Patent · US Expired

Method and system for regulating background tasks using performance measurements

US6834386B1 · kind B1 · utility

75Cited by
20References
45Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1999
Grant dateDec 21, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/4881
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for regulating tasks of background processes so as to reduce interference with foreground processes. The progress rate of a background task (e.g., amount of work performed per unit time) is measured and evaluated against a target amount. If the progress rate appears degraded, the background task is suspended for a computed time interval so as to back off from its interference with a foreground process. Each time the progress rate appears degraded, the time interval is exponentially increased from its previous value up to a maximum, however if the performance appears normal, the time interval is reset to a minimum. Evaluation of the work is statistically based so as to eliminate variations in measurements, and automatic calibration of the target amount is provided, as is a mechanism for prioritizing multiple background tasks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.