Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Eric Li

Dragos Sambotin

John Austin Rector

David Bradley Probert, Jr

Genevieve Fernandes

Robert Earhart

A timer service uses a single timer function to perform timing services for both relative and absolute timers. The first timers from a sorted array of absolute timers and relative timers are used in a function that will return when the earliest absolute timer expires or will timeout when the earliest relative timer expires. The timer function may be interrupted when a new timer is added to one of the arrays. The function will operate in a predictable and consistent manner, even when a system clock is adjusted.

Timer service uses a single timer function to perform timing services for both relative and absolute timers

A thread has a corruption detection mechanism that compares a beginning state of a function with an ending state to determine any inconsistencies. Based on the type of inconsistency, a remedial action may be taken, such as ignoring the inconsistency, cleaning up the inconsistency, and terminating the thread with an exception. The analysis may also include analyzing various states after function execution to find problems such as incomplete transactions. Such a thread may be useful in an operating system as well as a multi-threaded application environment.

Worker thread corruption detection and remediation

A multi-level sequence number is associated with a data provider supplying data for an object. The multi-level sequence number includes a portion that is unique to the data provider, and one or more portions that are shared by other data providers for the object. A per-object table is used to cache data supplied by each data provider for the object and the corresponding multi-level sequence number. A global table associates each data provider with the current value of its multi-level sequence number. Whenever data supplied by a data provider changes, the sequence number in the global table is updated. Cached data of the data provider is updated with current data of the data provider only if the cached value of the sequence number is found to be different from the current value of the sequence number.

Multi-level sequence number based lazy invalidation

A system and method for identity decisions and invalidation. Modified objects (e.g., files, executables, etc.) are flagged for reevaluation. Privileges associated with the object are only persisted if the modifications are determined to be authorized (e.g., updates and patches). In one embodiment, a tagging system registers to be notified of all writes, renames, truncations, moves, deletions, or any other relevant modifications to objects. If the tagging system detects a modification operation targeting the object, it invalidates all identity decisions cached with the object. The next time the object runs, the system does not recognize the object and it is forced to reevaluate its identity. Thus, patching and other write operations are still permitted, but the system detects the changed object and reevaluates the identity.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Eric Li