Container Lock Manager for Shared Embedded Device Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In containerized environments, concurrent access to shared embedded devices by multiple applications can lead to errors and resource wastage due to incorrect programming, as existing technologies lack effective mechanisms to manage and control access to these devices.
Innovation Solution
A lock manager system that receives and processes lock requests from applications within containers, permitting exclusive access to shared devices while preventing concurrent access, and monitors usage to detect unlock events, thereby allowing other applications to access the devices once the lock is released.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple applications concurrently access shared embedded devices in containerized environments, then resource utilization increases, but access errors and programming mistakes occur due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lock manager as an intermediary component that mediates access between multiple containerized applications and shared embedded devices. The lock manager receives lock requests from applications, grants exclusive access rights, and coordinates unlock operations, thereby preventing concurrent access conflicts while maintaining high resource utilization through orderly multiplexing of device access.
2Reliability
If exclusive access control is implemented for shared embedded devices, then access correctness improves, but system complexity increases due to lock management overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The lock manager is designed as a universal access control mechanism that handles multiple types of embedded devices (display screens, audio devices, cameras, sensors) through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity by providing consistent lock management across diverse device types rather than implementing separate control mechanisms for each device category.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic lock release functionality where the lock manager monitors device access operations and automatically releases locks when operations complete or timeout occurs. This self-service mechanism reduces the burden on applications to manually manage lock state, simplifying the overall lock management system while maintaining access correctness.
3Reliability
If lock requests are processed sequentially for each application, then access conflicts are prevented, but access time increases due to waiting for lock release
Solution Approach 1:
The lock manager implements a waiting queue mechanism where applications can register their lock requests in advance. When a device becomes available, the lock manager proactively grants access to the next application in the queue without requiring the application to continuously poll or wait actively. This preliminary registration approach reduces access time by preparing the access sequence beforehand while maintaining reliable coordination through the sequential processing of registered requests.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may receive a lock request associated with using an embedded device of a containerized environment from a first instance of an application being executed in a first container of the containerized environment. The device may perform a lock operation associated with the embedded device to permit the first instance of the application to use the embedded device and to prevent a second instance of the application, executing in a second container of the containerized environment, from using the embedded device. The device may monitor use of the embedded device during an access operation of the first instance of the application to detect an unlock event associated with unlocking the embedded device. The device may perform an unlock operation based on detecting the unlock event to permit the second instance of the application to use the embedded device.