A graphical user interface for the Low Cost Combat Direction System.

274 Pages·3.8 MB·en_US

by  Stockwell, Michael Grey.;Bσerzi≈nΘs, Valdis Andris.

NAVAL
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
Monterey,
California
THESIS
A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR
THE LOW COST COMBAT DIRECTION SYSTEM
by
Michael Grey Stockwell
September 1991
Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Valdis Berzins
Approved forpublic release; distribution is unlimited.
T258756

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Computer Science Dept. (ifapplicable) Naval Postgraduate School
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Naval Postgraduate School
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Monterey, 93943-5000
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A11.GTIRTLAEP(IHncIluCdeASeLcurUitSyEClRassiIfiNcaTtioEn)RFACE FOR THE LOW COST COMBATDIRECTION SYSTEM
E
PERSONALAUTHoR(5i
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Stockwell, Michael rey
JMEaTstTeYrPEsQTFhPReEsPiOsRT 15bf.rToImME.0C9O/V9E0REDto 09/91 1419D9A1T,ESOeFpRtEePmObReTr,(Ye1ar6, Month, Day) TTPJg" C6O4UNT
I
16. supplementary notatioi|he viewsexpressed in this thesis are those ofthe authorand do notreflectthe official
policy orposition ofthe Department ofDefense or the United States Government
17. COSATI CODES 18. SUBJECTTERMS(Continueonreverseifnecessaryandidentifybyblocknumber)
Combat Direction Center, Software Engineering, User Interface, Graphics
FIELD GROUP SUB-GROUP
19.AABtSeTcRhAnCoTl(oCgonytivnuaecounuremveersxeisiftnseciensstahreyasnmdaildlentcifoymbbyabltoackntnumabnedr)support ship units ofthe U.S. Navy. Newercombatant
vessels are typically outfitted with state ofthe art Combat Direction and information processing systems, while their
older sisters in the fleet are still using manual methods to do the same tasks.
These shipboard tasks, which include contact management, moving geometry calculations, intelligence compila-
tion, area plotting and navigation, are all performed manually on-board olderfleet units. These manual methods are
extremely slow, are subject to potentially disastrous errors and require intensive training toperform correctly. The
current level ofcomputer technology allows the automation ofthese tasks, providing an instant solution to the user,
with a far smallererror rate than could be expected ofmanual methods.
The prime objective ofthis thesis, TheLow Cost Combat Direction System (LCCDS) User Interface, is todefine
the functional goals, constraints and general system design ofa graphical user interface suitable for use aboard U.S.
Navy vessels. Particular emphasis is placed on the design and implementation of a graphical display system, in the
Ada programming language, necessary to interface the user to the capabilities oftheLCCDS as a whole.
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
FOR
THE LOW COST COMBAT DIRECTION SYSTEM
by
Michael Grey Stockwell
USN
Lieutenant,
B.S., Chapman College, 1983
Submitted in partial fulfillment ofthe
requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
September 1991
department ofComputer Science
n
ABSTRACT
A technology vacuum exists in the small combatant and support ship units ofthe U.S.
Navy. Newer combatant vessels are typically outfitted with state ofthe art Combat Direc-
tion and information processing systems, while theiroldersisters in the fleet are still using
manual methods to do the same tasks.
These shipboard tasks, which include contact management, moving geometry calcula-
tions, intelligence compilation, area plotting and navigation, are all performed manually
on-board older fleet units. These manual methods are extremely slow, are subject topoten-
tially disastrous errors and require intensive training to perform correctly. The current
level ofcomputer technology allows the automation ofthese tasks, providing an instant
solution to the user, with a far smaller errorrate than could be expected ofmanual meth-
ods.
The prime objective ofthis thesis, The Low Cost Combat Direction System (LCCDS)
UserInterface, is todefine the functional goals, constraints and general systemdesign ofa
graphical userinterface suitable for use aboard U.S. Navy vessels. Particularemphasis is
placed on the design and implementation ofa graphical display system, in the Ada pro-
gramming language, necessary to interface the user to the capabilities ofthe LCCDS as a
whole.
1U
M6t5
I
C.I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I.
!
A. Background
1
1. Low Cost Combat Direction System
\
2. Ada Programming Language
1
3. XI1 Windowing System 2
4. Software Technology For Adaptable, Reliable Systems 2
5. Transportable Applications Environment Plus 2
6. Graphical User Interface
3
B. Statement OfThe Problem
3
C. Summary OfPrevious Work
4
1. Seveney/Steinberg 1990 4
2. Sun 1990
4
3. Coskun/Kesoglu 1990 4
4. Bolick/Irwin 1991
4
D. Research Approach
5
1. Requirements Study
5
2. Design OfThe Information Display
5
3. Survey OfAvailable Implementation Tools 5
4. Implementation And System Integration 6
INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS
II.
7
A. Plotting Functions
j
1. Station, Screen And Formation Plotting 7
2. Operating Area And Grid Plotting 7
3. Amphibious Warfare Area Plotting
g
4. Misc. Plotting Functions
g
B. Drawing Functions
g
IV