Method and apparatus for enabling threads to reach a consistent state without explicit thread suspension
US7086053B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/52
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enabling inconsistent or unsafe threads to efficiently reach a consistent or safe state when a requesting thread requests a consistent state are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for requesting a consistent state in a multi-threaded computing environment using a first thread includes acquiring a consistent state lock using the first thread, and identifying substantially all threads in the environment that are inconsistent. The state of the inconsistent threads is altered to a consistent state, and the first thread is notified when the states of the previously inconsistent threads have been altered to be consistent. Once the first thread is notified, the first thread releases the consistent state lock. In one embodiment, the method also includes performing a garbage collection after releasing the consistent state lock using the first thread.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.