Firmware-based out-of-order command scheduler

A computing device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a data storage operatively coupled to the at least one processor;
• and
• a non-volatile memory storing machine-executable instructions of a firmware-based scheduler configured to
• receive command data, the command data including a command and an execution start time for executing the command,
• store the command data in a data storage,
• read, responsive to determining that the execution start time is within an execution window, the command data from the data storage, and
• cause the command data to be output to the at least one processor for execution;
• wherein the firmware-based scheduler is further configured to assign a label to the command data, wherein the label corresponds to an address in the data storage, and wherein the command data is stored at, and read from, the address in the data storage;
• and
• wherein the firmware-based scheduler is further configured to:
• store, responsive to determining that the execution start time is not within the execution window, the label and the execution start time in a long-term storage;
• scan the long-term storage for command data having an execution time which has entered the execution window and, responsive to a determination that the execution time has entered the execution window, transferring the label assigned to the command data and the execution start time to a fast scheduler memory;
• and
• read, responsive to determining that the execution start time is within the execution window, the label and the execution start time from the fast scheduler memory.

A firmware-based scheduler for scheduling commands in a computing system, the firmware-based scheduler configured to:

• receive command data, the command data including a command and an execution start time for executing the command;
• store the command data in a data storage;
• read, responsive to determining that the execution start time is within an execution window, the command data from the data storage, the execution window being a period of time beginning when the execution start time is less than or equal to a configurable threshold time of a system time;
• assign a label to the command data, wherein the label corresponds to an address in the data storage, and wherein the command data is stored at, and read from, the address in the data storage;
• store, responsive to determining that the execution start time is not within the execution window, the label and the execution start time in a long-term storage;
• scan the long-term storage for command data having an execution time which has entered the execution window and, responsive to a determination that the execution time has entered the execution window, transferring the label assigned to the command data and the execution start time to a fast scheduler memory;
• read, responsive to determining that the execution start time is within the execution window, the label and the execution start time from the fast scheduler memory;
• and
• cause the command data to be output to at least one processor for execution.