Managing thread execution in a multitasking computing environment

Abstract

A thread in a computing system is processed for execution of instructions to perform an action. The action is one of the following: accessing a shared resource or executing a critical section of code. A schedule of the thread is managed. The management prevents suspension of the thread during execution of the action.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing thread execution, the method comprising:
 processing, by one or more computer processors, a thread in a computing system for execution of instructions to perform an action, wherein the action is accessing a shared resource;   before scheduling the thread for execution of the instructions to perform the action, determining, by one or more computer processors, that the thread has a first processor usage allowance that is sufficient to complete execution of the instructions to perform the action, wherein determining if the thread has a sufficient first processor usage allowance comprises:
 predicting, by one or more computer processors, a second processor usage allowance for the thread based on a processor usage allowance previously determined for a similar thread, wherein the similar thread is determined to be similar to the thread based on all of the following features: a type of resource accessed or modified by the thread and the similar thread; an amount of instructions comprising the thread and the similar thread; and a type or number of functions in the instructions comprising the thread and the similar thread; and 
 comparing, by one or more computer processors, the first processor usage allowance of the thread with the predicted second processor usage allowance of the thread during execution of the instructions to perform the action; 
   scheduling, by one or more computer processors, the thread for execution of the instructions to perform the action;   receiving, by one or more computer processors, a request to deschedule the thread, wherein the request is made in response to determining that a contending thread is attempting to access the shared resource;   responsive to receiving the request to deschedule the thread, scheduling, by one or more computer processors, the thread to complete execution of the instructions to access the shared resource;   responsive to scheduling the thread to complete execution, determining, by one or more computer processors, processor usage debt accumulated by the thread, wherein the processor usage debt comprises an amount of time for which the thread is executing while the thread has both insufficient processor usage allowance to continue execution and is accessing the shared resource; and   responsive to determining that the thread has completed execution of the instructions to perform the action, suspending, by one or more computer processors, the thread for an amount of time equal to the determined processor usage debt accumulated by the thread.