Patent ID: 6131113
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A data processing system for managing a shared resource comprising:a first processor for producing, or supplying, a plurality of available sections of said shared resource;a first mailbox coupled to said first processor for receiving incoming message signals and event signals designated for servicing by said first processor;a first mailbox message subsystem coupled to said first mailbox for qualifying selected incoming message signals for priority servicing by said first processor;a second processor for consuming, or allocating, said plurality of said available sections of said shared resource; anda shared memory coupled between said first processor and said second processor, said shared memory including a resource queue having a queue start, a queue end, and a plurality of resource data elements, said resource data elements indicating which sections of said shared resource are currently designated as said available sections,wherein said first processor informs said second processor that an additional available section of said shared resource has been produced by using said resource queue, said second processor communicates to said first processor that a selected section of said shared resource has been consumed by sending an incoming message signal to said first mailbox messaging subsystem, and said first processor initializes said resource queue by storing a resource pointer in each said resource data element, said resource pointer pointing to said available section of said shared resource.