Informix TimeSeries Software
The inexorable rise of smart devices, sensors and instruments being put to work around the world is generating not only increasing volumes of data - but data that is different. Much of the new data is time-stamped. Making sense of this means understanding not only what the data relates to but when...
Time is something that most traditional data management systems simply cannot handle. They don't have the capability to store, access and manage that information effectively and efficiently.
Informix TimeSeries software from IBM is different. It is fit for the purpose, and it is being put to work to solve some of today's knottiest data management problems by some very smart companies indeed.
Want to know more? Check out this IBM Redbook ‘Solving Business Problems with TimeSeries’
All about Informix TimeSeries Software
This area of the site will help you find all you need to know about Informix TimeSeries software. You can find out about new TimeSeries applications as they happen, current TimeSeries development projects, Success Stories using TimeSeries for Smart Metering and more. The benefits of Informix TimeSeries software are considerable! There are some dramatic recent developments and benchmarked achievements in the speed of loading and processing TimeSeries data. You will also be able to find valuable guides and knowledge papers such as Building Smart Meter Solutions with TimeSeries. Interested developers should check out and contribute to the IBM developerWorks wiki, which is all about managing data collected from smart meters. But before all of that, let's start at the beginning.
What is Time Series data?
Time-related and temporal data is an increasing challenge. Time series information is basically information within which a time-stamp is relevant to its value, for information that needs to be accessed and processed in a sequence that is based on time in order to deliver insights or enable a process. The smart meter programmes within the utilities industry demonstrate this perfectly, and they are at the forefront of developing solutions to cope with a deluge of time-related energy information. They are not alone in choosing Informix TimeSeries software to take advantage of its native ability to handle such data effectively, efficiently and in a highly scalable way. Registered users will find greater depth in the TimeSeries training presentation from one of the regular Informix roadshows.
Where is Time Series data used?
You will find time series information everywhere - whether it is in the flow of utility and 
credit card bills, the metering of the utilities we consume, financial data from the stock markets, production data in manufacturing and sales data in retail. Sitting behind these is the common need to 'stamp' or time index each piece of data, either for regulatory purposes or to calculate billing, create projections and forecasts, test against different parameters to ensure efficiency is being maintained - there are a vast range of highly complex analyses that might be required. But first, you have to effectively gather, store and arrange the information so that analysis is even possible.
Benefits of Informix TimeSeries Software
Informix is uniquely able to handle the top five challenges of managing time-related information, including the need for specialist indexing and storage, fast data-loading, efficient data storage, rapid query performance, massive scalability and easy administration.
