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An occam Style Communications System for UNIX Networks

Vella, Kevin J. (1995) An occam Style Communications System for UNIX Networks. Technical report. University of Kent, Computing Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK (KAR id:21216)

Abstract

This document describes the design of a communications system which provides occam style communications primitives under a Unix environment, using TCP/IP protocols, and any number of other protocols deemed suitable as underlying transport layers. The system will integrate with a low overhead scheduler/kernel without incurring significant costs to the execution of processes within the run time environment. A survey of relevant occam and occam3 features and related research is followed by a look at the Unix and TCP/IP facilities which determine our working constraints, and a description of the T9000 transputer's Virtual Channel Processor, which was instrumental in our formulation. Drawing from the information presented here, a design for the communications system is subsequently proposed. Finally, a preliminary investigation of methods for lightweight access control to shared resources in an environment which does not provide support for critical sections, semaphores, or busy waiting, is made. This is presented with relevance to mutual exclusion problems which arise within the proposed design. Future directions for the evolution of this project are discussed in conclusion.

Item Type: Reports and Papers (Technical report)
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Depositing User: Mark Wheadon
Date Deposited: 14 Aug 2009 17:31 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:59 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21216 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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