Real-time Java and multi-core architectures

Abstract

This paper presents some of the issues related to the use of multi-core architectures for real-time systems, in particular for real-time Java. Currently, the Real-Time Specification for Java (RTSJ) does not account for aspects of parallel computing, but the widespread use of multi-core architectures advocates for the need of a change in this regard. Some of these aspects relate closely to architectural features that need to be properly exported to the application level. We discuss the impact of multi-core processors, both symmetric and asymmetric, on process/thread scheduling. We also analyze the changes needed for some of the important features of RTSJ, such as the priority inversion avoidance, in the new context of multi-core processing. Also, locking and fairness issues are discussed with respect to the use of multi-core processors for real-time Java.