Task allocation in a computer network

摘要

A method of allocating computing tasks in a communication network comprises providing a server that sends a request with an expiration time over the network to one or more processor computers for an allocation of a processing task to be performed by the server computer. The server computer performs the allocated processing task to completion if it's received within the expiration time and only if a higher priority task is not received before processing is completed.

主权项

1. A method of allocating computing tasks in a communication network, comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of server computers and one or more processor computers all coupled to the communication network; the server computers receiving server tasks over the communication network and the processor computers receiving processing tasks over the communication network; a first server computer sending a task request to the one or more processor computers, wherein the task request asks the one or more processor computers to allocate a processing task to the first server computer, and wherein the task request comprises an associated expiration time; the one or more processor computers receiving the task request; at least one of the processor computers responding to the task request by allocating a processing task to the first server computer; and the first server computer performing the allocated processing task to completion only if the allocated processing task is allocated within the associated expiration time and if the first server computer does not receive a higher priority task prior to completing the allocated processing task.