Classes of Software
Systems (cont.)
ä Real-time and embedded systems
ä Receives data from the environment
ä Returns results sufficiently quickly to affect the
environment
ä Process control systems (manufacturing,
refining), Automated Teller Networks (ATM),
Telephone switching systems, Hospital patient
monitoring systems, operating systems
ä Distinction from on-line systems is usually
because of performance requirements or
because responses depend on the system’s state
ä These systems are typically harder to build than
transaction processing systems, they require
more analysis and design work
ä Hard real-time => if a performance deadline is
missed, the result can cause human injury or
major financial damage