CIRRUS: Secure Cloud Computing Environment for Infrared (IR) Data

ABSTRACT: CIRRUS is an innovative marriage of cloud computing and state-of-the-art compression methods to satisfy the AF131-047 objective, to"Develop a cloud computing architecture that can transport infrared data securely and in compliance with DoD standards."The user can designate image areas of interest or let CIRRUS processes automatically select areas of"detectability."In either case, the cloud optimizes performance (compression ratio and compression/dissemination speed) automatically. Cloud elements intelligently partition the image into compressible"parts"and distribute them among multiple, proven, and established (COTS) lossy and lossless compression applications to accomplish optimal, combined lossy and lossless compression and speed performance. These"parts"are not merely spatial"chips"of the original image, but artfully-constructed image components across several image dimensions, designed to optimize compression performance through the cloud. At the warfighter"s terminal, applications from the cloud decompress the image"parts"and re-assemble them into a usable image. Cloud flexibility allows moving the algorithms among platforms to optimize performance based on different platforms"capabilities. In Phase I we will design and implement a cloud architecture feasibility test setup on representative servers, test it, quantitatively evaluate feasibility, and prepare a commercialization plan and preliminary design for Phase II. BENEFIT: CIRRUS solves the topic"s IR compression and standards/security compliance problem with cost-effective, proven technologies. It is applicable to similar needs across myriad government agencies. CIRRUS can be commercialized as an interactive information management system and as stand-alone compression applications. There are significant commercial applications in many industries including interactive healthcare, entertainment, and telecommunications, and a general explosion in cloud computing market growth to which CIRRUS applies.