The digitalization and networking of machines and systems places new demands on the storage, transmission and processing of operating data.
In order to meet the requirements of modern IoT infrastructures, companies need a powerful, robust and flexible data format. The Open Streaming Format (OSF4) fulfills these requirements in an outstanding way and offers numerous advantages over other data formats.
If you want to work with the OSF4 format yourself, check out our example Python implementation on Github.
Advantages of the OSF4 format
1. high performance and efficiency
The OSF4 format is characterized by its extraordinarily high performance when processing and transferring large amounts of data. The binary structure of the format enables efficient storage and fast data processing, which is particularly important for applications in the field of measurement and automation technology. This performance ensures that your systems remain stable and reliable even at high data rates.
2. extremely robust
A key advantage of the OSF4 format is its extreme robustness against interruptions such as power failures or system crashes. In the event of an unexpected interruption, data acquisition can continue without data loss. This feature makes OSF4 particularly suitable for use in critical infrastructures where data integrity and availability have the highest priority.
3. support for any data type
OSF4 offers exceptional flexibility in supporting different data types. From simple measurement values and complex matrices to images and time-stamped data blocks, OSF4 can efficiently store and manage all of this data. This versatility makes the format the ideal solution for a wide range of rail applications, including the acquisition and analysis of diagnostic data.
4. low storage requirements and compressibility
Thanks to its efficient data compression, the OSF4 format requires significantly less storage space than many other formats. This not only reduces the cost of storage solutions, but also improves transmission speed and minimizes bandwidth requirements. The ability to additionally compress data ensures even greater efficiency and lower operating costs.
5. self-describing and easily expandable
The OSF4 format is self-describing, which means that all necessary metadata is included in the file. This makes data exchange and integration into different systems much easier. In addition, the format is designed to be easily expandable. New data types and metadata can be added without affecting existing systems, ensuring the future-proofing and longevity of the format.
6. open source and future-proof
As an open source format, OSF4 offers the advantage of transparency and flexibility. Companies can adapt the format to their specific requirements and benefit from continuous further development by a dedicated community. The open nature of the format also ensures independence from individual manufacturers and prevents long-term dependencies.
Comparison with other data formats
In a direct comparison with other common data formats such as MDF4, HDF5, PARQUET and CSV/TSV, OSF4 shows clear advantages in the key categories.
MDF4 (Measurement Data Format)
Area of application: MDF4 is specially designed for measurement data in the automotive industry and is easily customizable.
Performance: Very high, but OSF4 offers similar performance with less complexity.
Robustness: MDF4 is less robust against interruptions, which can be problematic in critical infrastructures.
Flexibility: MDF4 is more complex and less flexible to extend than OSF4.
Widespread use: Widely used in the automotive industry, but OSF4 is rapidly gaining acceptance in various industries.
HDF5 (Hierarchical Data Format)
Area of application: Widely used, especially in science, but less specific to rail transportation data.
Performance: Good, but not leading like OSF4.
Packing density: Similar to OSF4.
Robustness: Not very robust against switching off, which makes OSF4 superior.
Simplicity: HDF5 is complex to implement, while OSF4 is easier to handle.
Distribution: Very common in the scientific field, but OSF4 is increasingly used in industrial applications.
PARQUET
Area of application: Good for tabular and structured data, but not optimal for time-stamped measurement data in rail transportation.
Performance: Good for large, dense tables, but OSF4 offers better performance with continuous data streams.
Packing density: Efficient, but OSF4 is more flexible in compression.
Robustness: Less robust for continuous data streams, which makes OSF4 superior.
Simplicity: Comparatively simple, but OSF4 offers better support for complex data types.
CSV/TSV
Area of application: Basic and broadly applicable, but not specific to rail transportation.
Performance: Low compared to OSF4.
Packing density: Very poor, as it is text-based.
Metadata: Very limited, OSF4 offers far more flexibility here.
Robustness: Not robust, which makes it unsuitable for critical applications.
Simplicity: Very simple, but also very limited in its possibilities.
Distribution: Very widespread, but not ideal for complex applications such as rail transportation.
Ranking results
In a detailed evaluation based on various criteria such as performance, robustness, metadata support, simplicity, and extensibility, OSF4 achieved the highest overall score:
OSF4: 1185 points
MDF4: 1081 points
HDF5: 1066 points
PARQUET: 822 points
CSV/TSV: 608 points
This evaluation clearly shows that OSF4 delivers the best results in most relevant categories and is therefore the preferred data format for rail transportation applications.
Conclusion
The Open Streaming Format (OSF4) is the optimal solution for the challenges of modern data processing in rail transportation. With its outstanding performance, robustness and flexibility, it is the ideal choice for companies that want to manage their operational data efficiently and reliably. Take advantage of an open and future-proof format and rely on OSF4 - the best choice for your data.