Patent · US Expired

Group and virtual locking mechanism for inter processor synchronization

US6662252B1 · kind B1 · utility

29Cited by
163References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 2002
Grant dateDec 9, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 8, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2209/522
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A group and virtual locking mechanism (GVLM) addresses two classes of synchronization present in a system having resources that are shared by a plurality of threads of execution: (1) synchronization of the multi-access shared resources; and (2) simultaneous requests for the shared resources. Broadly stated, the novel GVLM comprises a lock controller function associated with each thread of execution, and lock instructions executed by the threads that manipulate the lock controller to create a tightly integrated arrangement for issuing lock requests to the shared resources. The plurality of threads of execution may each execute in a different processor. Alternatively, the plurality of threads of execution may each execute in a single processor.

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