Abstract: An integrated multi-component scheduling process is invented that may emulate various scheduling methods. For general purpose operating systems, the integrated scheduling method can be used to provide more powerful capabilities as many commonly used scheduling methods, including priority-driven, time-driven, and share-driven methods. With a multi-component structure, scheduling policy components can be separated from scheduling mechanism components in an operating system scheduler. The integrated scheduling method can also be used to combine several scheduling policies into one method.