Operations automation using temporal dependency networks

Precalibration activities for the Deep Space Network are time- and work force-intensive. Significant gains in availability and efficiency could be realized by intelligently incorporating automation techniques. An approach is presented to automation based on the use of Temporal Dependency Networks (TDNs). A TDN represents an activity by breaking it down into its component pieces and formalizing the precedence and other constraints associated with lower level activities. The representations are described which are used to implement a TDN and the underlying system architecture needed to support its use. The commercial applications of this technique are numerous. It has potential for application in any system which requires real-time, system-level control, and accurate monitoring of health, status, and configuration in an asynchronous environment.