2 XMSF Postulates, Preconditions for Success, Challenges and Definition 2.1 Postulates XMSF has several high-level requirements for success, derived from years of experience with M&s frameworks and the challenges of their effective deployment across diverse networks and systems XMSF must enable simulations to interact directly and scalably over a highly distributed network chieved through compatibility between a web framework and networking technologies. XMSF must be equally usable by human and software agents. XMSF must support composable, reusable model components. XMSF use cannot be constrained by proprietary technology, restrictive licenses or legally encumbering patents which might discourage the free, open, ad hoc development of interconnected tactical models and simulations For these and other reasons, the Extensible Markup Language(XMl)is the technology of choice for the syntax and representation of root data structures. Similarly, Semantic Web efforts regarding Resource Description Framework(RDF)and ontology tagsets provide corresponding support for semantics. XML also enables equivalent model representations to be described, validated and even autogenerated in a variety of human and programming languages. Thus XML, along with the large family of XML languages for web use, provides a rich and already well-developed set of technologies suitable as an available basis to begin achieving XMSF goal 2.2 Preconditions for Success While working to identify, elaborate and correlate the many required technologies involved in modeling and simulation using web-based technologies, the investigators found that three technical areas can effectively group together a wide variety of related technologies. These three key areas of endeavor are Web technologies and XML Internet and networking Modeling and Simulation(M&s) Tremendous overlaps occur for each area, but workshop participants agreed that this is an effective portioning of both technical topics and human talent. These three topic areas provide the primary reporting structure for technical material in this report Looking ahead, workshop representatives agreed that three such groups will be an effective way to divide diverse challenges across groups of committed participants. Participants and investigators felt strongly that representative leaders and workers from industry, academia and government must work together as coordinated teams for each of the three major technical areas: Web/XML, organization of collaborative efforts just as much as effect use of new technology. These three a Internet/networking, and Modeling Simulation. The biggest challenges likely require effecti groups and the forthcoming XMSF community will need Effective human interfaces among all three areas: Web/XML, Internet/Networking, M&s Avoid"throw it over the wall" from one group to another, rather work on joint strategies Solutions that are end-to-end likely driven by cornerstone exemplar demonstrations XMSF Workshop Symposium Report, October 2002 page 10XMSF Workshop & Symposium Report, October 2002 page 10 2 XMSF Postulates, Preconditions for Success, Challenges and Definition 2.1 Postulates XMSF has several high-level requirements for success, derived from years of experience with M&S frameworks and the challenges of their effective deployment across diverse networks and systems. XMSF must enable simulations to interact directly and scalably over a highly distributed network, achieved through compatibility between a web framework and networking technologies. XMSF must be equally usable by human and software agents. XMSF must support composable, reusable model components. XMSF use cannot be constrained by proprietary technology, restrictive licenses or legally encumbering patents which might discourage the free, open, ad hoc development of interconnected tactical models and simulations. For these and other reasons, the Extensible Markup Language (XML) is the technology of choice for the syntax and representation of root data structures. Similarly, Semantic Web efforts regarding Resource Description Framework (RDF) and ontology tagsets provide corresponding support for semantics. XML also enables equivalent model representations to be described, validated and even autogenerated in a variety of human and programming languages. Thus XML, along with the large family of XML languages for web use, provides a rich and already well-developed set of technologies suitable as an available basis to begin achieving XMSF goals. 2.2 Preconditions for Success While working to identify, elaborate and correlate the many required technologies involved in modeling and simulation using web-based technologies, the investigators found that three technical areas can effectively group together a wide variety of related technologies. These three key areas of endeavor are: · Web technologies and XML · Internet and networking · Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Tremendous overlaps occur for each area, but workshop participants agreed that this is an effective portioning of both technical topics and human talent. These three topic areas provide the primary reporting structure for technical material in this report. Looking ahead, workshop representatives agreed that three such groups will be an effective way to divide diverse challenges across groups of committed participants. Participants and investigators felt strongly that representative leaders and workers from industry, academia and government must work together as coordinated teams for each of the three major technical areas: Web/XML, Internet/networking, and Modeling & Simulation. The biggest challenges likely require effective organization of collaborative efforts just as much as effect use of new technology. These three groups and the forthcoming XMSF community will need: · Effective human interfaces among all three areas: Web/XML, Internet/Networking, M&S · Avoid “throw it over the wall” from one group to another, rather work on joint strategies · Solutions that are end-to-end, likely driven by cornerstone exemplar demonstrations