Efficiency Analysis of the Electronic Mail System (INFOMAIL) on the Defense Data Network

摘要

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the efficiency of the application of the electronic mail system (INFOMAIL) on the Defense Data Network (DDN) and then conceptualize alternatives which would improve this efficiency. This is the first examination of the overall efficiency of this mail system on the DDN although previous efforts had addressed limitations in components of the system. The highly centralized topology of the INFOMAIL electronic mail system, requires the transmission of inefficient packets, characteristic of a mail session, to traverse a considerable portion of the DDN. Alternative mail system topologies reduce this deficiency by distributing mail functions into network areas closer to the users. The common user I/O device for the electronic mail interaction, the terminal, is inefficient in its use of network transmission bandwidth. Modification of the current terminal/DDN interface would improve this inefficiency particularly when more capable terminals, which could capitalize on this modification, are being deployed. User interaction on the DDN from a network host computer is also inefficient in its use of the networks transmission capability. Alterations in the DDN/network host interface would reduce this inefficiency.