Real-time processing is processing that is performed with immediate response to data and instructions. In other words, it processes data each time it occurs. Real-time processing has programmed deadlines by which certain operations must be performed.
Batch processing is a term that is often confused with real-time processing.Batch processing is a method of processing at regular intervals by controlling intervals, rather than processing immediately.
Real-time processing, also called stream data processing, is said to be faster and more accurate than batch processing.
Real-time systems are distinguished by the rigor of their processing. It is roughly divided into the following two types.
Hard real-time processing
Hard real-time processing refers to processing that must be executed within a deadline.
If the processing is not performed within the deadline, the task is considered failed. This type of processing is used in systems that should not fail.
Examples include airplane control systems, self-driving car systems, pacemakers, and medical devices that monitor the health of critically ill patients.
Soft real-time processing
Soft real-time processing refers to processing in which the system does not go down even if the processing is not executed within the deadline, and there is some leeway even if the processing is not completed in time.
However, as a result, systems using soft real-time processing may be degraded or their functionality may become less effective.
These processes are used in audio and video related fields.
For example, in a video, some of the frames of the recorded video may be delayed or the video may be distorted, but this does not cause the recording itself to stop. However, the quality of the resulting video will be degraded as frames may be dropped or the video may not be sharp.
Advantages of real-time processing
Data processing delays are extremely low and the information used for processing is up-to-date.
In addition, it is easy to identify problems because it determines whether the process was successful or not in real time.
Disadvantages of real-time processing
It requires high-performance hardware, making it expensive and difficult to implement in simple systems.
Additionally, if a system failure occurs, it will be overloaded.
Reference article
