Dynamic CPU Core Allocation for Game Process Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer systems with multicore processors face performance degradation in game applications due to interference from other resource-intensive programs, such as antivirus software and system updates, which require manual configuration and user expertise.

Innovation Solution

An automated system and method that detects game processes and allocates computer resources to minimize interference from other processes, including dynamically allocating CPU cores, adjusting priority levels, and optimizing power plans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antivirus software and system update utilities run concurrently with game applications, then system security and maintenance are maintained, but game performance deteriorates due to resource interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem securityVSAvoidgame performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments processor cores into dedicated groups: game process cores assigned exclusively to the game application, and other cores available for antivirus and system utilities. This segmentation eliminates resource contention by physically separating the computational resources allocated to different process types, allowing game performance to be maintained while security software continues to operate on isolated cores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts processor core allocation based on real-time detection of game process execution. When a game is detected, the system automatically reconfigures core affinity settings to dedicate specific cores to the game process. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt resource distribution to current user needs, prioritizing game performance when games are running while maintaining security functionality during non-gaming periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If processor core affinity is manually configured for game processes, then game performance is improved, but system complexity and user expertise requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame performanceVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the game optimization application automatically detects when a game process is executing and autonomously configures processor core affinity settings without user intervention. The system monitors process characteristics, identifies game processes, and automatically assigns optimal core allocations, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex affinity settings while maintaining performance benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors system state and game process execution, using this feedback to automatically adjust processor core allocation. By detecting game process characteristics and performance conditions in real-time, the system dynamically reconfigures core affinity settings to optimize performance, removing the need for users to possess specialized knowledge of processor configuration while maintaining optimal game performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If dedicated programs are installed to allocate processor cores to games, then game performance is improved, but system vulnerability increases when antivirus protection is disabled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame performanceVSAvoidsystem security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments processor resources into dedicated game cores and general-purpose cores, allowing antivirus software to continue operating on non-game cores without being disabled. This segmentation enables game optimization through core dedication while maintaining security protection, as antivirus processes run concurrently on separate computational resources rather than being blocked or disabled during gaming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system design allows processor cores to serve multiple functions based on dynamic allocation: game-optimized cores dedicated to gaming performance and general-purpose cores handling security and system maintenance. This multi-functional approach enables the same physical hardware to simultaneously support both high-performance gaming and security operations without requiring antivirus disabling, maintaining both performance and security objectives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3612932B1System and method for dynamically allocating resources to a game process
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 BULLGUARD LTD
  • EP3612932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3612932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3612932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of allocating computer resources in a computer system including a multicore processor having a plurality of cores. The method includes monitoring usage of the computer resources by processes executing on the computer system and determining, based upon the monitoring, that one of the processes is a high-utilization process consuming greater than a predefined threshold of the computer resources and corresponds to an application in an interactive state. One or more of the plurality of cores are allocated to the high-utilization process and other of the plurality of cores are allocated to remaining processes, thereby improving performance of the high-utilization process. Upon detecting the application has transitioned from the interactive state, one or more of the cores are previously allocated to the high-utilization process are enabled to be allocated to other than the high-utilization process.