Patent ID: 7962553
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing maintenance tasks in a computer system employing a plurality of central processing units, said method comprising the steps of: assigning an activity flag to each of the plurality of central processing units, wherein the activity flag indicates a status of the maintenance tasks, wherein the maintenance tasks are previously assigned to each of the plurality of central processing units, wherein the maintenance tasks are configured to keep functions of a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack operating properly; receiving a network packet; interrupting one of the plurality of central processing units to process the network packet; processing the network packet in one of the plurality of central processing units interrupted to process the received network packet; determining the activity flag of the interrupted central processing unit; assigning the maintenance tasks to the interrupted central processing unit if the activity flag of the interrupted central processing unit is set; and assigning maintenance tasks previously assigned to the interrupted central processing unit to another central processing unit of the plurality of central processing units if the activity flag of the interrupted central processing unit is not set.