Hard Real-Time Computing Systems

Hard Real-Time Computing Systems: Predictable Scheduling Algorithms and Applications is a basic treatise on real-time computing, with particular emphasis on predictable scheduling algorithms. It introduces the fundamental concepts of real-time computing, illustrates the most significant results in the field, and provides the essential methodologies for designing predictable computing systems which can be used to support critical control applications. This volume serves as a textbook for advanced level courses on the topic. Each chapter provides basic concepts, which are followed by algorithms that are illustrated with concrete examples, figures and tables. Exercises are included with each chapter and solutions are given at the end of the book. The book also provides an excellent reference for those interested in real-time computing for designing and/or developing predictable control applications.

HARD REAL-TIME COMPUTING SYSTEMS Predictable Scheduling Algorithms and Applications, Second Edition Real-time systems play a crucial role in our society, supporting several important application areas, such as nuclear and chemical plant control, flight control systems, traffic control in airports, harbors, and train stations, telecommunication systems, industrial automation, robotics, defensive military systems and space missions. Despite such a large number of critical applications, most of the current real-time systems are still designed and implemented using low level programming and empirical techniques without the support of a precise scientific methodology. The consequence of this approach is a lack of reliability, which in critical applications may cause serious damage to the environment or result in significant human loss. Hard Real-Time Computing Systems is a basic treatise on real-time computing, with particular emphasis on predictable scheduling algorithms. It introduces the fundamental concepts of real-time computing, illustrates the most significant results in the field, and provides the essential methodologies for designing predictable computing systems which can be used to support critical control applications. The book covers such topics as aperiodic task scheduling, periodic task scheduling, fixed –priority servers, dynamic priority servers, resource access protocols, handling overload conditions, kernel design issues, application design issues and real-time operating systems and standards. Hard Real-Time Computing Systems serves as a textbook for advanced level courses on the topic. Each chapter provides basic concepts, which are followed by algorithms that are illustrated with concrete examples, figures and tables. Exercises are included with each chapter and solutions are given at the end of the book. The book also provides an excellent reference for those interested in real-time computing for designing and/or developing predictable control applications, which may include such topics as robotics, plant control, monitoring systems, data acquisition, simulations of real-world systems, virtual reality, and interactive games.