A Mixed-Media Communications Architecture for Enhanced Interoperability

Military commanders need a wide variety of data sources existing on several distinct networks and produce results to support operational scenarios. These networks often do not have standardized interface protocols which permit internetwork data transfer. This paper presents a Reference Model that incorporates different transmission elements into a set of subnetworks for the development of a mixed-media architecture. Three options are examined for interconnecting mixed-media networks (MMN). These options differ in the level at which mixed-media connections are made, and to the degree that existing architectures are retained. This model emphasizes The MMN layers that selects optimum routes.