Management of computer processes having differing operational parameters through an ordered multi-phased startup of the computer processes

• US 5,907,701 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: The Foxboro Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Hanson, Hugh S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banankhah, Majid A.
• Application Number:
  US08/664,775
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 395/670, 395/680, 395/671, 395/682, 395/703, 395/672
• US Class Current: 718/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45537 Provision of facilities of other operating environments, e.g. WINE I/O emulation G06F13/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system

Abstract

A system and machine readable data storage medium for managing computer services having different operational parameters are described. The managed services provide an ordered, multi-phased startup of processes started by the services. The processes started by the services include background processes and interactive processes. The services are assigned operational parameters that define the environment for processes executed under a particular service. The system can further include apparatus and methods for monitoring the execution status of processes and for acting upon the processes as a function of their execution status. The system also includes synchronization flags to aid in providing an ordered startup of processes.

Claims

1. A computerized data processing method for emulating a foreign operating system by managing a plurality of services under differing operational parameters, said method comprising the steps of

starting a primary service for executing a list of background processes, each of which is assigned a first set of operational parameters,

starting a secondary service for executing a list of interactive processes, each of which is assigned a second set of operational parameters,

starting at least one background process from said list of background processes with said primary service, and

starting at least one interactive process from said list of interactive processes with said secondary service,

such that said primary service and said secondary service provide an ordered multi-phased startup of said background processes and said interactive processes.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring the execution status of said background processes.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of restarting a background process as a function of said monitored execution status.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring said primary service and said secondary service prior to said step of starting said primary service.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said configuring step further comprises

defining said list of background processes that are ready for execution,

associating with said primary service a first tag identifying said list of background processes,

defining said list of interactive processes that are ready for execution, and

associating with said secondary service a second tag identifying said list of interactive processes.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of starting said list of background processes includes starting all processes in said list of background processes and setting a synchronization flag.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of delaying said execution of said list of interactive processes until said synchronization flag is set.

8. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of

starting a ternary service for executing a list of optional background processes, each being assigned a first operational parameter, prior to the step of starting at least one background process, and

starting said list of optional background processes, after the step of setting said synchronization flag.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of starting an asynchronous process prior to the step of starting at least one background process.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of creating an environment for said background processes prior to the step background process.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of creating an environment for said interactive processes prior to the step of starting at least one interactive process.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of selecting said first operational parameter to be a first security level and selecting said second operational parameter to be a second security level, wherein said first security level is higher than said second security level.

31. A method according to claim 1, wherein each background process is assigned a first set of operational parameters that define an operating environment for core processes of the foreign operating system, and wherein each interactive process is assigned a second set of operational parameters that define an operating environment for non-core processes of the foreign operating system.

13. A computerized data processing method for emulating a foreign operating system by managing a plurality of services having different and segregated operational parameters, said method comprising the successive steps of

starting a primary service for executing a list of background processes, each background process being assigned a first set of operational parameters that define an operating environment for core processes of the foreign operating system,

starting a secondary service for executing a list of interactive processes, each interactive process being assigned a second set of operational parameters that define an operating environment for non-core processes of the foreign operating system,

starting at least one background process from said list of background processes with said primary service, and

starting at least one interactive process from said list of interactive processes with said secondary service,

such that said primary service and said secondary service provide an ordered multi-phased startup of said background processes and said interactive processes.

14. A data processing apparatus for emulating a foreign operating system by managing a plurality of processes executing under differing operational parameters, comprising

a configuration database for storing and retrieving an executable instruction set, and

an operating system coupled with said configuration database for executing said instruction set, said operating system including

means for starting a primary service for executing a list of background processes, each of which is assigned a first set of operational parameters

means for starting a secondary service for executing a list of interactive processes, each of which is assigned a second set of operational parameters,

means for executing said list of background processes with said primary service, and

means for executing said list of interactive processes with said secondary service,

such that said primary service and said secondary service provide an ordered multi-phased startup of said background processes and said interactive processes.

15. A data processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said operating system further comprises a service controller for monitoring the execution status of said processes.

16. A data processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said service controller further comprises means for restarting said processes as a function of the monitored execution status.

17. A data processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said configuration database further comprises means for storing a first list of processes ready for execution, and wherein said operating system further comprises means for associating with a first service a first tag identifying said first list of processes.

18. A data processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said operating system further comprises a service controller for setting a synchronization flag, said synchronization flag identifying the execution of all background processes.

19. A data processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said operating system further comprises

means for starting a third service for executing a list of optional background processes at said first operational parameter, and

means for executing said list of optional background processes as a function of said synchronous flag.

20. A data processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said service controller further comprises means for delaying the execution of said interactive processes until said synchronization flag is set.

21. A data processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said operating system further comprises means for starting an asynchronous process.

22. A machine readable data storage medium, comprising

means for starting a primary service for executing a list of background processes, each of which is assigned a first set of operational parameters,

means for starting a secondary service for executing a list of interactive processes, each of which is assigned a second set of operational parameters,

means for executing said list of background processes with said primary service, and

means for executing said list of interactive processes with said secondary service

such that said primary service and said secondary service provide an ordered multi-phased startup of said background processes and said interactive processes.

23. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 22, further comprising means for monitoring the execution status of said processes.

24. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 23, further comprising means for restarting said processes as a function of the monitored execution status.

25. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 22, further comprising means for configuring a first service.

26. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 25, further comprising

mean for defining a first list of processes ready for execution, and

means for associating with said first service a first tag identifying said first list of processes.

27. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 22, further comprising means for setting a synchronization flag, said synchronization flag identifying the execution of all background processes.

28. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 27, further comprising

means for starting a third service for executing a list of optional background processes at said first operational parameter, and

means for executing said list of optional background processes as a function of said synchronous flag.

29. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 27, further comprising means for delaying the execution of said interactive processes until said synchronization flag is set.

30. A machine readable data storage medium according to claim 22, further comprising means for starting an asynchronous process.