Management of locks in a virtual machine environment
US7328437B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2209/509
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique to collectively manage locks by multiple virtual machines and then access shared data protected by the locks. A computer system defines first and second virtual machines and a memory shared by the first and second virtual machines. A lock structure is defined in the shared memory. The lock structure is capable of listing a holder of a lock for shared data in the shared memory. The first virtual machine acquires a lock for the shared data when available by manipulation of the lock structure. After acquiring the lock, the first virtual machine accesses the shared data. The lock structure and the shared data are directly accessible by the first virtual machine. The second virtual machine acquires a lock for the shared data when available by manipulation of the lock structure. After acquiring the lock, the second virtual machine accesses the shared data. The lock structure and shared data are directly accessible by the second virtual machine. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the shared data resides in one of the virtual machines while the lock structure remains in shared memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.