Patent ID: 6085215
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer implemented method for scheduling multiple processing tasks in a network communication station, the method comprising the steps of:establishing a plurality of processing threads, each of which is structured to execute for a respective limited time before being subject to preemption by another processing thread;establishing at least one general purpose processing thread, wherein the general purpose processing thread is structured to execute for a preselected minimum time during which it is non preemptable by other threads, and to execute thereafter in a preemptable mode;repeatedly determining when work of the processing tasks is to be done;posting any determined work of the processing tasks to be done to appropriate ones of said plurality of processing threads;selecting a processing thread that has work to be done;executing said selected processing thread for said limited time, wherein a measure of said limited time is determined by counting a selected number of executed units of said selected processing thread; andrepeating the selecting and executing steps for other processing threads.