1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. 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

7. SISO C-BML Study Group
SISO Study Group ( ) produced a Final Report (SISO-REF 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

8. Basic Concepts: C-BML Specification Elements

9. 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

10. Language Approach

11. Phase 1 Approach: LOGICAL C-BML

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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!

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