Task scheduling in hard real-time embedded systems using hardware co-processors

This paper describes the development of hardware-based techniques for scheduling in high-performance real-time systems. The focus of attention is hard real-time applications, scheduling being implemented within a co-processor unit. Two experimental co-processor structures are described, one based on programmable logic devices, the other being a microprocessor-based one. The relative merits of the two approaches are discussed and major conclusions are highlighted.