MSG048 feedback to SISO CBML phase 1 specification

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MSG-048 feedback to SISO C-BML phase 1
specification
SISO C-BML PDG meeting, 17. April 2008, presented
by Ole Martin Mevassvik, FFI (Norwegian Defence
Research Establishment)
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Background

• ET-016 was a 12 month study that led to the
  establishment of MSG-048. Ended with a proof of
  concept demo in Warsaw in 2005.
• MSG-048 C-BML is a three year technical activity
  under NATO Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG)
  from April 2006 to April 2009.
• The charter is to evaluate benefits of a C-BML
  and recommend a C-BML specification to be
  considered by NATO

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Background, cont.

• Main approach is to conduct experiments
• Initial technical experiment was performed 2007
• Planning a second technical experiment for 2008
• Experiment to measure operational effectiveness
  scheduled for 2009

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MSG-048 Technical experiment for 2007
Full Demonstration Architecture
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Desired properties of a BML standard

• It provides a firm basis for interoperability.
• It has been used by multiple parties.
• It should be sufficiently complete to represent a
  basic military operation
• Any middleware required to implement the standard
  should be available as open source

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SISO Phase 1 standard

• The following comments relate to the use of the
  phase 1 product by BML-enabled systems directly
• Main conclusion The specification needs more
  elaboration to support interoperability among the
  MSG-048 nations
• Challenges with the use of the JC3IEDM XML Schema
  to carry C-BML messages
• It does not restrict which sub-elements to fill
  in for a given element (the entire data model is
  reachable)

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SISO Phase 1 standard, cont.

• The schema does not restrict which element types
  that are allowed (WHO-gtGeographicFeatureType)
• It enforces creating a lot of data not
  necessarily relevant for BML, e.g. ReportingData
• The JC3IEDM business rules as understood are not
  sufficient for BML

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Proposal

• The architecture covering all three C-BML phases
  should be documented
• Each phase should be sufficiently complete to
  ensure interoperation among systems without
  further elaboration
• A combined top down and bottom up approach makes
  it more likely that the standard becomes
  successful

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Combination of top down and bottom upA possible
way forward?

• Possible C-BML architecture
• The basic JC3IEDM Schemas with rules how to
  define C-BML Schemas. Rules are e.g. the mapping
  from the C-BML Schema elements to the JC3IEDM and
  the relevant JC3IEDM business rules.
• A basic set of independent BML building blocks,
  defined as XML Schemas and additional rules if
  necessary. E.g. basic 5W (e.g. JBML schema),
  situation reports, temporal and logical
  associations between tasks, schemas to support
  human communication of plans (graphics ...), etc.
• A grammar defining the language and the mapping
  to the BML building blocks.