Optimization of tactical multimedia networks in the forward area

The US Army is investigating a Warfighter's Information Network (WIN) that includes the deployment of seamless multimedia voice, data and video services at the brigade level and below. Their intent is to leverage commercial PCS technology in the deployment of an autonomous network that supports fully distributed multimedia communications without the need for a commercial-type basestation infrastructure. The technology, necessary to support this concept, is being studied by the Focused Research Initiative team of Clemson University, ITT-A/CD and Techno-Sciences under a grant from the Army Research Office. We present the results of research at ITT with respect to the optimization of the network configuration, protocols and waveforms to increase the throughput, delay and reliability performance. This paper reports on a hierarchical network structure and signaling approach that eliminates cosite interference as a major obstacle to the network performance. The overall analysis at the physical and link protocol layers is based on the implementation and transmission of ATM-like packets over wireless links.