Content:

1. Introduction

2. Components of real time operating system

 The Scheduler

 Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)

 Function Library

 Memory Management

 Fast dispatch latency or context switch time

 User-defined data objects and classes

3. Types of Real-Time Operating System

 Hard Real Time

 Firm Real time

 Soft Real Time

4. Terms used in RTOS

 Task

 Job

 Release time of a job

 Execution time of a job

 Deadline of a job

 Processors

 Maximum

 Response time of a job

 Absolute deadline
 5. Features of RTOS

6. Factors for selecting an RTOS

 Performance

 Middleware

 Error-Free

 Embedded system usage

 Maximum consumption

 Task shifting

 Unique Features

 24/7 performance

7. Difference between in GPOS and RTOS

8. Applications of Real Time Operating System

9. Disadvantages of RTOS

10. Summary

Real-time operating system (RTOS)

1. Introduction:

Real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating system intended to serve real time application that
process data as it comes in, mostly without buffer delay. The full form of RTOS is Real time operating
system. In a RTOS, Processing time requirement is calculated in tenths of second’s increments of time. It
is time-bound system that can be defined as fixed time constraints. In this type of system, processing must
be done inside the specified constraints. Otherwise, the system will fail.

The real-time operating system used for a real-time application means for those applications where data
processing should be done in the fixed and small quantum of time. It is different from general
purpose computer where time concept is not considered as much crucial as in Real-Time Operating
System. RTOS is a time-sharing system based on clock interrupts. Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) serve
the interrupt, raised by the system. RTOS used Priority to execute the process. When a high priority
process enters in system low priority process preempted to serve higher priority process. Real-time
operating system synchronized the process. Resources can be used efficiently without wastage of time.
RTOS are controlling traffic signal; Nuclear reactors Control scientific experiments, medical imaging
systems, industrial system, fuel injection system, home appliance are some application of Real Time
operating system. Real time Operating Systems are very fast and quick respondent systems. These
systems are used in an environment where a large number of events (generally external) must be accepted
and processed in a short time. Real time processing requires quick transaction and characterized by
supplying immediate response. For example, a measurement from a petroleum refinery indicating that
temperature is getting too high and might demand for immediate attention to avoid an explosion.

 It offers priority-based scheduling, which allows you to separate analytical processing from non-
critical processing.
 The Real time OS provides API functions that allow cleaner and smaller application code.
 Abstracting timing dependencies and the task-based design results in fewer interdependencies
between modules.
 RTOS offers modular task-based development, which allows modular task-based testing.
 The task-based API encourages modular development as a task, will typically have a clearly
defined role. It allows designers/teams to work independently on their parts of the project.
 An RTOS is event-driven with no time wastage on processing time for the event which is not
occurring.

In real time operating system there is a little swapping of programs between primary and secondary
memory. Most of the time, processes remain in primary memory in order to provide quick response,
therefore, memory management in real time system is less demanding compared to other systems.

Real Time systems are used in the environments where a large number of events (generally external to the
computer system) is required to be accepted and is to be processed in the form of quick response. Such
systems have to be the multitasking. So the primary function of the real time operating system is to
manage certain system resources, such as the CPU, memory, and time. Each resource must be shared
among the competing processes to accomplish the overall function of the system Apart from these
primary functions of the real time operating system there are certain secondary functions that are not
mandatory but are included to enhance the performance:
 To provide an efficient management of RAM.
 To provide an exclusive access to the computer resources.
Real time operating systems mostly use the preemptive priority scheduling. These support more than one
scheduling policy and often allow the user to set parameters associated with such policies, such as the
time-slice in Round Robin scheduling where each task in the task queue is scheduled up to a maximum
time, set by the time-slice parameter, in a round robin manner. Hundreds of the priority levels are
commonly available for scheduling. Some specific tasks can also be indicated to be non-preemptive.

2. Components of real time operating system:

A real time operating system contains the following components:
• The Scheduler: this element in RTOS tells that in which order the tasks can be executed which is
generally based on the priority. It is the main element of RTOS.
• Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP): a number of different multiple tasks can be handled by the RTOS
as this is its ability so that parallel processing can be done. This is also known as multitasking.
• Function Library: It is the element of RTOS which acts as an interface so that it can connect kernel
and application code. This application code sends the requests to the kernel via function library so that the
application can give the desired result.
• Memory Management: this element is required so that the system can allocate the memory to every
program. It is an important element of the RTOS.
• Fast dispatch latency or context switch time: The term dispatch latency means the time interval
between the termination of the task which is identified by the operating system and the time taken by the
thread, which is in the ready queue that has started processing.
As its name implies, context switch time is the time which the system takes to switch from one running
thread to another. This time saves the context of the current task and also replaces it with the context of
new thread and this time needs to be minimal and optimal for an RTOS.
• User-defined data objects and classes: RTOS makes use of the programming languages like C/C++
which are organized according to the type of their operation. RTOS will use them so that it can control
the specified application.

3. Types of Real-Time Operating System:

 Hard Real Time:

In Hard RTOS, the deadline is handled very strictly which means that given task must start executing on
specified scheduled time, and must be completed within the assigned time duration.

Example: Medical critical care system, Aircraft systems, etc.

 Firm Real time:

These types of RTOS also need to follow the deadlines. However, missing a deadline may not have big
impact but could cause undesired affects, like a huge reduction in quality of a product.

Example: Various types of Multimedia applications.

 Soft Real Time:

Soft Real time RTOS, accepts some delays by the Operating system. In this type of RTOS, there is a
deadline assigned for a specific job, but a delay for a small amount of time is acceptable. So, deadlines
are handled softly by this type of RTOS.

Example: Online Transaction system and Livestock price quotation System.

4. Terms used in RTOS:

Here, are essential terms used in RTOS:

 Task: A set of related tasks that is jointly able to provide some system functionality.
 Job: A job is a small piece of work that can be assigned to a processor, and that may or may not
require resources.
 Release time of a job: It's a time of a job at which job becomes ready for execution.
 Execution time of a job: It is time taken by job to finish its execution.
 Deadline of a job: It's time by which a job should finish its execution.
 Processors: They are also known as active resources. They are important for the execution of a
job.
 Maximum: It is the allowable response time of a job is called its relative deadline.
  Response time of a job: It is a length of time from the release time of a job when the instant
finishes.
 Absolute deadline: This is the relative deadline, which also includes its release time.

5. Features of RTOS:

Here are important features of RTOS:

 Occupy very less memory

 Consume fewer resources
 Response times are highly predictable
 Unpredictable environment
 The Kernel saves the state of the interrupted task ad then determines which task it should run
next.
 The Kernel restores the state of the task and passes control of the CPU for that task.

6. Factors for selecting an RTOS:

Here, are essential factors that you need to consider for selecting RTOS:

 Performance: Performance is the most important factor required to be considered while selecting
for a RTOS.
 Middleware: if there is no middleware support in Real time operating system, then the issue of
time-taken integration of processes occurs.
 Error-free: RTOS systems are error-free. Therefore, there is no chance of getting an error while
performing the task.
 Embedded system usage: Programs of RTOS are of small size. So we widely use RTOS for
embedded systems.
 Maximum Consumption: we can achieve maximum Consumption with the help of RTOS.
 Task shifting: Shifting time of the tasks is very less.
 Unique features: A good RTS should be capable, and it has some extra features like how it
operates to execute a command, efficient protection of the memory of the system, etc.
 24/7 performance: RTOS is ideal for those applications which require to run 24/7.

7. Difference between in GPOS and RTOS:

Here are important differences between GPOS and RTOS:

General-Purpose Operating System (GPOS) Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)

It used for desktop PC and laptop. It is only applied to the embedded application.

Process-based Scheduling. Time-based scheduling used like round-robin

scheduling.
 Interrupt latency is not considered as important as in Interrupt lag is minimal, which is measured in a few
RTOS. microseconds.

No priority inversion mechanism is present in the The priority inversion mechanism is current. So it can
system. not modify by the system.

Kernel's operation may or may not be preempted. Kernel's operation can be preempted.

Priority inversion remain unnoticed No predictability guarantees

8. Applications of Real Time Operating System:

Real-time systems are used in:

 Airlines reservation system.

 Air traffic control system.
 Systems that provide immediate updating.
 Used in any system that provides up to date and minute information on stock prices.
 Defense application systems like RADAR.
 Networked Multimedia Systems
 Command Control Systems
 Internet Telephony
 Anti-lock Brake Systems
 Heart Pacemaker

9. Disadvantages of RTOS:

Here, are drawbacks/cons of using RTOS system:

 RTOS system can run minimal tasks together, and it concentrates only on those applications
which contain an error so that it can avoid them.
 RTOS is the system that concentrates on a few tasks. Therefore, it is really hard for these systems
to do multi-tasking.
 Specific drivers are required for the RTOS so that it can offer fast response time to interrupt
signals, which helps to maintain its speed.
 Plenty of resources are used by RTOS, which makes this system expensive.
 The tasks which have a low priority need to wait for a long time as the RTOS maintains the
accuracy of the program, which are under execution.
 Minimum switching of tasks is done in Real time operating systems.
 It uses complex algorithms which is difficult to understand.
 RTOS uses lot of resources, which sometimes not suitable for the system.
10. Summary:

 RTOS is an operating system intended to serve real time application that process data as it comes
in, mostly without buffer delay.
 It offers priority-based scheduling, which allows you to separate analytical processing from non-
critical processing.
 Important components of RTOS system are: 1)The Scheduler, 2) Symmetric Multiprocessing, 3)
Function Library, 4) Memory Management, 5) Fast dispatch latency, and 6) User-defined data
objects and classes
 Three types of RTOS are 1) Hard time 2) Soft time ,and 3) Firm time
 RTOS system occupy very less memory and consume fewer resources
 Performance is the most important factor required to be considered while selecting for a RTOS.
 General-Purpose Operating System (GPOS) is used for desktop PC and laptop while Real-Time
Operating System (RTOS) only applied to the embedded application.
 Real-time systems are used in Airlines reservation system, Air traffic control system etc.
 The biggest drawback of RTOS is that the system only concentrates on a few tasks.