Feasibility Study of Encoding Operational Mission Metadata Into IPv6 Packet Headers

<p>The purpose of this research is to determine the feasibility of using the header fields and header extensions of IPv6 packets to encode mission metadata into computer network streams. Specifically this thesis seeks to answer several research questions addressing the performance of different packet header encoding methods specifically which method provides the least end-to-end delay of a file transfer over a hypothetical network as well as which method produces the least amount of additional network overhead during its operation in the hypothetical network. The research questions are answered through a comprehensive literature review and with the use of several network performance calculations. Results are analyzed and a final recommendation is given for which method would best meet the stated need. Ultimately this research highlights a new way of tracking and reporting to military leaders the status of operational missions and tasks should a network outage or degradation occur.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>