Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for file locking for computer programs that use different size locks

US6523033B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
13References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 2000
Grant dateFeb 18, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99952
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method provide a locking scheme that accommodates different size file locks. A first file lock command, referred to as an M bit file lock command, assumes a lock with a length of M bits. A second lock command, referred to as an N bit file lock command, assumes a lock with a length of N bits, which is less than M bits. A translation mechanism services both M-bit and N-bit file lock commands, and accesses locks that are M bits in length in response to both M-bit and N-bit file lock commands. The address range between 2N and 2M−1 are assigned to one or more corresponding control addresses in the address range of 0 to 2N−1. Locking of any control address using an N bit file lock command results in the address range between 2N and 2M−1 being automatically locked in addition to the addresses specified in the N bit file lock command. This allows translating an N bit file lock command to an M bit lock. Similarly, when an M bit file lock command locks any address between 2N and 2M−1, the translation mechanism locks the address or addresses specified in the M bit file lock command, and in addition locks the control address or addresses that correspond…

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