Applying Mission Information Requirements to Value of Information Middleware

Command, Control, Communication, and Information (C3I) based technologies aim to facilitate information processing and dissemination needs for Army operations, having an underlying objective of getting the right information to the right people at the right time. Addressing the information needs of personnel requires methods to effectively prioritize the management of discrete units of information (Information Objects) in-line with mission requirements. Towards addressing the problem of Information Object management in C3I infrastructures, this work investigates the application of policy-based Value of Information (VoI) assessment in-line with records of Commander’s Critical Information Requirements (CCIR). An information management model – termed CCIR VoI – is defined based on a review of both CCIR usage in supporting command decisions as well as established CCIR subcomponents. Following definition of the CCIR VoI model, discussion is provided on its application towards C3I infrastructures, focusing on proposed extensions to the Proactive Dissemination (DSPro) networking middleware. Corresponding research and design challenges in applying the CCIR VoI model to DSPro are additionally reviewed, intended to be addressed in follow-on work.