3.0 The DACS network-centric solution is linearly scalable; it can be increased in both scale and complexity with no dead-ends, and at reasonable cost.

A major reason for customers to abandon their existing digital switch architecture and embrace the network-centric solution arises when it is necessary to add additional positions or capability onto the system. Usually, the original switch was sized to precisely fit the original application, and an increase of only modest proportions will necessitate complete replacement of the existing switch with a larger unit, and also incur substantial rewiring costs. Another problem that arises with larger systems is that the size of the connectivity algorithm scales exponentially with the number of operator positions required. In other words, the software complexity is an N-squared problem. If the new positions require different functionality, the extensions to the code can become byzantine in their complexity.

The ASTi network-centric solution puts the processing at the "receive" end of the problem. If you think about it for a moment, this is where it belongs, because this is what happens in the real world. The logic behind whether your radio receives any signals is a very simple and localized problem that is only dependant upon local variables (immersed in a radio ether environment). In a network-centric architecture, the process of adding additional nodes with additional operators automatically adds the local processing capability (the DACS) necessary to determine the connection logic.

The technology trick behind all this is to create a global radio environment where all active transmitters "radiate" for receivers to pick them up. It is essential that all receivers, operators, recording devices, or gateways to wide area networks are immersed in a comprehensive radio traffic* environment. That is not to say that this is trivial. It is the ability to provide this high-bandwidth at all points in the communication system (i.e., at the internal processing nodes, not just the LAN) which is a key part of ASTi's contribution to the solution. It is our ability to provide high speed drivers, multicast platforms, variable buffers, and an inside knowledge of the operating system kernel that allows us to make this distribution and subscription process seem simple.

* In our case this also includes intercoms and and other training-specific voice or data streams.