ADVANCED FACILITIES TO EXPEDITE DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

THE TECHNICAL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH THE FEASILBILITY OF SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRONICS COMMAND (CECOM) FOR RAPID AND EFFECTIVE MODELING OF U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. THE METHOD WE PROPOSE FOR SATISFYING THESE REQUIREMENTS IS TO ADAPT A TOP-DOWN DESIGN SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS BEING DEVELOPED FOR THE U.S. NAVY TO MODEL-ING OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. THE GOALS OF PERFORMANCE MODELING FOR THE ARMY'S COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE GOALS OF MODELING FOR COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. PERFORMANCE MODELING OF COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH OPTIMALITY UNDER RATHER STABLE OPERATING CONDITIONS. MODELING OF MILITARY SYSTEMS IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH ADEQUACY UNDER DYNAMIC CONDITIONS. PERFORMANCE IN THE PRESENCE OF FAULTS AND PERFORMANCE WITH DEGRADED RESOURCES ARE OF PRIME IMPORTANCE. THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A DESIGN AND DESIGN EVALUATION SYSTEM WHICH MEETS THESE NEEDS IS AFFORDED BY THE CONFLUENCE OF SEVERAL TECHNOLOGIES. COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING BUILT FROM STANDARD COMPONENTS WHOSE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES ARE KNOWN. A REPERTOIRE OF TOOLS FOR EVALUTION OF MODELS OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IS APPEARING. GRAPHICAL PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A MEANS OF DIRECT SYNTHESIS OF EXECUTABLE REPRESENTATIONS OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AS SIMULATION MODELS.