Configuration and Parts Control Software for Dispersed Systems

CEC configuration and parts control requires automated data collection, transmission, and validation. Maintenance and logistics coordinators must be able to access current and correct data for any of 610 geographically dispersed test sites (many of which our mobile). This research will develop software with the capability to store, retrieve, report, and transmit parts and configuration data over intermittently available communication links. The user interface will accommodate personnel at a variety of skill levels and ensure that authenticated and current data are entered. The Task 1 ef fort will result in a complete and partially validated set of requirements. The task 2 effort will complete the requirements validation and identify the COTS tools. The task 3 effort will validate the selection of COTS tools for the messaging infrastructure, that portion of the development entailing the greatest risk. This work will set the stage for the full implementation in Phase II. Major innovations in our approach are (1) establishment of a project WWW home page to facilitate communication and feedback on requirements and (2) a messaging infrastructure to handle parts and configuration data updates when workstations can not be continuously connected to a central site.