Patent Publication Number: US-2011055847-A1

Title: Process management system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a process management system and a process management method. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Embedded devices, for example, digital photo frames (DPFs), are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience and ease of manipulation when implementing particular functions. However, if the embedded device provides only one window application, all active UI-based functions (for example, video, photo) must be integrated therein. Every time a window function (for example, browsing photos) is needed, the window application plus all other accompanying window functions must be implemented, needlessly consuming system resources. If the window application is divided into a plurality of window modules, a communication interface thereamong is further required. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block view of a process management system as disclosed. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a handshake start and stop of a process management method as disclosed. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a process query status of the method of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a process termination of the method of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process management module of the system of  FIG. 1  broadcasting a message. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprised connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a process management system includes a process management module  10 , a plurality of window process modules  20 , and a display showing each window process module  20 . The process management module  10  includes a first process handshake message interface  31  to communicate with the window process module  20  based on a unified standardized protocol. The process management module  10  includes a detection sub-module capable of detecting and managing a message from the window process module  20 . 
     The window process module  20  communicates with the process management module  10  through a second process handshake message interface  30  and a common basic window module  50 . The common basic window module  20  provides a common basic function for the window process module  20 . The window process module  20  may be a video window module, a photo window module, or a radio window module. The window process module  20  includes a managing sub-module capable of detecting and managing the message from the process management module  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first or second process handshake message interface  30 ,  31  includes a pipe file descriptor sub-module, a source identification sub-module, an option sub-module, and a data sub-module. The pipe file descriptor sub-module indicates a pipe connecting the window process module  20  with the process management module  10 . The source identification sub-module locates the origin of the message. The option sub-module indicates a process option to describe actions of the window process module  20  and the process management module  10 . The data sub-module indicates information of the window process module  20 . 
     The pipe file descriptor sub-module, the source identification sub-module, and the option sub-module include values defined as 4-octet integers. The data sub-module includes values defined as 20-octet strings. The option sub-module defines an execution value comprising one command action indicating response ok, handshake start, handshake stop, query status, broadcast message, process terminate, handshake start response, handshake stop response, process terminate response, broadcast message response, or query status response. The execution value and the command are defined as follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 execution value 
                 command 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 0x00000000 
                 Response ok 
               
               
                 0x00000001 
                 Handshake start 
               
               
                 0x00000002 
                 Handshake stop 
               
               
                 0x00000003 
                 Query status 
               
               
                 0x00000004 
                 Process terminate 
               
               
                 0x00000005 
                 Broadcast message 
               
               
                 0x00000011 
                 Handshake start response 
               
               
                 0x00000012 
                 Handshake stop response 
               
               
                 0x00000013 
                 Query status response 
               
               
                 0x00000014 
                 Process terminate response 
               
               
                 0x00000015  
                 Broadcast message response 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The window process module  20  communicates with the process management module  10  through an underlying Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network connection or a pipe. The process management module  10  sends a handshake start (0x00000000) request to the window process module  20 . Then the window process module  20  sends a handshake start response (0x00000011) to the process management module  10 . The window process module  20  sends a handshake stop (0x00000002) request to the process management module  10 . The process management module  10  sends a handshake stop response (0x00000012) to the window process module  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the window process module  20  sends a query status (0x00000003) request to the process management module  10  to query operating status. The process management module  10  sends a query status response (0x00000013) to the window process module  20 . The process management module  10  further sends a query status (0x00000003) request to the window process module  20  to query operating status. The window process module  20  sends a query status response (0x00000013) to the process management module  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the window process module  20  terminates after the window process module  20  connects to the process management module  10 . The process management module  10  receives a process terminate (0x00000004) signal from the window process module  20 . The process management module  10  deletes the name of the window process module  20  from a process table in the process management system, and then establishes a connection with another window process module  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the process management module  10  sends a broadcast message (0x00000005) to more than one window process module  20 . Each window process module  20  sends a broadcast message response (0x00000015) to the process management module  10  to notify the process management module  10  if the broadcast message is received. At least two window process modules  20  may directly communicate through the second process handshake message interface  30 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.