Software for Allocation and Scheduling of DSN Resources

The TMOD (Tele- communications and Mission Operations Directorate) Integrated Ground Resource Allocation and Sched- uling (TIGRAS) computer program provides an integrated computing environment for analysis, allocation, and scheduling of antennas and other ground resources of NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN). TIGRAS includes sophisticated forecasting and schedulegeneration algorithms that enable users to perform their tasks with the help of decision-support infor- mation. TIGRAS connects to a centralized database, both for retrieval of data needed to perform analyses and for storage of results of analyses. TIGRAS has a graphical user interface that combines time-line navigation, display selection, graphics, text, and metrics, all on one screen for viewing. Users can open multiple windows to display user requirements, viewperiods, forecasts, and schedules, all simultaneously. Users can also edit data while viewing them. Included in TIGRAS is software that controls access to selected parts of TIGRAS on the basis of privileges assigned to users. TIGRAS supports mission-phase-based analysis in addition to weekly analysis, so that users can focus more on planned missionphase activities than on activities asso- ciated with fixed time intervals. TIGRAS can be executed on personal computers that utilize the Windows 2000, Windows 95, or Windows NT operating system.