Patent ID: 6349321
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A data processing system comprising:a central processing unit; and an auxiliary processing unit which runs in parallel with said central processing unit and which executes a special process according to a schedule made by said central processing unit, wherein said auxiliary processing unit comprises: a progress status indicating unit for indicating a progress status of the special process being executed therein; and an operation status indicating unit for indicating an operation status thereof, and wherein said central processing unit comprises: a database which stores a predetermined execution processing time of each special process; and a scheduling unit, responsive to a new process request received when said operation status indicating unit indicates that a preceding special process is being executed in said auxiliary processing unit and the new special process is higher in priority than the preceding special process, for selecting any one of ending the preceding special process, interrupting the preceding special process and saving a processing status, and interrupting the preceding special process and discarding the processing status, based on first to fourth times, thereby to schedule a time at which the new special process is to start, the first time being time from the moment the new process request is received to the moment the new special process must be ended, the second time being the processing time of the new special process, the processing time being stored in said database, the third time being time required for the preceding special process to end and obtained by referencing the progress status indicating unit of said auxiliary processing unit, and the fourth time being time required to interrupt the preceding special process being executed in said auxiliary processing unit and to save or discard the processing status thereof.