# US 8,751,658 B2 · Allocating method, allocating apparatus, and computer product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,658 B2 - Document ID: US8751658B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/359,805 - Filed: 2012-01-27 - Published: 2012-10-04 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-31 - Assignees: Fujitsu Limited - Applicants: Koichi Yamasaki; Kazuki Matsui; Takashi Ohno - Inventors: Koichi Yamasaki; Kazuki Matsui; Takashi Ohno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751658B2 ## CPC - G06F 9/505: {considering the load} - G06F 3/1438: {using more than one graphics controller} - G09G 2360/06: Use of more than one graphics processor to process data before displaying to one or more screens - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract An allocating method is executed by a computer. The allocating method includes transmitting to any one given apparatus among multiple apparatuses capable of executing an identical process and respectively having a different processing performance, a command for the process; duplicating the command and transmitting resulting duplicated commands to an apparatus group that is not executing the process and among the apparatuses; measuring for the given apparatus and each apparatus of the apparatus group, a utilization rate acquired when the command is executed; identifying based on the utilization rate for the given apparatus, an apparatus to be switched among the apparatus group; and switching a transmission destination of the command, from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An allocating method executed by a computer, the allocating method comprising: transmitting to any one given apparatus among a plurality of apparatuses capable of executing an identical process and respectively having a different processing performance, a command for the process; duplicating the command and transmitting resulting duplicated commands to an apparatus group that is not executing the process and among the plurality of apparatuses; measuring for the given apparatus and each apparatus of the apparatus group, a utilization rate acquired when the command is executed; identifying based on the utilization rate for the given apparatus, an apparatus to be switched among the apparatus group; and switching a transmission destination of the command, from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying includes identifying from the utilization rate for the given apparatus and the utilization rate of each apparatus of the apparatus group, an apparatus whose utilization rate is between a predetermined upper limit value and a predetermined lower limit value as the apparatus to be switched. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying includes identifying from the utilization rate for the given apparatus and the utilization rate of each apparatus of the apparatus group, an apparatus whose utilization rate is less than a predetermined upper limit value and is the highest as the apparatus to be switched. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying includes identifying from the utilization rate for the given apparatus and the utilization rate of each apparatus of the apparatus group, an apparatus whose utilization rate is less than a predetermined upper limit value and is the lowest as the apparatus to be switched. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, further comprising suspending the duplicating of the command for apparatuses other than the apparatus to be switched and among the apparatus group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the duplicating includes duplicating the command and transmitting resulting duplicated commands to the apparatus group that is among the plurality of apparatuses and includes an apparatus that is not executing the process and has processing performance lower than that of the given apparatus and an apparatus that is not executing the process and has processing performance higher than that of the given apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the switching includes switching the transmission destination of the command from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched, when the number of transmissions per unit time of the command is less than or equal to a predetermined number. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the duplicating further includes duplicating the command and transmitting resulting duplicated commands to the apparatus group having apparatuses of a number corresponding to the amount of memory used by the command. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The allocating method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an image processing apparatus and the command is a drawing command. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The allocating method according to claim 9, wherein the switching includes switching the transmission destination of the command from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched, when an updated amount according to the command is less than or equal to a predetermined amount in an image storage area in the given apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The allocating method according to claim 9, wherein the switching includes switching the transmission destination of the command from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched, when a difference between an image storage area in the given apparatus and an image storage area in the apparatus to be switched is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 12 An allocating apparatus comprising: a first transmitter that transmits to any one given apparatus among a plurality of apparatuses capable of executing an identical process and respectively having a different processing performance, a command for the process; a second transmitter that duplicates the command and transmits resulting duplicated commands to an apparatus group that is not executing the process and among the plurality of apparatuses; a measurer that measures for the given apparatus and each apparatus of the apparatus group, a utilization rate acquired when the command is executed; an identifier that based on the utilization rate for the given apparatus, identifies an apparatus to be switched among the apparatus group; and a switcher that switches a transmission destination of the command, from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched. ### Claim 13 A computer-readable medium storing therein an allocating program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process comprising: transmitting to any one given apparatus among a plurality of apparatuses capable of executing an identical process and respectively having a different processing performance, a command for the process; duplicating the command and transmitting resulting duplicated commands to an apparatus group that is not executing the process and among the plurality of apparatuses; measuring for the given apparatus and each apparatus of the apparatus group, a utilization rate acquired when the command is executed; identifying based on the utilization rate for the given apparatus, an apparatus to be switched among the apparatus group; and switching a transmission destination of the command, from the given apparatus to the apparatus to be switched.