System and method for utilizing dispatch queues in a multiprocessor data ...

(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING
DISPATCH QUEUES IN A
MULTIPROCESSOR DATA PROCESSING
SYSTEM

(75) Inventors: David Edward Bohm, Tucson, AZ

(US); Robert Gerard LaBrie, Tucson,
AZ (US); Daniel Eqidio Reyes,

Tuscon, AZ (US)

(73) Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 938 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/754,703

(22) Filed: Jan. 4, 2001

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2002/0087618 Al Jul. 4, 2002

(51) Int. C I. G06F 9/46

(52) U.S. CI 718/102; 712/203

(58) Field of Search 718/100-108;

709/201; 711/206; 712/28-31, 203, 219

(56) References Cited

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6,779,182 Bl * 8/2004 Zolnowsky 718/103

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—St. John Courtenay, III

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dale M. Crockatt; Dillon &

Yudell LLP

(57) ABSTRACT

A method for utilizing dispatch queues operates in a data processing system that has multiple processors, an operating system, and an application with multiple threads. According to that method, a dedicated dispatch queue and a general dispatch queue are created at an application level, with the dedicated dispatch queue being dedicated to a task control block (TCB) of the data processing system. In response to determining that the TCB is available and the dedicated dispatch queue is not empty, a thread is dispatched from the dedicated dispatch queue to the available TCB for execution. In response to determining that the TCB is available and the dedicated dispatch queue is empty, a thread is dispatched from the general dispatch queue to the available TCB for execution. In an illustrative embodiment, bound threads are distinguished from unbound threads, the bound threads are scheduled only on the dedicated dispatch queue, and the unbound threads are scheduled only on the general dispatch queue.

18 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets