Patent ID: 6385658
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method executed in a computer system for sending a message from a first process to a second process and synchronizing access to the message by the first process and the second process, absent a global locking mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:initializing a first message buffer associated with message data to be sent to the second process by the first process, said initializing step including: setting a first state field indicating that said first message buffer contains a message that has not been processed by the second process; and setting a first link field to indicate that said first message buffer is the last message in a list of incoming messages to the second process; adding said first message buffer to said list of incoming messages to the second process, said list of incoming messages including a second message buffer, said adding step including: updating a second link field associated with said second message buffer to identify said first message buffer; and retrieving said first message buffer from said list of incoming messages to the second process only if more than one message buffer exists on said list of incoming messages to the second process, thereby providing synchronized access to said first message buffer by the first process and the second process, absent the global locking mechanism.