Method, apparatus and computer program product for borrowed-virtual-time scheduling

A scheduling apparatus for scheduling a computer resource among a plurality of elements, comprising:

• a detection mechanism configured to detect expiration of a period-of-use of said resource, said resource allocated to an active one of said plurality of elements for said period-of-use;
• an update mechanism configured to update a measure-of-use of said resource for said active one of said plurality of elements responsive to said period-of-use and a measure-of-use adjustment, wherein said update mechanism comprises an update virtual time mechanism configured to update a virtual time for said active one of said plurality of elements;
• and
• an assignment mechanism configured to assign one of said plurality of elements to use said resource for a second period-of-use responsive to said measure-of-use and an element-specific selection adjustment for each element in said plurality of elements, wherein said element-specific selection adjustment for said each element in said plurality of elements is borrowed virtual time.

A computer program product including:

• a computer usable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therein for scheduling a resource among a plurality of elements, said computer readable code including:
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect a detection mechanism configured to detect expiration of a period-of-use of said resource, said resource allocated to an active one of said plurality of elements for said period-of-use;
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an update mechanism configured to update a measure-of-use of said resource for said active one of said plurality of elements responsive to said period-of-use and a measure-of-use adjustment, wherein said update mechanism comprises an update virtual time mechanism configured to update a virtual time for said active one of said plurality of elements;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to effect an assignment mechanism configured to assign one of said plurality of elements to use said resource for a second period-of-use responsive to said measure-of-use and an element-specific selection adjustment for each element in said plurality of elements, wherein said element-specific selection adjustment for said each element in said plurality of elements is borrowed virtual time.