Method and apparatus for dynamic lock granularity escalation and de-escalation in a computer system
US6144983A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99938
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for dynamic lock granularity escalation and de-escalation in a computer system is provided. Upon receiving a request for a resource, a scope of a previously granted lock is modified. According to one embodiment, hash lock de-escalation is employed. In hash lock de-escalation, the scope of the previously granted lock held on a set of resources is reduced by de-escalating the previously granted lock from a coarser-grain lock to one or more finer-grain locks on members of the set. According to another embodiment, hash lock escalation is employed. In hash lock escalation, the scope of previously granted locks held on one or more members of the set of resources are released and promoted into a coarser-grain lock that covers the set of resources as well as the requested resource.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.