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US5692192A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Load distribution method and system for distributed threaded task operation in network information processing apparatuses with virtual shared memory

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-07-14
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2015-07-14
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Abstract

Abstract In a load distribution method, the load in the entire distributed system is uniformly distributed. In a system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses (nodes) are connected with a network, the degree of distribution of each distributed task is controlled by expanding or compressing the task. Load distribution is performed by expanding a distributed task operating in a heavily loaded node to a lightly loaded node, and compressing the distributed task from the heavily loaded node and transferring threads within the distributed task. Load distribution servers execute the load distribution method.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshiaki Sudo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5083; G06F9/5088

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 203 words
A load distribution method having a mechanism of connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses with a network, and executing a distributed task, whose main storage is shared by a distributed virtual shared memory method, present in the plurality of information processing apparatuses by distributing threads in the respective information processing apparatuses, said method comprising the steps of: collecting load information about the plurality of information processing apparatuses; controlling the degree of distribution of a distributed task in operation in accordance with the collected load information so that a heavily loaded information processing apparatus expands a distributed task operating therein to a lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and so that the lightly loaded information processing apparatus expands the distributed task operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the heavily loaded information processing apparatus from the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus; and transferring threads operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus within distributed task to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 203 words
A load distribution method having a mechanism of connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses with a network, and executing a distributed task, whose main storage is shared by a distributed virtual shared memory method, present in the plurality of information processing apparatuses by distributing threads in the respective information processing apparatuses, said method comprising the steps of: collecting load information about the plurality of information processing apparatuses; controlling the degree of distribution of a distributed task in operation in accordance with the collected load information so that a heavily loaded information processing apparatus expands a distributed task operating therein to a lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and so that the lightly loaded information processing apparatus expands the distributed task operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the heavily loaded information processing apparatus from the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus; and transferring threads operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus within distributed task to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 59 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said transferring step, user-level threads are transferred by stopping threads in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus and generating threads in the lightly loaded information processing apparatus by providing a user-level thread control mechanism in the distributed task and using switching of contexts in a user distributed virtual shared memory space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said collecting step, load information is collected by periodically circulating load information about a concerned apparatus as a message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said collecting step, load information about other information processing apparatuses is collected only when expansion of the distributed task and transfer of threads must be performed because load information about a concerned apparatus decreases or increases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 210 words
A load distribution system having a mechanism of connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses with a network, and executing a distributed task, whose main storage is shared by a distributed virtual shared memory method, present in the plurality of information processing apparatuses by distributing threads in the respective information processing apparatuses, said system comprising: collection means for collecting load information about the plurality of information processing apparatuses; control means for controlling the degree of distribution of a distributed task in operation in accordance with the collected load information so that a heavily loaded information processing apparatus expands a distributed task operating therein to a lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and so that the lightly loaded information processing apparatus expands the distributed task operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the heavily loaded information processing apparatus from the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus; and transfer means for transferring threads operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus within a distributed task to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 210 words
A load distribution system having a mechanism of connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses with a network, and executing a distributed task, whose main storage is shared by a distributed virtual shared memory method, present in the plurality of information processing apparatuses by distributing threads in the respective information processing apparatuses, said system comprising: collection means for collecting load information about the plurality of information processing apparatuses; control means for controlling the degree of distribution of a distributed task in operation in accordance with the collected load information so that a heavily loaded information processing apparatus expands a distributed task operating therein to a lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and so that the lightly loaded information processing apparatus expands the distributed task operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus and compresses a distributed task expanded to the heavily loaded information processing apparatus from the lightly loaded information processing apparatus to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus; and transfer means for transferring threads operating in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus within a distributed task to the lightly loaded information processing apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 57 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said transfer means transfers user-level threads by stopping threads in the heavily loaded information processing apparatus and generating threads in the lightly loaded information processing apparatus by providing a user-level thread control mechanism in the distributed task and using switching of contexts in a user distributed virtual shared memory space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said collection means collects load information by periodically circulating load information about a concerned apparatus as a message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said collection means collects load information about other information processing apparatuses only when expansion of the distributed task and transfer of threads must be performed because load information about a concerned apparatus decreases or increases.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5031089A Cited
US5287508A Cited
US5396614A Cited
US5452447A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-11-24 2001-05-26 2001-11-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-11-24 2005-05-26 2005-11-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-11-24 2009-05-26 2009-11-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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