COMPUTER DATA PROCESSING

Computer data processing is any process that uses a computer program to enter data
and summarise, analyse or otherwise convert data into usable information. It involves
recording, analysing, sorting, summarising, calculating, disseminating and storing data.
Because data are most useful when well-presented and actually informative, data-
processing systems are often referred to as information systems.
Data Processing (data processing) is a data collection, storage, retrieval, processing,
transformation and transmission. Data is facts, concepts, or instructions of a form of
expression, can be manual or automated device for processing.
Any processing which takes place independently of the central processing unit is an
oine processing. !nline processing generally involves direct interaction with one or more
users and some sort of user interface "graphical or text-based#. $rocessing "whether
transactional or otherwise# usually involves relatively low throughput since signi%cant time may
be spent waiting for user input. &owever, turnaround of processing the input "once received#
tends to be somewhat time-critical. !ine processing is typically batch-oriented and often
involves large volumes of data being processed with little or no intervention "usually a system
operator rather than an end user#.
Onine Processing! A method of using a terminal remote from a company mainframe or
an interface to the Internet like an e-commerce website for taking product orders and
dealing with payments. 'he online processing of orders o(ers considerable savings and
greater overall e)ciency for most business sales operations, although system down time
can be costly in terms of lost sales.
'he following terms are the modes of electronic data processing*
"# Rea Time Processing!
A real time processing is one in which the data is processed without any signi%cant delay.
'he computer waits for the input and as soon as the data is received it is processed and
the result can be produced +uickly.
,eal time processing is usually found in systems that use computer control. 'his
processing method is used when it is essential that the input re+uest is dealt with +uickly
enough so as to be able to control an output properly. 'his is called the -latency-.
.or example, the computer inside the /ngine 0ontrol 1nit in a car has to manage the
engine at every moment based on what the driver wants to do. ,eal time processing has
to be programmed very carefully to ensure that no input events are missed.
2ote that real-time processing does not have to be -fast-.
.or example, a tra)c light system is a real-time system but it only needs to process data
relatively slowly. !n the other hand, controlling a car engine has to deal with input
events happening every thousandth of a second so a very fast computer is needed to do
this -but both the tra)c-light and the car engine computers are carrying out -real-time-
processing.
/xamples*
'ra)c lights
&eart rate monitoring
Aircraft control
0omputer games
0ontrolling robots
Anti-missile defense systems
Airplane landing control system
.light simulation systems
/lectronic fund transfer systems
'ickets reservation systems
'he user interface of a real-time system may use specialist input devices to provide data
input. .or example, a car driver will be providing input data to the onboard computer
with throttle and brake pedals. A gamer may be using a 3oystick or hand held control to
interact with the real-time game. A tra)c light system may sense the car at the lights
using a buried inductive loop.
Advantages of a real-time processing system include*
'here is no signi%cant delay for response
Information is always up-to-date.
!utput from the computer may be used to ad3ust and improve the input.
Disadvantages of a real-time processing system include*
A computer must be dedicated solely to the task.
'he computer must be continually online.
$# %atc& Processing!
In the batch processing program or the data is collected together in batches before
processing. /ach batch is called a 3ob. A 3ob +ueue is the number of 3obs waiting to be
processed. Batch processing is often used where large amount of data has to be
processed. Batch process is most economical and e)cient for large and very large
organi4ations.
It is often not desirable to deal with a set of data inputs until a certain number have
occurred or a set time has passed. 5o they are stored until the system comes online to
process the data in one -batch-.
.or example
A stock control program may store records of every item sold in a shop that
day. 'hen, at the end of each day it calculates what needs to be ordered.
An online competition stores all the entries until it is time to %nd the winner.
/lectricity, gas and telephone bills are usually calculated on a monthly basis.
$roducing monthly bank statements to send out to customers
$ayroll runs which may be weekly or monthly
After loading the data into the system, batch processing does not usually re+uire any
further interaction on the part of the user. 'herefore the user interface is often code-
based. 'he user enters the parameters of the batch run then leaves it to carry on.
'he advantage of batch processing is that it can be done during less-busy times on the
computer or 3obs can be +ueued up in order to fairly share a computing resource such as
a super-computer. 'he main disadvantage of batch processing is the time delay between
collecting the input data and getting an output. It can also be frustrating to %nd out only
later that a batch run has failed due to a data input problem.
'# Onine Processing!
!nline processing is used when the devices are directly under the control of 0$1. In
online processing one uses the devices directly connected to the 0$1 for either data
entry or for in+uiry purposes. 'his method has been developed to address the
de%ciencies of batch processing.
(# Time S&aring!
'ime sharing is a way of organi4ing a computer for multi-processing. 'ime sharing is the
system where the computer allows each terminal in turn a small amount of processing
time before it goes to the other computer or assigning and relin+uishing 0$1 from
di(erent 3obs on the basis of time "i.e time slice# is called time sharing.

)# DISTRI%UTED DATA PROCESSING
Arrangement of networked computers in which data processing capabilities are spread
across the network. In DD$, speci%c 3obs are performed by speciali4ed computers
which may be far removed from the user and6or from other such computers. 'his
arrangement is in contrast to -centrali4ed- computing in which several client computers
share the same server "usually a mini or mainframe computer# or a cluster of servers.
DD$ provides greater scalability, but also re+uires more network administration
resources.
Distributed data processing allows multiple computers to be working among multiple
geographically separate sites where local computers handle local processing needs.
!ne computer is designed as the master computer
1p to 77 slave computers can be used to communicate with the central
computer and perhaps between each other
8inked by communication network