Task control device

Abstract

A task control unit executes a task according to execution request information for the task, which task is registered using a function provided by task control unit. The task control unit separately controls a task (P-Task) whose execution time is set by a programmer and a task (S-Task) whose execution time is set by a system so that the tasks do not interfere with each other. The task control unit executes plural S-Tasks while complying with their execution periods. By controlling tasks by the foregoing methods, energy is saved and a network load is reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A task control device comprising a task control unit that executes a task of a first type, an execution time of which is not allowed to be changed, at a specified first time, and that executes a task of a second type, an execution time of which is allowed to be changed, at a second time different from the first time. 
     
     
         16 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the task control unit acquires execution request information including task identification information that identifies a subject task, an execution time of the subject task, and type information indicating whether the subject task is the first type or the second type; and   the task control unit determines whether the subject task is the first type or the second type based on the type information.   
     
     
         17 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the task control unit acquires execution request information including task identification information that identifies a subject task, an execution time of the subject task, and a type of the execution time of the subject task; and   the task control unit determines whether the subject task is the first type or the second type based on the type of the execution time.   
     
     
         18 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the task control unit comprises:   a storage unit; and   a storage processing unit that stores, for the task of the first type, data on the specified first time in the storage unit, and that sets, for the task of the second type, the second time different from the first time such that the task of the second type is executed simultaneously with another task of the second type, and stores data on the second time in the storage unit, wherein the task control unit executes the task of the first type when the first time stored in the storage unit comes, and executes the task of the second type and the other task of the second type when the second time stored in the storage unit comes.   
     
     
         19 . The task control device according to  claim 18 , wherein the storage processing unit, when the task of the second type is a periodic task, sets the second time such that the task of the second type is executed simultaneously with another task of the second type, which is a periodic task, wherein a common divisor exists between an execution period of the task of the second type and an execution period of the other task of the second type, and stores data on the second time in the storage unit. 
     
     
         20 . The task control device according to  claim 18 , wherein the storage processing unit, when the task of the second type is a non-periodic task that does not cause a communication processing, sets the second time such that the task of the second type is executed simultaneously with another task of the first type. 
     
     
         21 . The task control device according to  claim 18 , wherein the storage processing unit, when the task of the second type is a task that causes a communication processing, sets the second time based on a communication start time of the task of the second type such that communication caused by the task of the second type starts at the same time when communication caused by another task of the second type starts. 
     
     
         22 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the task control unit comprises:   a storage unit;   a storage processing unit that stores, in the storage unit, data on the first time specified for the task of the first type and data on an execution time specified for the task of the second type; and   an execution unit that executes the task of the first type at the first time stored in the storage unit, and that, for the task of the second type, changes the execution time stored in the storage unit to the second time different from the first time such that the task of the second type is executed simultaneously with another task of the second type, and executes the task of the second type at the second time.   
     
     
         23 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , wherein when the task control unit has transited from a dormant status to an operating status in response to a notification of an event to the task of the second type, and a time when the task control unit has transited from a dormant status to an operating status has passed an execution time specified for the task of the second type, the task control unit sets the execution time specified for the task of the second type to the second time, which is an execution time of another task of the second type, which is executed most recently subsequent to the time when the task control unit has transited from a dormant status to an operating status. 
     
     
         24 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , wherein when the task control unit has transited from a dormant status to an operating status in response to a factor other than a request for executing the task of the second type and a notification of an event to the task of the second type, and a time when the task control unit has transited from a dormant status to an operating status has passed an execution time specified for the task of the second type, the task control unit sets the execution time specified for the task of the second type to the second time, which is an execution time of another task of the second type, which is executed most recently subsequent to the time when the task control unit has transited from a dormant status to an operating status. 
     
     
         25 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , comprising a status management unit that manages a status of the task control device, wherein the task control unit determines, based on the status managed by the status management unit, whether to change the first time of the task of the first type or an execution time of the task of the second type, and thereafter executes the task of the first type or the task of the second type. 
     
     
         26 . The task control device according to  claim 15 , comprising a control policy change unit that changes a control policy for the task control unit based on information input to the task control device, wherein the task control unit controls execution of a task in accordance with the control policy changed by the control policy change unit. 
     
     
         27 . The task control device according to  claim 22 , comprising a broadcast reception detection unit that detects a reception of broadcast information distributed to plural information-processing devices, one of which includes the task control device, wherein when the broadcast reception detection unit has detected a reception of the broadcast information, and a time when the broadcast reception detection unit has detected the reception of the broadcast information has passed an execution time specified for the task of the second type, the storage processing unit writes, over the execution time specified for the task of the second type, the second time subsequent to the time when the broadcast reception detection unit has detected the reception of the broadcast information, and stores data on the second time in the storage unit. 
     
     
         28 . The task control device according to  claim 22 , comprising a broadcast reception detection unit that detects a reception of broadcast information distributed to plural information-processing devices, one of which includes the task control device, wherein when the broadcast reception detection unit has detected a reception of the broadcast information, and a time when the broadcast reception detection unit has detected the reception of the broadcast information has passed an execution time specified for the task of the second type, the storage processing unit deletes the execution time specified for the task of the second type.