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the greater part of program debugging can be initiated simply by observing the small modules.
4. Timer control is made easier.
To perform processing at 10 ms intervals, the microcomputer timer function was formerly used to periodically in-
itiate an interrupt. However, as the number of usable microcomputer timers was limited, timer insufficiency was
compensated for by, for instance, using one timer for a number of different processing operations.
When the real-time OS is introduced, however, it is possible to create programs for performing processing at fixed
time intervals making use of the real-time OS time management function without paying special attention to the
microcomputer timer function. At the same time, programming can also be done in such a manner as to let the
programmer take that numerous timers are provided for the microcomputer.
5. Software maintainability is enhanced
When the real-time OS is put to use, the developed software consists of small program modules called tasks.
Therefore, increased software maintainability is provided because developed software maintenance can be carried
out simply by maintaining small tasks.
6. Increased software reliability is assured.
The introduction of the real-time OS makes it possible to carry out program evaluation and testing in the unit of a
small module called task. This feature facilitates evaluation and testing and increases software reliability.
7. The microcomputer performance can be optimized to improve the performance of microcom-
puter-based products.
With the real-time OS, it is possible to decrease the number of unnecessary microcomputer operations such as I/O
waiting. It means that the optimum capabilities can be obtained from microcomputers, and this will lead to mi-
crocomputer-based product performance improvement.
