A New Approach for More Efficiently Allocating Bandwidth in Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Environments

SFA, Inc. proposes to perform innovative research into developing a software-based Resource Manager (RM) that will transform Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) technology by allowing bandwidth to be both manually and dynamically reallocated. The RM willenable operators to quickly and easily reconfigure TDM circuit allocations to optimize ships' communications needs and will also automate and simplify the process of TDM circuit establishment and bandwidth allocation. The RM will ensure a more efficientuse of the existing TDM infrastructure by providing a consistent and automated system and an intuitive, point-and-click Graphical User Interface (GUI) for operators to use to manage ship-to-shore TDM communication circuits. The primary benefit of thisproposal is that it will assist the Navy in recovering underutilized bandwidth on deployed ships. Because adding bandwidth is not always fiscally or physically possible, this approach will help leverage current infrastructure and technology investments inpreparation for future Network Centric Warfare (NCW) operations. This solution could benefit other Department of Defense (DoD) organizations by helping them improve their tactical TDM-based network infrastructures and could also benefit commercialtelecommunications providers, all of which have infrastructures based on TDM signaling technology. The anticipated benefits of SFA's proposed research into developing a software-based Resource Manager (RM) for reallocating bandwidth over Time DivisionMultiplexing (TDM) circuits are as follows. First, it will enable the Navy to recapture underutilized bandwidth on its ships to meet current communications requirements as well as the ever-increasing communication needs of Network Centric Warfare (NCW)operations. Second, it will deliver dynamic bandwidth management capabilities to enable FORCEnet, which is one of SPAWAR's foremost priorities. Third, it will enable operators to quickly and easily reconfigure TDM circuit allocations to optimize theships' communications needs. Fourth, it will add Statistical Multiplexing (SM)-like networking capabilities to the existing TDM infrastructure in order to better leverage the capabilities of that infrastructure. In addition to the Navy, this softwarearchitecture could also benefit other Department of Defense (DoD) organizations and help commercial telecommunications providers improve their TDM-based network infrastructures.