Technical infrastructure

The SWIM technical infrastructure is one of the key concepts which make SWIM possible

The SWIM technical infrastructure (TI) allows the implementation of interfaces between systems, providing technical capabilities for the secure, high-performance and reliable exchange of information.

The SWIM TI is a collection of software and hardware used to allow the provision of information services. Applications consume information services via a SWIM TI which allows the exchange of information via an IP network. Both the service provider (responsible for the information service), and the service consumer (responsible for the consuming application) are responsible for the implementation of their own infrastructure.

SWIM TI capabilities

The functional capabilities of the SWIM TI can be grouped into three categories:

  • Messaging capabilities: These allow the actual exchange of information using various access methods (e.g. publish/subscribe or, request/reply).
  • Security capabilities: These allow the secure exchange of information, including, but not limited to, identity access management, digital certificates and encryption.
  • TI management capabilities: These allow monitoring of the technical infrastructure for fault and performance, ensuring reliable and high-performance execution of the information exchanges.

The functional capabilities (i.e. functions) described in this section are common features widely supported by mainstream commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems and services.

For a more in-depth description of the SWIM TI capabilities, please refer to the following document:

  • SWIM TI Foundation Document

SWIM TI bindings

The SWIM TI allows technical interoperability on the basis of interfaces which implement SWIM TI interface bindings based on industry standards. The SWIM TI interface bindings specify the protocols used for the exchange of information between systems. The SWIM TI provides technical capabilities which are adapted to support different communication needs (ground/ground or air/ground), different types of message exchange patterns (publish/subscribe or request/reply) and different service levels with different availability requirements. 

For a more in-depth description of SWIM TI Bindings, please refer to the following documents:

  • EUROCONTROL SWIM TI Yellow Profile (STYP) Specification
  • EUROCONTROL STYP Binding Selection Guidelines

Message exchange patterns

A message exchange pattern (MEP) identifies a repeatable
sequence of messages exchanged between two systems, specifying the order,
direction and cardinality of these messages (e.g. request/reply or,
publish/subscribe)

The SWIM TI supports the implementation of different MEPs
based on different bindings with different capabilities. For additional
information related to MEPs and how they relate to the SWIM TI, please refer to the following documents:

  • Message Exchange Patterns – Identification Guidelines
  • Guidance for Pub/Sub implementation


RESOURCES

This specification contains requirements for the implementation of technical infrastructure supporting information exchanges in Initial System Wide Information Management (iSWIM).

It enables technical interoperability by specifying standardised technical interfaces (e.g. protocols) and the capabilities required to enable a reliable, secure and efficient exchange of information.

This specification is modular and provides different implementation options based on mainstream technology, taking into account a wide range of information exchange needs (e.g. security).

This specification is intended for use by technical experts designing and implementing systems and services.

  Access document

This document provides additional clarifications to EUROCONTROL specification for SWIM Technical Infrastructure Yellow Profile.

It aims at providing a better understanding of the SWIM Technical Infrastructure (TI), explaining the specification context in Europe, the principles that influence the specification, as well as the functional and non-functional scope covered by the SWIM TI.

  Access document

This document intends to serve as implementation guidance of the Publish/Subscribe Push Message Exchange Pattern using SWIM-TI Yellow Profile Service Bindings. The document is structured as follows:

  • In section 2, we provide a general overview of Publish/Subscribe services in a technology agnostic manner.
  • In section 3, the technology agnostic service design is realised in a concrete implementation using WS-Light and AMQP Messaging Service Bindings [3].

The proposed service design and implementation is intended to provide a basic template for implementers that can be customised or complemented in multiple ways to suit specific needs.

  Access document

This document provides a classification of the SWIM TI Yellow Profile Service Bindings catalogue according to the following criteria:

  • Message Exchange Patterns
  • Security characteristics
  • Performance characteristics

This classification can be used by implementers as guidance for selecting the Service Binding or Service Bindings used to implement a service that matches the desired characteristics.

  Access document

Document intended to facilitate the understanding of message exchange patterns from an application and Technical Infrastructure perspective.

  Access document

Implementation of a SWIM TI Yellow Profile prototype.

  Access