US 9,852,005 B2 · Multi-core processor systems and methods for assigning tasks in a multi-core processor system

Abstract

A multi-core processor system and a method for assigning tasks are provided. The multi-core processor system includes a plurality of processor cores, configured to perform a plurality of tasks, and each of the tasks is in a respective one of a plurality of scheduling classes. The multi-core processor system further includes a task scheduler, configured to obtain first task assignment information about tasks in a first scheduling class assigned to the processor cores, obtain second task assignment information about tasks in one or more other scheduling classes assigned to the processor cores, and refer to the first task assignment information and the second task assignment information to assign a runnable task in the first scheduling class to one of the processor cores.

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

operations to assign tasks in a multi-core processor system, wherein the multi-core processor system comprises the plurality of processor cores, and each of the tasks is in a respective one of a plurality of scheduling classes, the operations comprising:
obtaining first task assignment information about tasks which are in a first scheduling class from the plurality of scheduling classes and assigned to the plurality of processor cores, wherein the first task assignment information indicates current assignments of processor cores from the plurality of processor cores for the first scheduling class;
obtaining second task assignment information about tasks which are in one or more other scheduling classes and assigned to the plurality of processor cores, wherein each of the one or more other scheduling classes is different from the first scheduling class, wherein the second task assignment information indicates current assignments of processor cores from the plurality of processor cores for the one or more other scheduling classes;
referring to the first task assignment information and the second task assignment information to assign a runnable task in the first scheduling class to one of the plurality processor cores, wherein prior to the assigning of the runnable task, the runnable task has not been assigned to any of the plurality of processor cores;
and
executing the runnable task;
prior to the assigning of the runnable task in the first scheduling class to the one of the processor cores:
waking up a task in the first scheduling class to be the runnable task;
choosing one of the plurality of processor cores to run the runnable task;
and
indicating in the first task assignment information and the second task assignment information that at least one processor core of the plurality of processor cores is assigned with at least one task each having a respective task priority higher than a task priority of the runnable task in the first scheduling class, when the task in the first scheduling class is wakened up and is to be assigned to one of the plurality of processor cores.

8 more elements

A multi-core processor system, comprising:

a plurality of processor cores configured to perform a plurality of tasks, wherein each of the tasks is in a respective one of a plurality of scheduling classes;
and
a task scheduler, configured to obtain first task assignment information about tasks which are in a first scheduling class from the plurality of scheduling classes and assigned to the plurality of processor cores, obtain second task assignment information about tasks which are in one or more other scheduling classes and assigned to the processor cores, wherein each of the one or more other scheduling classes is different from the first scheduling class, and refer to the first task assignment information and the second task assignment information to assign a runnable task in the first scheduling class to one of the plurality of processor cores, wherein the first task assignment information indicates current assignments of processor cores from the plurality of processor cores for the first scheduling class, and the second task assignment information indicate current assignments of the processor cores for the one or more other scheduling classes, wherein prior to the assigning of the runnable task, the runnable task has not been assigned to any of the processor cores, wherein prior to the assigning of the runnable task in the first scheduling class to the one of the processor cores, the task scheduler wakes up a task in the first scheduling class to be the runnable task, and chooses one of the plurality of processor cores to run the runnable task, wherein when the task in the first scheduling class is wakened up and is to be assigned to one of the plurality of processor cores, the first task assignment information and the second task assignment information indicate that at least one of the plurality of processor cores is assigned with at least one task each having a respective task priority higher than a task priority of the runnable task in the first scheduling class;
and
one or more processor cores from the plurality of processor cores perform the runnable task.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,962 words

Summary841 words

#Field of the Invention

#The invention generally relates to task assignment in a multi-core processor system, and more particularly, to task assignment that cross refers to task assignment information corresponding to multiple scheduling classes at the same time.

#Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#The invention will become more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-core processor system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating priority ranges according to an embodiment of the invention;

Detailed description4,936 words

#The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

#It should be noted that the term “multi-core processor system” may mean a multi-core system or a multi-processor system, depending upon the actual design. In other words, the proposed task scheduling method may be employed by any of the multi-core system and the multi-processor system. For example, concerning the multi-core system, all of the processor cores may be disposed in one processor core. For another example, concerning the multi-processor system, each of the processor cores may be disposed in one processor core. Hence, each of the clusters may be implemented as a group of processors.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-core processor system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The multi-core processor system 100 comprises a task scheduler 110, and a plurality of processor cores 120A-120N. FIG. 1 presents a simplified block diagram in which only the elements relevant to the invention are shown. However, the invention should not be limited to what is shown in FIG. 1.

Facts

Application

14/799,921Filed 15 Jul 2015 · us provisional application

Priority

2 Oct 2014

Published

US 2016/0098300 A17 Apr 2016

Granted

26 Dec 2017

Term ends

15 Jul 2035

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

G06F 9/4881
By program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system: scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
G06F 2209/483
Indexing scheme relating to G06F9/48: multiproc
G06F
Computing and data processing

Timeline

2 Oct 2014Priority claimedParent application 62/058,846
15 Jul 2015Application filedUS 14/799,921
15 Jul 2015Assigned to Mediatek Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
7 Apr 2016PublishedUS 2016/0098300 A1
26 Dec 2017GrantedUS 9,852,005 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
15 Jul 2035Term endsEstimated

Multi-core processor systems and methods for assigning tasks in a multi-core processor system

Life of this patent

Multi-core processor systems and methods for assigning tasks in a multi-core processor system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description5,962 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,962 words