Real-time Computing Mini-Project

Objective:
Investigation on a real-time system/application with recognized deliverables and
its key metrics
The topics relating to real-time computing are numerous, some the areas which are
common to our daily application are shown in the following for your reference:
Typical examples of real-time systems include:
1) Air traffic control systems,
2) Flight simulator/Power Plant simulator
3) Networked Multimedia Systems,
4) Command Control Systems
5) Medical diagnosis equipment
6) Intelligent electrical distribution
7) Vision controlled system
8) Military missile guidance control system
9) High speed communication network
10) Airline reservation system
11) Financial analytical and on-line transaction system

Examples on the key metrics and measureable criteria are suggested as follows:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)

ability to schedule
predictable manner of accomplishing tasks
well-defined time requirements
promising communication engagement with associated tasks
management in resource and memory allocation
special data structure
preemptive and deterministic characteristics
optimized context switching time
prioritized interrupting mechanism
demonstrating computed figures in guaranteed performance
analytical model supporting investigated system/application

Following the design philosophy and recognized skills of a real-time system/application,

a thorough discussion with supporting de facto factors and a deep understanding of the
investigated topics is desirable in this mini-project. Throughout the investigation, realtime capacity and performance is evaluated and justified with your knowledge and
contexts introduced in the subject. Assertions and claims come together with supported
data and analytical findings are recommended.

The final judgments and findings should be covered by a report with no more than 25
pages of A4 paper. The report should be submitted in week 12. The project is an
individual task and each student is required to submit their project title on or before
week 3. Since the choice of project title is open, and proposed project title should be
endorsed by me before they got started in order to avoid any confusion that might incur.
The project mark will contribute 15% towards the final grading of the subject marks.