IP Library Granted Patent US 9,710,309
Granted Patent B2
US 9,710,309 · App. 14/661,146 · Granted Jul 18, 2017

Task scheduling in big and little cores

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,710,309
App. No.
14/661,146
Granted
Jul 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

One aspect provides a method including: identifying a task to be scheduled for execution on an information handling device having a big core and a little core; in a state where the big core is available, scheduling the task for execution on the little core using a core signature for the task; directing the task to the little core for execution based on the scheduling; and executing the task on the little core. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (37)

1. A method comprising:

identifying a task to be scheduled for execution on an information handling device having a big core and a little core, wherein the little core is a lower power central processing unit with respect to the big core;

scheduling the task for execution on the little core using a core signature for the task, wherein the core signature identifies the task as a task to be executed on the little core and is assigned before execution of the task on the information handling device and wherein the core signature is based upon determining if the task is executable on the little core within a threshold tolerance with respect to little core utilization;

directing the task to the little core for execution based on the scheduling;

entering the big core into a reduced power mode; and

executing and completing the task on the little core.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core signature comprises a tracked execution history.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tracked execution history comprises a percentage utilization of the task in the big core.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core signature comprises an ascertained task characteristic.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ascertained task characteristic comprises a characteristic indicating that the task is a high priority task.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and comprises a hint associated with the entire task.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and comprises a hint associated with a sub-component of the task.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and is static.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and is dynamically updated during execution of the task.

10. An information handling device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory in communication with the one or more processors;

the memory storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors:

identify a task to be scheduled for execution on an information handling device having a big core and a little core, wherein the little core is a lower power central processing unit with respect to the big core;

schedule the task for execution on the little core using a core signature for the task, wherein the core signature identifies the task as a task to be executed on the little core and is assigned before execution of the task on the information handling device and wherein the core signature is based upon determining if the task is executable on the little core within a threshold tolerance with respect to little core utilization;

enter the big core into a reduced power mode;

direct the task to the little core for execution based on the scheduling; and

execute and complete the task on the little core.

11. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the core signature comprises a tracked execution history.

12. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the core signature comprises an ascertained task characteristic.

13. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein the ascertained task characteristic comprises a characteristic indicating that the task is a high priority task.

14. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and comprises a hint associated with the entire task.

15. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and comprises a hint associated with a sub-component of the task.

16. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and is static.

17. The information handling device of claim 10 , wherein the core signature is programmed for the task and is dynamically updated during execution of the task.

18. A program product, comprising:

a storage device that stores code executable by a processor, the code comprising:

code that identifies a task to be scheduled for execution on an information handling device having a big core and a little core, wherein the little core is a lower power central processing unit with respect to the big core;

code that schedules the task for execution on the little core using a core signature for the task, wherein the core signature identifies the task as a task to be executed on the little core and is assigned before execution of the task on the information handling device and wherein the core signature is based upon determining if the task is executable on the little core within a threshold tolerance with respect to little core utilization;

code that enters the big core into a sleep mode;

code that directs the task to the little core for execution based on the scheduling; and

code that executes and completes the task on the little core.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049693/0582 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2015
From: DAVIS, MARK CHARLES; LOCKER, HOWARD; CROMER, DARYL; KELSO, SCOTT EDWARDS
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 035189/0587 →