Link Management System (LMS TM)

for Multi Tactical Data Link Networks

Enabling a coherent tactical picture through real-time planning,

management and analysis of Link 16 and other operational tactical data

links

The LMS presents the real-time tactical situation display, status of each network participant and over-all network performance and health. The LMS automatically alerts operators to existing and potential problems using green, yellow and red color coding. Users can cus-tomize displays to drill down into details of network performance and identify participants experiencing problems. This enables operators to detect and overcome conditions that prevent a reliable tactical im-age and to record operational data for later analysis.

During deployments in Kosovo, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operator Enduring Freedom), the

LMS proved to be an excellent ally when warfighters needed informa-tion during operations.Modern tactical data links

(TDL) provide superior surveillance, command

and control, secure voice, jam resistance and security functions, combined with high throughput, granularity and capacity. However, these powerful capabilities lead to complexity and a greater challenge to reliable network performance.

Northrop Grumman developed the Link Management System (LMSTM) for Link 16 and other TDLs to provide Joint Interface Control Officers (JICO) and other network managers with rapid planning, dynamic management and accurate analysis of theater communications during real-world operations.

Link Management System

LMS Supports Multiple Concurrent Interfaces

Data Forwarding: Full J-series to J-series-based TDL data forwarding (all paths for Link 16, JREAP, SADL and BLOS-J TDLs). K05.01 forwarding to J-series-based TDL (e.g., EPLRS to Link 16, to JREAP C, to SADL).Data Recording/Playback: Recording at raw data level ensures playback gives same robust analysis capability as available during live operations.Scripted Message Generation: User configurable generation of test tracks. Link 16 Network Management: MIL-STD-6016 Appendix V - Network Management, and full Link 16 Network design analysis.

LMS Supports Multiple TDLs • TDLs can be modified or added

during live operations• Reads OPTASK LINK to support

operational configuration• Supports a separate track da-

tabase for each TDL interface for operational assessment / evaluation

• Maintains a normalized/ fused track database

• Supports J-series TDL based forwarding, as well as K-series based TDL to J-series based TDL forwarding

• Initialization from OPTASK LINK

TDL Quantity LMS FeaturesLink 16 4

local/remote (extensible)

Supports:  – Multiple local and/or remote interfaces to Link 16 terminals on multiple Link 16 networks – MIDS, LVT1, LVT2 terminals, MIDS variants, and JTRS using Ethernet and MIL-STD-1553 interface; also interfaces with Support Port status/control and/or recording ports – MIL-STD-1553 interface for Navy Class II terminals and AN/GRR-43(C)

JREAP C 8 (extensible)

Supports:  – MIL-STD-3011 Appendix C interface for JREAP C – Modification or addition of IP configurations during live operations – Multiple interfaces, including both Unicast and Multicast

Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) J-Series-based protocols

8 (extensible)

Supports:  – Protocols: NATO SIMPLE, GCCS/MTC, Mitre Serial J, DTSS16 and MSCS – Multiple interfaces, including both Unicast and Multicast

SADL 1 Supports:  – SADL 11XY and later SADL 11Z configurations – Configuration of the radio through the status/control port and uses JREAP C for the SADL data port interface – J-Series messages via the data port – Status/control port for radio configuration and radio network participation status reporting

EPLRS 1  – Supports Unicast/Multicast and other IP protocols – Operates in Tx/Rx or Rx-only modes – Provides configurable URN and geographic-based receive filters and corresponding transmit filters (in support of data forwarding to the TDL)

Other VMF 4  – Supports all IP-based protocols (supersets of EPLRS)

TDL Network Summary and Status Whiteboard The TDL Network Summary display provides an assessment of total link performance. A table on the left side of the display summarizes relationships between interface units, connectivity, equipment failures and resets, performance comparisons, total track load per frame by ID and relayer usage per frame. An associated large, color-coded graphic (the TDL Status Whiteboard) shows network managers the real-time status of all units. LMS shows the IUs directly participating on each TDL and the forwarding taking place on any selected TDL.

Tactical Situational Analysis To achieve a coherent picture of the tactical situation, interface units must receive and correlate information accurately. The tactical display shows track histories, color-coded by reporting unit, track ID or reception quality. J-series messages are displayed in readable data extraction and reduction guide format. Dual designations, reporting responsibility conflicts and data looping can be identified and eliminated using the LMS, assuring an accurate tactical picture. The tactical situation can be configured to show the TDL participation on any single or combination of TDL. Color coding is selectable: by standard identity colors, by configurable R2 reporting, by configurable altitude levels, by track age. The tactical situation also can present the normalized/fused tactical picture.

Link 16 Connectivity Evaluation Support Successful exchange of data requires reliable communications. The tactical window can depict interface units with range circles centered on them, indicating line-of-sight limitations. The information window shows which units are being received only by relay and indicates whether data from any of them contain errors or erasures. Other connectivity information includes range, time and position qualities, amount of surveillance capacity use, track load, average track age and which unit is acting as forwarding unit for another.

Adherence to Link 16 Network Design The transmit time slot reference window provides a graphic display of the 12-second MIDS frame as defined by the network design. It can be viewed in a time-based format or a network design recurrence rate number-based format. The design can be compared with actual usage using the receive time-slot data window, alerting operators to deficiencies and violations of the network design, in real time. Received slots can be filtered to show network participation groups, packing structure or signal quality for one or more Link 16 units. Relayed time slots can be included or excluded.

Link 16 TSDF/FCALMS computes network-wide Time Slot Duty Factor (TSDF), JU-specific TSDF, and locale-specific TSDF. This supports Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA) monitoring. Because LMS makes use of time slot parametric data in its monitoring and knows the planned network loads for each JU, it breaks out TSDF evaluation based on both direct receptions and inferred direct and relayed transmissions, making for a more reliable TSDF measurement.

LMS Features Multiple Views of Data Link Performance

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Link 16 Network Trend Analysis Trend windows display historical information on precise partici-pant location and identification (PPLI) connectivity, range, sur-veillance usage, time slot duty factor measurements, erasure levels and distribution of Track IDs. Operators can focus on one interface unit or compare per-formance among them. Loss of surveillance data, for example, can indicate that a tactical system has been reset. Loss of PPLIs can indicate a MIDS termi-nal has been reset or has moved out of range.

Link 16 Signal Quality The Link 16 terminal achieves transmission security by hop-ping among 51 possible frequen-cies in a pseudorandom pattern. A decoding algorithm provides some, but not complete, pro-tection from errors (incorrect data) and erasures (missing data). The LMS tabulates signal quality-based reception errors (time slot reception view) per each Link 16 transmitter, as well as specific breakout on failed or marginal receptivity. Color-coding facilitates review and analysis of reception problems. The erasure trend view shows connectivity quality with each transmitter in the network.

Link 16 Network Usage Link 16 problems can arise when actual network usage deviates from intended usage. The LMS operator can observe how the network capacity is allocated to functional groups and com-pare it with actual usage to determine if any interface units require more capacity to prevent loss of data.

LMS allows operators to customize the information display to whatever configuration is most useful.