Computer Science · Theme A: Concepts of computer science

A1.3 — Operating systems and control systems

Computer Science · SL / HL · syllabus-mapped notes

1. CS_A1.3.1

   The role of operating systems

   Abstracting hardware complexity to manage system resources.

2. CS_A1.3.2

   Functions of an operating system

   Memory, files, devices, scheduling, security, GUI, virtualization and more.

3. CS_A1.3.3

   Approaches to scheduling

   FCFS, round robin, multilevel queue and priority scheduling.

4. CS_A1.3.4

   Polling versus interrupt handling

   Weighing the two ways a CPU learns that a device needs attention.

5. CS_A1.3.5

   Multitasking and resource allocation

   How the OS juggles many tasks: scheduling, contention and deadlock.

6. CS_A1.3.6

   Control system components

   Input, process, output and feedback: open-loop and closed-loop.

7. CS_A1.3.7

   Control systems in the real world

   Applying control-system ideas to everyday automated systems.