Deadlock Models Research Articles

Analysis of distributed systems via quasi-stationary distributions

We present a new probabilistic analysis of distributed systems. Our approach relies on the theory of quasi-stationary distributions (QSD) and the results recently developed by the first and third authors. We give properties on the deadlock time and the distribution of the model before deadlock, both for discrete and diffusion models. Our results apply to any finite values of the involved parameters (time, numbers of resources, number of processors, etc.) and reflect the real behavior of these systems, with potential applications to deadlock prevention.

And/or-convexity: a graph convexity based on processes and deadlock models

Deadlock prevention techniques are essential in the design of robust distributed systems. However, despite the large number of different algorithmic approaches to detect and solve deadlock situations, yet there remains quite a wide field to be explored in the study of deadlock-related combinatorial properties. In this work we consider a simplified AND-OR model, where the processes and their communication are given as a graph G. Each vertex of G is labelled AND or OR, in such a way that an AND-vertex (resp., OR-vertex) depends on the computation of all (resp., at least one) of its neighbors. We define a graph convexity based on this model, such that a set $$S \subseteq V(G)$$ is convex if and only if every AND-vertex (resp., OR-vertex) $$v \in V(G){\setminus }S$$ has at least one (resp., all) of its neighbors in $$V(G) {\setminus } S$$ . We relate some classical convexity parameters to blocking sets that cause deadlock. In particular, we show that those parameters in a graph represent the sizes of minimum or maximum blocking sets, and also the computation time until system stability is reached. Finally, a study on the complexity of combinatorial problems related to such graph convexity is provided.

Implementing a Score-Time based Model for Handling Deadlocks in Football Group Matches

In a typical football event, three possibilities can occur: a winner, a loser/runners-up, or a tie. The latter however is not left in that status especially when it has to do with a group or league game; as a resolve is needed to establish two partitions – winner and loser. Different deadlock models are employed to resolve different deadlock scenarios. Football histories and events have however shown that most models failed to solve some complex deadlocks. Tossing of coin is a particular kind of model that starts where others stopped. Taking the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2015 Football Fiesta as a case study however, the use of the ‘last man standing’ deadlock model – coin tossing, proved unpleasant to both teams in questions and generated lots of heat from football fans of both countries. Football at this age has indeed proved in so many ways to be technological-oriented. Bringing manual ‘decision system’ into a game of this century and magnitude prompted the researcher to present an ideal and implementable model that resolves deadlock situations in football group matches. Keyword Football, deadlock, model, coin tossing, AFCON, game, group matches

A study of deadlock models for a multiservice medium access protocol employing a slotted Aloha signalling channel

Medium access protocols for HFC and wireless ATM networks often use a collision based capacity request signalling channel which may rely on the slotted Aloha multiaccess principle. This paper studies the performance of a p-persistence slotted Aloha contention resolution algorithm (CRA), subject to extreme interstation correlation, by means of a discrete-time Markov chain analysis. We examine in detail the conditions leading to a deadlock-a situation where the time to collision resolution becomes unacceptably high and the system is practically unstable. We analyze two disaster scenario deadlock models, and study the effect of channel error probability, signalling traffic load, and the contention resolution algorithm used. We show that the key factor of the CRA is the collision rate and not channel errors. We propose and test three signalling channel capacity allocation schemes. We identify the best-performing of these three schemes as the cyclic contention mini-slot (CMS) sharing employing multiple CMSs per data slot. Finally, we demonstrate the need for implementation of an added scheme, which dynamically adjusts the p-persistence parameter.

Deadlock detection in distributed database systems: a new algorithm and a comparative performance analysis

This paper attempts a comprehensive study of deadlock detection in distributed database systems. First, the two predominant deadlock models in these systems and the four different distributed deadlock detection approaches are discussed. Afterwards, a new deadlock detection algorithm is presented. The algorithm is based on dynamically creating deadlock detection agents (DDAs), each being responsible for detecting deadlocks in one connected component of the global wait-for-graph (WFG). The DDA scheme is a “self-tuning” system: after an initial warm-up phase, dedicated DDAs will be formed for “centers of locality”, i.e., parts of the system where many conflicts occur. A dynamic shift in locality of the distributed system will be responded to by automatically creating new DDAs while the obsolete ones terminate. In this paper, we also compare the most competitive representative of each class of algorithms suitable for distributed database systems based on a simulation model, and point out their relative strengths and weaknesses. The extensive experiments we carried out indicate that our newly proposed deadlock detection algorithm outperforms the other algorithms in the vast majority of configurations and workloads and, in contrast to all other algorithms, is very robust with respect to differing load and access profiles.

Deadlock Models and a General Algorithm for Distributed Deadlock Detection

This paper deals with the problem of deadlock detection in asynchronous message passing systems in a system model that covers unspecified receptions and non-FIFO channels. It presents a hierarchy of deadlock models and deadlock detection problems. It abstracts deadlocks by a general deadlock model that has the same modeling power as the OR-AND model; however, it has much concise expressive power. An abstract general definition of deadlocks in distributed systems is presented that defines deadlocks independently of the underlying deadlock model. This formulation can be used to design a single distributed deadlock detection algorithm which uniformly addresses all deadlocks in the context of various request models such as AND, OR, AND-OR, and k-out-of-n requests. A simple generalized deadlock detection algorithm that uses a circulating token is presented to illustrate the concept. The algorithm is formally described and proven correct. Moreover, possible refinements of the basic solution concerning improvements of token routing and parallel implementation are outlined and evaluated. Extensions to individual and global termination issues are also addressed. Since the proposed deadlock detection algorithm is designed around the abstract definition of deadlocks, it has some very favorable features.

A Two-Level Distributed Detection Algorithm of AND/OR Deadlocks

Numerous algorithms on distributed deadlock detection in distributed systems have been proposed for various deadlock models such as the AND model, OR model, and AND/OR model. This paper describes a new distributed algorithm for the AND/OR model by two levels of deadlock detection procedures. In every deadlock model, the existence of a cycle in a wait-for graph is a necessary condition. At the first level of our algorithm, a wait-for cycle is detected with a very simple operation. If no cycle is found, a deadlock does not exist. In this level, deadlocks consisting of AND-requested nodes are detected, and for the cycle of AND- and OR-requested nodes, an initiator is elected and the second-level algorithm is initiated by the initiator. The second-level algorithm uses the deadlock detection method of Herman and Chandy, but the communication cost is reduced even in the worst case because the second-level operation can be initiated by only qualified initiators.

Deadlock detection in distributed databases

The problem of deadlock detection in distributed systems has undergone extensive study. An important application relates to distributed database systems. A uniform model in which published algorithms can be cast is given, and the fundamental principles on which distributed deadlock detection schemes are based are presented. These principles represent mechanisms for developing distributed algorithms in general and deadlock detection schemes in particular. In addition, a hierarchy of deadlock models is presented; each model is characterized by the restrictions that are imposed upon the form resource requests can assume. The hierarchy includes the well-known models of resource and communication deadlock. Algorithms are classified according to both the underlying principles and the generality of resource requests they permit. A number of algorithms are discussed in detail, and their complexity in terms of the number of messages employed is compared. The point is made that correctness proofs for such algorithms using operational arguments are cumbersome and error prone and, therefore, that only completely formal proofs are sufficient for demonstrating correctness.

Distributed deadlock detection

Distributed deadlock models are presented for resource and communication deadlocks. Simple distributed algorithms for detection of these deadlocks are given. We show that all true deadlocks are detected and that no false deadlocks are reported. In our algorithms, no process maintains global information; all messages have an identical short length. The algorithms can be applied in distributed database and other message communication systems.