Operating system for a multi-tasking operating environment

Claim 1

A task scheduler system, including an array of priority queues for use in a real time multitasking operating system including equation lists, configuration lists, a function library, input and output drivers, user-created task definition lists of major and minor tasks, including major and minor task elements, and interrupt handlers, initialized to have programmable timer interrupts, comprising: (a) means for task scheduling according to priority wherein upon the completion of each library function the priority queues are interrogated and the highest priority task segment is found whose requested resource is available and executed and wherein task segments in the same priority queue are executed in round-robin fashion, and wherein the task scheduling means further includes means for maintaining the status of all major tasks in the system in the states of unlocked and done, unlocked and active, unlocked and waiting, locked and active, or locked and waiting including means for locking tasks into a mode of operation so as to only allow the locked task to execute overriding the normal state of priority execution, and wherein the task scheduling means still further includes waiting means for suspending operation on a task that requires completion of a library function; and (b) means for task creation responsive to programmable timer interrupts including means for interrogating the task definition lists and means for creating all major and minor task elements from the task definition lists so as to create major and minor tasks which are added to the priority queues.

Claim 5

A method of scheduling tasks included in an array of priority queues for use in a real time multitasking operating system, including equation lists, configuration lists, a function library, input and output drivers, user-created task definition lists of major and minor tasks, including major and minor task elements, and interrupt handlers, initialized to have programmable timer interrupts comprising the steps of: (a) task scheduling according to priority wherein upon the completion of each library function the priority queues are interrogated and the highest priority task segment is found whose requested resource is available and executed and wherein task segments in the same priority queue are executed in round-robin fashion and where the task scheduling further includes the steps of maintaining the status of all major task in a system of the states of unlocked and done, unlocked and active, unlocked and waiting, locked and active, or locked and waiting including locking tasks into a mode of operation so as to only execute the locked task and override the normal state of priority execution, and waiting for suspending operation on a task that requires completion of a library function; and (b) creating tasks in response to the programmable timer interrupts including the steps of interrogating the task definition lists and creating all major and minor task elements form the task definition lists so as to create major and minor tasks.

Claim 6

A method of scheduling tasks included in an array of priority queues for use in a real time multitasking operating system, including equation lists, configuration lists, a function library, input and output drivers, user-created task definition lists of major and minor tasks, including major and minor task elements, and interrupt handlers, initialized to have programmable timer interrupts comprising the steps of: (a) task scheduling according to priority wherein upon the completion of each library function the priority queues are interrogated and the highest priority task segment is found whose requested resource is available and executed and wherein task segments in the same priority queue are executed in round-robin fashion and where the task scheduling further includes the steps of maintaining the status of all major task in a system of the states of unlocked and done, unlocked and active, unlocked and waiting, locked and active, or locked and waiting including locking tasks into a mode of operation so as to only execute the locked task and override the normal state of priority execution, and waiting for suspending operation on a task that requires completion of a library function; and (b) creating tasks in response to the programmable timer interrupts including the steps of interrogating the task definition lists and creating all major and minor task elements form the task definition lists so as to create major and minor tasks.