Critical Section Speedup Using Help-Enabled Locks

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• acquiring, by a first data accessor of a plurality of data accessors, a first lock associated with a first critical section, wherein the first critical section comprises one or more operations including a first operation;
• determining, by the first data accessor, that a first help session associated with the first critical section has been initiated by a second data accessor of the plurality of data accessors, wherein the second data accessor holds a second lock associated with the first critical section;
• and
• implementing, by the first data accessor, in response at least in part to said determining, at least one sub-operation of the first operation.

A system, comprising:

• one or more computing devices;
• wherein the one or more computing devices include instructions that upon execution on or across the one or more computing devices cause a first data accessor of a plurality of data accessors to:
• acquire a first lock associated with a first critical section, wherein the first critical section comprises one or more operations including a first operation;
• determine that a first help session associated with the first critical section has been initiated by a second data accessor of the plurality of data accessors, wherein the second data accessor holds a second lock associated with the first critical section;
• and
• implement, in response at least in part to determining that the first help session has been initiated, at least one sub-operation of the first operation.

One or more non-transitory computer-accessible storage media storing program instructions that when executed on or across one or more processors cause a first data accessor of a plurality of data accessors to:

• acquire a first lock associated with a first critical section, wherein the first critical section comprises one or more operations including a first operation;
• determine that a first help session associated with the first critical section has been initiated by a second data accessor of the plurality of data accessors, wherein the second data accessor holds a second lock associated with the first critical section;
• and
• implement, in response at least in part to determining that the first help session has been initiated, at least one sub-operation of the first operation.