Hard Real-Time Computing Systems

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. A general view

   Pages 1-21

3. Basic concepts

   Pages 23-49

4. Aperiodic task scheduling

   Pages 51-76

5. Periodic task scheduling

   Pages 77-108

6. Fixed-priority servers

   Pages 109-148

7. Dynamic priority servers

   Pages 149-180

8. Resource access protocols

   Pages 181-223

9. Handling overload conditions

   Pages 225-251

10. Kernel design issues

    Pages 253-299

11. Application design issues

    Pages 301-322

12. Examples of real-time systems

    Pages 323-351

13. Back Matter

    Pages 353-379

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Real-time computing plays a crucial role in our society since an increasing num­ ber of complex systems rely, in part or completely, on processor control. Ex­ amples of applications that require real-time computing include nuclear power plants, railway switching systems, automotive electronics, air traffic control, telecommunications, robotics, and military systems. In spite of this large application domain, most of the current real-time systems are still designed and implemented using low-level programming and empirical techniques, without the support of a scientific methodology. This approach results in a lack of reliability, which in critical applications may cause serious environmental damage or even loss of life. This book is a basic treatise on real-time computing, with particular emphasis on predictable scheduling algorithms. The main objectives of the book are to introduce the basic concepts of real-time computing, illustrate the most sig­ nificant results in the field, and provide the basic methodologies for designing predictable computing systems useful in supporting critical control applica­ tions. The book is written for instructional use and is organized to enable readers without a strong knowledge of the subject matter to quickly grasp the material. Technical concepts are clearly defined at the beginning of each chapter, and algorithm descriptions are reinforced through concrete examples, illustrations, and tables.

• algorithms
• computing system
• control
• processor
• programming
• real-time system
• reliability
• robot
• robotics
• scheduling
• society
• telecommunications

• Scuola Superiore S. Anna, Pisa, Italy

  Giorgio C. Buttazzo

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