From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,87e8cfe2f62264db X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1995-02-09 10:47:10 PST Path: nntp.gmd.de!newsserver.jvnc.net!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news.mathworks.com!zombie.ncsc.mil!paladin.american.edu!auvm!PSAVAX.PWFL.COM!CONDIC Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Message-ID: Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 13:47:10 EST Sender: Ada programming language From: CONDIC@PSAVAX.PWFL.COM Subject: Re: Ada Run-time for embedded systems Date: 1995-02-09T13:47:10-05:00 List-Id: From: Marin David Condic, 407.796.8997, M/S 731-93 Subject: Re: Ada Run-time for embedded systems Original_To: PROFS%"SMTP@PWAGPDB" Original_cc: CONDIC Garlington KE Writes: > >: I don't know how y'all would like to define what an "embedded" >: system is, but I'd say that if it has a screen, QWERTY keyboard >: and a mouse, we're _probably_ not talking about one. > >"Probably" is right! The Automated Target Handoff System in the AFTI/F-16 >aircraft has a screen (head-down display), an alpha-numeric keyboard (for >sending messages to the target designator on the ground), and a mouse (a >cursor slew on the stick). A user interface is _not_ a determinant of >"embedded." Furthermore, "Embedded" and "Real-time" have nothing to do with >each other. > O.K. I *did* include the "Probably" proviso for a good reason - there's always exceptions. I've worked on avionics which have had CRT displays for the pilot and buttons which they could push to get behavior from the system - I'd still call that "embedded" even though it technically speaking has a screen and a keyboard. I think you're missing my point: Plugging a Sun/Unix workstation into an aircraft via a 1553 bus does not seem to me to constitute an "embedded" system - even though, as you observe, it might very well be considered a "realtime" system. I think my point was to observe that the word "embedded" and the word "realtime" tend to get abused rather badly and this can confuse the discussion - especially as it related to the original theme of COTS on "embedded" machines. I'd still like to ask if anyone has an effective definition of either term such that it can exclude from the discussion IBM mainframe payroll programs. (Of course, there are always us obstinate Philidelphia Lawyers who'd argue the point just to be arguing something! ;-) I personally think some of the attributes of an "embedded computer" probably (and note my equivocation - PROBABLY) ought to include the following: * It is physically contained within a machine or device. * The purpose of the machine or device is something other than computing. * The computer controls or influences or monitors the behavior of the machine or device. * The computer is dedicated to and specifically designed for the control/influence/monitoring of the machine or device. * The computer's software is dedicated to and specifically designed for the control/influence/monitoring of the machine or device. * Both the computer and it's software are optimized for their designed task. (Id est, neither contains stuff which isn't related to the task, except by accident.) I don't know if anyone else would consider this list sufficient or accurate, but if you'd accept these points as significant, it makes it difficult to talk about IBM-PClones running MS-DOS being "embedded" computers. It also reduces - if not eliminates - the possibility of COTS being installed on an "embedded" machine. Pax, Marin Marin David Condic, Senior Computer Engineer ATT: 407.796.8997 M/S 731-93 Technet: 796.8997 Pratt & Whitney, GESP Internet: CONDICMA@PWFL.COM P.O. Box 109600 Internet: MDCONDIC@AOL.COM West Palm Beach, FL 33410-9600 =============================================================================== "There are like two kinds of jobs: One is called 'Jobs,' which is for jobs that suck, and the other kind is called 'Careers,' which also suck, but for longer." -- Beavis & Butt-Head ===============================================================================