RFC 1217 (rfc1217) - Page 1 of 5
Memo from the Consortium for Slow Commotion Research (CSCR)
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group V. Cerf
Request for Comments: 1217 CSCR
1 April 1991
Memo from the Consortium for Slow Commotion Research (CSCR)
Status of this Memo
This RFC is in response to RFC 1216, "Gigabit Network Economics and
Paradigm Shifts". Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
To: Poorer Richard and Professor Kynikos
Subject: ULSNET BAA
From: Vint Cerf/CSCR
Date: 4/1/91
The Consortium for Slow Commotion Research (CSCR) [1] is pleased to
respond to your research program announcement (RFC 1216) on Ultra
Low-Speed Networking (ULSNET). CSCR proposes to carry out a major
research and development program on low-speed, low-efficiency
networks over a period of several eons. Several designs are
suggested below for your consideration.
1. Introduction
Military requirements place a high premium on ultra-robust systems
capable of supporting communication in extremely hostile
environments. A major contributing factor in the survivability of
systems is a high degree of redundancy. CSCR believes that the
system designs offered below exhibit extraordinary redundancy
features which should be of great interest to DARPA and the
Department of Defense.
2. Jam-Resistant Land Mobile Communications
This system uses a highly redundant optical communication technique
to achieve ultra-low, ultra-robust transmission. The basic unit is
the M1A1 tank. Each tank is labelled with the number 0 or 1 painted
four feet high on the tank turret in yellow, day-glo luminescent
paint. Several detection methods are under consideration:
(a) A tree or sand-dune mounted forward observer (FO) radios
to a reach echelon main frame computer the binary values
Cerf