Abstract
Multicomputer systems involve complex hardware and software
components and extensive interaction among these components. Furthermore, rapid
advances in semiconductor chip technology result in many possible
implementations for a given system requirement. The relative merits of
different possible hardware implementations are difficult to determine
at an early stage of design and will often subsequently change. Thus
a need exists for design methods that enable delaying implementation
decisions as long as possible. System structure, that is, the definition
of major components and their interaction is often not dependent on the
physical implementation. The structural design of a system, however
largely determines important system characteristics such as performance,
modularity, reliability, visibility, and adaptability. We outline a
system structural design method based on guidelines that promote
modularity and access graphs that specify component interactions. This
method is then applied to a typical example, the design of a network
message processor. This processor provides communication in a network
of multiple computers and interactive terminals.
