Context Aware Routing and Management Architecture (CARMA) for Airborne Networks

ABSTRACT: In this SBIR effort we propose integration of the complementary and symbiotic concepts and tools at UtopiaCompression Corporation and Air Force Institute of Technology into a Context Aware Routing and Management Architecture (CARMA). Our specific end of phase II deliverables will include a Context Aware Routing Protocol (CARP) that achieves superior performance compared to baseline MANET routing protocols by utilizing contextual information such node mobility data, information exchange requirements, node and radio characteristics, and environmental context. Our other major deliverable under the CARMA program will be Context Aware Network Management (CANM). CANM will have at its core a distributed agent based framework for collecting management information and taking policy based actions at various levels. Joint mission and network planning will include a Monte-Carlo simulation engine. The Monte-Carlo simulations will capture various"what if"mobility and flow scenarios which are generated using mission planning output and the information exchange requirement documents. BENEFIT: UC"s CARMA technology will greatly benefit the Air Force by providing dynamic networking among MANET and terrestrial domains. This problem has been particularly challenging, given that each domain may use a different routing protocol and different routing metrics some of which are additionally dynamic. Network management and routing technology, such as that proposed by UC, will enable improved situational awareness to incident commanders and other relevant actors by allowing free flowing of information and intelligence such as navigational data, targets, and strike results among both manned and unmanned aircraft within both MANET and terrestrial domains. Consequently, the proposed technology will greatly increase the effectiveness of incident control and strike efforts, including improved time-to-response margins and accuracy by increasing the distribution and delivery of pertinent mission information and enable a seamless tactical network environment. CARMA technology once matures could be potentially inserted into the Net-Enabled Command Capability (NECC). NECC is the DoD"s new principal command and control program, providing command and control capabilities to support the National Military Command Center, Joint Force Commanders, and Service/Functional Components as well as unit-level commanders. The Air Force Objective Gateway program is no longer active but its prototype is fielded. Battlefield Airborne Communication Node (BACN) was the Objective Gateway Prototype. BACN is a rapid acquisition program that provides air-to-air and air-to-ground voice relaying and bridging, 802.11 Wi-Fi interconnections between ground users, and relaying bridging and translation between tactical data links. BACN is the Air Force"s primary Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON). The JUON involves the transition of BACN from a BD-7000 aircraft to a RQ-4 Global Hawk for operation at higher altitudes, extended mission duration and additional communications capability including Link 16, INMARSAT and Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). Currently BACNs are deployed as isolated nodes with no BACN-to-BACN networking. However, it is envisioned that the BACN concept will evolve to a multinode network capability. A BACN network might be used, for example, to relay data from an NTISR source within an anti-access region, through the contested region and ultimately to a distant GIG ground entry point in the permissive region. A network of BACN nodes will require routing and topology management of its interconnecting radio links. It is anticipated that Joint Aerial Layer Network (JALN) Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) and the upcoming Analysis Of Alternatives (AoA) will lead to an Airborne Network Acquisition program which will be ideal for CARMA transition. Air Force"s Joint Information Communications Office (JICO) is responsible for the management of the tactical data link networks (Link-16, Link-11, Link-22) and their integration with new and upcoming JTRS IP waveforms. The tactical data links will form an irreplaceable part of the tactical communications fabric due to their ubiquitous deployment on United States and Allied platforms. Northrop Grumman Corporation"s spectrum technology center in San Diego has a prime contract from the Air Force aimed at JICO Support System (JSS). UC has been in contact with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) about possible integration of its work on Airborne Networking with JSS. The CARMA network management enhancements proposed under this SBIR can be very applicable to JSS. UC will expand its ongoing collaboration with NGC to include the proposed enhancements. Other agencies Army: US Army"s Tactical Information Technology for Advanced Networks (TITAN) Advanced Technology Objective (ATO) is aimed at developing maturing and demonstrating secure network planning and management of the tactical network to enable real time situational awareness (SA) and relevant strategic and tactical battlefield information sharing. UC team is currently working on an Army Phase I SBIR program on automated fault and healing management in tactical networks, refer Section 6 on Related Work. Under this program UC team is working closely with Telcordia Technologies. Telcordia and UC have established contacts with General Dynamics, the prime contractors on WIN-T program. WIN-T is the Army"s on-the-move, high-speed, high-capacity backbone communications network, linking warfighters on the ground with commanders and the Global Information Grid (GIG), the U.S. Dept. of Defense"s worldwide network-centric information system. Army"s program could be potential transition targets upon maturation of the proposed network manager enhancements. Navy: UC"s tools will enhance a variety of military programs including the Joint WNW Network Manager (JWNM), JTRS Enterprise Network Manager (JENM), the JTRS software environment, and Joint Aerial Layer Network (JALN), the Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCT-M), the Tactical Data Link, the Common Data Link, the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Cluster, the Ground Mobile Radio (GMR), and HMS Manpack Radio initiatives. Commercial Applications: The commercial potential for the proposed technology is significant and slated to grow substantially throughout the next several years. The military avionics market alone is slated to grow approximately 2.9% annually, according to market research analysts, Frost and Sullivan. This is expected to account for more than $10.9 billion in expenditures, more than half of which will be devoted to upgrades related to transitioning the vehicles into information platforms. There is also a substantial need for UC"s proposed technology in the broader commercial market. Not only does the Air Force have a current need for the technology, shared by other military and intelligence divisions within the government, the technology proposed by UC also enables critical communication capabilities needed by agencies such as the FAA, NASA and others to meet their missions. Fitch Ratings projects strong commercial aerospace growth through FY2008, driven largely by fleet equipment and technology upgrades and expansions. A boom in civil aviation communications and automation spending is expected by the end of this decade, creating an attractive market opportunity for the proposed technology. An additional exciting potential market for UC"s technology is the commercial broadband internet market. UC"s CARMA technology would be a key enabler to efficient and effective airborne internet system deployment. Airborne internet is expected to function much like satellite-based internet access, but without the time delay and for a lower deployment cost. The bandwidth of satellite and airborne internet access are typically the same, but airborne internet relays of data take less time because its altitude is less. [HSW] Given that the airborne internet architecture removes the last-mile problem posed by most current broadband architectures, dependent as they are on the physical proximity of land-based data lines, UC is highly optimistic that the market interest and opportunities will grow significantly in the future, particularly in wireless metropolitan networks.