Virtual Process Identifier Assignment via Kernel Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assigning virtual process identifiers within process domains can fail to assign a virtual process identifier to a process, leading to potential failures in process domain operations.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves creating a child process using a system call and employing a wrapper function to ensure that the child process receives a virtual process identifier, even if the child or parent process begins execution first, by mapping a free virtual process identifier to a kernel process identifier through a locking mechanism and a mapping table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a wrapper function is added at the user level to assign virtual process identifiers, then the implementation is simpler and more flexible, but a malicious user level process could subvert the wrapper function and compromise security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a kernel-level intermediary component that acts as a trusted mediator between user-level processes and the virtual process identifier assignment mechanism. This kernel-level module cannot be subverted by user-level processes, ensuring security while maintaining the flexibility of user-level implementation for the wrapper function.
2Ease of operation
If the parent process assigns virtual process identifiers to child processes, then the assignment can be controlled centrally, but if the child process executes before the parent process begins execution, the assignment may fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the kernel-level module pre-allocate and prepare virtual process identifier assignment mechanisms before the parent process executes. This ensures that when the child process executes before the parent, the assignment infrastructure is already in place and can handle the assignment successfully.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the kernel-level module continuously monitors the execution state of parent and child processes. When it detects that a child process has executed before its parent, it automatically triggers the virtual process identifier assignment, ensuring centralized control is maintained while adapting to dynamic execution scenarios.
3Productivity
If parallel process creation is allowed to improve productivity, then more processes can be created simultaneously, but parallel assignment of virtual process identifiers may lead to conflicts and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The kernel-level module serves as a trusted intermediary that manages parallel virtual process identifier assignments. It coordinates multiple concurrent assignment operations, ensuring that even when multiple parent processes create child processes in parallel, each child receives a unique virtual process identifier without conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a pool of available virtual process identifiers and implementing a reservation mechanism. This allows parallel process creation to proceed efficiently while the kernel-level module pre-coordinates identifier allocation, preventing conflicts before they occur.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a method of virtualizing a process identifier begins with creation of a child process from a parent process. The parent process creates the child process by making a system call. If the parent process executes before the child process begins to execute, at a kernel level and without interruption the parent process maps a free virtual process identifier to a kernel process identifier for the child process. If the child process executes before the parent process begins to execute, at the kernel level and without interruption the child process determines the kernel process identifier. The child process then maps the free virtual process identifier to the kernel process identifier.