Systems and methods for providing collaboration between systems

• US 20040174822A1
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bui, Thomas T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A new approach to creating network-centric systems such as those used in warfare and for other purposes is provided. One technique for providing a collaborative capability that achieves a high level of asset utilization includes the steps of specifying a role for each node in a system, assigning a pre-defined functionality level to each node as a function of the node'"'"'s role in the system, and allowing each node to share information with other nodes in the system according to each node'"'"'s capabilities using the assigned functionality level. Data sharing and collaboration between nodes having different assigned functionality levels may be facilitated by adjusting the functionality level for at least one of the nodes such that both are able to communicate at the same level. The adjustment in functionality may take place directly between the nodes, or may be processed by a gateway or other intervening system.

Claims

1. A method of providing a collaborative capability for a plurality of nodes in a network centric environment, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying a role for each of the plurality of nodes;

assigning one of a plurality of pre-defined interoperability levels to each node as a function of the role specified for the node; and

sharing information between the plurality of nodes using the assigned interoperability levels for each of the plurality of nodes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sharing step comprises the step of adjusting the assigned interoperability level for at least one of the plurality of nodes to share information with a remote node having a different interoperability level than the at least one of the plurality of nodes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of interoperability levels comprises a lowest level defining a communication model.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of interoperability levels further comprises a second level defining an interaction model.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of interoperability levels further comprises a third level defining a data and service contribution model.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the plurality of interoperability levels further comprises a fourth level defining a coordination model.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of interoperability levels further comprises a fifth level defining a virtual associate model.

8. A method of providing communications between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a common capability between the first and second nodes from a plurality of available interoperability levels;

adjusting a level of communication between the first and second nodes to conform to the common capability; and

communicating between the first and second nodes using the common capability.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the communicating step is performed on an ad hoc basis.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the determining and adjusting steps are performed by a gateway node distinct from the first and the second nodes.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the adjusting step is performed by the gateway node.

12. A method of communicating between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for an interaction between the first node and the second node;

comparing a first interoperability capability associated with the first node with a second interoperability capability associated with the second node to determine a common interoperability capability; and

establishing the interaction between the first and second nodes using the common interoperability capability.

13. An interoperability framework comprising a plurality of levels, each level defining a type of interoperability between a plurality of nodes, wherein each level comprises:

a semantic definition providing a scheme for extracting meaning from a data set;

a process definition providing a process for supporting interoperability between the plurality of nodes;

an application definition providing a scheme for generating and consuming the data set;

a digital infrastructure definition providing a scheme for transporting data between the plurality of nodes; and

a quality of service definition providing a performance standard for the level.

14. An interoperability system comprising:

a plurality of communications nodes, wherein each communications node comprises an intrinsic functionality level selected from a plurality of pre-defined functionality levels; and

a gateway node configured to obtain the intrinsic functionality levels corresponding to a sending node of the plurality of communications nodes and a receiving node of the plurality of communications nodes, to determine a common communications level as a function of the obtained intrinsic functionality levels, and to establish communications between the sending and receiving nodes using the common communications level.

15. The interoperability system of claim 14 further comprising at least one directory services node comprising a data base having a plurality of records, each record corresponding to one of the plurality of nodes and comprising an indication of the intrinsic functionality level of the node.

16. The interoperability system of claim 15 wherein the gateway is further configured to obtain the intrinsic functionality levels corresponding to the sending and receiving nodes from the at least one directory services node.

17. The interoperability system of claim 15 wherein the gateway node is further configured to establish ad hoc networks from the plurality of communications nodes.

18. A node for performing a role within a network-centric computing environment, the node comprising:

a communications module configured to interface with the network-centric computing environment;

an information core module configured to obtain data from the network-centric computing environment via the communications module;

an application module configured to process the data to obtain information for a user; and

a human-machine interface module configured to provide the information to the user;

wherein each of the communications, information core, application and human-machine interface modules are constructed in accordance with a pre-determined interoperability framework as a function of the role.

19. A process of designing a node for an assured interoperability environment, the process comprising the steps of:

establishing key performance parameters (KPP) and measures of effectiveness (MOE) for node in the interoperability environment;

determining an intrinsic interoperability level for the node as a function of the KPP and MOE for the node; and

applying a strategic architecture reference model to the node using the node'"'"'s intrinsic interoperability level to produce an architecture for the node.

20. A process of developing an assured interoperability environment for a plurality of nodes, the process comprising the steps of:

establishing key performance parameters (KPP) and measures of effectiveness (MOE) for each of the plurality of nodes in the interoperability environment;

determining an intrinsic interoperability level for each node as a function of the node'"'"'s KPP and MOE;

applying a strategic architecture reference model to each node using the node'"'"'s intrinsic interoperability level to produce an architecture for each node; and

deploying each node to form the assured interoperability environment.

21. A method of providing communications between a first node and a second node, each node having a level of interoperability selected from a pre-defined plurality of levels of interoperability, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining the level of interoperability for the second node;

adjusting the level of interoperability for the first node to conform to the level of interoperability for the second node; and

communicating between the first and second nodes using the common level of interoperability.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the adjusting step comprises converting data from the first node to the level of interoperability for the second node.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the converting step is performed by a gateway node.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the obtaining step comprises contacting a registry node to obtain the level of interoperability for the second node.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the adjusting step comprises obtaining mobile code from a server to adjust the level of interoperability for the first node.

26. A method of providing communications between a first node on a first data network and a second node on a second data network, wherein the first node comprises an intrinsic level of interoperability on the first data network selected from a pre-defined plurality of levels of interoperability, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data communication from the first node using the intrinsic level of interoperability on the first network;

establishing a data connection to the second node using the second network in response to the data communication; and

interoperating with the first node on the first network as a proxy for the second node.

27. A data processing system facilitating communications between a first node and a second node, the data processing system comprising:

means for determining a common capability between the first and second nodes from a plurality of available interoperability levels;

means for adjusting a level of communication between the first and second nodes to conform to the common capability; and

means for communicating between the first and second nodes using the common capability.