Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing thread-safe disposal of objects in a multi-threaded computer environment. When a thread from a process sends a call to delete an object, that thread typically waits for other threads interacting with that same object to clear. During this waiting period, it is common to have other threads invoking the same object, thus increasing rather than decreasing the number of active threads for that object. Also, problems arise when more than one thread attempts to delete the object. However, the present invention associates a state machine with each object. When an invocation of an object is made, the state machine is queried to detect the state. Invocations made on the object after the occurrence of a delete call interpret the object as having been deleted, and are not added to the active invocations for that object. Further, subsequent delete calls also interpret the object as having been deleted, and return a failure indication. The initial delete call returns success when the object is finally deleted. Thus, new invocations are precluded and multiple delete calls are handled appropriately.

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First Claim