Syed Shah

Crucial Differences between Commercial and Military Communications Technology Needs: Why the Military Still Needs Its Own Research

Military establishments constitute a relatively much smaller part of the wireless communications market than they once did, and the commercial sector is now a primary driver of communications technology development. However, there are crucial differences between military and commercial communications needs, especially at the tactical edge. First, commercial wireless services depend on a well-maintained and reliable infrastructure, whereas military operations may require communications between mobile platforms and command posts in areas without such an infrastructure. Second, military communications tend to involve multihop networks, and the theoretical foundations of such networks are not as well established as those involving single pairwise links. Third, military communications can involve multiple heterogeneous networks operating in the same area. While commercial networks can also be heterogeneous, commercial systems do not need to deal with the same extent of temporal and spatial variability. Connecting across heterogeneous networks in a dynamic environment remains a significant challenge. Fourth, military systems must also deal with highly complex and contested electromagnetic environments. They must confront adversarial action such as jamming and electronic warfare, as well as the benign complexity arising from the proliferation of computers, sensors, and radios. They must deal with low and intermittent bandwidth. They must also contend with the continuing loss of spectrum previously dedicated to military use. If we combine all these factors with the more commonly observed ones such as the need for ruggedness, security, and stealth, we see that much research and development, unlikely to be undertaken by the commercial sector, is still needed in the area of military communications. While military establishments can and do make use of commercial technology, they will continue to require purpose-driven research and development.

Systems engineering and performance evaluation for the Defense Information Systems Network

This paper presents systems engineering and performance analysis and evaluation concepts for planning, designing, operating, and managing the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN). The DISN uses Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) high-speed communications services to support a wide class of applications that require high-speed networking and will provide multi-media conferencing, distributed simulation, and training. DISN, via an ATM-based wide area network, will accommodate a wide variety of traffic types, each requiring proper traffic management and congestion control mechanisms. By doing so, new value-added communications services will be offered for the Department of Defense. This paper addresses key aspects of the multimedia services that the DISN will provide and discusses technical issues concerning the quality-of-service. Traffic modeling and characterization of the DISN, capacity management and sizing, and allocation of network resources in response to requirements are studied. The performance analysis, monitoring, and operational effectiveness are also described.<<ETX>>

AI-based network management for the Defense Switched Network

The development, features, and preliminary test results of artificial intelligence (AI) based network management support systems for the Defense Switched Network (DSN) are described. These systems use neural network and expert system technology packaged into workstations, each providing a user-friendly interface and graphical displays. The systems are designed to diagnose anomalies and network stress conditions based on real-time network traffic and switch status reports and recommend appropriate network controls to the DSN controller.<<ETX>>

The Role of New Technologies in Solving the Spectrum Shortage [Point of View]

Communications spectrum—that is, the set of electromagnetic frequencies suitable for communications and radar—is a precious resource. Like oil,it is limited and has a far-reaching impact on economic activity and national security. However, unlike oil, it cannot be stored for later use, and it cannot be exported, although it can be reused. Depending on the licensing regime, spectrum can have the characteristics of a private good or a common good. Spectrum can also be locally traded, and it can, by application of scientific creativity, be made more productive. Much research needs to be done in order to achieve the fullest possible productivity.

GIG/DISN Quality of Service and Service Level Agreement Management for Integrated Global Wireless Tactical Services Provider Network

As the defense information systems network (DISN) transitions to a native-IP network supporting converged unclassified and secret data, voice, and video on the global information grid (GIG) backbone, an extensive quality of service (QoS) architecture will be required to effectively support real-time and mission critical traffic. Service level agreements (SLAs), which define the negotiated and contracted service between the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and its customers, will rely on QoS policy implementations to ensure contracted service levels can be satisfied. Effectively managing SLAs can be challenging in fixed, wireline environments given the dynamic nature of packet-based traffic and varying mission priorities and requirements of the DoD. Extending these services into wireless tactical environments with mobile users and varying wireless link conditions and network topologies introduces additional complexity. With the emergence of standards-based commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies including 802.16, 802.20, and other OFDM-based technologies, broadband wireless networks may soon provide a last-mile tactical extension of the DISN/GIG. Supporting real-time and mission critical services across these wireless networks involves traditional IP QoS mechanisms as well as additional link layer QoS mechanisms to dynamically and intelligently allocate RF spectrum among multiple users. To provide a more seamless extension of the DISN/GIG, these wireless networks must be capable of maintaining QoS and SLAs that adhere to the GIGs end-to-end QoS policy. This paper addresses the following topics: the deployment of a GIG end-to-end QoS policy that meets the needs of the disadvantaged tactical warfighter; the challenge of deploying and managing a consistent end-to-end QoS policy when using network hardware with differing QoS capabilities; and the evaluation of QoS and SLAs management, and policy-based QoS

Advanced commercial-off-the-shelf technology for joint task force DISN deployed multimedia communications (JDDMC)

The current tactical communications requirement, in terms of increased bandwidth and more communications functionality, is forcing the tactical communications community to search for near-term technological improvements. These technology improvements, using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and/or government-off-the-shelf products, is part of a long term Department of Defense cost reduction strategy for modernizing currently fielded tactical systems. The goal is to acquire commercially based C4I systems that can be expeditiously deployed to warfighting elements. This broad strategy allows DOD services and agencies to deploy current, standards based, commercial technologies with a minimum of up-front development effort and associated costs. During JWID, high speed digital services were extended beyond the traditional DISN boundary in support of forward deployed JTF using the state-of-the-art commercial switching equipment. The COTS products used in this demonstration served as a proof of concept for using commercial technologies for tactical multimedia applications. The network consisted of four mobile switching nodes forming a meshed backbone linking demonstration sites at MacDill AFB, Ft. Bragg, Ft. Gordon, and Shaw AFB. The enabling technologies are ATM cell switching, ISDN telephony, and transparent ATM support for legacy IP router networks. ATM switches interfaced with three types of ISDN PABXs. The PABXs in turn interoperated with a wide range of voice terminals (analog, tactical, digital, ISDN, STU-III), computer terminals, and ISDN desktop products.

Mission success: Assured communications and agile organizations

Success in complex missions, whether in the civilian, military, or mixed sectors, depends on agile organizations adapting their enterprise approaches to suit the purposes and circumstances at hand, and being able and willing to communicate necessary information. Case studies of complex endeavors in theaters including warfare, terrorism, and response to natural disasters have shown that communication failures are a very significant cause of adverse consequences, often including overall mission failure. Communication failures can be behavioral ones, exacerbated by inappropriate organizational choices. They can also arise from shortfalls in system design and technology. Enterprise approaches that are decentralized and network-enabled to varying degrees have differing propensities to communicate necessary information in diverse circumstances. They also have a complex and varying interplay with the enterprises information and communications technology, and varying resilience to communications disruption. While more agile organizations can make up for communications shortfalls to an extent, there is no substituted for assured communications capabilities. In this connection, the ability to communicate relatively small amounts of information reliably can be much more important than the ability to transmit large multimedia files with high throughput. Important facets of assured communications systems include agility with respect to channel and spectrum, protection from attack and tampering, resilience in the face of disruptions, and interoperability. In some cases the goals can be achieved with appropriate policy, and in others with new technology development.

DISN advanced wireless mobile services (DAWMS) in global net-centric environment for the warfighter

The defense information system network (DISN) in the global information grid (GIG) is the premier DoD global information transport backbone network. It consists of NIPRNET, SIPRNET, DSN, and DRSN, which are the major networks to provide long haul imagery, voice, video, and data transport networking services. The terrestrial-based DISN has been working with teleport and global broadcast services (GBS) to deliver classified and unclassified video, imagery, and other information products in support of e-collaboration among DISN, teleport, and GBS worldwide joint military operations. This has greatly enhanced the mobility theater-deployed warfighters and significantly contributed to the successful execution of various contingency operations. Despite these advances, important challenges remain to extend DISN broadband communications capabilities and real-time IP-based services to the disadvantaged deployed mobile end users who are on the forefront in very constrained environment. The proposed architecture framework presented in this paper, bridges the communication capacity gaps and provides critical transport capabilities that will transform future battlefield communications. A comprehensive test and assessment effort is underway to ensure the seamless, end-to-end integration of wireless services with the GIG assets for delivering C4ISR information to the edge. When deployed, the WSDN will be able to extend DISN services to fixed and/or mobile installations in theater. It will provide additional interoperable capability to joint tactical radio system (JTRS) and enhanced mobility for the warfighter information network-tactical (WIN-T) users

DISN global mobile broadband wireless networking services

This paper presents and discusses the Defense Information Service Network (DISN) global mobile wireless networking architecture to extend the range of broadband services to mobile users available to fixed users. The roaming and mobile users will have to operate across a wide range of network performance, and choosing among alternative media and overlays for best performance. Diverse wireless and wired networks are integrated through software that mediates between the mobile terminal and the networks it could possibly connect to, supporting the mobile users as it roams among the multiple networks. The overall objective of the paper is to introduce and resolve technical issues and problems in the development of a mobile and wireless DISN network services, and answer some of the questions on the implementation of the new services and systems.