Data Compression Techniques for Portable Computing Environments

The capability to transmit digitized reports to rear echelon forces during an ongoing battle is a critical command and control component. However, projections of the amount of digital traffic over transmissions links raise the distinct possibility that the demand for digital information tranmitted across the battlefield will outstrip channel capacity. Being able to reduce the quantity of traffic over these channels without inhibiting the flow of information is important to the Army. The most obvious approach to this problem is the use of data compression techniques. Current battlefield transmission of reports, textual data, and database updates uses little or no data compression. By applying state-of-the-art compression technology coupled with improved message transfer protocols, the Army will benefit by being able to transmit more information in less time across existing tactical links. Worked set forth in this proposal will identify suitable commercially available lossless data compression techniques and file/message transfer protocols for transition into existing Soldier System programs for use in portable computing environments.