A virtual reality network management and analysis software package, inspired by a project reported initially by British Telecom, is being developed for the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) under a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program with Quality Research, Inc. The Phase 1 feasibility demonstrator led to a Phase 2 development effort. The software package acts as a data management and display device, acquiring information on network status in a variety of ways, processing the network status information, and displaying it in a two dimensional platform, superimposed on digitized three dimensional map data, perspective view from a steerable viewpoint, or in three dimensional color, real time virtual reality, using display goggles. This will allow management of tactical and strategic battlefield communications networks in real time and facilitate pre-battle planning and post-battle or post-exercise analysis of network performance.

Final rept. Jun 97-Jun 98.