosted by a WebBox • User authenticates with WebBox directly in-browser • Browser receives a session token • Changes are made directly by the app • Developers use “webbox.js” to simplify authentication and access to webbox Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 10. DEMO 2 • Realtime chat Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 11. APPLICATION INTERFACE • External (non-browser) applications that use HTTP/ WebSockets interface • Token based authentication • User grants permission to an app via webbox, using a token • The app then has permissions on a box • User can signal to an app through the webbox WebSocket • Developers user “pyWebbox” library for python Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 12. APPLICATION INTERFACE WebSockets App WebBox User App connects to WebBox Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 13. APPLICATION INTERFACE User WebSockets User connects to WebBox WebSockets App WebBox Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 14. APPLICATION INTERFACE App WebBox User WebSockets WebSockets User grants permission to app - WebBox send it a token Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 15. APPLICATION INTERFACE App WebBox User WebSockets/HTTP WebSockets App uses token to make changes using HTTP interface Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 16. APPLICATION INTERFACE App WebBox User WebSockets/HTTP WebSockets User signals to App to start actions, e.g. a twitter crawl Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 17. APPLICATION INTERFACE App WebBox User App sends the User a Push Notification (e.g. to iPhone) Push Notification Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 18. SAMPLE APP Harvest tweets, assert into WebBox, handle versioning Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 19. DEMO 3 • Twitter harvester +Tweetwatcher Tuesday, 23 April 13
- 20. WEBBOX-WEBBOX COMMUNICATION • Similar interface to applications - persistent two-way comms using WebSockets or one-off HTTP calls • Users can give permissions to other WebBoxes/users • Rich platform for real-time collaboration • Challenges: • ID providers • Shared versioning across webboxes • Global naming for shared objects • Network traversal/mobile IP Work in Progress Tuesday, 23 April 13