Fixes RDT bug with Sparse Values and preps for test

 - RDT doesn't like sparse values, they aren't handled the same way as a
   coverage handles them so now there is a spanify wrapper which manages
the span objects inside the storage.
 - Certain parameter contexts are failing at creation time due to numpy
   not being JSON compliant, added a walker to convert them
 - Adds test to verify sparse capabilities and edge case prevention

If the dataset doesn't grow but sparse values are attempted twice an
error is raised (pigeon holed), the solution is for ingestion to ignore
subsequent values.  There's only room for one value so just use the
first one.
remove unnecessary todo comment
Merge pull request #974 from lukecampbell/rdt

Fixes RDT bug with Sparse Values and preps for test
Merge pull request #975 from carueda/platform_agent_R2C4

add recursion parameter also to PAUSE, RESUME, and CLEAR
Added support for handling arrays
Merge branch 'master' of github.com:ooici/coi-services
Release Version 2.0.24
Bump Version to 2.0.25-dev
OOIION-827 - remove references to NULLTRANSFORM data process definition
don't check for data process def
Merge pull request #976 from ifreecarve/2013-04-18_process

OOIION-827 - remove NULLTRANSFORM
use flag to indicate whether the status manager is active or not as an extra
verification to proceed with event handling
special processing for devcies that use hasNetworkParent
Release Version 2.0.25
Bump Version to 2.0.26-dev
Bump defs for alert event alignment.
Added state alert type. Refactored alert hierarchy.
Fixed alert bugs related to changing event type.
 clean up _process_aggregate_alerts
reorganization of shutdown dispatch including publication of DeviceStatusEvent with sub_type="device_failed_command" in case of a child failing to complete the command or failing to terminate. This case serves as a basis to follow similart pattern for other commands and transitions (TBD). Shutdown and terminate are handled child by child. Also, in the case of instruments, it is first checked that the instrument is not already in UNINITIALIZED to proceed with RESET.