Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention manage multiple requests to allocate real world resources in a multi-user environment. A set of resource availability information is stored in a first durable data file for each resource in a plurality of resources provided by a database environment. The database environment is shared between a plurality of users. A decision context is associated with a second durable data file. The decision context is associated with a user interacting with the database environment. The decision context exists for a defined duration of time. A least one resource is determined to have been temporarily allocated to the decision context for the defined duration of time. The second durable data file is updated to indicate that the at least one resource has been temporarily allocated to the decision context. The first durable data file is updated to indicate that the at least one resource is currently unavailable.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention manage multiple requests to allocate real world resources in a multi-user environment. A request for interacting with a database environment comprising records of allocations of a plurality of resources is received from a user in a plurality of users. The database environment is shared between the plurality of users. A set of action choices available for the request is provided to the user via the user interface. A set of resources required by each action choice is identified. The set of resources is associated with a decision context. The decision context exists for a period of time. The set of resources are allocated to the user for a duration of the decision context. The allocating prevents the set of resources from being allocated to other users for the duration of the decision context irrespective of a set of actions performed by the other users.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dispatching tasks to multiple processors that all share a shared memory. A composite queue size for multiple work queues each having an associated processor is determined. A queue availability flag is stored in shared memory for each processor work queue and is set based upon the composite queue size and the size of the work queue for that processor. Each queue availability flag indicates availability or unavailability of the work queue to accept new tasks. A task is placed in a selected work queue based on that work queue having an associated queue availability flag indicating availability to accept new tasks. The data associated with task dispatching is maintained so as to increase the likelihood that valid copies of the data remain present in each processor's local cache without requiring updating do to their being changed by other processors.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for selecting a work queue associated with a processor within a multiple processor architecture to assign a new task. A local and a remote queue availability flag is maintained to indicate a relative size of work queues, in relationship to a mean queue size, for each processor in a multiple processor architecture. In determining to which processor to assign a task, the processor evaluates its own queue size by examining its local queue availability flag and evaluates other processor's queue sizes by examining their remote queue availability flags. The local queue availability flags are maintained asynchronously from task assignment. Remote flags are maintained at time of task assignment. The presented algorithm provides improved local processor queue size determinations in systems where task distribution processes execute with lower priorities that other tasks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention manage multiple requests to allocate real world resources in a multi-user environment. A request for interacting with a database environment comprising records of allocations of a plurality of resources is received from a user in a plurality of users. The database environment is shared between the plurality of users. A set of action choices available for the request is provided to the user via the user interface. A set of resources required by each action choice is identified. The set of resources is associated with a decision context. The decision context exists for a period of time. The set of resources are allocated to the user for a duration of the decision context. The allocating prevents the set of resources from being allocated to other users for the duration of the decision context irrespective of a set of actions performed by the other users.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention manage multiple requests to allocate real world resources in a multi-user environment. A set of resource availability information is stored in a first durable data file for each resource in a plurality of resources provided by a database environment. The database environment is shared between a plurality of users. A decision context is associated with a second durable data file. The decision context is associated with a user interacting with the database environment. The decision context exists for a defined duration of time. A least one resource is determined to have been temporarily allocated to the decision context for the defined duration of time. The second durable data file is updated to indicate that the at least one resource has been temporarily allocated to the decision context. The first durable data file is updated to indicate that the at least one resource is currently unavailable.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dispatching tasks to multiple processors that all share a shared memory. A composite queue size for multiple work queues each having an associated processor is determined. A queue availability flag is stored in shared memory for each processor work queue and is set based upon the composite queue size and the size of the work queue for that processor. Each queue availability flag indicates availability or unavailability of the work queue to accept new tasks. A task is placed in a selected work queue based on that work queue having an associated queue availability flag indicating availability to accept new tasks. The data associated with task dispatching is maintained so as to increase the likelihood that valid copies of the data remain present in each processor's local cache without requiring updating do to their being changed by other processors.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for selecting a work queue associated with a processor within a multiple processor architecture to assign a new task. A local and a remote queue availability flag is maintained to indicate a relative size of work queues, in relationship to a mean queue size, for each processor in a multiple processor architecture. In determining to which processor to assign a task, the processor evaluates its own queue size by examining its local queue availability flag and evaluates other processor's queue sizes by examining their remote queue availability flags. The local queue availability flags are maintained asynchronously from task assignment. Remote flags are maintained at time of task assignment. The presented algorithm provides improved local processor queue size determinations in systems where task distribution processes execute with lower priorities that other tasks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for saving client/server socket state information to recoverable storage (disk, nonvolatile cache, tape, or other storage). After a server failure, upon recovery the server will be able to send out RSTs to inform remote clients of the server failure. The result is faster recovery for the remote clients that will be able to clean up and restart sockets/transactions as soon as the server side becomes active rather than waiting for a long timeout condition or for programmed or human intervention on the client/network side.

Abstract: A method for selecting a processor to be acquired in a virtual, shared computing environment includes initiating a first selection phase to attempt to acquire a last relinquished processor of the shared computing environment, and initiating a second selection phase in the event of a failure of the first selection phase in acquiring the last relinquished processor. The second selection phase further includes a round-robin selection process for presently relinquished processors.

Abstract: Discloses is a method of selective activation of server applications in a computer network system. The computer network system includes a server computer, a plurality of client computers, a set of server applications loaded on the server computer, and a given protocol stack for managing activation of the server applications. The method comprises the steps of a system administrator defining a plurality of states for the network system and specifying conditions to determine whether or not each of the server applications can be activated in each of said states. The given protocol stack then manages activation of the server applications in accordance with said specified conditions.

Abstract: When running network applications, resources are made available in a system having resource constraints. While messages are being received, a method adjusts the priorities of incoming messages, avoiding driving the system out of resources. In some environments, it is desirable for some important applications to continue to process data from the network. Often, the system is waiting for a response or acknowledgement from a remote application. This can result in a deadlock or shutdown condition. A method provides the ability to classify inbound messages as high priority messages and process the high priority messages at all times. A server is updated to poll the network, even when it is in shutdown mode.

Abstract: An operating system allows assignment of an input message priority to a particular socket. This priority is used by the operating system to determine what socket's inbound packets get discarded when the server resources are constrained. Sockets of a lower priority than another will have its inbound packets discarded before higher priority sockets. This allows an application to give selected sockets higher inbound message priority over other sockets.

Abstract: The amount of resources utilized by one or more connections of a communications environment is obtained. A determination is then made as to whether one or more of the connections is using a predominant amount of the resources. If a particular connection is using more of the resources than desired, then action is taken with respect to that connection.