Use of a Systems Information Broker to Aide in the Dynamic Interfacing of C2 Nodes

Missions assigned to military forces will change as world events occur. Recent events like the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in the United States required a massive humanitarian effort that included military forces. Information about the event needed gathering, distributing, and analyzing to determine how best to use resources to help the people in the devastation. Once observers gather information, establishing communications is needed before information can be distributed. Command and Control C2 node functions perform one or all of the tasks of information gathering, distribution, analysis, decision making, and distribution of decisions. C2 nodes in these situations will be mobile or fixed and will come and go as a mission unfolds. Interfacing of C2 nodes may be hampered when the interface mechanisms are not worked out before an event and would take time to manually work out, which delays rescue and relief efforts. This research defines a framework and methodology for dynamically interfacing C2 nodes to a C2 enterprise to accomplish large missions such as responding to operations other than war OOTW, e.g., natural and man-made disasters, peacekeeping, and counter drug operations. Regional conflicts and general war are other situations requiring C2 enterprise to accomplish a large mission.