Patent ID: 6175853
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An apparatus for collaborative computing comprising:a plurality of workstations; anda network connecting each of the plurality of workstations,wherein each of the plurality of workstations includesa collaborative computing module for engaging in a collaborative computing session,means for sending a lock request to each of the other workstations for the collaborative computing module when the apparatus seeks to obtain a lock for the collaborative computing session;means for receiving an acknowledgement from each of the other workstations; anda lock engine for obtaining and releasing the lock for the collaborative computing module, wherein the lock engine has an available state, for indicating that the lock is available; a pending state, for indicating that the lock engine has sent the lock request to each of the other workstations and that the lock engine is awaiting the acknowledgement from each of the other workstations; a held state, for indicating that the lock engine holds the lock; and a locked state, for indicating that the lock is held by another lock engine at one of the other workstations.