i) Task Management:

Kernel uses TCB for task switching. TCB contains following information-

• Task ID - unique task ID number.
• Task state - current state of the task
• Task type - hard real time or soft real time
• Task priority - priority of task
• Task context pointer - pointer for context saving
• Task memory pointer - pointer to program, data or stack memory
• Task system resource pointer
• Task pointer

ii) Task Scheduling:

It is done by implementing scheduling algorithm.

iii) Task Synchronization:

• Task synchronization is used for concurrent access to shared resources among multiple tasks.
• It provides communication between various tasks.

iv) Error/ Exception Handling:

Used to handle error occurred when exception such as stack overflow/ underflow, insufficient memory, deadlock, divide by zero, etc are raised during execution of tasks.

v) Memory Management:

• It has slightly different approach for memory management than GPOS.
• GPOS has dynamic memory allocation technique.
• RTOS kernel has fixed size memory blocks and allocates when needed.

vi) Interrupt Handing:

• It is a very important task.
• The interrupts may be disabled if high priority task is already in execution.

vii) Time management:

An accurate time management is needed to meet deadlines. ‘Timer tick’ Interrupt takes care of time management. ‘Timer tick’ interrupt implements following functions:

• Saves current context of task in TCB when switched.
• Updates software timer implemented in the kernel
• Activates periodic tasks
• Loads the content of highest priority task from ready queue.