XML Tactical Chat (XTC): Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol for Command and Control Applications

Abstract

Current chat and instant messaging (IM) solutions within the DoD have created problems with information security and interoperability. Though Extensible Message and Presence Protocol (XMPP) is the only mandated chat and IM protocol in the DoD, the majority of the military still operates alternate nonstandard solutions that prevent interoperability and lack appropriate security assurances. XMPP is a streaming XML protocol used for multi-user text chat and Instant Messaging (IM). XMPP supports a large set of administrative and user features, valuable to military chat and IM users. As an open standard, XMPP is also extensible to allow for development of military-specific chat and IM requirements. XMPP protocol also provides significant extensibility to allow for greater command and control and other operational capabilities. This work demonstrates the use of XMPP to route XML-expressed Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS-XML) data to conduct distributed modeling and simulation. This work also demonstrates the use of XMPP as a generalized XML message-routing framework in conjunction with XML-expressed military data models, such as the Joint Consultation Command and Control Information Exchange Data Model. Also presented in this thesis is an XML document based chat data logger, designed to support persistent operations using distributed chat architecture. Experiments conducted with Navy Exercise Trident Warrior 2006 demonstrate the value of such a framework, as well as the value of XML document-based chat data logging. Results indicate that implementation and extension of XMPP has significant value for enhancing command and control. These features, along with the benefits of the adoption of open standard solutions, make XMPP an essential technology for adoption in today's operational command and control suites.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA456926

Entities

People

  • Adrian D. Arnold

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Antisubmarine Warfare
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Computer Access Control
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Electronic Messaging
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Systems
  • Military Applications
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Network Science
  • Operating Systems
  • Situational Awareness
  • Text Messaging

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

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