Patent ID: 7197749

Claim:
A job management apparatus for use in a batch job execution system including a plurality of service providers in communication with the job management apparatus, job management the apparatus implemented using one or more processor, and the job management apparatus comprising: a client communications part which receives a batch job from a client; an extracting part which extracts one or more task from the batch job; and, an assigning part which receives a request work signal from each of the plurality of service providers that is available to perform work for the batch job execution system, each request work signal informing the assigning part of one or more function or service that the service provider can perform; wherein the assigning part delegates each task to one of the service providers that can perform the function or service required to perform the task; wherein the assigning part sends an idle assignment signal to each service provider from which the request work signal is received but for which there is not a task available from the job management apparatus, the idle assignment signal informing the service provider to not send further request work signals to the assigning part until the service provider receives a work available signal from the assigning part, thereby freeing up resources of each service provider for which there is not a task available from the job management apparatus to perform other tasks not delegated by the job management apparatus; and wherein the assigning part sends a work available signal to each service provider that was previously sent the idle assignment signal but for which a task is available from the job management apparatus, to thereby inform each service provider that had stopped sending request work signals to the assigning part to thereafter send a work request signal when the service provider is available to perform work.