A remote control and management scheme for deployed VSATs: An approach for the USAF pathfinder flexible modem interface

This paper describes an approach to address the challenges currently found in the management, provisioning, and troubleshooting of deployed SATCOM Terminals. We believe the proposed solution will address a major capabilities gap in the DOD's ability to maintain reliable and resilient network communications flows required for mission success in a dynamic net-centric battlefield. The proposed solution when fully implemented, will strengthen communications reliability, flexibility, and performance, while decreasing the support and logistics burden on the Warfighter in the field, resulting in increased mission effectiveness and resiliency. This paper outlines the problems we address, the high-level technology solution, and a brief description of an implementation of the proposed architecture which we believe implements most if not all the key requirements of the USAF SMC Pathfinder Flexible Modem Interface (FMI).