The DeviceAtlas data model introduced.
DeviceAtlas is a fully transparent, multi-sourced data repository, with data from a wide range of sources. Sources include device manufacturers, network operators, testing organisations, public domain sources, and our customers. Licence holders can scrutinise the data freely, and for every data point, each contributing data source and its contribution is provided, so the provenance of the data is always provided.
DeviceAtlas utilises advanced algorithms to ensure data accuracy. Each data source has an assigned ‘trust weighting’, which determines its influence over the result; for example a device manufacturer may assert that a device screen width is 300, but if over time other lower-ranked sources assert a different figure, the new result will be adopted once a threshold is passed. In this way there is continuous improvement of the data based on constant inputs from the DeviceAtlas user community, customers and partners.
How is the data delivered?
For the Enterprise solution, the device data is packaged in a JSON format, which is highly compressed to reduce server footprint, and the data structure is optimised for speed of search and retrieval. (See About our APIs for more information)
In the Cloud service, data is delivered on demand for the specific device headers submitted via the Client API.
How can I customise the data?
Enterprise customers can determine the data set with which they are provided, because the JSON file (downloaded data file) is available in two forms. The ‘community’ JSON is compiled from all data sources, weighted using their default weighting. However, you can also download your ‘Personal’ JSON, which is unique to your account, and maximises your ‘trust weighting’ to ensure that all your contributions are returned to you in your data file. The benefit of this is that it gives you immediate control over the content of your data file, without having to maintain a local patch file; all data is centrally managed and maintained.
If you regularly submit content assertions in DeviceAtlas, we would be happy to increase your ‘trust weighting’, which gives your contributions greater influence over the device data.
See Manage My Data for the different mechanisms available.
