Contains information regarding batch and online processing.

1. batch processing
real-time or online processing
real-time process control
Types of processing

2. Batch processing
 Sometimes we have a lot of data to process
and it is all of a similar form (e.g. we might have
to calculate the pay for 10,000 employees)
 In cases like this, we can prepare the data into a
set or 'batch' and hand it over to the computer to
be processed in one go.
 No user input is required - the computer works
its way through the data automatically.

3.  An advantage of this type of system is that the
processing can occur when the computer is not
being used for anything else (e.g. at night).
 The job is setup, people go home, and when they
return the next morning the work has been done.
Typical application where batch-processing can
be used:
 Payroll processing
 Processing bank cheques
 Printing of bank statements
 Updating of a stock database

4. Real-Time Processing
 Sometime we need to process data immediately
- we cannot wait and process it later (e.g. using
batch processing)
 For example, if we want to book a seat on a flight,
the booking must be processed immediately.
 We can't put it in a pile and do it later, because
other people might be trying to book the same
seat!
 If an item of input data must be processed
immediately, and the result is ready before the
next input data is accepted, this is known as a
real-time system.

5.  Typical application where real-time processing
must be used:
 Any type of monitoring system (e.g. hospital
patient monitoring)
 Any type of computer control system (e.g an
automatic production line, an aircraft auto-pilot, the
system controlling a nuclear power station, etc.)
 Payment systems (e.g. EFPOS and ATM cash
withdrawal)
 All booking systems (e.g. flight booking, cinema
seat booking, etc.)
 Computer games (e.g. FPS, driving games, etc.)

6. On-Line Processing
 An on-line system is one where the user is
directly interacting with the computer - the
user is 'on-line' with the computer.
 So, any system where the user is entering data
directly into the computer must be an on-line
system.
 If data is being entered and then processed, it's
an on-line processing system.
 Examples of on-line processing systems:
All booking systems (e.g. flight booking, cinema
seat booking, etc.)
 Computer games (e.g. FPS, driving games, etc.)