File lock management in a distributed data processing system

A distributed data processing system and method in which locks on a file are supported by a data structure that resides on either a client machine or on the file's server. When only a single client's processes are locking a file, the data structure can reside on that client. Whenever a plu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors SMITH, TODD ALLEN, JOHNSON, DONAVON WILLIAM, HENSON, LARRY WILLIAM, MORGAN, STEPHEN PAUL
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 22.01.1997
Edition6
Subjects
CALCULATING
COMPUTING
COUNTING
ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
PHYSICS
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Summary:A distributed data processing system and method in which locks on a file are supported by a data structure that resides on either a client machine or on the file's server. When only a single client's processes are locking a file, the data structure can reside on that client. Whenever a plurality of client machines attempt to place locks on a file, the data structure is moved to the server; this forces the clients locking the file to communicate with the server when performing lock operations. When a client requests a lock from the server that cannot be granted because of an existing blocking lock, the client is informed that it should put the requesting process asleep awaiting a retry notification. When there is a change in the locks on the file that might allow such a client's now sleeping process to acquire the lock, the server sends a retry notice to the client. This awakens the sleeping process at the client, and the process then reattempts the lock operation by sending a message to the server.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP19900303885