Computer systems

Batch-processing systems

• Batch processing is often done at night or at the weekend and can be done at off-peak times when the computer and no human intervention is required once the batch has been started.
• Batch processing is often found in businesses where there is no urgency that jobs are processed. For example, a monthly payroll system for each month.
• Batch-processing systems are often used to save time or to do a job that a person might not have the time or patience to do.

Multi-access systems

• A large mainframe computer may have a number of workstations connected directly to it. For example, a few hundred computers could be on one floor in a building however the mainframe may be on the top floor and basement. The workstations consist of many different input devices, such as keyboards, mouses, joysticks and a monitor however there is no computer unit. This is because the user of the workstation is actually using the mainframe computer. Each user maybe not even be near to another user but can still communicate due to the mainframe computer.

Real time systems

• Data is processed as soon as it is input into a real time system. A process control system is an example of a real-time system. Sensors monitor a process by tracking movement or environmental measurements and sending them to the computer as an input device. The computer monitoring a process control system is a dedicated computer (not used for anything else.

Real-time transaction processing

• Another example of real time systems involves transactions, Every single time something is purchased or sold a booking is tracked, the data from the user is immediately processed however this may involve updating some data held in a record of a database. An example of a real time transaction is when someone is booking a cinema ticket. The data is processed and the seats requested are marked. This is used to make it easier to see when something is processed