Scalable Distributed Transactions Manager For Multi-Host Transactions

Abstract

A system for managing transactions such as sales and exchanges of resources in a virtual environment. A first host maintains records, including identifiers of resources and identifiers of entities which control the resources. A second host receives a request for a transaction involving a first entity acquiring a first resource in exchange for a payment, and instructs the first host to update the records, including adding a record which associates the first entity with the first resource, but temporarily preventing access to the first resource by the first entity. The second host instructs the first host to secure the payment from an account of the first entity. Upon receipt of a confirmation from the first host, the second host instructs the first host to update the record to allow access to the first resource by the first entity.

1 . A system for managing a transaction in a virtual environment, comprising:
 at least a first host which maintains records, the records include identifiers of resources and identifiers of entities which control the resources; and   at least a second host for receiving requests via at least one network from the different entities via respective different hosts to initiate transactions involving the resources, the at least a second host: (a) receives a request for a particular transaction involving a first entity acquiring a first resource in exchange for a payment, instructs the at least a first host to update the records, including adding a record which associates the first entity with the first resource, but temporarily preventing access to the first resource by the first entity, (b) instructs the at least a first host to secure the payment from an account of the first entity and (c) upon receipt of assurances including a confirmation from the at least a first host, instructs the at least a first host to update the record which associates the first entity with the first resource to allow access to the first resource by the first entity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one host which stores data which describes the resources, the data is referenced by at least one of the identifiers of resources.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least a second host, upon failing to receive the assurances after a predetermined amount of time, communicates with the at least a first host to delete the record which associates the first entity with the first resource, and to return the payment to the first entity.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the particular transaction involves a second entity giving up control of the first resource in exchange for the payment; and   in response to receiving the request, the at least a second host communicates with the at least a first host to instruct the at least a first host to update a record which associates the first entity with the second resource to prevent access to the first resource by the second entity.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the at least a second host, upon failing to receive the assurances after a predetermined amount of time, communicates with the at least a first host to update the record which associates the first entity with the second resource to allow the second entity to access the first resource.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the particular transaction involves a second entity giving up control of the first resource in exchange for the payment; and   upon receipt of the assurances, the at least a second host communicates with the at least a first host to credit the payment to the account of the second entity.