Content and Information Flow Modeling Toolkit

This proposed program seeks to develop, demonstrate, and commercialize a versatile new computer modeling approach for simulating and assessing the operation state of the information space in information networks. Currently there is a lack of tools for assessing the administration and operation of information networks at a component level (i.e. the interaction of the networks, computers, and software with data). The goal of this proposal is to solve this deficiency. The proposed modular model will quantity and visualize information network performance by: 1.) modeling each network component, 2.) simulating the digital passed between the network components and 3.) emulating data flow through the information system. The program will calculate the: 1.) Data Latency, 2.) Component Loading and 3.) Economic Cost for potential engineering designs; thereby providing system architects, managers, and operators with an urgently needed tool to better evaluate, visualize, and control information network traffic under various stresses. It will assess the effects of the stresses on the resultant quality of service provided by the network and will readily allow exploration of the effects of adding new clients and/or making network component changes via API compatible plug-ins.