Process management for real time systems management controller

An apparatus for managing a task in a system management controller, wherein the task has a corresponding process control buffer, the apparatus comprising:

• a task counter process control buffer examiner;
• a timer field process control buffer examiner coupled to said task counter process control buffer examiner;
• a current time timer field comparator coupled to said timer field process control buffer examiner;
• a task executor coupled to said current timer field comparator;
• a timer field zero determiner coupled to said task executor;
• a PCB releaser coupled to said timer field zero determiner;

An apparatus for managing a task in a system management controller, wherein the task has a corresponding process control buffer, the apparatus comprising:

• means for examining a task counter contained in the process control buffer to determine if the task needs to be run now or later;
• means for examining one or more timer fields which indicate at what time an execution should occur, said timer fields contained in the process control buffer, if the task needs to be run later;
• means for determining if said timer fields are less than or equal to a current time if the task needs to be run later;
• means for restarting the method with a new process control buffer if said timer fields are not less than or equal to said current time and if the task needs to be run later;
• means for executing the task if said task should be run now or if said timer fields are less than or equal to said current time;
• means for examining said task counter to determine if it equals zero;
• and
• means for releasing said process control block if said task counter equals zero.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for managing a task in a system management controller, wherein the task has a corresponding process control buffer, the method comprising:

• examining a task counter contained in the process control buffer to determine if the task needs to be run now or later;
• examining one or more timer fields which indicate at what time an execution should occur, said timer fields contained in the process control buffer, if the task needs to be run later;
• determining if said timer fields are less than or equal to a current time if the task needs to be run later;
• restarting the method with a new process control buffer if said timer fields are not less than or equal to said current time and if the task needs to be run later;
• executing the task if said task should be run now or if said timer fields are less than or equal to said current time;
• examining said task counter to determine if it equals zero;
• and
• releasing said process control block if said task counter equals zero.