Patent ID: 8719432

Claim:
A method, comprising: one or more computer systems implementing a client of a distributed lock manager, the distributed lock manager comprising a plurality of nodes maintaining a shared state; the client sending a request to the distributed lock manager, the request including a local time of the client; the client receiving a response to the request from a node of the plurality of nodes, the response indicating that a lock corresponding to a given resource has been granted to the client, wherein the response also includes an echo of the local time that was included in the request; the client utilizing the resource subsequent to receiving the response; the client determining that a safe period of time has elapsed, said determining being dependent at least on a client staleness, the client staleness corresponding to a difference between the echoed local time and a current local time; in response to determining that the safe period of time has elapsed, the client ceasing to utilize the resource, said ceasing being irrespective of whether the lock has been revoked from the client by the distributed lock manager.