SBIR-STTR Award

Communications networks are evolving from predominant circuit switched technology to packet switched systems. This evolution is occurring for both data and voice for both military and commercial applications. The design and analysis of packet communications networks (PCN) for a tactical environment is difficult because of electronic counter measures (ECM), unit mobility, the need for rapid network reconfiguration, varying signal quality, and the loss of communications links because of physical attack or hardware failure. The main long term objective of this effort is to develop a computeraided analysis and design tool that can be used to evaluate the performance of PCN'S as a function of link availability, link quality, link capacity, network protocol, network routing, and flow control algorithms. In phase I of the proposed effort, we will define the requirements for a packet communications network synthesis and analysis system (PCNSAS), and identify the research issues that need to be addressed in phase II. Further, in phase I we will develop the framework for PCNSAS and implement a small segment of it to demonstrate its feasibility. The unique aspects of the routing problem will specifically be addressed in phase i. In phase II we will complete the research and fully develop PCNSAS.

Performance evaluation and vulnerability analysis are central issues in the design of military communication networks. It is extremely difficult to obtain analytical solutions to the problems of topological design, routing and management of tactical military communication networks except for some over-simplified cases. The difficulties arise due to the diverse media used, ecm, unit mobility and the loss of transmission links and nodes. Simulations can play an important role in the analysis and design of military as well as commercial communication networks. The main objective of the proposed R and D program is to develop a flexible, computationally efficient and user-friendly simulation package that can be used to analyze and design a variety of communication networks. Under a sbir phase I contract, ST*AR corporation has defined the requirements for a state-of-the-art network simulator, developed a prototype simulator and demonstrated the feasibility of simulation based net" work analysis and design, and identified several research problems. This phase II proposal is for completing the research, and developing and testing a full version of the system.