THE CRITICAL ROLE OF INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE AGENTS IN ENABLING NET-CENTRIC COMMAND AND CONTROL

Abstract : The Net-Centric Operations and Warfare Reference Model (NCOW RM), Version 1.0, currently under development by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (OASD/NII), is the architectural touchstone for all Department of Defense information systems of the near- and long-term future. The reference model prescribes four sets of fundamental functionality: user/entity interaction services; intelligent assistance capabilities; net-centric services (encompassing communities of interest (COI) services, core enterprise services (discovery, mediation, collaboration, etc.), and environment control services); and resource provisioning services. The role and critical importance of the set of services that are to provide intelligent assistance to users of the Global Information Grid (GIG), and to its envisaged Net-centric Information Environment (NCIE), has yet to be fully delineated. We argue that the envisaged net-centricity in future warfare (command and control), business operations, and enterprise management is dependent upon a robust intelligent assistance capability based on the profuse use of intelligent agents throughout the GIG's NCIE.