Patents by Inventor James Bernard Moody

James Bernard Moody has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9021491
    Abstract: A system, and computer usable program product for a dual mode reader writer lock are provided. A contention condition is determined in using an original lock. The original lock manages read and write access to a resource by several processes executing in the data processing system. The embodiment creates a set of expanded locks for use in conjunction with the original lock. The original lock and the set of expanded locks forming the dual mode reader writer lock, which operates to manage the read and write access to the resource. Using an index within the original lock, each expanded lock is indexed such that each expanded lock is locatable using the index. The contention condition is resolved by distributing requests for acquiring and releasing the read access and write access to the resource by the several processes across the original lock and the set of expanded locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Patent number: 9021492
    Abstract: A method for a dual mode reader writer lock is provided. A contention condition is determined in using an original lock. The original lock manages read and write access to a resource by several processes executing in the data processing system. The embodiment creates a set of expanded locks for use in conjunction with the original lock. The original lock and the set of expanded locks forming the dual mode reader writer lock, which operates to manage the read and write access to the resource. Using an index within the original lock, each expanded lock is indexed such that each expanded lock is locatable using the index. The contention condition is resolved by distributing requests for acquiring and releasing the read access and write access to the resource by the several processes across the original lock and the set of expanded locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Patent number: 8996834
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a heap. The heap is partitioned into at least one sub heap based on a relationship to at least one memory class of a plurality of memory classes. A memory allocation request comprising a memory class is received from a requester. A unique heap handle based on the memory class and associated with a specific sub heap is generated. The unique heap handle is then returned to the requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Bert Brenner, Michael Edward Lyons, Bruce G. Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Patent number: 8943502
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for retooling lock interfaces for using a dual mode reader writer lock. An invocation of a method is received using an interface. The method is configured to operate on a lock associated with a resource in a data processing system. A determination is made whether the lock is an upgraded lock. The upgraded lock is the DML operating in an upgraded mode. An operation corresponding to the method is executed on the DML, if the lock is the upgraded lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Patent number: 8347045
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for using a dual mode reader writer lock. A contention condition is detected in the use of a lock in a data processing system, the lock being used for managing read and write access to a resource in the data processing system. A determination of the data structure used for implementing the lock is made. If the data structure is a data structure of a reader writer lock (RWL), the data structure is transitioned to a second data structure suitable for implementing the DML. A determination is made whether the DML has been expanded. If the DML is not expanded, the DML is expanded such that the data structure includes an original lock and a set of expanded locks. The original lock and each expanded lock in the set of expanded locks forms an element of the DML.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20120210074
    Abstract: A method for a dual mode reader writer lock is provided. A contention condition is determined in using an original lock. The original lock manages read and write access to a resource by several processes executing in the data processing system. The embodiment creates a set of expanded locks for use in conjunction with the original lock. The original lock and the set of expanded locks forming the dual mode reader writer lock, which operates to manage the read and write access to the resource. Using an index within the original lock, each expanded lock is indexed such that each expanded lock is locatable using the index. The contention condition is resolved by distributing requests for acquiring and releasing the read access and write access to the resource by the several processes across the original lock and the set of expanded locks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: BRUCE MEALEY, James Bernard Moody
  • Patent number: 8166256
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for using a dual mode reader writer lock. A contention condition is detected in the use of a lock in a data processing system, the lock being used for managing read and write access to a resource in the data processing system. A determination of the data structure used for implementing the lock is made. If the data structure is a data structure of a reader writer lock (RWL), the data structure is transitioned to a second data structure suitable for implementing the DML. A determination is made whether the DML has been expanded. If the DML is not expanded, the DML is expanded such that the data structure includes an original lock and a set of expanded locks. The original lock and each expanded lock in the set of expanded locks forms an element of the DML.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20120066467
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for using a dual mode reader writer lock. A contention condition is detected in the use of a lock in a data processing system, the lock being used for managing read and write access to a resource in the data processing system. A determination of the data structure used for implementing the lock is made. If the data structure is a data structure of a reader writer lock (RWL), the data structure is transitioned to a second data structure suitable for implementing the DML. A determination is made whether the DML has been expanded. If the DML is not expanded, the DML is expanded such that the data structure includes an original lock and a set of expanded locks. The original lock and each expanded lock in the set of expanded locks forms an element of the DML.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20110225587
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for a dual mode reader writer lock. A contention condition is determined in using an original lock. The original lock manages read and write access to a resource by several processes executing in the data processing system. The embodiment creates a set of expanded locks for use in conjunction with the original lock. The original lock and the set of expanded locks forming the dual mode reader writer lock, which operates to manage the read and write access to the resource. Using an index within the original lock, each expanded lock is indexed such that each expanded lock is locatable using the index. The contention condition is resolved by distributing requests for acquiring and releasing the read access and write access to the resource by the several processes across the original lock and the set of expanded locks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20110225585
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for retooling lock interfaces for using a dual mode reader writer lock. An invocation of a method is received using an interface. The method is configured to operate on a lock associated with a resource in a data processing system. A determination is made whether the lock is an upgraded lock. The upgraded lock is the DML operating in an upgraded mode. An operation corresponding to the method is executed on the DML, if the lock is the upgraded lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20110225335
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for using a dual mode reader writer lock. A contention condition is detected in the use of a lock in a data processing system, the lock being used for managing read and write access to a resource in the data processing system. A determination of the data structure used for implementing the lock is made. If the data structure is a data structure of a reader writer lock (RWL), the data structure is transitioned to a second data structure suitable for implementing the DML. A determination is made whether the DML has been expanded. If the DML is not expanded, the DML is expanded such that the data structure includes an original lock and a set of expanded locks. The original lock and each expanded lock in the set of expanded locks forms an element of the DML.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20100083269
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer usable recordable-type medium having a computer usable program code serializing list insertion and removal. An atomic operation free atomic list primitive call from a kernel service is received for the insertion or removal of a list element from a linked list. The atomic operation free atomic list primitive is a restartible routine selected from the list consisting of cpuget_from_list, cpuput_onto_list, cpuget_all_from_list, and cpuput_chain_onto_list. A processor begins execution of the atomic operation free atomic list primitive. If an interrupt is received during execution of the atomic operation free atomic list primitive, the interrupt handler will recognize the address of the executing program at the time of the interrupt and will over-write that address in the machine state save area, so that when the interrupted program is resumed, the entire sequence will be run again from the beginning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20080294864
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing a heap. The heap is partitioned into at least one sub heap based on a relationship to at least one memory class of a plurality of memory classes. A memory allocation request comprising a memory class is received from a requester. A unique heap handle based on the memory class and associated with a specific sub heap is generated. The unique heap handle is then returned to the requester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Larry Bert Brenner, Michael Edward Lyons, Bruce G. Mealey, James Bernard Moody
  • Patent number: 6842809
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for minimizing the negative effects that occur when simple locks are highly contended among processors which may or may not have identical latencies to the memory that represents a given lock, are provided. The apparatus, method and computer program product minimize these effects by converting simple locks such that they act as standard simple locks when there is no contention and act as krlocks when there is contention for a lock. In this way, the number of processors spinning on a lock is limited to a single processor, thereby reducing the number of processors that are in a wait state and not performing any useful work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Matthew Browning, Thomas Stanley Mathews, Paul Edward McKenney, James Bernard Moody
  • Publication number: 20020199045
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for minimizing the negative effects that occur when simple locks are highly contended among processors which may or may not have identical latencies to the memory that represents a given lock, are provided. The apparatus, method and computer program product minimize these effects by converting simple locks such that they act as standard simple locks when there is no contention and act as krlocks when there is contention for a lock. In this way, the number of processors spinning on a lock is limited to a single processor, thereby reducing the number of processors that are in a wait state and not performing any useful work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Matthew Browning, Thomas Stanley Mathews, Paul Edward McKenney, James Bernard Moody