Task scheduler responsive to connectivity prerequisites

• US 7,885,222 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Cole, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSME, NATASHA W
• Application Number:
  US11/537,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20080080411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for scheduling tasks for execution by a mobile device is provided. A connectivity prerequisite is defined for a task scheduled to be executed by the mobile device. Connectivity state information associated with the mobile device is received. The connectivity prerequisite is compared to the connectivity state information. The task is executed responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling tasks for execution by a mobile device, comprising:

scheduling a task to be executed by the mobile device;

defining a connectivity prerequisite for the task;

receiving connectivity state information associated with the mobile device;

comparing the connectivity prerequisite to the connectivity state information;

executing the task responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite;

rescheduling the task responsive to the connectivity state information failing to satisfy the connectivity prerequisite;

identifying a change of connectivity state of the mobile device responsive to establishing or changing connectivity with one of a plurality of communication interfaces in the mobile device;

updating the connectivity state information responsive to identifying the change in connectivity state;

comparing the connectivity prerequisite to the updated connectivity state information responsive to identifying the change in connectivity state; and

executing the task responsive to the updated connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite after the change in connectivity state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connectivity prerequisite comprises at least one of no connectivity required, connectivity required, connectivity having a bandwidth greater than a predetermined threshold required, and free connectivity required.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a power state prerequisite for the task;

receiving power state information associated with the mobile device;

comparing the power state information to the power state prerequisite, and

executing the task responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite and the power state information satisfying the power state prerequisite.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying a change in a power state of the mobile device; and

comparing the power state prerequisite to the power state information responsive to the change in power state.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the power state prerequisite comprises at least one of external power required, minimal effect on battery life required, and minimal effect on battery charge time required.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a scheduled time for the task; and

comparing the connectivity prerequisite to the connectivity state information at the scheduled time.

7. A mobile device, comprising:

at least one communication interface; and

a processor coupled to the communication interface and operable to implement a scheduler, the scheduler being operable to schedule a task to be executed by the processor, define a connectivity prerequisite for the task, receive connectivity state information associated with the communication interface, compare the connectivity prerequisite to the connectivity state information, direct the processor to execute the task responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite, reschedule the task responsive to the connectivity state information failing to satisfy the connectivity prerequisite, identify a change of connectivity state of the mobile device responsive to establishing or changing connectivity with one of a plurality of communication interfaces in the mobile device, update the connectivity state information responsive to identifying the change in connectivity state, compare the connectivity prerequisite to the updated connectivity state information responsive to identifying the change in connectivity state, and execute the task responsive to the updated connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite after the change in connectivity state.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the connectivity prerequisite comprises at least one of no connectivity required, connectivity required, connectivity having a bandwidth greater than a predetermined threshold required, and free connectivity required.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the scheduler is operable to define a power state prerequisite for the task, receive power state information associated with the mobile device, compare the power state information to the power state prerequisite, and direct the processor to execute the task responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite and the power state information satisfying the power state prerequisite.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the scheduler is operable to identify a change in a power state of the mobile device and compare the power state prerequisite to the power state information responsive to the change in power state.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the power state prerequisite comprises at least one of external power required, minimal effect on battery life required, and minimal effect on battery charge time required.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the scheduler is operable to define a scheduled time for the task and compare the connectivity prerequisite to the connectivity state information at the scheduled time.

13. The device of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of communication interfaces and wherein the processor is further operable to implement a connection manager operable to establish connectivity for the mobile device to a remote network using the communication interfaces and provide the connectivity state to the scheduler.

14. A mobile device, comprising:

means for scheduling a task to be executed by the mobile device;

means for defining a connectivity prerequisite for the task;

means for receiving connectivity state information associated with the mobile device;

means for comparing the connectivity prerequisite to the connectivity state information;

means for executing the task responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite;

means for rescheduling the task responsive to the connectivity state information failing to satisfy the connectivity prerequisite;

means for identifying a change of connectivity state of the mobile device responsive to establishing connectivity with one of a plurality of communication interfaces in the mobile device;

means for updating the connectivity state information responsive to identifying the change in connectivity state;

means for comparing the connectivity prerequisite to the updated connectivity state information responsive to identifying the change in connectivity state; and

means for executing the task responsive to the updated connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite after the change in connectivity state.