Switched multi-hop EDF networks : The influence of offsets on real-time performance

Sammanfattning: In computer science, real-time research is an interesting topic. Nowadays real-time applications are close to us in our daily life. Skype, MSN, satellite communication, automation car and Ethernet are all things related to the real-time field. Many of our computer systems are also real-time, such as RT-Linux, Windows CE. In other words, we live in a “real-time” world. However, not everyone knows much about its existence. Hence, we chose this thesis in order to take a knowledge journey in the real-time field. For an average reader, we hope to provide some basic knowledge about real-time. For a computer science student, we will try to provide a discussion on switched multi-hop network with offsets, and the influence of offsets on real-time network performance. We try to prove that offsets provide networks of high predictability and utilization because offsets adjust packet‟s sending time. A packet‟s sending time is the time when a sender/router starts to transmit a date packet. Packets are sent one after the other. Therefore, we need to lower the time interval between one packet and another. Hence, in our network model, network performance is more predictable and effective. There might be some things left to discuss in future, so we would like to receive any advice and also suggestions for future discussions.