ROME LABORATORY'S DRAFT FY98 SBIR TOPICS PART 2 OF 6. ROME LABORATORY'S DRAFT FY 98 SBIR TOPICS. ROME LABORATORY IS PLEASED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING DRAFT SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATIVE RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM TOPICS. THESE TOPICS ARE NOT APPROVED AS YET AND ALL MAY NOT APPEAR IN THE FINAL SOLICITATION: SBIR TOPIC #AF98-113. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Peter J. Radesi, RL/C3BA. (315) 330-1466. TITLE: Selective Retransmission Application Layer Protocol. CATEGORY: Applied Technology. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Develop an application layer protocol that will selectively retransmit corrupted data packets. DESCRIPTION: The expanded use of data communications in the military requires the interconnection of data networks over satellite links. The defense community's standard transport protocol, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), does not perform well over satellite links with large delay bandwidth products. Standard commercial protocol stacks generally support both TCP and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). A need exists for an application layer protocol using UDP (which would require users to install an additional application on their existing computers). This application layer protocol would use UDP to establish one-way connections between computers transferring information. The application layer protocol would use the UDP connections to transfer the information efficiently, regardless of delay or link bit error rate, since only corrupted data packets would be retransmitted (unlike TCP where all the packets in the sliding window are retransmitted). PHASE I: The contractor shall design an application layer protocol and identify the protocol's interaction with standard networking protocols, UDP/IP (User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol). The contractor shall also perform analyses comparing satellite resource use when the selective retransmission application layer protocol is in use and TCP is in use. PHASE II: The contractor shall write software that operates on a personal computer and interacts with a standard commercial UDP/IP stack. The contractor shall perform system tests (with Air Force assistance) over at least two military satellite systems, Milstar and one transponded system such as DSCS. The tests shall confirm that the selective retransmission application layer protocol is more efficient than TCP and the results correlate well with the analyses performed in Phase I. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Commercial satellite communications providers are entering the computing market and also investigating the problem of efficient use of satellite resources for network connectivity using standard networking protocols. The development of a new application layer protocol providing selective retransmission of corrupted packets would allow the continued use of the installed network infrastructure. KEYWORDS: Data Communications, Interconnection, Satellite Links, Data Networks, Data Packets, Layer Protocol, Control Protocol, Retransmission, Application Layer. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-114. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: John J. Patti, RL/C3BB (315) 330-3615. TITLE: Application of Nonlinear Dynamics to Specific Problems in Space Communications. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Apply the methods of nonlinear dynamics to specific problems in space communications. DESCRIPTION: The emerging science of nonlinear dynamics offers many opportunities to address space communications problems in novel ways. Two such examples are: 1) The ability to synchronize identical chaotic systems suggests a new approach to the implementation of secure communication channels. The fact that two chaotic attractors must be nearly identical in order for synchronization to take place suggests that immunity to unauthorized interception is possible with these methods. 2) It has been shown that controlled chaos can be used for digital signaling. With this method, the state space in which the chaotic attractor resides is partitioned into subspaces, each of which represents a given symbol. The transmitting system is then comprised of a chaotic oscillator in which the trajectory can be directed from one space to another under the direction of the input modulating signal. PHASE I: Investigate the key issues and perform tradeoffs to determine the applicability of the use of non-linear dynamics to secure digitally processed satellite communication channels. Provide basic feasibility demonstration of applying non-linear dynamic technology to digital transmission/reception. PHASE II: Design/construct a prototype system and perform sufficient tests/evaluations to prove the feasibility of such a system. Among other issues, the prototype system shall demonstrate capability to handle density and non-volatility requirements, time delays, and robustness of military satellite communication. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The systems developed under this project will be useful for numerous civilian programs. Both law enforcement and the commercial banking industry are likely users of this technology. KEYWORDS: Space Communications, Nonlinear Dynamics, Secure, Chaotic Systems, Chaotic Attractors, Controlled Chaos, Digital Signaling, Chaotic Oscillator. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-115. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Richard N. Smith, RL/C3BA (315) 330-7436. TITLE: On-the-Fly, Lossless Data Compression. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Implement a lossless data compression system for use with satellite systems. DESCRIPTION: The military is expanding its use of computers and the data networks supporting communications between the computers are also expanding. Local area networks (LANs) are being interconnected to form wide area networks (WANs) using satellite systems. The data rates on these WAN links are generally far less than required to support the timely transfer of perishable data. The data subsystem does not have sufficient time to format and file the perishable data for compression processing. Two alternatives for increasing transfer rates are: 1) increased use of satellite resources, and 2) on-the-fly data compression within the data network. The challenge for the innovator is to develop an inexpensive, lossless hardware or hardware/software compression system that will not adversely affect either the current Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networking protocols or future Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocols. PHASE I: The contractor shall produce/demonstrate a conceptual design of one or more compression systems and identify the system's effects on networking protocols. The contractor shall also identify interface requirements between satellite systems and cryptographic equipment. PHASE II: The contractor shall develop a working prototype of the system as a proof-of-concept device. In addition, the contractor shall perform system tests (with Air Force assistance) over at least two military satellite systems, Milstar and one transponded system such as DSCS. The tests shall demonstrate that the compression system increases information throughput over satellite links without adversely affecting standard networking protocols. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Commercial satellite communications providers are entering the computing market and are investigating the problem of lossless data compression for network connectivity. A lossless data compression system would be very useful in circuit switched networks where bandwidth limitations also exist. KEYWORDS: Satellite Communications, Data Compression System, Lossless, On-the-Fly, Data Rates, Data Network, Networking Protocols, Perishable Data. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-116. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Donald J. Nicholson, RL/C3BA (315) 330-7437. TITLE: Security and Robustness Enhancement Techniques for Commercial Satellite Communication Systems. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07.SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Develop and assess performance of security and robustness enhancement techniques for emerging commercial satellite communications systems. DESCRIPTION: The U. S. Government is seriously considering the use of commercial assets to help meet its rapidly growing military satellite communication systems requirements. In particular, the Government hopes to take advantage of the expected explosive growth in Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) during the next decade. These systems may be able to provide services critical to the future warfighter. However, military communication systems generally require a level of security and robustness that are not considered in a commercial system. Specifically, military systems generally require protection against signal interception and exploitation, jamming and deception, and user geolocation. Hence military systems employ such techniques as authentication and encryption, spread spectrum waveforms, and interference rejecting antennas and filters. Systems such as Milstar are extremely secure and robust. In similar fashion, commercial systems must deal with unintentional or self jamming andmust provide mitigation against other link degrading phenomena such as multipath fading. As a result, these systems also have some degree of inherent robustness. For example, code division multiple access (CDMA), which will be used by several systems, provides some degree of interference protection. User authentication, necessary to keep non-subscribers from using the system, provides some protection against exploitation and large numbers of satellites (in the constellations being proposed) may even make effective jamming a non-trivial and expensive task. Thus, a relatively modest retrofit may be sufficient to bring the security and robustness of some MSS up to an acceptable level. PHASE I: Assess the vulnerability of selected MSS systems to interception, exploitation, jamming, and geolocation threats. Perform the necessary analyses and/or simulations. Identify/demonstrate techniques to enhance security and robustness of these systems. PHASE II: Evaluate/finalize selected techniques to enhance the security and robustness of these (MSS) systems. Focus in particular on retrofit concepts and those that are cost effective. Perform design, breadboard test, computer simulation, or whatever analysis is necessary to demonstrate the viability and performance of the selected techniques. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The techniques developed under this project will benefit communications technology in both the commercial and military worlds. KEYWORDS: Communications Satellite, Security, Robustness, Mobile Satellite Services, Signal Interception, Exploitation, Jamming, Authentication, Encryption. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-117. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Gregory J. Hadynski, RL/C3BA (315) 330-4094. TITLE: Simulation Toolkits for Switching Satellite Communications Systems. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B19. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Develop a simulation toolkit for packet/circuit switched satellite communications systems. DESCRIPTION: It is expected that there will be many new simulations for future satellite systems for at least three reasons: (1) There are expected to be major architectural differences from previous satellite communication systems. For instance, using full processing (packet switching and/or circuit switching) instead of partial or no processing. (2) Closer integration and interoperation of military satellite communications systems with commercial communications systems and terrestrial defense communications systems. (3) Prior simulations are generally built from the ground-up using programming languages instead of commercial simulation tools. This means they are relatively difficult to modify, compared with those built on top of commercial simulation tools. During the development of future satellite communications systems there will be several traffic analysis simulations needed. For instance, protocol development, failure vulnerability analysis, operations analysis, and user traffic impact studies. Any work to prepare general methods and simulation constructs (code that can be used by multiple simulations) could improve the quality and decrease the time/cost associated with these simulations. Simulation toolkits are required which contain some methodology that leads to the verification of the simulation results. A need exists to define future expected traffic analysis simulations and develop 'toolkits' applicable to many satellite communications simulations. These toolkits should consist of methods and simulation constructs built on top of a commercial simulation modeling tool such as Ontario Provincial Network (OPNET). The toolkits should contain documentation that show how to use these toolkits and that show future simulators how to achieve a simulation end (for instance, protocol development or failure vulnerability analysis). The toolkits should take into account the need for satellite communication systems to interface with the overall Defense Information System Network. Integration with commercial communications systems and use of commercial protocols should also be taken into account. PHASE I: 1) In cooperation with the government, identify/develop useful toolkits and create a preliminary user manual for them. 2) Develop a simulation function diagram, theory and methodology. 3) Demonstrate a prototype of key functions. PHASE II: 1) Using an industry standard tool, create a traffic analysis toolkit for packet/circuit switched satellite communications systems. A toolkit is one or more additions to a tool that customize it for a specific application (in this case, satellite communications simulations). 2) Complete the simulation toolkits development. 3) Demonstrate the simulation with verification. 4) Complete documentation and create the simulation toolkits with user manuals. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The commercial space industry can use this simulation toolkit to improve their ability to perform traffic analysis. This capability enables industry to architect more cost-effective systems that meet their customers' requirements while simultaneously reducing the time required to architect the system. KEYWORDS: Simulation, Packet Switching, Circuit Switching, Satellite, Communications. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-118. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Gregory J. Hadynski, RL/C3BA (315) 330-4094. TITLE: WWW Management Tools for Satellite Communications Management. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07 SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Develop management tools for existing management tools that can be used for satellite communications management. DESCRIPTION: Satellite communications management requires global collaboration among military command and federal agency planners, analysts, engineers, and others to ensure the most effective and timely allocation of communications resources to the various users. Current tools such as the MILSATCOM Automated Communications Management System (ACMS) focus on the planing, controlling, and monitoring functions needed for communications management, but do not provide sufficient support for the large amount of coordination required. Current communications management tools are military unique and insufficiently aligned with commercial practices. A need exists to apply the concepts of World Wide Web (WWW) technology to the development of a satellite communications management/coordination/simulation tool. Application of WWW technology, for satellite communications/coordination management would involve use of the Common Gateway Interface, Java languages multimedia viewers, associated services such as electronic mail, and development/application of WWW methodology and tools. The resulting WWW satellite communication management/coordination/simulation tools should initially include 20 Geo Synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), 10 Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and 10 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communication satellite systems, together with the capability of expansion to include all of the commercial satellites system which are owned and/or partially owned, by U.S. companies or allied. PHASE I: 1) Create an architecture for the application of World Wide Web (WWW) technology to satellite communications management. 2) Integrate (among others) current WWW tools (i.e. Common Gateway Interface, Java language, multimedia viewers, and associated services such as electronic mail) into the communications management architecture. 3) In cooperation with the government, create a preliminary set of WWW based coordination management/simulation tools and preliminary user manuals. PHASE II: 1) Finalize the WWW based coordination management/ simulation tools program for use with current and future Government satellite communications management systems. 2) Create recommendations on how to evolve the satellite communications management tools towards integration with commercial tools. 3) In cooperation with the Government, apply the communication management tools to a selected satellite system and demonstrate/evaluate the resulting simulation. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The WWW management tool can be available to all users of satellite communications systems that need to globally manage their satellite communications resources. The tool also can be beneficial to small commercial companies who provide communication services (such as phone, fax, data, paging, etc.). KEYWORDS: Communications, Network Management, Satellite, World Wide Web (WWW), Satellite Communications Management. Margot Ashcroft, SBIR Program Manager, RL/XPD, 315-330-1793, Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, RL/PKPX, 315-330-2308.

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