Communication Network Saturation

JTIDS/MIDS is a high-speed, secure data and voice link with a TDMA architecure that allows multiple groups to use the link simultaneously with little or no interference. However, eventually the number of simultaneous nets operating in the same time/frequency range reaches a saturation point beyond which communication degrades. This project focuses on measuring this deradation in terms of real information loss, and on developing the tools to predict the level of degradation in varying scenarios. The impact of tactical geometry, message transmitting responsibilities, network architecture, mode of opeation, and error detection and correction (EDAC) will be considered. Mesures of information loss will be developed from information theoretic conetps and applied to determine saturation thresholds for simple scenarios. This Phase I work is designed to lead to successive phses, in which computer simulations will be built, saturation points will be determined, and the maximum number and separation of competing NPGs that can operate in the same region and still satisfy given communication requirements can be estimated.