Context-Aware Mutex Locks for Thread Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lock contention between threads in multi-threaded programs can lead to performance degradation due to unnecessary delays, especially when multiple threads attempt to modify a shared data structure, as existing synchronization methods like mutex locks do not distinguish between different execution contexts or critical sections, resulting in inefficient access to shared resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where mutex lock objects are created with both primary and secondary objects, allowing threads to acquire locks based on specific execution contexts, thereby reducing lock contention by ensuring each thread has its own lock for accessing the shared data structure, even if multiple threads modify the same structure under different conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single mutex lock object is used to synchronize access to a shared data structure, then thread safety is ensured, but lock contention increases and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single mutex lock object into multiple context-specific lock objects (first mutex lock object for first context, second mutex lock object for second context). This segmentation allows different threads operating in different contexts to acquire different lock objects, enabling concurrent execution while maintaining thread safety within each context. The shared data structure is effectively divided into context-specific access domains.
2Device complexity
If a single mutex lock object is used for all modification operations, then synchronization is simplified, but unnecessary delays occur for unrelated modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating lock objects with context-specific properties. The first mutex lock object is specifically tailored for first context modifications, and the second mutex lock object for second context modifications. This allows the synchronization mechanism to adapt its behavior locally to each context, enabling unrelated modifications in different contexts to proceed concurrently without unnecessary delays.
3Productivity
If context-specific mutex lock objects are created for different execution contexts, then lock contention is reduced and performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of context identification to the lock object structure. Instead of a single-dimensional lock object, the system uses multi-dimensional lock objects that incorporate context information (first context and second context). This dimensional expansion allows the system to distinguish between different execution contexts and manage locks accordingly, reducing contention while maintaining organized complexity through structured context handling.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed for context aware synchronization. A mutual exclusion (mutex) lock object or monitor may be created to enable threads to acquire a lock to access a shared data structure when executing a critical section of code. The mutex lock object may have at least a first input associated with a context via which the one or more threads execute the given critical block of code. The mutex lock object may then be stored in a shared memory and an indication as the where the mutex lock object was stored in the shared memory may be provided to a thread. The thread may use the mutex lock object to acquire the lock to access the shared data structure. Other mutex lock objects may be created in a similar manner to allow additional threads to acquire locks to access the shared data structure. Other examples are described and claimed.