Force Templates for Assimilating Unit Infospheres

This proposal will address the need for a flexible and agile approach to configuring and managing a JBI without placing excessive burdens on the operators. Phase I of this effort refined and developed the concept of using Force Templates as a mechanism for integrating units and their clients into an infosphere. Phase II will implement a first-generation capability based on these concepts. The prototype will provide a mechanism for easily implementing and controlling the flow of information based on the operational requirements and organizational structure of the user community. The management components within the JBI infrastructure will use this operational context as the basis for selecting from a set of user-submitted information management policies those that are applicable to each individual client. This will provide a mechanism that not only addresses the problem of getting the right information to the right person at the right time, but also the problem of preventing the wrong information from reaching the wrong person. The components implementing these functions will provide full flexibility in terms of operational domains. The software will be equally capable of managing infospheres supporting military, civilian, or private sector applications. A testbed will be provided in which the prototype software may be used to experiment with various operational procedures, thereby gaining insight into how a JBI might best be used in various situations.