SBIR-STTR Award

The concept, design, and instantiation of a Next Generation Integrated Communication System represents a clear opportunity for the DoD and Navy to leverage and intelligently apply advances in communication methodologies and communication endpoint technologies, future Navy shipboard Open Architecture (OA) processing and network infrastructures, and the services-oriented architectural model. Objective research, investigation, and review of these technologies individually, and the specification of a broadly integrated services-oriented ICS presents an excellent opportunity to address key Navy Next Generation ICS and platform objectives: Advanced concepts of operation Adoption of a Flexible and Open Architecture framework for ICS Improved communication information assurance & security capabilities Enhanced Mission Effectiveness and Total Ship Management Reduce Total Ownership Cost (TOC) Rite-Solutions direct experience with OA systems, reliable and robust commercial communication and transaction systems, future DoD/Navy shipboard architectures, and our related experience in Human System Integration (HSI) and Information Assurance (IA) domains provides a unique and innovative approach to next generation ICS issues and opportunities.

Benefit:
This work will provide a technology roadmap and OA prototype for a highly integrated next generation submarine interior communication system. Operational benefits include a robust, highly-reliable, flexible, and extensible interior communication system that effectively supports mission-focused CONOPS and total ship management capabilities. Implementation of the technology road map will also result in significant TOC reduction due to the OA foundation, opportunities for reduced manning, and cost savings attributable to processing and network infrastructure consolidations. In addition to VA and Ohio Replacement submarine and LPD surface ship markets, this work can lead to significant commercialization opportunities in the merchant marine, cruise ship lines, and assisted living/healthcare market areas.

Keywords:
total ownership cost, total ownership cost, Information Assurance, Service Oriented Architecture, encryption, Biometrics, Open Architecture, CANES, Interior Communication

Rite-Solutions proposes continued development of a new generation of Interior Communications System (ICS-Next) to reduce Total Ownership Costs (TOC) by lowering acquisition, installation, and maintenance cost while moving shipboard communications functionality into the 21st century. To accomplish these goals, this proposal describes how the ICS-Next network, announcing, and information assurance architectures will be developed and documented. The proposal also describes how a prototype ICS-Next would be constructed with these architectures using commercial components. The proposal also describes how this prototype would then be used to confirm the ability of ICS-Next to meet all of the fundamental communication requirements in addition to demonstrating a number of new communications capabilities and services.

Benefit:
The proposed next generation Interior Communications System (ICS-Next) will provide a well-integrated, reliable, resilient, and robust communications system for tactical and non-tactical Submarine or other NAVY ship operations that can serve as the core of an integrated Internal Command and Control system. The ICS-Next will have a networked fabric and Open Architecture (OA) services-oriented foundation that will simplify system maintenance and facilitate rapid incorporation of new capabilities in response to new user requirements. The ICS-Next system will provide the opportunity to materially improve the conduct of submarine tactical and non-tactical operations while increasing reliability and reducing Total Ownership Cost. The ICS Next system has application to a wide variety of commercial applications.

Keywords:
Submarine, Use Case Analysis, Integrated Internal Command and Control, digital, Navy Ship, Interior Communications, Service Oriented Architecture, Wireless Communications