Designing Framework for the Interoperability of C4I Systems

C4I (command, control, communication, computer and intelligence) are complex information systems designed to achieve mission objectives through better situational awareness and information superiority. C4I systems are system of systems (SOS), SOS comprised of independent constituent systems that interoperate with other systems to achieve specific mission objectives. In this paper we propose a framework for the interoperability of C4I Systems that covers key issues and challenges related to interoperability of heterogeneous C4I systems such as complexity, criticality and Information Exchanges Requirements (IER). The frameworks make use of department of defense architecture framework (DOAF) to describe data exchange requirements, source adapters, message translation, routing and destination adapters.