This thesis researched the availability and applicability of using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) cellular software and smartphone hardware platforms to address future individual communication requirements for the US Navy at sea. The paper presents evidence in favor of incorporation of COTS technology aboard ships to address tactical communications. Individual communication needs facilitated by devices include text, chat, voice, position location information, imagery and map viewing, streaming video, web browsing and e-mail. While all of these identified communication capabilities are currently available in military command and control systems, they presently reside primarily at hardwired workstations requiring large assets to maintain. The paper also studies current research in micro mobile communication networks that have been growing exponentially in the past year including a host of different network types: ad hoc, smartphone, access point, sensor, etc. The paper lays out a solid understanding of all layers of wireless networking and the interactions between them (including physical, data link, medium access control, routing, transport, and application). The topics of security, efficiency, mobility, health risk, scalability, and their unique characteristics in wireless networks are discussed. Finally, the researcher explores advanced architectures, protocols, and satellite support for complex, dynamic, developing recursive network architectures, protocols, and looks at devices for complex, dynamic, high-performance communication in hostile and extremely remote locations such as the high sea.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)