What is System Wide Information Management (SWIM)?

System wide information management (SWIM) has been identified by the FAA as a key enabler for the Next Generation Air Traffic System (NGATS). Boeing has been working with the FAA since 2004 to define the role of SWIM within the framework of the existing and envisioned set of National Airspace System (NAS) communications systems and air traffic operations. SWIM, as an information management infrastructure, in effect creates a "system of systems" of existing (and new) systems (or software applications, or simply applications) interacting through SWIM services. Describing SWIM in such a context is only fruitful when adopting the point of view of each person based on their role and perspective of airspace operations, be they a user, an application developer, or a SWIM implementer. This paper describes our current vision of SWIM from multiple viewpoints (operational, functional, physical) in an attempt to provide a broad perspective of SWIM to a technical audience of mixed backgrounds