Application of JINI Technology to Tactical Systems Integration

"The task of integrating Tactical subsystems with each otherbecomes a challenge when each subsystem uses a different approachto data exchange and management, and these subsystems mustcommunicate to each other to pass data. The challenge thatarises from this architecture is allowing the same seamlessexchange of data between subsystems as is present within eachsubsystem. This challenge becomes especially significant whenfaced with the need to perform technical insertions into thearchitecture, and technical refreshments as the system ages.Inter-subsystem data exchange must be adaptable and flexible topermit and flourish in a heterogeneous data exchange environment,with only a small level of effort required to merge a newsubsystem into the architecture. Developing individual programsto bridge between middleware standards is a single-point solutionto this problem, however. A more useful goal would be to createan architecture for systems to use to insure theirinteroperability, regardless of the middleware solution each hasbeen developed under. This architecture would also allow newsubsystems to be integrated into the architecture with littleeffort. Developing a prototype architecture for Submarinetactical systems is proposed under this Phase II effort.BENEFITS: Many promising technologies are researched under this Phase II program. Results can produce applications small as a voice-browser companion, to a Web-based instrumentation monit