Patent ID: 6308197
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of modules with devices having input and output functions for creating image impressions, the controller including a plurality of constructs including ReactiveTask for responding to external events, Events representing defined abstractions of physical and logical events, NonReactiveTask providing threads of execution, Channels providing Message queues for communication among ReactiveTasks and NormalTasks, Messages for transferring both computation and data, SchedulerLocks for facilitating synchronization and shared data access control, Registers for providing a common resource for ReactiveTasks and NonReactiveTasks, Clocks for tracking timing information, and Timers providing counters in relation to Clock timing information, a method of control comprising the steps of:invoking a NonReactiveTask construct for sequential algorithmic processing and where blocking of the operation is essential,providing input to the NonReactiveTask from a Register construct and through a Channels construct from other ReactiveTasks and NonReactiveTasks constructs,converting external events into Event constructs by Register constructs interacting with device drivers, andinvoking a ReactiveTask construct in response to an event and attaching the ReactiveTask to all associated Events.