When working with real-time sensor data in C++ applications, it is crucial to handle exceptions effectively to prevent system crashes and ensure the reliability of the data processing. In this blog post, we will explore some techniques for recovering from exceptions in C++ code that deals with real-time sensor data.

1. Catching exceptions at the appropriate level

To begin with, it is essential to catch exceptions at the appropriate level in your code. Ideally, you should catch exceptions at the boundary of your real-time processing logic, ensuring that the sensor data processing itself is not interrupted. By catching exceptions at a higher level, you can perform necessary cleanup operations and continue processing the remaining sensor data without affecting the overall system stability.

try {
    // Real-time sensor data processing code
} catch (const std::exception& ex) {
    // Exception handling code
    LOG_ERROR("Exception occurred: " << ex.what());
    // Cleanup operations
}

In the example above, we catch exceptions of type std::exception and perform the necessary exception handling and cleanup operations. Replace LOG_ERROR with the appropriate logging mechanism in your application.

2. Graceful degradation and fallback mechanisms

Another important technique is to implement graceful degradation and fallback mechanisms in your code. When an exception occurs, gracefully degrading the system’s functionality can prevent catastrophic failures and ensure that the system can continue running in a degraded state.

For example, if a sensor reading cannot be processed due to an exception, you can implement a fallback mechanism to use previous valid readings or default values until the issue is resolved. This way, the system can continue to operate, and you can investigate and handle the exception without causing a complete disruption.

try {
    // Real-time sensor data processing code
    processData(sensorData);
} catch (const std::exception& ex) {
    LOG_WARNING("Exception occurred: " << ex.what());
    // Fallback mechanism using previous valid reading or default values
    processData(previousSensorData);
}

In the above example, if an exception occurs during processData() function, we log a warning and use the previous valid sensor data or default values to continue the processing. This allows the system to continue operating, though with potentially degraded accuracy.

Conclusion

Handling exceptions effectively is vital when working with real-time sensor data in C++ applications. By catching exceptions at the appropriate level and implementing graceful degradation and fallback mechanisms, you can ensure the reliability of your system and prevent it from crashing due to exceptions.