Database and Message Interoperability Using the eXtensible Markup Language (XML)

摘要

The Department of Defense (DoD) is facing significant interoperability issues within the Services as they seek to architect solutions for distributed systems composed of clients and servers of heterogeneous hosts to enable joint service operations. The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and related technologies offer promise for applying data management technology to documents and also for providing a neutral syntax for interoperability among disparate systems. This paper describes the work performed by Mitre Corp for the Army Systems Engineering Office (ASEO), particularly the results of applying XML and other leading-edge software technologies to enable interoperability among dissimilar databases and message formats. The solution approach taken by Mitre investigated the utility of XML to write translator(s) between message formats and databases to reduce operator burden and to increase interoperability. Further, they investigated other leading-edge software technologies to address the information portability issues associated with distributed systems. The demonstration shows how a U.S. Marine Corps message scenario of battlefield engagement can interoperate with the U.S. Army via automated message translation and database interoperability. The experimental distributed architecture is presented along with the findings of the proof of concept demonstration.