Real-Time Interactive Multiprogramming

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the problems of interactive computing when multiple real-time tasks are involved. The interactive facilities which can be provided are described and some of the important software engineering concepts which should be incorporated in modem programming systems are discussed. Memory management is a crucial activity in interactive systems and a new memory management technique called Software Virtual Memory Management (SVMM) has been developed to allow the interactive facilities of monoprogrammed systems to be extended and improved in a multiprogramming environment. This management technique has been incorporated in an interpreter-oriented system called VIPER (Virtual Interactive Process Executive for Real-time control) and experience with this system is reported here. The paper concludes with a brief analysis of the performance of VIPER which shows that the SVMM technique can be used to improve the performance of interactive real-time systems constructed with the aid of an interpreter to the extent where they can be competitive with compiler-oriented systems in certain applications.