Course Catalogue

Real Time Computing Systems and Architecture UESTCHN4014

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Engineering
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course is concerned with the study of the hardware and software of computers systems which receive inputs from the physical world outside the computer and which must respond within the deadlines imposed by the time constants of the external hardware.  The course also traces how microprocessors and memory systems have evolved to achieve enhanced performance and describes the range of methods for communicating between computers, over short medium and long distance links.

Timetable

This course will be timetabled in blocks, typically one week in four, with tutorials and on-line support available between each block.

Requirements of Entry

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

75% Written Exam

25% Report: Laboratory and Group Project

Main Assessment In: December

Course Aims

The aims of the course are to:

■ introduce computer systems which must meet deadlines imposed by external hardware and/or design specifications;

■ give students an appreciation of current design styles in computer architecture.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ describe the attributes of a real-time computers system and catagorise systems based upon analysis of design specification and/or information provided about the system;

■ estimate the execution time for code performing input and output functions, data storage in cache and virtual memory systems by calculating their average access times and storage requirements and then optimising execution time through appropriate selection of methods;

■ explain how information can be transmitted between computer systems via serial connections;

■ apraise the use of real-time operating systems and describe priority allocation policies such as rate monotonic scheduling;

■ draw the state diagram for a simple models of a multiprocessor system and derive the equations from which the performance of the system can be calculated;

■ describe the techniques underlying modern processor designs and real-time operating systems and discuss the inherent limitations on performance imposed by hardware and software.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions