System and method for time virtualization in computer systems

• US 20120029901A1
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teletech Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aria Solutions Inc. (TTEC Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Korran Lorne Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A system and method for time virtualization, comprising a time virtualizer running on a first digital computer and adapted to intercept time-dependent requests from a plurality of applications executing on the first or another digital computer, wherein on intercepting a time-dependent request from an application, the time virtualizer returns an expected result to the requesting application comprising a virtual time rather than a clock time, the virtualized time being established by the time virtualizer and differing from the clock time, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for virtualizing time, comprising:

a time virtualizer running on a first digital computer and adapted to intercept time-dependent requests from a plurality of applications executing on the first or another digital computer;

wherein on intercepting a time-dependent request from an application, the time virtualizer returns an expected result to the requesting application comprising a virtual time rather than a clock time, the virtualized time being established by the time virtualizer and differing from the clock time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the time virtualizer ensures that results from any plurality of time-dependent requests are delivered to their requesting applications in order of increasing virtual time, thereby maintaining a uniform direction of virtual time passage.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the time virtualizer uses an upcoming event queue.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the time virtualizer uses a thread table and advances virtual time whenever all threads in the event table are idle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the time virtualizer performs essentially all time-based functions of the operating system of the first digital computer, and further wherein essentially all applications executing on the first digital computer use virtualized time rather than a clock time.

6. A system for virtualizing time in a simulation system, comprising:

a time virtualizer running on a first digital computer and adapted to intercept time-dependent requests from a plurality of applications executing as part of a simulation system;

wherein on intercepting a time-dependent request from an application, the time virtualizer returns an expected result to the requesting application comprising a virtual time rather than a clock time, the virtualized time being established by the time virtualizer and differing from the clock time.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the time virtualizer ensures that results from any plurality of time-dependent requests are delivered to their requesting applications in order of increasing virtual time, thereby maintaining a uniform direction of virtual time passage.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the time virtualizer uses an upcoming event queue.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the time virtualizer uses a thread table and advances virtual time whenever all threads in the event table are idle.

10. A system for virtualizing time in a contact center simulation environment, comprising:

a call routing application running on a digital computer;

a statistics application running on a digital computer;

a contact center activity simulator application running on a digital computer;

a time virtualizer running on a digital computer and adapted to intercept time-dependent requests from the call routing application, the statistics application, and the contact center activity simulator;

wherein on intercepting a time-dependent request, the time virtualizer returns an expected result to the requesting application comprising a virtual time rather than a clock time, the virtualized time being established by the time virtualizer and differing from the clock time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the time virtualizer ensures that results from any plurality of time-dependent requests are delivered to their requesting applications in order of increasing virtual time, thereby maintaining a uniform direction of virtual time passage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the time virtualizer uses an upcoming event queue.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the time virtualizer uses a thread table and advances virtual time whenever all threads in the event table are idle.

14. A method of virtualizing time in a digital computer, comprising the steps of

(a) sending a time-dependent request from an application to a system library or operating system;

(b) intercepting the request and redirecting it to a time virtualizer; and

(c) returning, from the time virtualizer, an expected response to the request to the requesting application comprising a virtual time rather than a clock time;

(d) wherein the virtual time is established by the time virtualizer and differs from a clock time.