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

PREFACE

SUMMARY

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Section

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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