Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ncar!ames!bionet!agate!ucbvax!ucdavis!csusac!csuchico.edu!merriam
From: merriam@csuchico.edu (Charles Merriam)
Newsgroups: comp.realtime
Subject: Re: What is "real-time" really?
Keywords: Realtime, opinions
Message-ID: <1990Feb23.231250.19561@csuchico.edu>
Date: 23 Feb 90 23:12:50 GMT
References: <98692@linus.UUCP> <1990Feb23.191100.18448@vicom.com>
Sender: news@csuchico.edu (USENET)
Reply-To: merriam@cscihp.UUCP (Charles Merriam)
Organization: California State University, Chico
Lines: 15


Realtime means that your response time will be appropriate for 
the equipment/users of the module.  For example, a real-time ATM controller
needs an account balance within five seconds, since that is appropriate to
the user.  A square root operation may require a response within five
milliseconds if used as a critical part of a flight control system.  

One could argue that all computer programs have real-time constraints, 
but it would not improve preformance.

                     Charles Merriam
                     Calif. State University, Chico
----
   "If it is underbudget, ahead of schedule, works the first time, and
    can be modified by a two year old, then it is art."  merriam@csuchico.edu