On Real-Time Systems and Processor Architecture

This report discusses the impact of hard real-time systems requirements on mi-croprocessor performance. Certain dependability aspects are alse considered although not covered in detail. Therefore we discuss hard real-time systems and micropro-cessors from an architectural point of view as well as system hardware design. The architectural considerations assume an event triggered hard real-time system with ker-nel software. The hardware considerations treat a space qualied computer system compared to a general purpose application. Hard real-time systems are intended for use in environments where dependability is a primary design goal. For the majority of commonmicroprocessors, high performance has been the primary design goal. However, a primary design goal such as high per-formance introduces con icts with a design goal such as dependability. It is also clear that a hard real-time system implementation that utilizes a high performance RISC CPU does not necessarily benet from the high execution rate that the microprocessor oers