Martin Nesenbergs, William J. Hartman, and Robert F. Linfield

Abstract: As with many technologies, the evolution of telecommunication systems is shaped by two driving forces – performance and cost. There is a real need to bridge the gap between 'performance' as perceived by the user in accomplishing a mission and 'performance' as perceived by the supplier to minimize costs of implementation and operations. The interrelationships between user–oriented performance parameters, engineering–oriented parameters, and cost parameters ultimately define the permissible tradeoffs. This report covers one phase of a multiple phase project to relate the performance needs of military network users with the performance provided by a particular telecommunications service and to seek least cost systems that would offer such service. In this first phase, the parameters describing the performance of two services, one analog and one digital, are defined and specific values assigned for the related service offerings. The interrelationship between the user–oriented parameters and values and the technical or engineering–oriented parameters and values was planned as the subject of a subsequent phase.

Keywords: performance parameters; digital communications; analog communications; performance standards; service modes; system design; user requirements

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

For questions or information on this or any other NTIA scientific publication, contact the ITS Publications Office at ITSinfo@ntia.gov or 303-497-3572.

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