Handbook of Real-time and Embedded Systems

Citation

(2010), "Handbook of Real-time and Embedded Systems", Sensor Review, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2010.08730aae.001

Handbook of Real-time and Embedded Systems

Handbook of Real-time and Embedded Systems

Article Type: Book review From: Sensor Review, Volume 30, Issue 1

Insup Lee, Joseph Y.-T. Leung and Sang H. SonCRC Press23 July 2007$139.95800 pp.ISBN: 9781584886785www.crcpress.com/ecommerce_product/product_detail.jsf?isbn=1584886781=,

The subject area of real-time embedded computing is an important topic as such systems underpin much of the current and emerging technologies in application domains such as telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, medical devices and equipment, multimedia entertainments devices, factory control systems, etc. A real-time system is required to deliver services in a timely fashion so that products can function in a reliable manner. To design and develop a real-time system the engineer requires a sound theoretical knowledge in many aspects of the field. In recent years, a number of good books have been published on the subject of real-time embedded control systems. Some of these books are aimed at the practicing engineer and others are targeted at an academic audience. In this new book, Handbook of Real-time and Embedded Systems, the editors say that this is an advanced book in real-time and embedded systems, intended for an audience with prior knowledge of the subject area, and that the book is suitable for faculty and graduate students in academic institutions, researchers in industrial laboratories, as well as practitioners who need to implement solutions. The book has three editors and a list of some 84 contributors. The editors and contributors are all respected authorities in the field of real-time and embedded systems and many of them are affiliated to top-class universities and research institutes. The book is comprised of some 800 pages and has seven major parts:

1. 1.

   real-time scheduling and resource management;

2. 2.

   programming languages, paradigms and analysis of real-time and embedded systems;

3. 3.

   operating systems and middleware for real-time and embedded systems;

4. 4.

   real-time communications/sensor networks;

5. 5.

   real-time databases and data services;

6. 6.

   formalisms, methods and tools; and

7. 7.

   experiences with real-time and embedded systems.

The subject matter in the book is treated very much at an academic level and is thus suitable for specialist advanced undergraduate courses or graduate courses in universities. Much of the material is presented in the style of academic papers or advanced tutorial material. Some of the later chapters focus more on application-level experiences, covering topics such as QoS management in distributed systems, multimedia systems and automotive systems. This material might prove useful to a practicing engineer. However, there is very little information in the book to support the engineer who wants to learn how to develop and implement a practical system; thus the book could not be highly recommended for such developers. But, on the other hand, this book would make an excellent study resource or reference book for people who are interested in academic research in this important and growing field.

Donal HeffernanUniversity of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland