Using Web services and data mediation/storage services to enable command and control to simulation interoperability

The extensible battle management language project has implemented XML based data mediation services to translate from legacy XML schemas into XML schemas, based on a common tag set generated from the command and control information exchange data model (C2IEDM). The C2IEDM was developed by NATO to enable interoperation among operational command and control (C2) systems of coalition forces. XBML´s ability to exchange simulation information based on C2IEDM enables a major expansion in interoperability, in that C2 systems now can be coupled with modeling and simulation software. The benefit of our specific data mediation approach is that legacy systems are required only to provide information exchange interfaces based on XML, as the adaptation of such systems is done by configuring the layers of the recommended architecture. We present the architecture and operational principles used to achieve interoperation in this way.