Patent ID: 6636874
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for managing data access to at least one resource of a computer system, said method comprising:allocating an area in computer readable memory for an original handle database containing at least one reference handle; reserving a handle value that is never to be issued, the reserved handle value being reserved for an indication of a lack of a valid handle; issuing a new handle that does not correspond to the reserved handle value to a consumer when said consumer requires access to at least one of the resources; associating said issued handle with said resource requiring access by assigning a unique value to said issued handle; verifying that said issued handle is valid; dereferencing said verified handle in constant time into a pointer to said resource requiring access; releasing issued handles and deeming their respective handle values as being unassigned for handles that are no longer required by consumers and classifying said released handles as invalid; and wherein said method generates and validates handles for providing efficient management and administration of consumers' access to resources in computer systems.