ANALYSING TACTICAL DATA LINK MESSAGES

• US 20020087572A1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Business Technology Solutions Limited (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems & Solutions Ltd. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: HOPKINS, DEREK IAN JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

The application describes a method of analysing data link messages, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a plurality of data link messages;

b) assigning each data link message to one of a plurality of message groups such that each group contains data link messages of a specific message type;

c) within a group,

(i) tabulating the messages so as to align corresponding fields;

(ii) displaying the tabulated data.

(d) displaying a list of field contents for each field type, the list being filtered to remove repeated incidence of the same content.

For each field type, it is preferred to display a list of field contents within that type, filtered to remove repeated incidence of the same content. Thus, the user is presented simultaneously with a summary of the common entries for a particular field type and any spurious or unusual entries. It is also useful to filter the lists to remove repeated incidence of content falling with a specified narrow range. This could be more useful for continuously variable data types such as latitude or longitude data. This is particularly applicable to tactical data link messages.

Claims

1. A method of analysing data link messages, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a plurality of data link messages;

b) assigning each data link message to one of a plurality of message groups such that each group contains data link messages of a specific message type;

c) within a group,

(i) tabulating the messages so as to align corresponding fields;

(ii) displaying the tabulated data.

(d) displaying a list of field contents for each field type, the list being filtered to remove repeated incidence of the same content.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the processing is applied to all groups.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein each group contains all data link messages of a specific message type.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the list is sorted.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the group is filtered so as to display only messages having a particular content for that field type, the content having been selected from the list.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the list is filtered to remove repeated incidence of content falling with a specified range.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which the data link messages are tactical data link messages.