Bridging The Digital Divide With Net-Centric Tactical Services (NCTS)
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Deni ChanBridging The Digital Divide With Net-Centric Tactical Services (NCTS)
Uploaded by
Deni ChanBridging the Digital Divide with
Net-Centric Tactical Services (NCTS)
Agenda
Introduction & Background
Digital Divide Challenge
NCTS
Questions
Experience with Tactical Sensors & Systems
Integration
Sensors
Long Range Communications
Enterprise Systems and Global Networks
Laser range Finding Binoculars
PSC-5
C2 Systems
UAVs
PRC-117
Intelligence Systems
RFID Active and Passive Tags
Iridium
Logistics Systems
Environmental Sensors
InMarsat
Enterprise Portals
GPS
Globalstar
Chemical and Biological sensors
Barcode Scanners
Digital Cameras and Video Recorders
Unmanned Ground Sensors (UGS)
Mobile Computing Devices
Talla-Tech Ruggedized PDA (RPDA)
Inter-4 Devices
Commanders Digital Assistant (CDA)
Ruggedized Laptops and Toughbooks
Short Range Communications and
Local Networks
SINCGARS
PRC-148
802.11
Bluetooth
Ad Hoc Networks
Operational Context
NCTS Operational Context
Integration Challenge
The current DoD trend is moving towards Net-centric operations / Service Oriented Architectures
(SOAs) that are based on enabling technologies such as TCP/IP, XML and SOAP. This solution
is optimal for an enterprise or Global Information Grid (GIG) environment.
However this solution cripples disadvantaged devices operating over tactical radio networks at
the edge of the battlespace.
A solution is required that leverages the flexibility of the SOA environment without crippling
tactical radio networks.
Agenda
Introduction & Background
Digital Divide
NCTS
Questions
The Digital Divide: Enterprise vs. Tactical
Enterprise Environment
Provides strategic and operational planning
Unconstrained Bandwidth (>10Mbps)
Stable Communications Infrastructure
Need to pass large amounts of data in a timely manner
Need to discover and share data across disparate systems without developing new interfaces
Need for extensible, scaleable, and flexible standards to allow new systems to come on-line and integrate
easily
Works well for NCES enabling technologies (XML, HTTP, TCP/IP, SOAP, HAIPI, etc)
Tactical Environment
Provides operational execution
Constrained by low bandwidth (< 10 kbps)
Constrained by unstable, dynamic communications networks and connections
Tightly coupled to others defined on the tactical network, they have no way of getting information without
knowledge of what is out there
Only need the relevant data for their Area of Responsibility (AOR)
Have well defined information needs
Need to receive actionable information in a timely manner that has immediate relevancy
Impact of Net-Centric Technologies
Standard Technologies: include WSDL, SOAP/XML, HTTP, TCP/IP
Goal/Benefit: Provide discovery, reuse, understandability, and accessibility to
enhance coordination and collaboration of information
Cost: Require robust bandwidth to be effective
Impact for the Tactical User: Bandwidth availability on tactical communications
networks is too limited for a complete SOA implementation.
Example: SA Messages of Equal Value
OTH Gold w/XML
Wrapper
961 Bytes
Compressed OTH
Gold w/XML
Wrapper
575 Bytes
218 Bytes
OTH Gold
50 Bytes
VMF
10 Bytes
RBCI
200
400
600
800
575 Bytes
5050-Byte
VMF Msg
218218-Byte
OTH Gold Msg
961 Bytes
1000
OTH Gold w/ XML
Wrappers Compressed
OTH Gold w/ XML
Wrappers
Agenda
Introduction & Background
Digital Divide Challenge
NCTS
Questions
Solution
Net-Centric Tactical Services (NCTS): Develop a set of Tactical Services that act as a
gateway between the tactical network and a SOA Network.
Provide infrastructure services that extend the concepts of NCES and can be used for all
COI
Develop COI specific services
Standardize: Adopt enabling technologies and specifications as standards optimized for the
low-bandwidth tactical environment.
Example: Joint Variable Message Format (JVMF) as one standard messaging
specification in place of XML on the tactical network
Example: Sensor Data Link (SDL) as another standard data specification
Tactical Device
JVMF Message
NCTS
XML/SOAP
Tactical Radio Network
Web Services
SOA Network
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NCTS Capabilities
Provides a directory service of connected devices and sensors
Provides meta-data descriptions of available tactical data
Implements a message translation service
Utilizes Discovery Services to find available services
Implements SOAP and WSDL interface with enterprise consumers
Functions as a protocol gateway between the enterprise and tactical networks
11
NCTS Components Overview
Tactical Network Interface connects to low-bandwidth
tactical devices through tactical messaging formats &
communications protocols (e.g. JVMF, MIL-STD 188-220C).
Device Manager registers tactical devices and manages
connection states and metadata of devices; provides off-line
data queuing mechanism for tactical devices to ensure
information delivery.
Subscription Manager manages subscriptions of tactical
devices and enterprise systems.
Web Services Interface connects to high-bandwidth SOA
services/systems via XML, SOAP, and WSDL technologies;
allows enterprise systems to subscribe to tactical data.
Low Bandwidth Tactical Network
Mediation Engine - manages the overall information
mediation process including message translation.
NCTS
Administrative User Interface Components
Business Logic Components
Tactical Network
Interface
Mediation
Engine
Device
Manager
Subscription
Manager
Data Access & Service Components
Device
Registry
Tactical
Data Store
Disconnected
Message
Queue
Subscription
Registry
Web Service Interface
Discovery Services
Publishing Services
Subscription Services
Enterprise Services Network
Databases/Queues/Caches persists or caches data
between the tactical network and enterprise; stores
registered devices and subscriptions.
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Summary of NCTS Services
Tactical Interface Services
Device Registration Service allows tactical devices to register with NCTS
Report Publishing Service provides ability for tactical devices to publish reports
to the enterprise
Subscription Service provides mechanism for tactical devices to subscribe to
data on the enterprise
Disconnected Messaging persists data subscription results to support
disconnected communications situations
Enterprise Interface Services
Device Discovery Service allows discovery of tactical devices registered with
NCTS
Data Discovery Service allows enterprise to identify types of data available on
the tactical networks through NCTS
Subscription Service provides mechanism for enterprise to subscribe to data
on the tactical network
13
NCTS Benefits Summary
Translation between XML based network traffic (standard for the GIG), and
traditional DoD message formats (e.g. JVMF, SDL) to allow for the optimal balance
of bandwidth and flexibility on each side of the communication barrier
Message translation service that allows all messages and data assets received from
devices in binary formats to be translated into XML and published to the collateral
space through web services
A link to the Enterprise Core Services, such as the publishing and discovery
services, that would otherwise be unavailable to systems in the tactical environment
due to bandwidth constraints
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Agenda
Introduction & Background
Digital Divide Challenge
NCTS
Questions
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