Real-time processing responds instantly to commands or data entry, divided into hard and soft categories. Hard real-time has a deadline, while soft can miss deadlines without failing. Examples include aircraft control systems, credit card transactions, and car engines. MASCOT is a common method for real-time design.
Real-time processing is a type of data processing that responds instantly to commands or data entry. In some cases, this may also refer to the appearance of an instantaneous response when in reality there is a short delay. This processing is often divided into two different categories, hard real-time and soft real-time.
Real-time hard computing refers to a system where a deadline must be met. If the deadline is not met, the activity or system is considered a failure. This type of processing is found in systems with which there is often little room for failure. Some examples may include aircraft control systems, pacemakers, and many medical devices that monitor the health of patients who may be in critical condition.
Real-time soft processing, on the other hand, is a type of processing where deadlines can be missed without the system failing due to the delay. In some cases, the system may suffer from lower quality or reduced effectiveness of functions. These processes are often found in audio and video systems. For example, recorded video may drop frames, even though the video won’t fail due to delay or dropped frames. Instead, the video quality decreased.
Real-time computing is used in various industries around the world. Some common examples of this type of processing can be found in the processing of transactions by credit card companies. Many of these companies use a batch processing method that allows a number of transactions to be posted at once. This is an example of real-time soft processing.
Many cars also use real-time computing. A car engine can be a good example of real-time computing. If the engine lags in its response to the command it receives, it could cause the entire car to malfunction.
There are a number of designs used to produce real-time computing systems. One of the most common methods for real-time design is the modular approach to software construction operations and testing (MASCOT). MASCOT is a software design method first introduced by the UK Ministry of Defense in the 1970s. This method differed from other software development methods in that its primary focus was not on the functionality or purpose of the system at the design stage. Instead, MASCOT’s developers focused on the real-time processes and efficient performance of the systems they developed.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN