Multiprocessor application in flight management systems

TLDR: The Flight Management Computer System for the 737-300 has a three-processor architecture with fixed task allocations divided into the navigation, performance, and inputloutput functions, which has advantages and disadvantages.

Abstract: The Flight Management Computer System (FMCS) for the 737-300 has a three-processor architecture with fixed task allocations divided F'imarily into the navigation, performance, and inputloutput functions. The computer architecture uses controlled communication protocol through a global memory accessible to all processors. of this architecture are in functional separation for testing and validation, and in increased throughput by parallel processing of several system functions. The disadvantage is in the inefficiency of fixed task allocation when a high demand for several tasks allocated to the same processor occur simultaneously, thus limiting the system response time to a single prOCeSSOr'S throughput. An alternate multiprocessor architecture for future systems may consider variable task allocation to the processing elements, depending on the availability and capability of each element. system controller is required to assign tasks as a function of the response priority. In this way, a higher effective throughput is achieved since each processing element is more fully utilized. Issues such as internal bus control, memory access, and priority assignment methods are explored for this type of architecture. Advantages