Evaluating the IOBIDS specification using gate-level system simulation

In September of 1990, the ATF SPO (Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter Systems Programs Office) awarded Protocol the IOBIDS program in order to apply GLSS (gate-level system simulation) to the measurement of computer module performance and the evaluation of software specifications. The IOBIDS specification, which defines a software interface layer common modules, was chosen as a test case for these demonstrations to determine whether the additional software layer would degrade module performance to unacceptable levels and because applying GLSS to a relatively immature specification can test its completeness and uncover ambiguities. The IOBIDS program used simulation models of a JIAWG (Joint Integrated Avionics Working Group) CAP-16 (Common Avionics Processor 16-bit) module to perform two types of demonstrations. Performance demonstrations used GLSS to measure the performance impact of IOBIDS by executing a benchmark on a JIAWG common module with and without the IOBIDS software. Exchangeability demonstrations used GLSS to evaluate the IOBIDS specification and demonstrate common module exchangeability by executing a common Ada program across JIAWG common modules developed by multiple contractors