Telecommunications internetworking and integration: a primer for C3 students.

Abstract

This thesis is a telecommunications internetworking and integration tutorial for command, control, and communications (C3) students, and is intended to supplement coursework material at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). It is particularly relevant to students pursuing the internetworking area of emphasis in the C3 curriculum. In order to recognize and tap the potential of internetworking and integration for military applications, C3 students must be "internetworking literate." The objective of this thesis is to help develop that literacy and to serve as a technical reference for understanding terms, standards and concepts associated with the complex field of telecommunications internetworking. As the ultimate Department of Defense (DoD) telecommunications goal is the full integration of voice, data and imagery services, internetworking is looked upon as an essential process on the road to integration. To establish the relevance to U.S. warfighting capability, this thesis describes how internetworking and integration are critical elements of the "C4I for the Warrior" initiative. With this warfighting connection kept in mind, definitions and illustrations present the technical aspects of telecommunications internetworking and integration.