Patent ID: 7231406

Claim:
A method comprising: attempting by a first client to lock a header of a kernel file to prevent simultaneous access by other clients, wherein the kernel file is included in a queue, implemented in a queue data structure, and has one or more slots to accommodate entries in the queue, the header comprising: a count of a number of empty slots in the kernel file, a count of a number of slots in the kernel file that are either being filled or read by a client, a count of a total number of slots in the kernel file, an offset of a first slot that is ready to be read by a client, an offset of a first empty slot, and a queue priority of the first slot; obtaining by the first client a lock of the header; retrieving by the first client a first unread queue entry from one of the slots; unlocking by the first client the header; reading by the first client the first unread queue entry; and storing the first unread queue entry at the first client.