Analyzing Communication Architectures Using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Modeling and Simulation Tools

Abstract

There are many initiatives focused towards the pursuit of information systems capabilities-hardware software, and architecture and other technologies that will markedly enhance the command and control (C2) function. The overarching purpose of this thesis is to provide joint task force communication planners with the too for planning and managing the increasing communications demand. To this end, this project had two goals, compare the performance of two computer-aided modeling and simulation tools representing both ends of the cost ar complexity spectrum, and to provide a subjective evaluation. Four computer models were developed to simula Information Technology for the 21st Century (IT-21) and Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) networks using OPNET Modeler/Radio, by MIL3, and EXTEND by Imagine That, Inc. Although assumptions wei made to simplify the models, simulation runs demonstrated that the network models developed using OPNET and EXTEND produced very similar and believable results. The JTIDS models results for data rate and message latency agreed within 3.5%. Similarly, IT-21 system models detected changes and trends caused by different system load The results indicate that low cost, commercial off-the-shelf modeling tools can be used to describe various networks used in joint operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA350025

Entities

People

  • Alan R. Rieffer

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Communication Systems
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Communications
  • Computer Networks
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Data Links
  • Digital Communications
  • Electronic Mail
  • Information Systems
  • Multiple Access
  • Network Protocols
  • Network Science
  • Transport Protocols

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control