Concurrency-safe reader-writer lock with time out support
US6546443B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2209/523
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Synchronization services provide a concurrency-safe reader/writer lock supporting a time out feature. The lock can be implemented using lockless data structures to provide efficient synchronization services. Various features such as lock nesting and auto-transformation address common scenarios arising in componentized programs. The lock supports upgrading and suspension, and the time out feature can support an efficient, low-cost optimistic deadlock avoidance scheme. Peculiarities of the reader/writer scenario are addressed in an efficient way to maintain lock stability and consistency, thus providing synchronization services suitable for implementation at the kernel level. In one implementation using event objects, the events are managed for high efficiency and stability of the lock. For multiprocessor machines, a hybrid lock avoids a context switch by behaving as a spin lock before waiting for the lock to become available.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.