WDAudioLex/Data Management

Data Management

Data management is crucial for the effective operation of the WDAudioLex tool, ensuring the secure storage, accessibility, and integrity of audio files, lexemes, and user contributions. This involves strategies for structured data storage, backup and recovery, security measures, and maintaining data quality. By implementing these practices, the tool ensures a reliable and scalable platform for managing and interacting with pronunciation data.

Data Storage Strategies

Data storage is critical for ensuring the integrity, accessibility, and scalability of the WDAudioLex tool. Here's an outline of potential strategies:

1. Database Design

Relational Database: The tool will use a relational database (e.g., MariaDB, PostgreSQL) for structured data storage. This ensures that data like user contributions, lexemes, audio files, and pronunciation statements are organized and easily queried.

Tables:

   Users Table: Stores user-related information (e.g., ID, username, email, roles).
   Audio Files Table: Stores metadata for audio files, such as file name, file URL, category, language, and any associated metadata.
   Lexemes Table: Contains lexeme information like ID, name, language, and associated categories.
   Pronunciation Statements Table: Links audio files to lexemes, including the pronunciation variety and user details.
   Contributions Table: Tracks user contributions for auditing purposes, storing details about added pronunciations and varieties.

2. Distributed Storage (if applicable)

Audio files (often large in size) should be stored in a distributed file storage service, such as Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Wikimedia’s Commons File Storage.

   Database References: The database will store URLs or file paths to the audio files, minimizing database load and ensuring efficient retrieval.

3. Caching

Use a caching mechanism (e.g., Redis or Memcached) to store frequently accessed data such as popular lexeme matches or audio metadata. This will help improve response times and reduce unnecessary database queries.

Backup and Recovery Processes

Ensuring data integrity and availability through effective backup and recovery mechanisms is crucial.

1. Regular Backups

   Full Backups: Perform full backups of the entire database (including tables and user contributions) at regular intervals (e.g., daily, weekly) to prevent data loss.
   Incremental Backups: Implement incremental backups for data that changes frequently, such as user contributions and pronunciation additions. This allows for more efficient storage and quicker recovery.
   Backup Storage: Store backups in secure off-site locations, either in the cloud or on physical servers, to mitigate risks related to server failures.

2. Automated Backup System

Set up automated tools (e.g., pg_dump for PostgreSQL or mysqldump for MariaDB) to take backups at defined intervals. Use cloud services (e.g., AWS RDS or Google Cloud SQL) to automate database snapshots and backups, which can be restored quickly.

3. Recovery Testing

Regularly test the backup and recovery process by simulating database failures to ensure the backup system is functioning correctly. Establish clear recovery procedures in case of data corruption or loss, focusing on minimizing downtime.

Data Security Measures

1. Encryption

   At Rest: Ensure that sensitive data stored in databases (e.g., user details, contributions) is encrypted using industry-standard algorithms like AES-256.
   In Transit: Use SSL/TLS protocols for all communications between the frontend, backend, and database, ensuring that user data and other sensitive information are securely transmitted.
   File Encryption: If necessary, audio files stored in the cloud can be encrypted using server-side encryption mechanisms provided by the cloud storage service.

2. Access Controls

   Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Implement RBAC for controlling who can access or modify specific resources within the tool. For example:
       Admins have full access to all data and configuration settings.
       Regular users can only contribute pronunciations, view lexeme matches, and interact with audio files.
   OAuth2 Authentication: Leverage OAuth2 for secure user authentication. Use a trusted OAuth provider (e.g., Google, Wikimedia Auth) to manage user logins and session tokens.
   API Access Control: Ensure that only authorized services and users can interact with sensitive API endpoints by using tokens or keys with limited permissions.

3. Data Anonymization and Pseudonymization

Anonymize user data where possible (e.g., storing non-personally identifiable information) to protect user privacy, especially in cases where contributions are publicly visible. For contributions, assign pseudonyms or unique user IDs instead of personally identifiable information, if privacy is a concern.

Data Integrity and Quality

To maintain the quality and integrity of the data:

1. Validation Checks

   Input Validation: Ensure that all user-provided data (e.g., audio file names, lexemes) is sanitized and validated before storage. Use regular expressions or predefined schemas to ensure data correctness and consistency.
   Matching Logic: Implement robust pattern-matching algorithms to ensure that lexemes are accurately matched with the appropriate audio files, ignoring case sensitivity and punctuation errors.

2. Auditing

Maintain an audit trail of all user interactions, such as adding pronunciations, modifying lexemes, or deleting records. This can be useful for troubleshooting and tracking down malicious activity. Track which users contribute to what resources, allowing administrators to identify contributors and resolve potential disputes.

3. Error Handling

Provide users with appropriate error messages in case of failed operations, such as failed uploads or matching errors. The system should also handle backend failures gracefully (e.g., database connection errors) and alert administrators as needed.

Summary

For the WDAudioLex Tool, data management involves the strategic use of a relational database for storing lexeme, audio, and contribution data, along with secure and scalable storage for large audio files. Regular backup and recovery processes will ensure data is protected, while encryption, access control, and data validation will safeguard privacy and integrity. These practices will help maintain a reliable, secure, and high-quality system for contributors and users alike.

How to use the tool

   Log in using OAuth2 authentication.
   Select a category of audio files from Wikimedia Commons.
   Enter a pattern to match lexemes to audio files.
   Review the matched results.
   Use the "Add Pronunciation" button to submit a pronunciation statement to Wikidata.