A technical description of the Brilliant Pebbles communications simulator (BPCOMMSIM) capability at the National Test Facility (NTF)

The Brilliant Pebbles communications simulator (BPCOMMSIM) generates end-to-end communications network performance data as a function of the element architecture as well as a multitude of input design and operational parameters. BPCOMMSIM is capable of evaluating various routing strategies and accounts for actual message traffic statistics as a function of threat by using data generated by end-to-end models resident at the National Test Facility (NTF). The author provides a technical description of BPCOMMSIM capabilities with a focus on the communications link calculations. Specifically, the methods used by BPCOMMSIM to quantify the receiver signal-to-noise ratio, the link bit error rate, and the probability of an acceptable message are described, along with needed modifications to the BPCOMMSIM capability that have been identified.<>