US6256659B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for performing hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking in a computer system
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-09
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Granted: 2001-07-03
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Expires: 2017-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A system, method and computer program product for performing hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking in a computer system executes a number n of logical units of work before interrupting a task. A logical unit of work is defined as a set of one or more computer instructions, the completion of which is a logical stopping point with few or no temporary variable to store. A logical unit of work can be, for example, one or more instructions in a stream of instructions, where each instruction requires a number of individual computer code instructions to execute. In a preferred embodiment, the system is implemented as a controller application which operates under an existing operating system. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is implemented as an integral part of an operating system. In operation, the present invention performs a number n of logical units of work for a first task or process. At the completion of the logical unit of work, few, if any, temporary values need to be stored for later use when processing resumes. Instead, only a pointer to a current or next instruction needs to be maintained. The present invention then selects a second process for execution. A number m of logical units of work are then performed for the second process. At the completion of the number m of logical unit of work, few, if any, temporary values need to be stored for later use when processing resumes. Instead, only a pointer to a current or next instruction needs to be maintained. The number n can be equal to, greater than or less than the number m. In one embodiment, the numbers n and m are dynamically set according to the type of task being processed. In another embodiment, the numbers n and m are predetermined according to the type of tasks performed.
Inventors
- 👤 John V. McLain, Jr.
- 👤 Damon Curnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4843; G06F9/461
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for performing hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking, comprising the steps of: (1) processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task, the programming further comprising the steps of: maintaining a command control vector for the first task, the command control vector comprising a pointer to a virtual object, the virtual object storing instructions for processing the first task; and generating a response for the first task based upon instructions pointed to by the command control vector; (2) interrupting processing of the first task; and (3) processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for performing hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking, comprising the steps of: (1) processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task, the programming further comprising the steps of: maintaining a command control vector for the first task, the command control vector comprising a pointer to a virtual object, the virtual object storing instructions for processing the first task; and generating a response for the first task based upon instructions pointed to by the command control vector; (2) interrupting processing of the first task; and (3) processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step ( 1 ) comprises the step of: (a) processing a number n of additional logical units of computer instructions for the first task.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein step ( 3 ) comprises the step of: (a) processing a number m of additional logical units of computer instructions for the second task.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of: (4) setting the numbers n and m to predetermined and fixed values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of: (4) setting the numbers n and m dynamically.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of: (4) setting the numbers n and m equal to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step ( 1 ) comprises: (a) maintaining a command control vector for the first task, the command control vector comprising a virtual object pointer for pointing to a virtual object, the virtual object storing instructions for processing the first task, the virtual object including a script invocation for invoking a script, the script comprising instructions for generating detailed logical responses for the first task, the command control vector further comprising a script pointer for pointing to the script instructions; (b) generating a response for the first task based upon instructions pointed to by the command control vector, including the command response table instructions and the script instructions.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for performing hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking, comprising the steps of: (1) means for processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task; (2) means for interrupting processing of the first task; (3) means for processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task; (4) first virtual object means for employing a set of instructions and a first data segment to process the first task; and (5) second virtual object means for employing a set of instructions and a second data segment to process the second task.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for performing hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking, comprising the steps of: (1) means for processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task; (2) means for interrupting processing of the first task; (3) means for processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task; (4) first virtual object means for employing a set of instructions and a first data segment to process the first task; and (5) second virtual object means for employing a set of instructions and a second data segment to process the second task.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein said means for processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task, comprises: means for processing a number n of additional logical units of computer instructions for the first task.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein said means for processing a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task, comprises: means for processing a number m of additional logical units of computer instructions for the second task.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising: means for setting the numbers n and m to predetermined and fixed values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising: means for dynamically setting the numbers n and m.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising: means for setting the numbers n and m equal to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising: means for interfacing with an operating system so that said means for processing logical units of computer instructions and said means for or interrupting processing operate in conjunction with the operating system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computer program product for permitting a computer system to perform hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on the computer graphics system, said computer readable program code means comprising: a computer readable first program code means for causing the computer system to process a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task, wherein the first program code means further comprises: code means for maintaining a command control vector for the first task, the command control vector comprising a pointer to a virtual object, the virtual object storing instructions for processing the first task; and code means for generating a response for the first task based upon instructions pointed to by the command control vector; a computer readable second program code means for causing the computer system to interrupt processing of the first task; a computer readable third program code means for causing the computer, system to process a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computer program product for permitting a computer system to perform hybrid preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking, said computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing an application program to execute on the computer graphics system, said computer readable program code means comprising: a computer readable first program code means for causing the computer system to process a logical unit of computer instructions for a first task, wherein the first program code means further comprises: code means for maintaining a command control vector for the first task, the command control vector comprising a pointer to a virtual object, the virtual object storing instructions for processing the first task; and code means for generating a response for the first task based upon instructions pointed to by the command control vector; a computer readable second program code means for causing the computer system to interrupt processing of the first task; a computer readable third program code means for causing the computer, system to process a logical unit of computer instructions for a second task.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein said first program code means comprises: means for processing a number n of additional logical units of computer instructions for the first task.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein said second program code means comprises: means for processing a number m of additional logical units of computer instructions for the second task.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising: a computer readable fourth third program code means for causing the computer system to process the first and second tasks using a single copy of a method object.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |