Maurice Herlihy

Title: The Innovative Contributions of Maurice Herlihy

Introduction

Maurice Herlihy is a prominent inventor known for his significant contributions to the field of computer science, particularly in the area of concurrent data structures and mechanisms. Based in Cambridge, GB, he holds five patents that showcase his innovative approach to solving complex problems in software design.

Latest Patents

Herlihy's latest patents include groundbreaking work on obstruction-free data structures and mechanisms with separable and/or substitutable contention management mechanisms. This patent teaches a powerful approach that simplifies the design of non-blocking mechanisms and data structures by separating the issues of correctness and progress. The methodology involves designing an 'obstruction-free' implementation that can be combined with a contention management mechanism to ensure progress. Additionally, he has developed a lightweight reference counting methodology that transforms garbage collection-dependent algorithms into a form that does not rely on an independent garbage collector. This innovation allows for explicit reclamation of storage using lock-free pointer operations, making it applicable in environments without garbage collection.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Maurice Herlihy has worked with notable companies such as Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Oracle America, Inc. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in developing advanced software solutions.

Collaborations

Herlihy has collaborated with esteemed colleagues, including Mark S Moir and Victor M Luchangco, further enhancing the impact of his work in the field of computer science.

Conclusion

Maurice Herlihy's innovative patents and contributions to concurrent data structures have significantly advanced the field of computer science. His work continues to influence the development of efficient and effective software mechanisms.