Exploring value-of-information-based approaches to support effective communications in tactical networks

Tactical networking environments present many challenges in terms of bandwidth, latency, reliability, stability, and connectivity. Sensors can today generate very large data sets that exceed the ability of tactical networks to transfer and disseminate them in a timely manner. Furthermore, the desire to cover larger areas with persistent sensing capabilities, have resulted in the widescale deployment of inexpensive sensors, further widening the gap between the volume of information that is generated and the subset that can successfully be delivered to consumers. This article explores the notion of determining the value of information in order to prioritize and filter information that is disseminated over these tactical networks, focusing on the dissemination of information to and from dismounted soldiers in a battlefield environment. This is a promising approach to mitigate the constraints of tactical networks and to reduce information overload on soldiers.