Computer Science, Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth University of Wales

CS23110 - Small Real-Time Systems

Brief Description

Aims, Objectives, Syllabus, Booklist

Further Details

Number of lectures

24

Number of seminars/tutorials

4

Number of practicals

0

Coordinator

Dr. Fred Long

Other staff involved

Not yet known

Pre-requisites

CS15010

Co-requisites

CS21020 , CS22210

Incompatibilities

None

Assessment

Assessed coursework - 20%
Written exam - 80%

Timing

This module is offered only in Semester 2

• identify the wide, and increasing, use of small embedded systems in domestic, office, transport and industrial process control applications;
• specify the desired behaviour of an embedded system, including its real-time operation and quality requirements;
• select appropriate devices, both analogue and digital, that are used for input and output in embedded systems, with their interfaces;
• select an appropriate hardware and software design taking account of their joint influence on system performance and dependability;
• define required characteristics of multi-tasking software, for use with real-time executive or kernel;
• recognise their strengths and limitations of methods such as MASCOT and HOOD for the design of real-time systems, and associate tools;
• design a small real-time system in MASCOT;
• describe an appropriate standard for developing and checking a safety-related system with justifiable confidence;
• discuss the implications and risks of using an embedded system in a safety-related application.

Introduction - 2 Lectures

Scope and definitions. Examples.

Responding to the real world - 4 Lectures

Hardware and software interaction. Input/output devices and interfaces. Interrupts and polling; control strategies. Hardware-software tradeoffs; architectures for real-time.

Software structure - 4 Lectures

Application tasks and real-time kernels. Scheduling; resource allocation. Reliability: causes and effects of mistakes. Relationship between design and programming language.

Design principles and practice - 7 Lectures

What a design method can and cannot give. MASCOT (Modular Approach to System Construction, Operation and Testing). Example and use of MASCOT. HOOD (Hierarchical Object Oriented Design). Example in HOOD. Impact of performance issues on design.

Implementation principles and practice - 3 Lectures

Tools to assist development. Host-target development, simulation, emulation. Debugging aids, performance monitors.

Checking principles and practice - 3 Lectures

Validation and Quality Assurance. Safety related systems and related standards.

Revision and conclusion - 1 Lecture

Students are likely to need ready access to the following

J. E. Cooling. Software Design for Real-time Systems. Chapman and Hall, 1991.

Caxton C. Foster. Real-Time Programming - Neglected Topics. Addison-Wesley, 1981.

The official handbook of MASCOT : Version 3.1. Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, 1987.

A. Burns and A. Wellings. Real-time Systems and their Programming Languages. Addison Wesley, 1990.

Ian Pyle. Developing Safety Systems - A Guide Using Ada. Prentice Hall, 1991.

Notes

The book by Cooling is highly recommended but rather expensive.

The following should be consulted for different approaches or for further information

S. Bennett and G.S. Virk, editors. Computer Control of Real-time Processes. Peter Peregrinus, 1990.

A. Amghar. Microprocessor System Development. Prentice Hall, 1990.

Andrews. Concurrent Programming. Benjamin Cummings, 1991.

Ken Shumate and Marilyn Keller. Software Specification and Design - A Disciplined Approach for Real-Time Systems. Wiley, 1992.

Ian Pyle, Michel Lissandre, Peter Hruschka, and Ken Jackson. Real-Time Systems - Investigating Industrial Practice. Wiley, 1993.

Philip McDowell. Choosing and Using 4 bit Microcontrollers. Newnes, Oxford, 1994.

Version 2.1

Nigel Hardy Departmental Advisor