Patent · US Expired

Deadlock detection and resolution scheme

US4494193A · kind A · utility

37Cited by
7References
44Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1982
Grant dateJan 15, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/4036
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a communication system which includes a plurality of stations interconnected for communications by a first bus, a second station includes a device, such as a processor, and a resource, such as a memory or a peripheral unit, interconnected for communication by a second bus. An interface mechanism connecting the first bus with the second bus allows the device to access the first bus over the second bus, and allows a first station to access the resource via the first and second buses. Deadlock detection circuitry detects cotemporaneous attempts by the device to access the first bus and attempts by the first station to access the resource. Deadlock resolution circuitry responds to deadlock detection by disconnecting the device from the second bus to allow the first station to access the resource, and by reconnecting the device to the second bus when the first station ceases to access the resource. If the device is operating under program control, the deadlock detection and resolution are transparent to the program.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.