EUROPEAN LANGUAGE DATA SPACE - The LDS Connector – enabling secure and sovereign language data exchange

The LDS connector is the technical heart of the LDS ecosystem. It allows connectivity and facilitates the exchange of data assets. As we continue to delve deeper into the realms of secure and sovereign data exchange, understanding the pivotal role of connectors becomes imperative in unlocking the full potential of data spaces.

date: 12/02/2024

Like any data space, the Language Data Space (LDS) ecosystem is technically realised through the collaboration and interaction of its connectors, which interact in a peer-to-peer manner to enable seamless data exchange.

The LDS connector is a piece of software operated by or on behalf of LDS participants. It establishes connectivity among all participants and facilitates automated operations surrounding data exchange.

The LDS connector encompasses a spectrum of operations, each vital to the efficient functioning of the data space. Firstly, it enables the exchange of information about offerings, where each offering comprises an asset, e.g., a dataset, paired with a corresponding policy delineating its terms and conditions of use. Moreover, the connector facilitates contract conclusion and the subsequent transfer of assets between trusted participants.

From the point of view of data providers, the connector includes functionalities for:	vs.	From the point of view of data consumers, the connector includes facilities for:
setting up and publishing asset descriptions (metadata) in a local catalogue, which is available for querying or crawling by other connectors;		querying and viewing a local catalogue (possibly enriched with offerings crawled from other connectors);
receiving requests for assets;		making requests to access selected offerings;
controlling the validity of these requests against the licensing or other policy terms of the requested data;		agreeing to the usage contract;
performing actions related to the requests (e.g., financial transactions for data offered against a fee);		performing a financial transaction;
establishing a usage contract and initiating the transfer of the actual data;		receiving the actual data.
keeping track of all these transactions.

Additionally, the LDS connector addresses domain-specific and community-driven requirements, such as the specification for multilingual asset descriptions.

The LDS connector operates based on the latest specifications of the Dataspace Protocol, building upon the foundation laid by the Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC). Drawing inspiration and leveraging extensions from its descendants such as the Tractus-X and Sovity connectors, LDS stands at the forefront of data exchange innovation.