JP2005115620A - Task management method and electronic apparatus having task management means - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform task management without inhibiting execution of a higher priority task by execution of a lower priority task when a remaining amount of resources decrease. <P>SOLUTION: A task management method performs the task management so as to execute either task selected from among a plurality of tasks executed by using the resources in a system. The plurality of tasks are previously segmented into the plurality of groups the priority of which are fixed, and only a task belonging to the group up to a predetermined priority is selected depending on the remaining amount of resources. Also, the task belonging to the group the priority of which is fixed can be moved to another group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a task management method and an electronic apparatus having task management means, and in particular, a task so as to execute one of tasks selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources in the system. The present invention relates to a task management method for managing the above and an electronic apparatus having a task management means for executing the task management method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Recent electronic devices are configured to prepare tasks for realizing a plurality of functions in advance as their functions increase, and sequentially execute tasks selected from the tasks.

  For example, a mobile phone has a call task for realizing a call function, a game task for realizing a game function, and the like, and the system performs one of a plurality of tasks according to an instruction from a user. Select and try to perform that task.

  The task is executed using resources such as a power source and a memory included in the system.

  The problem here is that, since the resources are finite, a desired task cannot be executed due to a shortage of remaining resources.

Therefore, in the conventional electronic device, it is determined whether or not the task requested to be executed can be executed with the remaining resources, and the task is executed only when it can be executed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ) And priorities are set for all tasks in advance, and tasks are always executed from a task with a higher priority regardless of the remaining amount of resources (for example, see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent No. 3045981 JP 2000-293386 A

  However, in the above-described conventional electronic device, there is a possibility that a desired task cannot be executed due to a shortage of remaining resources.

  In other words, in the case of executing only an executable task according to the remaining resource amount disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an execution request for a less important task is made, the less important task is executed with the remaining resource. If it can, the task will be executed.

  For this reason, when an unimportant task is executed, resources are consumed, and when an important task execution request is made thereafter, the important task may not be executed due to insufficient resources.

  Further, in the case where tasks are always executed in the order of priority disclosed in Patent Document 2, the frequency of execution of important tasks with high priority is increased, but an execution request for important tasks with high priority is made. If only an execution request for a less important task with a lower priority is made, the task with the lower priority is executed.

  Therefore, in this case as well, resources are consumed due to the execution of unimportant tasks, and even if an important task execution request is subsequently made, there is a possibility that the execution of the important task cannot be executed due to insufficient resources.

  As described above, in the above-described conventional electronic device, when the remaining amount of the resource has been reduced, the resource may be consumed due to the execution of the unimportant task, thereby preventing the execution of the important task. was there.

  Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1, in a task management method for managing a task so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources in the system, Tasks are divided in advance into a plurality of groups with priorities, and only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority are selected according to the remaining amount of resources.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 2, the task belonging to the group in which the priority is determined in the claim 1 can be moved to another group.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 3, in an electronic apparatus having task management means for managing a task so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks to be executed using resources, The task management means is configured to divide a plurality of tasks into a plurality of groups with predetermined priorities, and to select only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority according to the remaining amount of resources. did.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 4, in the present invention according to claim 3, the task management means is configured to be able to move a task belonging to the group in which the priority is determined to another group. did.

  And in this invention, there exists an effect described below.

  That is, in the present invention according to claim 1, in a task management method for managing a task so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources in the system, Tasks are divided into multiple groups with priorities, and only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority are selected according to the remaining amount of resources, reducing the remaining amount of resources. In this case, task management can be performed without obstructing execution of a task with a higher priority by execution of a task with a lower priority.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 2, since the tasks belonging to the group in which the priority order is set can be moved to another group, the system and the user can arbitrarily change the task priority order. Can manage tasks suitable for the system and users.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 3, in an electronic apparatus having task management means for managing a task so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks to be executed using resources, The task management means is configured to divide a plurality of tasks into a plurality of groups with predetermined priorities and select only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority according to the remaining amount of resources. Therefore, when the remaining amount of resources decreases, the execution of a task with a high priority is not hindered by the execution of a task with a low priority, and the usability of the electronic device can be improved.

  Further, in the present invention according to claim 4, the task management means is configured to be able to move the task belonging to the group in which the priority is set to another group, so that the system or the user can arbitrarily change the priority of the task. Therefore, the electronic device suitable for the system and the user can be obtained.

  The electronic device according to the present invention prepares tasks for realizing a plurality of functions using resources such as a system power supply and a memory (for example, a call task, a game task, a schedule management task in a mobile phone) in advance. In addition, task management means for sequentially executing tasks selected from the tasks is provided.

  This task management means manages tasks so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources in the system.

  In addition, in this task management means, a plurality of tasks are divided into a plurality of groups with predetermined priorities, and only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority are selected according to the remaining amount of resources. Yes.

  That is, when the remaining amount of the resource is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the tasks belonging to all the groups are executed in descending order of the priority of the task group. Only tasks belonging to a group higher than a predetermined priority are executed in descending order of task group priority.

  The tasks belonging to each priority group (task group) can be arbitrarily moved to another group by the system or the user.

  As described above, according to the present invention, only the tasks belonging to the group up to a predetermined priority are selected according to the remaining amount of resources, so when the remaining amount of resources decreases, Task management can be performed without impeding the execution of tasks with higher priorities.

  In particular, when a task belonging to a group for which priority is set can be moved to another group, the system or user can arbitrarily change the priority of the task. Can be managed.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the electronic devices include various electronic devices such as mobile phones, portable terminals, image processing devices such as digital cameras and digital video cameras, and audio devices. In the following description, a power source is described as an example of a resource. However, the resource is not limited to this, and includes any resource used in a system such as a memory or a capacitor.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electronic apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The electronic apparatus 1 is a system in which various peripheral circuits 3 and 4, a recording medium 5 such as a memory, and an input / output interface 6 are connected to a CPU 2. Connected via bus 10. An input device 7 such as a keyboard is connected to the input interface 6 so that external input can be performed.

  Further, the electronic device 1 is connected via a system bus 10 to a battery remaining amount information acquisition circuit 8 for detecting the remaining amount of the battery 9 as a power source. The battery remaining amount information acquisition circuit 8 is connected to the electrode of the battery 9 and is directly connected to the CPU 2 via the processor port 11.

  The electronic apparatus 1 is configured to operate by performing various controls by the CPU 2 and executes a task requested by the system or the user by using a task management method described below. The following task management is not limited to software executed by the CPU 2, but may be hardware based on various dedicated circuits.

  That is, when there is a task request from the system or the user, the electronic device 1 sequentially stores the tasks requested in advance in a predetermined task queue and stores the tasks stored in the task queue at a predetermined timing. Select and then perform that task.

  Here, as shown in Table 1, for example, tasks (T0 to T12) that can be executed by the electronic device 1 have a predetermined priority set in advance. Note that the priority order increases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.

また、各タスクには、たとえば表２に示すように、予めエネルギー制限、サイクル制限、実行時間制限が定められている。なお、表２において、各タスクのサイクル数は、（実行時間）ｘ（動作周波数）で算出され、そのときに消費するエネルギーは、（タスクの実行に要した時間）ｘ（（プロセッサの消費電力）＋（周辺回路の消費電力））で算出され、プロセッサの動作周波数を５０ＭＨｚ、プロセッサの消費電力を１Ｗとしている。

For each task, as shown in Table 2, for example, an energy limit, a cycle limit, and an execution time limit are set in advance. In Table 2, the number of cycles of each task is calculated by (execution time) x (operation frequency), and the energy consumed at that time is (time required for task execution) x ((processor power consumption) ) + (Power consumption of peripheral circuit))), the operating frequency of the processor is 50 MHz, and the power consumption of the processor is 1 W.

また、図２に示すように、各優先順位ごとにタスクキューを設けており、タスクの要求があった場合には、そのタスクに対して設定されている優先順位のタスクキューに要求のあったタスクを格納するようにしている。

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, a task queue is provided for each priority, and when a task is requested, there is a request in the task queue having the priority set for the task. Tasks are stored.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device 1 first acquires the remaining amount of the battery 9 using the remaining battery amount information acquisition circuit 8 (step S1).

  Next, the resource level is determined based on the remaining battery level acquired in step S1 (step S2). Here, the resource level represents a preset level corresponding to the remaining battery level as shown in Table 3, for example.

次に、ステップＳ２で決定したリソースレベルに基づいて、実行可能な優先順位を決定する（ステップＳ３）。ここで、実行可能な優先順位は、たとえば表４に示すように、リソースレベルごとに予め設定されている。

Next, an executable priority order is determined based on the resource level determined in step S2 (step S3). Here, the executable priorities are set in advance for each resource level as shown in Table 4, for example.

次に、実行可能な優先順位までのタスクキューに格納されているタスクの中から実行するタスクを優先順位の高い順に選択する（ステップＳ４）。

Next, tasks to be executed are selected in descending order of priority from the tasks stored in the task queue up to the executable priority (step S4).

  For example, if the remaining battery level acquired in step S1 is 62%, the resource level is determined as 1 from Table 3, the executable priority is determined as 1 from Table 4, and the task of each priority level is determined. If tasks such as those illustrated in FIG. 2 are stored in the queue, the tasks T0 and T2 stored in the task queues with priority levels 0 and 1 are ordered in descending order of priority, that is, in order of T0 and T2. select.

  Finally, the tasks selected in step S4 are executed in descending order of priority (step S5). For example, in the case of the previous example, the tasks T0 and T2 stored in the task queues with priority levels 0 and 1 are executed in the order of higher priority levels, that is, T0 and T2.

  In this way, the electronic device 1 manages tasks so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources in the system.

  In the task management method shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of tasks are divided into a plurality of groups with priorities set in advance, and only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority are selected according to the remaining amount of resources. Like to do.

  Therefore, when the remaining amount of resources is reduced, task management can be performed without impeding the execution of a task with a higher priority due to the execution of a task with a lower priority.

  In the task management method shown in FIG. 3, a case has been described in which tasks belonging to a group for which priority is set are set in advance. However, a system or a user can arbitrarily add tasks belonging to a group for which priority has been set. You can also move to other groups.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, first, when there is a task request (step S11) from the user or the system, acquisition of battery remaining amount information (step S12) similar to step S1 to step S3, resource level (Step S13), and an executable priority order (step S14).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the task requested in step S11 belongs to an executable priority order and can be executed (step S15).

  If it is determined that the task can be executed, the task is executed as it is (step S16).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the task cannot be executed, the system or the user who has requested execution is checked whether the task need not be executed (step S17).

  If there is a request from the system or user to force execution, the priority of the task is changed (step S18), and then the task is executed (step S16).

  On the other hand, if there is no request to force execution from the system or user, the task is not executed.

  For example, in the previous example, when the remaining battery level is 62%, if there is a request for execution of task T1, the task is executed, and if there is a request for task T5, forced execution Only when there is a request, the priority of the task T5 is changed to 0 or 1 and executed.

  In this manner, in the task management method shown in FIG. 4, the system and the user can arbitrarily move the tasks belonging to the group in which the priority order is determined to another group.

  Therefore, since the priority order of tasks can be arbitrarily changed by the system or user, management of tasks suitable for the system or user can be performed.

  In the task management method shown in FIG. 3, the selected task is always executed in step S5. However, whether or not the execution of the selected task can be completed depends on the remaining battery level and the task energy limit. If it can be completed, it can be executed as it is. If it cannot be completed, it can be executed only when there is a request for forced execution.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the remaining battery level information similar to Steps S1 to S4 (Step S21), resource level determination (Step S22), and executable priority order determination (Step S23). ) And task selection (step S24).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the execution of the task selected in step S24 can be completed based on the remaining battery level and the task energy limit (step S25).

  If it is determined that the task can be completed, the task is executed as it is (step S26).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the task cannot be completed, the system or the user who has requested execution is checked whether the task need not be executed (step S27).

  If there is a request from the system or user to force execution, the task is executed (step S26).

  On the other hand, if there is no request to force execution from the system or user, the task is not executed.

  For example, in the previous example, when the remaining battery level is 62% and task T2 is selected, if the remaining battery level is 10,000 joules or more, the task is executed and the remaining battery level is 10,000 joules. If it is less, the execution is performed only when there is a request for forced execution.

  In this way, in the task management method shown in FIG. 5, when the execution of the selected task cannot be completed, the task management method is executed only when there is a request for forced execution.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent a task from being unexpectedly terminated due to a shortage of resources while the system or the user does not recognize the task.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electronic apparatus according to the invention. Explanatory drawing which shows a task queue typically. The flowchart which shows a task management method. The flowchart which shows a task management method. The flowchart which shows a task management method.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic equipment 2 CPU
3,4 Peripheral circuit 5 Recording medium 6 Input / output interface 7 Battery level information acquisition circuit 8 Battery 9 System bus
10 processor ports

Claims (4)

In a task management method for managing a task so as to execute any one of tasks selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources in the system,
A task management method characterized in that a plurality of tasks are divided into a plurality of groups with predetermined priorities, and only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority are selected according to the remaining amount of resources. .   The task management method according to claim 1, wherein tasks belonging to the group in which the priority is set can be moved to another group. In an electronic device having a task management means for managing a task so as to execute any task selected from a plurality of tasks executed using resources,
The task management means is configured to divide a plurality of tasks into a plurality of groups with predetermined priorities and select only tasks belonging to groups up to a predetermined priority according to the remaining amount of resources. An electronic device having task management means characterized by the above.   4. The electronic apparatus having task management means according to claim 3, wherein the task management means is configured to be able to move a task belonging to the group in which the priority is determined to another group.

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