associate related datasets that have different sampling modes over time

[jbfaden]

At our weekly meeting we were talking about using the idea of "groups" to connect multiple datasets together. For example, Cassini data might have data collected in one of several modes, each having its own timetags and channels. Autoplot or other clients would see the group and would load all of these together.

See also #78

[jbfaden]

Here are some examples of the sets that were causing problems: wind magnetometer, voyager magnetometer. de*_0 de*_7

[jbfaden]

It just occurred to me that there is a Cassini RPW instrument which has hundreds of modes, each needing its own dataset. In any interval there will be just a handful. This could be solved by having a "groups" dataset, which is a time series of strings identifying datasets which should be combined for an interval to form a complete data set.

[jvandegriff]

could just add a "tag" object to catalog entries, presumably with guidelines for tag content so that datasets could be advertised as having the same tags

[jvandegriff]

modes are often interleaved in time, but sometimes a mode transition is one-way (never goes back!)

[jvandegriff]

Quick way to explain this: think of it as a virtual dataset that points to other datasets, each of which could have unique parameters (or represent different modes, especially for plasma wave data)

[jvandegriff]

Would be good to also provide client support for handling (loading and plotting) of these types of data.

[jvandegriff]

solve this in coordination with #106 and #78

This one seems to be the central / prime issue.