Patent ID: 6697901
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for managing a set of one or more resources that are accessible to a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources; wherein said plurality of resource masters for said set of one or more resources include a primary master for said set of one or more resources and one or more secondary resource masters for said set of one or more resources; dividing said plurality of entities into a plurality of subgroups; and assigning each subgroup of said plurality of subgroups to a corresponding resource master of said plurality of resource masters; wherein an entity of said plurality of entities, upon seeking access to a resource in said set of one or more resources, requests a lock on said resource from the resource master that is assigned to the entity subgroup that includes said entity; wherein each secondary resource master is assigned to a parent resource master; and wherein a secondary resource master of said plurality of resource masters communicates with the parent resource master to which that secondary master is assigned for information regarding granting locks on said resource when information maintained by said secondary resource master is insufficient for said secondary resource master to determine whether a particular lock on said resource can be granted.