Misconceptions About Real-Time Databases

atabases have become an integral part of many computer systems—ranging from complex systems that control air traffic, plant operations, and stock market transactions to general-purpose computing systems that run audio and video applications. Increasingly, computer systems—even general-purpose systems—are requiring real-time support, so it’s not surprising to hear more about real-time databases. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about the real-time aspects of databases. Ironically, the state of confusion that exists today about real-time databases parallels the confusion that existed a decade ago surrounding the differences between real-time and general-purpose computing.1 We believe that a careful definition of real-time databases will help dispel these misconceptions and will encourage research efforts similar to those that have advanced real-time systems over this past decade.