Patent · US Expired

Method for processing communal locks

US6986003B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
11References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 9, 2001
Grant dateJan 10, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F12/0875
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Multi-processor computer systems with multiple levels of cache memories are slowed down in trying to process software locks for common functions. This invention obviates the problem for the vast majority of transactions by providing an alternate procedure for handling so-called communal locks differently from ordinary software locks. The alternative procedure is not used for ordinary (non communal software lock) data and instruction transfers. The function of the CSWL (Communal SoftWare Lock) is actually accomplished at a specific cache to which an individual CSWL is mapped to, rather than sending the lock to the requesting process, which also enhances efficiency.

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