Developing large hard-real-time systems in a traditional way usually creates inconsistencies among the user's needs, the requirements and the implementation. Rapid Prototyping by using Prototype System Description Language (PSDL) and Computer Aided Prototyping System (CAPS) minimizes the time and resource costs, and maximizes reliability. In this technique, designer builds the prototype with the initial requirements, and the user evaluates the actual behavior of the prototype against its expected behavior. If prototype fails to execute properly, the user and the designer work together to change the requirements and the prototype, unit the prototype captures the critical aspects of the software system. This thesis uses the rapid prototyping approach to produce an Ada software prototype of C3I workstation, which provides commonality and connectivity between naval platforms and land bases by providing the ability to process tactical data from many interfaces in real-time. The major emphasis of the prototype is to support C3I information management functions, message generation and information display.

Subjects: ADA; C_x001B_p3_x001B_sI systems; Command and control systems.; Computer aided prototyping; Computer programs; Software engineering; command and control; hard-real-time systems; prototyping language; user interface