Periodic event execution control mechanism

1. A method of scheduling a plurality of periodic events, wherein each periodic event has an associated periodic interval of time and an associated set of services, the method comprising:

configuring at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a burst mode in which the service is enabled for execution a predetermined number of times and then is disabled:

determining when one of the plurality of periodic events occurs;

determining, for each of the set of services associated with that periodic event, if that service is enabled for execution; and

distributing the execution of the services associated with that periodic event that are enabled throughout a next periodic interval of time associated with that periodic event following the occurrence of that periodic event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the periodic events occurs when a periodic interval of time associated with that periodic event elapses.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a one-shot mode in which the service is enabled for execution one time and then is disabled.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a continuous mode in which the service is enabled and executed continuously.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the execution of the enabled services includes executing successive enabled services on successive clock ticks following the clock tick on which that periodic event occurred.

6. A system comprising:

a programmable processor to execute software; and

a clock communicatively coupled to the programmable processor; and

wherein the software executed by the programmable processor comprises:

a periodic event scheduler that schedules a plurality of periodic events, wherein each periodic event has an associated periodic interval of time and an associated set of services;

a tick generator that generates interrupts in response to clock ticks; and

an interrupt handler that receives the interrupts from the tick generator and executes the periodic event scheduler in response to the interrupt;

wherein the periodic event scheduler:

configures at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a burst mode in which the service is enabled for execution a predetermined number of times and then is disabled:

determines when one of the plurality of periodic events occurs; and determines, for each of the set of services associated with that periodic event, if that service is enabled for execution;

distributes the execution of the enabled services associated with that periodic event throughout a next periodic interval of time associated with that periodic event following the occurrence of that periodic event.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein one of the periodic events occurs when a periodic interval of time associated with that periodic event elapses.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the periodic event scheduler is operable to configure at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a one-shot mode in which the service is enabled for execution one time and then is disabled.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the periodic event scheduler is operable to configure at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a continuous mode in which the service is enabled and executed continuously.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the periodic event scheduler distributes the execution of the enabled services by executing successive enabled services on successive clock ticks following the clock tick on which that periodic event occurred.

11. A telecommunication device comprising:

an interface that couples the telecommunication device to a communication medium;

a tick generator that generates interrupts in response to clock ticks; and control logic coupled to the interface that:

configures at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a burst mode in which the service is enabled for execution a predetermined number of times and then is disabled;

determines when one of a plurality of periodic events occurs, wherein each periodic event has an associated periodic interval of time and an associated set of services;

determines, for each of the set of services associated with that periodic event, if that service is enabled for execution; and

distributes the execution of the enabled services associated with that periodic event throughout a next periodic interval of time associated with that periodic event following the occurrence of that periodic event.

12. The telecommunications device of claim 11 , wherein one of the periodic events occurs when a periodic interval of time associated with that periodic event elapses.

13. The telecommunications device of claim 11 , wherein the control logic is operable to configure at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a one-shot mode in which the service is enabled for execution one time and then is disabled.

14. The telecommunications device of claim 11 , wherein the control logic is operable to configure at least one of the set of services associated with that periodic event in a continuous mode in which the service is enabled and executed continuously.

15. The telecommunications device of claim 11 , wherein the periodic event scheduler distributes the execution of the enabled services by executing successive enabled services on successive clock ticks following the clock tick on which that periodic event occurred.