A number of processes are being executed in a computer. A process can be in one of these states: running, ready or blocked.
a) For each of the following, the process is moved from the first state to the second state. Describe the conditions that cause each of the following changes of state of a process:
i) From blocked to ready.
ii) From running to ready.
b) Explain why a process cannot move directly from the ready state to the blocked state.
c) A process in the running state can change its state to something which is neither the ready state nor the blocked state.
i) Name this state.
ii) Identify when a process would enter this state.
d) Explain the role of the low-level scheduler in a multiprogramming operating system.