Detecting a timeout of elements in an element processing system

摘要

Provides methods, systems and apparatus for timer management of an element processing system wherein timer intervals related to elements to be processed can be handled in a time-efficient manner. An example method is a method for detecting a timeout of elements in an element processing system wherein a timer value, indicating a timeout interval with respect to a given time base, is assigned to each of the elements when processed. From a number of elements processed, the timer value indicating a minimum timeout interval to expire is determined out of the number of timer values assigned to the number of elements being processed.