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From: marks@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Mark D Salzman)
Newsgroups: comp.realtime
Subject: Re: What is "real-time" really?
Message-ID: <8383@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM>
Date: 23 Feb 90 18:59:05 GMT
References: <98692@linus.UUCP>
Reply-To: marks@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Mark D Salzman)
Followup-To: comp.realtime
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Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Vancouver,  WA.
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In article <98692@linus.UUCP> duncant@mbunix.mitre.org (Thomson) writes:
>  What is the best definition of real-time?

A definition that has served me well for a "real-time" system is as follows:

A "real-time" system is one where the response time to any given event (an
interrupt or other asyncronus signal) is predictable and repeatable.

In other words, when an interrupt happens on a "real-time" system, the ammount
of time it takes to handle that interrupt can be calculated and will always
be the same (within limits).

Anyone got a better idea?

-- 
# Mark D. Salzman    Phone: (206) 253-5542.  #  The more complex the mind,
# Tektronix Inc., P.O. Box 3500, M/S C1-936  #  the greater the need for 
# Vancouver, Washington. USA  98668          #  the simplicity of play.
# E-MAIL: marks@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM          #       James T. Kirk