Task Pre-emption Based on Remaining Execution Time

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pre-emption techniques in computing systems do not consider the remaining execution time of a current task, leading to increased context switches and resource-intensive overhead costs due to unnecessary pre-emption.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that monitor the remaining execution time of a current task and perform pre-emption based on a desired execution threshold time, either deferring or allowing pre-emption depending on the task's completion status, thereby reducing the number of context switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional pre-emption techniques are used to allow higher priority tasks to execute, then task priority responsiveness is improved, but context switch overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask priority responsivenessVSAvoidcontext switch overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by checking the remaining execution time of the current task before allowing pre-emption. This preliminary check prevents unnecessary context switches by determining in advance whether pre-emption should be blocked, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining task priority responsiveness and reducing context switch overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If pre-emption is allowed at any time for higher priority tasks, then system responsiveness is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoidresource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of pre-emption timing by introducing a remaining execution time threshold. Instead of allowing pre-emption at any time, the system modifies the pre-emption parameter to block pre-emption when the current task's remaining execution time is below the threshold, thus improving resource efficiency while maintaining system responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If context switches are performed frequently to handle higher priority tasks, then task scheduling flexibility is improved, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask scheduling flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by evaluating the remaining execution time before executing context switches. This preliminary evaluation reduces unnecessary context switches by blocking pre-emption when it would be inefficient, thus reducing processing overhead while maintaining task scheduling flexibility through the configurable threshold parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240036930A1Method and a system for execution of tasks in an operating environment

Publication Date: 2024.02.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Various example embodiments relate to methods, devices, and/or systems for executing a plurality of tasks in a computer operating environment. The method comprises monitoring a remaining execution time of a current task executing on the processing circuitry, and performing, by the processing circuitry, pre-emption of the current task based on the remaining execution time of the current task and a desired execution threshold time, the desired execution threshold time being one of a desired value based on one or more configuration parameter of the current task or a dynamic value determined based on information related to ongoing activities in the computer operating environment.