An open software architecture in a DoD standard GPS receiver

This paper describes an open system software architecture-specifically, the one that would allow the installation of additional operational capability without modifying existing software components-that the DoD easily could introduce into its miniature airborne GPS receiver (MAGR), making capability upgrades simpler, cheaper, and therefore more timely. It describes the existing architecture, identifies problems it creates for the upgrade process, and it describes changes that can be made to create an open system environment. It also identifies the mechanics of adding new capability without modifying the existing operational load module.