The Design of Survivable Communications Networks

This paper is concerned with the design of communications networks that have a high probability of surviving the terminals which they serve when both the network and the terminals are subject to bombardment. The probability of survival of a communications network can be increased by either hardening the elements of the network, adjusting the location of the elements or adding additional redundant elements to the network. The choice of technique in any given case is based on cost. The designer's problem is to specify the physical hardness and location of each element of the network so that the network cost is minimized and the network as a whole possesses a probability of survival which is compatible with that of its terminals. The purpose of this report is to suggest an approach to the design of such networks.