US 2010/0077403 A1 · Middleware for Fine-Grained Near Real-Time Applications

Abstract

A centralized scheduling server for scheduling fine-grained near real-time applications includes network ports, a central managing application, functional library(ies) and service processes. One port communicates with processing nodes over a private computer network. Processing nodes include processing node report processor node status to the server and execute scheduled tasks. The other port communicates with user devices through a public network. The central managing application manages fine-grained near real-time application. The functional library provides middleware core functionality. The service processes include: a resource manager, a submitter to place tasks on a task queue; and a dispatcher to dispatch tasks to processing nodes. A work flow process runs an optimized scheduling algorithm.

A system for scheduling fine-grained near real-time applications comprising:

a) a first computer network;
b) a centralized hardware scheduling server, the centralized hardware scheduling server including:
i) a first physical port configured to connect to the first computer network;
ii) a second physical port configured to connect to a public network;
iii) a multitude of functional layer configurations, the multitude of functional layer configurations including:
(1) an operating system interface layer configured to operate on the centralized hardware scheduling server;
(2) an applications layer configured to run a central managing application that includes at least one task;
(3) a functional libraries layer configured to operate above the operating system interface layer and to provide middleware core functionality, the middleware core functionality enabling the centralized hardware scheduling server to perform at least one of the following:
(a) transfer files among processing nodes and the centralized hardware scheduling server;
(b) pass short messages among processing nodes and the centralized hardware scheduling server;
(c) control processes between at least one processing node and the centralized hardware scheduling server;
(4) a services layer configured to operate above the functional libraries layer, the services layer including:
(a) at least one non-GUI system service process, the at least one non-GUI system service process including:
(i) a container process configured to make components of the services layer accessible to the central managing application using at least one network protocol;
(ii) a collector process configured to capture and interpret requests from the functional libraries layer;
(iii) a resource manager process configured to manage at least one computer resource, the managing including reporting changes in at least one of the at least one computing resource to the collector process through a node queue, at least one of the at least one computer resources including at least one of the following:
1. a percentage of allocated CPU time;
2. a percentage of allocated memory space, and
3. a percent of allocated space on a computer readable storage medium;
(iv) a submitter process configured to:
1. parse task description files into task information, the task description files received from a client over the public network;
and
2. place the task information into a task queue;
and
(v) a dispatcher process configured to dispatch tasks from the task queue to at least one of the at least two processing nodes;
(b) at least one work flow process, the at least one work flow process configured to:
(i) run a scheduling algorithm, the scheduling algorithm configured to:
1. generate at least one task assignment using the task queue, the node queue, and an optimization function;
and cause the dispatcher to:
a. dispatch at least one of the at least one task assignment from the task queue to at least one processing node;
and
b. remove at least one of the at least one task assignment from the task queue;
(ii) cause the resource manager to update the node queue;
and
(iii) update the optimization function;
and
c) the at least two processing nodes, each of the at least two processing nodes connected to the first computer network, each of the at least two processing nodes including:
i) a processing node physical port configured to connect to the first computer network;
ii) a processing node operating system interface layer configured to provide an interface to an operating system;
iii) a processing node functional libraries layer configured to:
(1) operate above the processing node operating system interface layer;
and
(2) to provide middleware core functionality;
iv) a processing node services layer configured to operate above the functional libraries layer, the services layer including:
(1) at least one processing node non-GUI system service process, the at least one processing node non-GUI system service process including:
(a) a processing node container process configured to make components of the processing node services layer accessible to a central managing application using at least one network protocol;
and
(b) a processing node collector process configured to capture and report status to the processing node collector process;
and
(2) at least one processing node work flow process configured to execute a scheduled task.

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Middleware for Fine-Grained Near Real-Time Applications

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Middleware for Fine-Grained Near Real-Time Applications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20