The first demonstration of the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) standard was conducted at the 14th Interservice/Industry Training Systems and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in San Antonio, Texas in November 1992. This effort was sponsored by the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office (DMSO) and the US Army's Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM).

The DIS standard protocol data units (PDU) and current communications architecture were utilized along with the common visual databases using Project 2851 (P2851) data. The demonstration was an integrated display of both standardization efforts. The Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) at the University of Central Florida developed the detailed design of the demonstration system, coordinated the effort for the government, and provided technical support to those organizations who demonstrated interoperability at the I/ITSEC. Planning Research Corporation (PRC), the P2851 contractor, prepared the databases.

This paper describes the approach used and lessons learned from the interoperability demonstration. The planning and integration effort consisted of three components. First, the scope of the demonstration had to be determined. This included three main issues: the communications network, the DIS standard, and the terrain database. Second, before integration occurred, each simulator had to be tested for compliance with the DIS standard. The testing was conducted at the San Antonio Convention Center during the week prior to the I/ITSEC Conference. The last component of the effort was the scenario developed for the opening plenary and banquet demonstrations. The scenario was dependent on the outcome of testing and was therefore the most dynamic component of the effort.