Parallel execution of object-oriented programs: Message handling strategies

Abstract

Parallel execution of Object-Oriented (O-O) programs requires adoption of parallel and concurrent programming solutions. However, classification and inheritance restrict the constructions which would otherwise be applicable among the objects treated as pure distributed processes. In message handling the main problem is that of explicit controlling the set of acceptable messages according to the current status of the object because it may result in very complex conditional expressions and it hinders inheritance as well. In this paper, controlling the corresponding operations, i.e. methods is suggested instead. Most of the tools for intra-object synchronization suffer from the same problem as controlling the set of messages, e.g. using semaphores and monitors, therefore, the Conditional Critical Regions (CCRs) concept is to be used which promotes inheritance too. Contrasted to the object-based parallel programs today, using the constructions suggested here could result in real object-oriented ones.