Adaptive and Integrated Multicast for the Airborne Networks (AIM-AN)

ABSTRACT: The Air Force has identified the need for a technological capability to provide secure, dynamic and efficient multicast services over crypto-partitioned heterogeneous tactical networks, to ensure efficient use of bandwidth-constrained airborne networks. During Phase I of this SBIR, Architecture Technology Corporation (ATC) defined an innovative technology called Adaptive and Integrated Multicast for the Airborne Networks (AIM-AN) that will meet this need. The AIM-AN technology includes a hybrid multicast routing scheme that dynamically adapts to changes in the black MANET for optimized usage of the network resources, and an HAIPE-compliant multicast integration scheme that enables secure, efficient and seamless multicast across the red-black boundaries. A practical and easily deployable solution for supporting tactical multicast operations, the software-only technology will operate within the existing network infrastructure, including COTS routers and HAIPE devices. Based on the confirmed feasibility, ATC will implement a full prototype of AIM-AN during the proposed Phase II effort to transition the technology to the field to enable secure and efficient multicast in airborne networks. BENEFIT: This research will yield a software-based solution to secure and efficient multicast in crypto-partitioned heterogeneous wired and wireless networks. Potential customers of the commercial product from this research include the military, the homeland defense and the commercial enterprises. For the military, this technology will facilitate effective and timely dissemination of ISR and C2 video, voice, etc., among tactical edge users as well as implementation of other net-centric services. For the homeland defense, this technology will be very useful in emergency response communications, which tend to have the characteristics of mobile ad hoc networks and high security requirements. In the private sector, AIM-AN will enable the development of applications that support secure group collaboration employing IP-based communication in a mixed wired and wireless environment.