Study On Networking Process Technologies For Tactical Data Link

Tactical Data Link (TDL) is a digital communication system used in the militaryfield, which is designed, planned and configured for specific tactical operations. Thereis, therefore, a need for network design, resource allocation and parameter configurationto be carried out before deployment. It is achieved through a TDL “NetworkingProcess”, which is the process of forming the fittest TDL network program loaded toTDL terminals based on specific operational requirements while initialization..Networking process directly depends on the current operation mission, combat units andenvironment. Only by so doing will it be possible to maintain the interoperability ofintended TDL participants in war, to meet the actual operational needs, and ultimately tosupport the planned tactical operations.The definition of TDL networking process is given. Further, it is divided into threeparts, including network design, network planning and network evaluation. Also theconceptual modeling for TDL information exchange requirements (IER), the predictionof network resource allocation, the designation of network roles, the uniformassignment of network resource and the network simulation technologies are studied.This study can provide theoretical approaches and technologies for TDL operations,TDL efficiency, and TDL equipment development.The main works are as following.(1) The significance and necessity of TDL networking process are illustrated andthe definition is given. Through the analysis of TDL networking process the frameworkis proposed. Moreover it can be divided into three parts, namely, network design,network planning and network evaluation. Furthermore the relationship among them isidentified, the content is classified and the networking process technologies are pointedout.(2) The main content of TDL network design is analyzed. It is defined as theprocess of specifying the information exchange or communication requirements insupport of planned tactical operations, selecting a variety of network functions tosupport various operations, and then allocating network resources according their needs.A conceptual modeling methodology for TDL IER is presented. Firstly the basictheory and method of CMMS (Conceptual Models of the Mission Space) and EATI(Entity-Action-Task-Interaction) template are studied. And the operation task isdisaggregated by the UJTL (Universal Joint Task List). Then the IER is obtainedthrough the mapping rules. After that the conceptual model is build and descripted withUML. Finally an application case is given.A prediction methodology of network resource allocation is presented. Based onoperation requirements, the analyses of the relationship between timeslot number and message response time, transmission rate or collision ratio are proposed. Respectively,the allocation timeslot number prediction methods are given. Then simulation tests areare carried out to demonstrate these methods. The results show that they can not onlymeet the operational needs, but also utilize network resources effectively.(3) The main content of TDL network planning is analyzed. It is defined as theprocess of designating the network roles, assigning network resources to each unit,together with other planning details which will enable all participants to operate in thenetwork in a coordinated manner.A designation methology of TDL network roles is presented. Firstly the networkroles in TDL are introduced. Then relay technical characteristics in TDL are analyzed.And the weight of relay candidates is defined and calculated. By selecting the relynodes through their weights, it can reduce the flooding overhead, meet operational needto the best extend and optimize the number of relay nodes. The simulation results showthat it is a fast method for distributed computing. It can not only ensure the networkconnectivity, but also form a relay node set with great weight and less number.Consequently, it can be well applied to assign the relay role in TDL.A uniform assignment methodology of network resource is presented. Firstlyproblem of timeslot allocation with minimum jitter is described. Further it istransformed to the problem of seeking the shortest ring with determinate number ofedges in the grath. In this way the minimum jitter can be achieved. The simulationresults show that this method can ensures that the interval of adjacent timeslot allocatedis uniform.(4) In order to ensure the network program can achieve the desired effectiveness inthe battlefield, the simulation test should be carried out according to the specific tacticaloperation. A framework of TDL network simulation is introduced. And a TDL protocolarchitecuture model is designed. Respectively the simulation model is build and thesimulation process is given. A case is studied to validate the above networking processtechnologies.