Supporting Predictability in Real-Time Database Systems

A real-time system is one whose basic specification and design correctness arguments must include its ability to meet its timing constraints. This implies that its correctness depends not only on the logical correctness, but also on the timeliness of its actions. To function correctly, it must produce a correct result within a specified time, called deadline. In these systems, an action performed too late (or even too early) may be useless or even harmful, even if it is functionally correct. If timing requirements coming from certain essential safety-critical applications would be violated, the results could be catastrophic. They may cause serious damage to the system or to its environment, including injury or even death of people involved. These ar