A new pattern for flexible worker threads with in-place consumption message queues

ABSTRACT

We present a new pattern for implementing worker threads that is more flexible than traditional patterns. Traditional worker threads receive command messages with enumerated IDs that refer to pre-defined behaviors. In our new pattern, worker threads receive function pointers, and they have only one behavior: invoke the function. In this way, new behaviors can be passed in to the thread at run-time rather than having to be pre-defined. In addition, we present in-place consumption as an improvement for command message queues that reduces the number of times data needs to be copied.

REFERENCES

• 1: I. Barile: I/O Multiplexing & Scalable Socket Servers. Dr. Dobb's Journal, Vol. 29, No. 2, Feb 2004, pp. 42--5
• 2: JTC1.22.19768 ISO/IEC TR 19768 - C++ Library Extensions available from: http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/projects#19768
• 3: M. Beck, H. Bohme, M. Dziadzka, U. Kunitz, R. Magnus, C. Schroter, D. Verworner: Linux Kernel Programming, 3rd Edition. Addison Wesley, London, 2002

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.4 OPERATING SYSTEMS
      D.4.1 Process Management
          Subjects: Threads

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.4 OPERATING SYSTEMS
      D.4.4 Communications Management
          Subjects: Message sending

  E. Data
  E.1 DATA STRUCTURES
      Subjects: Lists, stacks, and queues

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Performance