An Innovative, Java-Based Tool Suite for Visual Failure Management in Large-Scale, Complex, High Assurance Systems

21st Century Systems, Inc. (2CSI, formed April 1996) proposes a tool suite which will combat architectural design errors in large-scale, high-assurance systems through systematic and intelligent simulation and modeling of alternate designs. The suite will feature a wide range failure analysis, identification, isolation, correction and management tools, and will make use of many innovative resource allocation heuristics, and cost and objective functions. The suite will facilitate failure management for collaborative, distributed system development and will incorporate a rich family of intelligent agents to assist in all human and automated functions. Finally, the suite will be entirely COTS-based (Java, VRML, browsers) and will run on common, inexpensive, Windows and Unix platforms. 21CSI builds tools for complex systems ineering and operation. The company has pioneered the use of both affordable visualization and intelligent agents in design and decision support tools. 21CSI has already delivered or is delivering innovative tools and technologies to AF Armstrong Lab, AF SMC and DARPA. 21CSI is engaged in a major joint licensing with Telelogic, an investigation of technology transition with Boeing, a transition to SMC¿s satellite management, and an investigation of a Navy-Air Force simulation and decision support system for Joint Forces Operations with the NRL. We fully expect OSD funds to leverage third-party support. For this project, a team with both a superb track record in systems, tools, visualization, failure analysis, and a solid knowledge of the sponsor¿s problem domain has been assembled. Under Phase I, 21CSI will deliver a report, a detailed design document and a prototype proof of concept. Then, 21CSI will transition and commercialize the technology under combined Phase II and third-party funding.