Microsoft patents a new way to manage computer task queues
Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that manages how different computer processes handle tasks. It uses a specific data structure to detect when multiple tasks are competing for the same resource and adds them to a queue to prevent conflicts.
In the filing’s own words
Systems and methods for work unit management using a locking data structure include one or more computing resources and a plurality of processing units executing a plurality of threads to perform operations associated with the one or more computing resources, wherein a first thread of the plurality of threads is configured to: receive a work unit to be executed by the first thread of the plurality of threads, wherein the work unit is associated with a data structure comprising a queue of work units associated with a target resource of the one or more computing resources; determine, based on the data structure, that there is contention for the target resource among a plurality of work units received by the plurality of processing units; identify an owner thread of the plurality of threads that owns the data structure; and add the work unit to the queue of the data structure.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system comprising: one or more computing resources; and a plurality of processing units executing a plurality of threads to perform operations associated with the one or more computing resources, wherein a first thread of the plurality of threads is configured to: receive a work unit to be executed by the first thread of the plurality of threads, wherein the work unit is associated with a data structure comprising a queue of work units associated with a target resource of the one or more computing resources; determine, based on the data structure, that there is contention for the target resource among a plurality of work units received by the plurality of processing units; identify an owner thread of the plurality of threads that owns the data structure; and add the work unit to the queue of the data structure.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- MANAGING WORK UNITS USING A DYNAMIC LOCKING DATA STRUCTURE
- Publication number
- US20260277708A1
- Application number
- 19669245
- Filed
- May 6, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 9/52 Physics & computingG06F 9/5038 Physics & computingMore from Microsoft in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.