Apparatus and methods for scheduling and performing tasks
US6757897B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/12
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention provides unique mechanisms and techniques for a computing device to perform various tasks in a multi-tasking or time sliced environment. A general task scheduling algorithm can select various time slices or priorities for task performance. However, in a dedicated device such as a data communications device, a primary task such as a data transfer task may be so heavily favored by the general task scheduling algorithm, such as in heavy network traffic conditions, that other tasks may be starved of processor time. As such, the system of the invention allows the primary task, to track a first time period Y, and upon expiration of this time period Y, to generate a yield signal to a yielding scheduler. The yielding scheduler can then disable performance of the primary task(s) and track a second time period X during which other tasks may be performed. At the expiration of the second time period X, the primary task(s) which were disabled upon the occurrence of the yield signal are then re-enabled for performance and the yielding scheduler selects a task for performance. Generally, the primary task will again be selected over, for example, lower priority tasks. However, the lo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.