Title: Process management structures and hardware/firmware control

Abstract: A system and method for computer process dispatching in a multiprogramming/multiprocessing environment is disclosed. Each process in the multiprogramming/multiprocessing computer system may be in one of four states at any given time as follows: 1. Running -- the process is in control of the computer system and is directing the operation of the central processing unit (CPU); 2. ready -- the process is ready to run as soon as it is given control of the CPU; 3. waiting -- the process is waiting for an external event to occur so it can either resume running or enter the ready state; 4. Suspended -- the process has been temporarily stopped (from a source external to the process). The dispatcher is a firmware/hardware structure that controls the first three states of the process--i.e. running, ready and waiting states.

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Inventors: Dufond, Patrick (Paris, FR)
Cassonnet, Jean-Claude (Conflans-Ste-Honorine, FR)
Bogaert, Jean-Louis (Clamart, FR)
DE Rivet, Philippe-Hubert (Paris, FR)
Bradley, John J. (Garches, FR)
Franklin, Benjamin S. (Cambridge, MA, US)

Application Number: 529012
Filing Date: 1974-12-02
Publication_date: 1978-04-11
Assignee: Compagnie Honeywell Bull (Paris, FR)
Primary Class(es): 718/103 711/203, 718/107
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3328771	Jun, 1967	Blaauw et al.	340/172.
3559187	Jan, 1971	Figueroa et al.	340/172.
3593314	Jul, 1971	Moll	340/172.
3599162	Aug, 1971	Byrns et al.	340/172.
3665415	May, 1972	Beard et al.	340/172.
3665487	May, 1972	Campbell et al.	444/1.
3699530	Oct, 1972	Capowski et al.	340/172.
3725864	Apr, 1973	Clark et al.	340/172.
3825902	Jul, 1974	Brown et al.	340/172.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Nusbaum, Mark E.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Prasinos; Nicholas, Reiling; Ronald T.