Method, apparatus and computer program product for controlling access to a resource
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorAndrew Ian Hickson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to controlling access by a plurality of concurrently operating processes to a resource. An area of storage is allocated and a pre-determined number of slots defined therein. Responsive to a request by one of the processes for shared access to the resource, a determination is made as to whether to allocate shared access, and if so, the requesting process is allocated shared access upon the acquisition of one of the storage slots. Responsive to a request by one of the processes for exclusive access to the resource, a determination is made as to whether to allocate exclusive access, and if so exclusive access is allocated upon the acquisition of all of the storage slots.
Claims51
A method for controlling access by a plurality of concurrently operating processes to a resource, said method comprising the steps of:
- allocating an area of storage and defining a pre-determined number of storage slots therein;
- responsive to a request by one of said processes for shared access to said resource, determining whether to allocate shared access, and if so, allocating said requesting process shared access, said step of allocating shared access comprising:
- acquiring one of said storage slots;
- and wherein said method further comprises:
- responsive to a request by one of said processes for exclusive access to said resource, determining whether to allocate exclusive access, and if so allocating said requesting process exclusive access, said step of allocating exclusive access comprising:
- acquiring all of said storage slots.
Apparatus, having a storage, for controlling access by a plurality of concurrently operating processes to a resource, said apparatus comprising:
- means for defining a predetermined number of slots within said storage;
- means, responsive to a request by one of said processes for shared access to said resource, for determining whether to allocate shared access;
- and
- means, responsive to a determination that shared access is to be allocated, for allocating said requesting process shared access, said means for allocating shared access comprising:
- means for acquiring one of said storage slots;
- and wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- means, responsive to a request by one of said processes for exclusive access to said resource, for determining whether to allocate exclusive access;
- and
- means, responsive to a determination that exclusive access is to be allocated, for allocating said requesting process exclusive access, said means for allocating exclusive access comprising:
- means for acquiring all of said storage slots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.