MEMORANDUM
RM-3420-PR
AUGUST 1964
On Distributed Communications:
I. Introduction to Distributed Communications Network
Paul Baran
This research is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Project
RAND-Contract No. AF 49(638)-700 monitored by the Directorate of
Development Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development, Hq USAF.
Views or conclusions contained in this Memorandum should not be interpreted as
representing the official opinion or policy of the United States Air Force.
DDC AVAILABILITY NOTICE
Qualified requesters may obtain copies of this report from the Defense
Documentation Center (DDC).
Copyright (c) 1964
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II.EXAMINATION OF A DISTRIBUTED NETWORK
Node Destruction
Link Destruction
Combination Link and Node Destruction
III. DIVERSITY OF ASSIGNMENT
Simulation
Comparison with Present Systems
IV. ON A FUTURE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Future Low-Cost All-Digital Communications Links
Variable Data Rate Links
Variable Data Rate Users
Common User
Standard Message Block
Switching
Forgetting and Imperfect Learning
Lowest-Cost Path
V. WHERE WE STAND TODAY
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