embedded system

computer Hardware and software which forms a component of

some larger system and which is expected to function without

human intervention.

A typical embedded system consists of a single-board

microcomputer with software in ROM, which starts running

some special purpose application program as soon as it is

turned on and will not stop until it is turned off (if ever).

An embedded system may include some kind of operating system

but often it will be simple enough to be written as a single

program. It will not usually have any of the normal

peripherals such as a keyboard, monitor, serial connections,

mass storage, etc. or any kind of user interface software

unless these are required by the overall system of which it is

a part. Often it must provide real-time response.

Usenet newsgroup: news:comp.arch.embedded.

(1995-04-12)