Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for time multiplexing a resource for intervals of time among pieces of work provided by one or more entities, the apparatus characterized by: one or more sets of work descriptors (117) describing the provided pieces of work; a server (121) for providing any work descriptors in the sets thereof from each of the sets thereof to the resource, the work descriptors being provided in an ordered fashion for a set of the intervals of time; and means (107) for receiving the work descriptors and placing the work descriptors for pieces of work provided by a given one of the entities in the sets thereof such that the ordered provision of the work descriptors by the server causes the resource to do the pieces of work provided by the given one of the entities at a controlled rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that: the means for receiving the work descriptors places the work descriptors for the given one of the entities in the sets of work descriptors such that the density of the work descriptors for the given one of the entities in the sets of work descriptors is controlled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that: the density is controlled by limiting the number of the work descriptors for the given entity in a given one of the sets of work descriptors and by separating sets of work descriptors which may contain work descriptors for the given entity by a fixed number of sets of work descriptors which may not contain work descriptors for the given entity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 futher characterized by: a best effort set of work descriptors (115); and the server provides any work descriptors from the best effort set to the resource during the set of intervals of time whenever the server is not providing work descriptors from the sets of work descriptors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 futher characterized in that: the set of intervals of time is subdivided into subsets thereof; and the server provides any work descriptors from a given one of the sets of work descriptors during a given one of the subsets of the intervals of time.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for time multiplexing a resource for intervals of time among pieces of work provided by one or more entities, the method characterized by the steps of: placing work descriptors describing provided pieces of work for a given one of the entities in one or more sets of work descriptors in a first ordered fashion; and providing any work descriptors in the sets of work descriptors to the resource in a second ordered fashion during a set of the intervals of time, the first ordered fashion being such that the provision of the work descriptors in the second ordered fashion to the resource causes the resource to do the pieces of work provided by the given one of the entities at a controlled rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method set forth in claim 6 futher characterized in that: the step of placing work descriptors controls the density of the work descriptors for the given one of the entities in the sets of work descriptors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method set forth in claim 6 futher characterized in that: The step of placing work descriptors in the sets of work descriptors includes the steps of placing no more than a maximum number of work descriptors for the given entity in a given one of the sets of work descriptors and skipping a fixed number of the sets of work descriptors before again placing work descriptors for the given entity in one of the sets of work descriptors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method set forth in claim 6 further characterized by the step of: placing any work descriptors for entities which do not require a controlled rate in a best effort set of work descriptors; and the step of providing any work descriptors from the sets of work descriptors includes the step of providing any work descriptors from the best effort set of work descriptors whenever the server is not providing work descriptors from the sets of work descriptors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 6 futher characterized in that: the step of providing any work descriptors from the sets of work descriptors includes the step of, for each set of work descriptors, providing any work descriptors therein to the resource in a subset of the set of intervals of time.