Reliable Affordable Global Communications System for a Nuclear Proliferation Monitoring System ("RANCON")

The Reliable Affordable Global Comunications System for a Nuclear Proliferation Monitoring System (_"RANCON") can provide an effective and flexible means for communicating data from remote unattended sites or inspection teams through satellite data links to one or more analysis, monitoring and control centers. Total cost of such worldwide monitoring is minimized, subject to operational utility constraints, by: (i.) exploiting the minimum per bit transmission cost achieved by low earth orbit satellites supported by a network of gateways, (ii.) minimization of the number of bits transmitted through efficient source compression, (iii.) effective acknowledgement / re-transmission protocal overlaid on the link transmission protocal for messages requiring assured delivery, and (iv.) very low cost innovative terminal equipment capable of reliable unattended operation. The basic terminal, in a different physical package, can be interconnected to a laptop or palmtop computer to provide a battery-powered transportable communications capability for inspection teams anywhere on earth. The RANCON system also offers the opportunity to bypass local communications facilities for the global nuclear proliferation moni'tori,ng system, should such a feature be deemed operational. Anticipated Benefits/Potential Applications - Upon completion of a successful Phase II demonstration in 1995, the RANCON could be fielded immediately in support of the global nuclear proliferation monitoring system. The RANCON technology could be applied by the government to a wide variety of operations that would benefit from flexible, low cost data exchange via satellite, such as traffic monitoring, long range logistics support and environmental data collection. Commercial applications include two-way communication for casr accident reporting, animal tracking, etc.