Method and apparatus for managing a data structure for multi-processor access
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsLisa Liu, Robert Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing a data structure for multi-processor access are described. According to one embodiment, a request for a data structure is received. In response to the request, the requested data structure and a corresponding spin-lock are fetched from a computer readable medium. Once fetched, the requested data structure and corresponding spin-lock are stored in a single cache line. Following, in one example, exclusive access to the data structure is provided.
Claims19
A method for managing a data structure for multi-processor access comprising:
- receiving a request for a data structure;
- fetching in response to a request the requested data structure and a corresponding spin-lock from a computer readable medium;
- storing the data structure and the corresponding spin-lock in a single cache line;
- and
- providing exclusive access to the data structure.
A system for managing a data structure for multi-processor access comprising:
- computer readable medium capable of storing a data structure, a spin-lock, and one or more instruction sequences;
- plurality of processors each capable of executing an instruction sequence;
- plurality of cache units each being associated with a corresponding processor;
- and
- instruction sequences stored in the computer readable medium including:
- requesting process module that, when executed by one of the processors, minimally causes the processor to request a data structure stored in the computer readable medium;
- and
- data management module that, when executed by one of the processors, minimally causes the processor to:
- fetch from the computer readable medium a requested data structure and a corresponding spin-lock;
- store the data structure and the corresponding spin-lock in a single line of a cache unit associated with the processor;
- and
- provide to the processor exclusive access to the data structure as it executes the requesting process module.
A computer readable medium having imparted thereon one or more instruction sequence modules for managing a data structure for multi-processor access including a data management module that, when executed by a processor, minimally causes a processor to:
- fetch from a computer readable medium a requested data structure and a corresponding spin-lock;
- store the requested data structure and the corresponding spin-lock in a single line of a cache unit associated with the processor;
- and
- provide exclusive access to the requested data structure.
A device comprising:
- means for receiving a request for a data structure;
- means for fetching in response to the request the requested data structure and a corresponding spin-lock;
- means for storing the data structure and the corresponding spin-lock in a single cache line;
- and
- means for providing exclusive access to the data structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.