US6697901B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Using secondary resource masters in conjunction with a primary resource master for managing resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities
Assignee: Oracle International Corp
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Filing: 2000-10-24
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Granted: 2004-02-24
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Expires: 2020-10-24
Abstract
Abstract Techniques are disclosed for managing access to a set of one or more resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities. In one embodiment, one primary resource master and one or more secondary resource masters are established for a given resource. Each resource master (whether primary or secondary) is assigned to be the master for the resource for a corresponding subgroup of entities of the plurality of entities. Each secondary resource master is assigned to a parent resource master, which may either be the primary resource master or another secondary resource master. Each entity of the plurality of entities, upon seeking access to the resource, requests a lock on the resource from the resource master that is assigned to the subgroup that includes that entity. A secondary resource master communicates with its parent resource master for information regarding granting locks on the resource when the information maintained by that secondary resource master is insufficient for that secondary resource master to determine whether a particular lock on the resource can be granted. When the primary resource master fails, the secondary resource masters may continue to manage and grant locks for the resource as long as the granting of the locks does not require information that was only on the primary resource master.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilson Wai Shun Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1479; G06F11/1492; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/52; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/202; G06F11/2035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for managing a set of one or more resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources; wherein said plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources include a primary master for said set of one or more resources and one or more secondary resource masters for said set of one or more resources; dividing said plurality of entities into a plurality of subgroups; and assigning each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups to a corresponding resource master of said plurality of resource masters; wherein an entity of said plurality of entities, upon seeking access to a resource in said set of one or more resources, requests a lock on said resource from the resource master that is assigned to the entity subgroup that includes said entity; wherein each secondary resource master is assigned to a parent resource master; and wherein a secondary resource master of said plurality of resource masters communicates with the parent resource master to which that secondary master is assigned for information regarding granting locks on said resource when information maintained by said secondary resource master is insufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether a particular lock on said resource can be granted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for managing a set of one or more resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources; wherein said plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources include a primary master for said set of one or more resources and one or more secondary resource masters for said set of one or more resources; dividing said plurality of entities into a plurality of subgroups; and assigning each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups to a corresponding resource master of said plurality of resource masters; wherein an entity of said plurality of entities, upon seeking access to a resource in said set of one or more resources, requests a lock on said resource from the resource master that is assigned to the entity subgroup that includes said entity; wherein each secondary resource master is assigned to a parent resource master; and wherein a secondary resource master of said plurality of resource masters communicates with the parent resource master to which that secondary master is assigned for information regarding granting locks on said resource when information maintained by said secondary resource master is insufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether a particular lock on said resource can be granted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each resource master of said plurality of resource masters resides in one entity of said plurality of entities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each secondary resource master continues to grant locks to the subgroup of entities assigned to the secondary resource master when its parent resource master is inoperative if the information contained at the secondary resource master is sufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether locks on said resource can be granted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dividing is performed based on at least one factor in a list of factors that include: system configuration; similarity of tasks performed by said entities; locations of said entities; and similarity of performance speed of said entities.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and relinquishing mastery of said first set of resources from said second node to said first node in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and relinquishing mastery of said first set of resources from said second node to said first node in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of locks for resources in said first set of resources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of exclusive locks for resources in said first set of resources.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; and while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of exclusive locks for resources in said first set of resources; and wherein the first set of circumstances includes that the number of exclusive locks obtained by said second node on resources in said first set of resources exceeds a threshold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; and while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of exclusive locks for resources in said first set of resources; and wherein the first set of circumstances includes that the number of exclusive locks obtained by said second node on resources in said first set of resources exceeds a threshold.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: master ink a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and selecting how many resources to include in said first set based on a threshold number.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: master ink a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and selecting how many resources to include in said first set based on a threshold number.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; and while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; wherein: prior to delegating mastery of said first set of resources to said second node, a single lock covers said plurality of resources; and the method includes breaking said single lock into a plurality of locks to delegate mastery of said first set of resources to said second node.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; and while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; wherein: prior to delegating mastery of said first set of resources to said second node, a single lock covers said plurality of resources; and the method includes breaking said single lock into a plurality of locks to delegate mastery of said first set of resources to said second node.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of determining how to break said single lock into a plurality of locks based on a threshold number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of breaking the single lock into locks that cover said threshold number of resources when said single lock can be broken into locks that cover said threshold number of resources.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the second set of circumstances include that a set of one or more exclusive locks are released on said first set of resources.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 5 wherein: when mastery is relinquished to the first node, the first set of resources is covered by a first lock; and the method further comprises the step of combining the first lock with a second lock that covers a second set of resources to produce a single lock that covers both the first set of resources and the second set of resources.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and further comprising the following steps after dynamically delegating mastery of the first set of resources to the second node: dynamically delegating to a third node mastery of at least a second set of resources from said first set of resources in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances; and while mastery of said second set of resources is delegated to said third node, the second node causing lock requests received by said second node for resources in said second set of resources to be sent to said second node.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for mastering resources, the method comprising the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and further comprising the following steps after dynamically delegating mastery of the first set of resources to the second node: dynamically delegating to a third node mastery of at least a second set of resources from said first set of resources in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances; and while mastery of said second set of resources is delegated to said third node, the second node causing lock requests received by said second node for resources in said second set of resources to be sent to said second node.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of the second node informing said first node that mastery of said second set of resources is delegated to said third node.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
231 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for managing a set of one or more resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: providing a plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources; wherein said plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources include a primary master for said set of one or more resources and one or more secondary resource masters for said set of one or more resources; dividing said plurality of entities into a plurality of subgroups; and assigning each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups to a corresponding resource master of said plurality of resource masters; wherein an entity of said plurality of entities, upon seeking access to a resource in said set of one or more resources, requests a lock on said resource from the resource master that is assigned to the entity subgroup that includes said entity; wherein each secondary resource master is assigned to a parent resource master; and wherein a secondary resource master of said plurality of resource masters communicates with the parent resource master to which that secondary master is assigned for information regarding granting locks on said resource when information maintained by said secondary resource master is insufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether a particular lock on said resource can be granted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
231 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for managing a set of one or more resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: providing a plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources; wherein said plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources include a primary master for said set of one or more resources and one or more secondary resource masters for said set of one or more resources; dividing said plurality of entities into a plurality of subgroups; and assigning each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups to a corresponding resource master of said plurality of resource masters; wherein an entity of said plurality of entities, upon seeking access to a resource in said set of one or more resources, requests a lock on said resource from the resource master that is assigned to the entity subgroup that includes said entity; wherein each secondary resource master is assigned to a parent resource master; and wherein a secondary resource master of said plurality of resource masters communicates with the parent resource master to which that secondary master is assigned for information regarding granting locks on said resource when information maintained by said secondary resource master is insufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether a particular lock on said resource can be granted.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein each resource master of said plurality of resource masters resides in one entity of said plurality of entities.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein each secondary resource master continues to grant locks to the subgroup of entities assigned to the secondary resource master when its parent resource master is inoperative if the information contained at the secondary resource master is sufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether locks on said resource can be granted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the step of dividing is performed based on at least one factor in a list of factors that include: system configuration; similarity of tasks performed by said entities; locations of said entities; and similarity of performance speed of said entities.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and relinquishing mastery of said first set of resources from said second node to said first node in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and relinquishing mastery of said first set of resources from said second node to said first node in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of locks for resources in said first set of resources.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of exclusive locks for resources in said first set of resources.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of exclusive locks for resources in said first set of resources and wherein the first set of circumstances includes that the number of exclusive locks obtained by said second node on resources in said first set of resources exceeds a threshold.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; wherein the first set of circumstances includes that said second node has obtained a set of exclusive locks for resources in said first set of resources and wherein the first set of circumstances includes that the number of exclusive locks obtained by said second node on resources in said first set of resources exceeds a threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and selecting how many resources to include in said first set based on a threshold number.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and selecting how many resources to include in said first set based on a threshold number.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer-readable medium of carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and wherein: prior to delegating mastery of said first set of resources to said second node, a single lock covers said plurality of resources; and the computer-readable medium includes instructions for breaking said single lock into a plurality of locks to delegate mastery of said first set of resources to said second node.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer-readable medium of carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set of resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and wherein: prior to delegating mastery of said first set of resources to said second node, a single lock covers said plurality of resources; and the computer-readable medium includes instructions for breaking said single lock into a plurality of locks to delegate mastery of said first set of resources to said second node.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 26 further comprising instructions for determining how to break said single lock into a plurality of locks based on a threshold number.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 27 further comprising instructions for breaking the single lock into locks that cover said threshold number of resources when said single lock can be broken into locks that cover said threshold number of resources.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the second set of circumstances includes that a set of one or more exclusive locks are released on said first set of resources.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
68 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein: when mastery is relinquished to the first node, the first set of resources is covered by a first lock; and the computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for combining the first lock with a second lock that covers a second set of resources to produce a single lock that covers both the first set of resources and the second set of resources.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
191 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set or resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and further comprising instructions for performing the following steps after dynamically delegating mastery of the first set of resources to the second node: dynamically delegating to a third node mastery of at least a second set of resources from said first set of resources in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances; and while mastery of said second set of resources is delegated to said third node, the second node causing lock requests received by said second node for resources in said second set of resources to be sent to said second node.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
191 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for mastering resources, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of: mastering a plurality of resources at a first node; dynamically delegating to a second node mastery of at least a first set or resources from said plurality of resources in response to occurrence of a first set of circumstances; while mastery of said first set of resources is delegated to said second node, the first node causing lock requests received by said first node for resources in said first set of resources to be sent to said second node; and further comprising instructions for performing the following steps after dynamically delegating mastery of the first set of resources to the second node: dynamically delegating to a third node mastery of at least a second set of resources from said first set of resources in response to occurrence of a second set of circumstances; and while mastery of said second set of resources is delegated to said third node, the second node causing lock requests received by said second node for resources in said second set of resources to be sent to said second node.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 31 further comprising instructions for said second node informing said first node that mastery of said second set of resources is delegated to said third node.
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