US 5,958,003 A · Method and computer system for improving the response time of a computer system to a user request

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of computer systems with improved response time to a user request in a computer session. More particular, the present invention provides improved response time for a client/server- configuration of Personal Computers in a network as well as for stand-alone computer systems. The inventive concepts provide a `Services Supercharger` layer of programs and information tables, exploiting the capability to start many tasks in parallel, to prepare the execution environment for one or more user sessions and actions within such user sessions, and after session termination, performs epilogue actions only when appropriate. The described concepts realize a solution where the possibility of executing multiple tasks in parallel in a system like OS/2 can be exploited to reduce the response time for individual user requests against the system considerably. These concepts can be applied to stand-alone user workstations and in client/server environments.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for improving the response time of a computer system to subsequent user requests to execute tasks, said tasks having been executed in the past, said method comprising the steps of:

determining for each of said tasks a value associated with executing respective prologue processes before the respective task is requested for execution again, said value being greater for tasks which were more recently executed and incurred greater execution time than for other tasks which were less recently executed or incurred less execution time;
and
before said user requests to execute again the task which has the highest value and for which there are sufficient resources available to execute the respective prologue processes, executing said respective prologue processes for said task which has the highest value and for which there are sufficient resources available to execute said respective prologue processes.

A computer system for improving the response time to subsequent user requests to execute tasks, said tasks having been executed in the past, said system comprising:

means for determining for each of said tasks a value associated with executing respective prologue processes before the respective task is requested for execution again, said value being greater for tasks which were more recently executed and incurred greater execution time than for other tasks which were less recently executed or incurred less execution time;
and
means, active before said user requests to execute again the task which has the highest value and for which there are sufficient resources available to execute the respective prologue processes, for executing said respective prologue processes for said task which has the highest value and for which there are sufficient resources available to execute said respective prologue processes.

A computer program product for improving the response time of a computer system to subsequent user requests to execute tasks, said tasks having been executed in the past, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;
first program instruction means for determining for each of said tasks a value associated with executing respective prologue processes before the respective task is requested for execution again, said value being greater for tasks which were more recently executed and incurred greater execution time than for other tasks which were less recently executed or incurred less execution time;
and second program instruction means active before said user requests to execute again the task which has the highest value and for which there are sufficient resources available to execute the respective prologue processes, for executing said respective prologue processes for said task which has the highest value and for which there are sufficient resources available to execute said respective prologue processes;
and wherein said first and second program instruction means are recorded on said medium.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and computer system for improving the response time of a computer system to a user request

Life of this patent

Method and computer system for improving the response time of a computer system to a user request

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15