Machine control using response time specifications from sequential and state machine modes

In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of modules, the controller integrating both an event based mode providing Reactive Tasks and a sequential task based mode providing Tasks, a method of operation comprising the steps of:

• executing Tasks in the sequential task based mode,
• responding to events in a state machine mode to execute Reactive Tasks within a specified response time concurrently with executing tasks in the sequential task based mode including grouping Reactive Tasks according to response times, and
• specifying response times in both the state machine and sequential task modes, in the state machine mode, the response time being a function of the receipt of an input signal and the generation of a control output in response to the input, and in the sequential task mode, the response time being a function of elapsed time after a task becomes ready to execute before blocking on a system call, and
• scheduling operations according to satisfaction of response times.

In an electronic image processing apparatus comprising a controller and a plurality of modules, the controller integrating both an event based mode providing Reactive Tasks and a sequential task based mode providing Tasks, a method of controller operation comprising the steps of:

• executing Tasks in the sequential task based mode,
• responding to events in a state machine mode to execute Reactive Tasks,
• specifying response times in the state machine mode, and
• scheduling Reactive Tasks and Tasks according to response times.