Patent ID: 6675190
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for cooperative multitasking in a computer-controlled network element of a digital communications network wherein scheduler tasks are executed in a determined order, the method comprising the steps of:(a) assigning a counter and a threshold value to each scheduler task, the threshold value specifying a maximum number of execute cycles within which the scheduler task need not be executed immediately, and the counter counting those execute cycles within which the scheduler task is not executed; (b) determining at the beginning of each execute cycle whether at least one of the counters exceeds the associated threshold value; (c) if it is determined that at least one of the counters exceeds the associated threshold value, selecting one of the corresponding scheduler tasks having the counter which exceeds the associated threshold value according to at least one selection criterion, executing the selected scheduler task, and resetting the counter of the selected scheduler task; (d) incrementing by one the counters assigned to the remaining scheduler tasks which were not executed; and (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) if it is determined that at least one of the scheduler tasks is waiting to be executed.