An Update to the M&S Community Coalition Battle Management Language (C-BML) Phase 1 Specification Development: An Update to the M&S Community Curtis Blais, Dick Brown, Saikou Diallo, Kevin Heffner, Stan Levine, Dan Scolaro, Samuel Singapogu, Marc St-Onge, Chuck Turnitsa

Outline C-BML Introduction C-BML Standardization Effort C-BML Products C-BML Drafting Group Participants C-BML Drafting Group Activities

Subsequent Drafting Group Activities Updated DG membership based on current interest and involvement: Curtis Blais and Saikou Diallo, co-lead editors Dick Brown Doug Corner Kevin Heffner* Stan Levine Dan Scolaro Samuel Singapogu Marc St-Onge* * MSG-048 participants

Coalition Battle Management Language (C-BML) The C-BML is an emerging international standard for the unambiguous expression and exchange of plans, orders, and reports across command and control (C2) systems, live, virtual and constructive modeling and simulation (M&S) systems, and robotic systems participating in Coalition operations. Numerous SIW papers over the past 5+ years.

SISO C-BML Product Nomination The Study Group recommended a C-BML Standard be developed and delivered in versions having increased capability corresponding to each phase. The C-BML Standardization would concentrate first on a JC3IEDM-based C-BML Standard (Version 1), second on a BML Formal Grammar (Version 2), and third on a BML Ontology (Version 3). In addition, there is a need to address reports as well as orders. For all versions, the Study Group recommended using JC3IEDM as a basis for C-BML reference implementations and standards. Led to formation of the C-BML Product Development Group (PDG).

Basic Concepts: Three “Views” of BML [Information Exchange] Doctrine – what information and in what form, from whom to whom, when, for what purpose, by what authority, and other aspects… Operational concerns – informs the next two views by identifying what information needs to be expressed and for what purpose (value proposition) Earlier work has considered Ground Operations Order, Air Tasking Order, Maritime Tomahawk Launch Plan/Order, Reports [Information Exchange] Representation – means of expression of BML information for information exchange [Information Exchange] Protocol – mechanisms for transferring BML expressions across systems

SISO C-BML Study Group SISO Study Group (2004-2005) produced a Final Report (SISO-REF-016-2006-V1.0) recommending three development phases providing the following products in each phase: Data Model Information Exchange Content and Structure specification Information Exchange Mechanism specification Guidelines

Basic Concepts: C-BML Specification Elements

Draft C-BML Phase 1 Specification: Purpose Purpose – provide sufficient information to enable early adopters of the C-BML standard to construct and exchange standard information elements in plans, orders, and reports. The draft Phase 1 Specification defines the following portions of the C-BML standard: A logical data model and procedures for extending the data model A reference physical data model A standard approach for exchanging elements of the language specified using WSDL

Language Approach

Phase 1 Approach: LOGICAL C-BML

Phase 1 Approach: Role/Context The context in which a “W” can be used: plan, order, request, report The role the “W” plays in that context Who Order (tasker/taskee) Report (reporter/reported) What Order (assigned task) Report (reported event) Where Order (location of an object or a task) Report (location of an event) Based on the MSG 048 grammar used for BML expressions (has been published in SISO)

Phase 1 Approach: Key Decisions WHAT and WHEN are separate concepts and entities Departure from the JC3IEDM WHEN is a concept that varies in context Association with WHAT is only one such context WHERE is specified in both absolute and relative terms The context determines when one or both are appropriate WHERE is specified with respect to a WHO

Phase 1 Approach: Restriction and Referencing The generic W’s are abstract constructs Context specific W’s are derived by restricting the generic W’s Provides the flexibility of adding additional W’s when they are identified Referencing in a given C-BML expression allows access to existing (previously defined) elements The concept is supported in the logical and the physical specification

Immediate Goal The C-BML Drafting Group seeks to complete the draft Phase 1 Specification for PDG review by the end of December in preparation for balloting prior to Spring 2010 SIW. DG sub-teams: Writing: completing the specification Design: XML schema design and preparing use cases for the guidelines document Development: working on a WSDL specification and reference implementation NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE DG

During this SIW C-BML PDG meeting Thursday morning will include presentation of the current XML schema More details will be made available on the approach and direction of the DG There will be lively and interesting discussions!

Questions? For more information and discussion, please attend the C-BML Product Development Group meeting, 0800 Thursday March 25, Grand Ballroom 1