Transforming locks in software loops
US7404183B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/443
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved method and system for acquisition and release of locks within a software program is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a lock within a loop is transformed by relocating acquisition and release instructions from within the loop to positions outside the loop. This may significantly decrease unnecessarily lock acquisition and release during execution of the software program. In order to avoid contention problems which may arise from acquiring and keeping a lock on an object over a relatively long period of time, a contention test may be inserted into the loop. Such a contention test may temporarily release the lock if another thread in the software program requires access to the locked object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.