Callahan Leslie G. Jr. Graceful degradation of air defense communications: a probablistic model

Georgia Inst Of Tech, Atlanta, Engineering Experiment Station, 1982. — 53 p.This research was directed at developing and demonstrating a type methodology which can provide a measure of effectiveness for the communication system embedded in the Patriot Air Defense System. The methodology developed is probabilistic in nature and is based on the fact that communications can be modeled as network processes and these processes possess the Markov Property. Using the Markov Property, it is possible to develop the steady state probabilities for the communications systems and equate these to the percentage of time the system will occupy these states over a long period of time. The stated model can now be modified and the resulting steady state probabilities can be used for a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters, and consequently a basis for procurement and product improvement decisions.