Distinguish between Real Time, Online and Batch Processing System
Real-time processing is the processing of data that takes place when a user provides commands or data. In batch processing, many tasks are run concurrently. The primary distinction is that real-time activities have to happen instantly, but batch processes may be delayed by administrators.
Duration
The reaction time is the interval of time that elapses between a user entering data into a computer system and the computer producing the desired result. Response times for real-time systems are predictable. When outputs are timely and correct, they are successful. Rapid response times are not always necessary. Every process has some delay, and there is no pace at which it can be said to be operating in real time. A system is considered “real-time” when it can handle tasks with deadlines. jobs in batch processing are finished when the computer can finish them, which depends on the computer’s processing speed and the needs of the jobs. There is no set time for tasks to be finished.
Deadlines
A harsh real-time system is one in which missing even a single deadline signals a total breakdown of the system. Missing a deadline in soft real-time means that the system is not operating at its best. Missed deadlines in batch processing may indicate that the computer need more processing power to complete operations.
Incorporated
Real-time systems often respond to changes in their environment by being reactive. Typically, real-time processors are embedded, which means they are exclusively used to manage hardware and lack an operating system interface. For instance, a digital thermometer may have an inbuilt real-time CPU that provides an accurate temperature reading all the time. Typically, batch operations are a component of a larger computer system.
Flexibility vs. Predictability
In reaction to an input, real-time systems provide distinct and dependable outputs. Typically, a real-time system may have a set number of outputs. For instance, the thermometer won’t do unusual things like saying “the meat is done.” Instead, the number of readings it may record is fixed. Batch processes may often be modified by administrators to fulfill various functions.
Delaying
Batch processing allows procedures to be scheduled for times when the computer is not busy, such late at night when a firm is not particularly active. For instance, because antivirus scans consume computer processing power, a business might choose not to perform them while it’s busy. Antivirus scans are often started by administrators at night, after most employees have left for the day. Whenever the processor gets an input, real-time processing typically takes place.
Away from Computing
Batch processing takes happen offline as well. As an example, a business may choose to send a bill to a client once a month to save postal costs, as opposed to each time the client pays for a service. Generally speaking, real-time processing only applies to microcontrollers and computers.
Online vs. Real-Time Systems
Since we interact with real-time systems on a daily basis, we are all used to them. Since surfing is one specific kind of online system that is widely used in today’s world, we also understand what an online system is. There are online systems that operate in near real time, such as the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) online money transfer system. There will inevitably be misunderstandings among readers about the distinctions between online and real-time systems when they are so close.
The only definition of “online” is when someone is logged into the internet. You are interacting with internet systems whether you are using them to play games, monitor share price movements, or communicate with friends via instant messaging. Certain systems need you to explicitly reload the website, while others update automatically after a certain amount of time. Between the moment the event occurs and the web page refreshes, there is a delay in time. It is not real time to watch a live web broadcast of a cricket match since there is a lag of a few seconds before you see a wicket fall or a ball being delivered.
The status of a real-time system varies in relation to actual time. Command and control systems, military and space systems, air traffic control systems, and automated electronics are a few instances of real-time systems. Real-time systems rely not just on the precise moment at which events occur, but also on the logical outcomes of human calculations. An instance of a real-time system may be seen during an online conversation with a buddy. As soon as you start typing in the messenger, you may see the system’s response. Many online systems currently operate in near real time due to technological developments and an increase in user base.
One example of an online system that is real-time is the railway bookings system, where you may reserve a seat as soon as you click the “confirm” button.