Fair Thread Synchronization

Abstract

Available computing power in modern computers has been steadily increasing in the form of processor cores. To effectively utilize the available computing power, computed programs must utilize multiple threads. Due to the usage of threads, some form of thread synchronization must also be utilized. However, readymade thread synchronization methods may not always be ideal for all situations. This thesis is examining what are the problems with currently offered solutions, and what is the impact of potential problems. As can be discovered, some readymade solutions have problems when threads are synchronized according to thread priority. This can lead to a situation where some lower priority thread does not get execution time at all. This thesis introduces a fair thread synchronization technique as a possible solution to the problem, and a case study comparing the fair thread synchronization technique to a readymade solution is carried out. The problem can be clearly seen from the results of the case study. In addition, according to the results, the fair thread synchronization technique can be a utilized as a solution for the problem.