Suppose we want to synchronize two concurrent processes P and Q using binary semaphores S and T. The code for the processes P and Q is shown below.
Process P: while (1) { W: print '0'; print '0'; X: } Process Q: while (1) { Y: print '1'; print '1'; Z: }
Synchronization statements can be inserted only at points W, X, Y and Z.
Which of the following will always lead to an output starting with ‘001100110011’ ?
(A) P(S) at W, V(S) at X, P(T) at Y, V(T) at Z, S and T initially 1
(B) P(S) at W, V(T) at X, P(T) at Y, V(S) at Z, S initially 1, and T initially 0
(C) P(S) at W, V(T) at X, P(T) at Y, V(S) at Z, S and T initially 1
(D) P(S) at W, V(S) at X, P(T) at Y, V(T) at Z, S initially 1, and T initially 0
Answer: (B)
Explanation: P(S) means wait on semaphore ‘S’ and V(S) means signal on semaphore ‘S’.
Wait(S) { while (i <= 0)
--S;
} Signal(S) { S++;
} |
Initially, we assume S = 1 and T = 0 to support mutual exclusion in process P and Q.
Since S = 1, only process P will be executed and wait(S) will decrement the value of S. Therefore, S = 0.
At the same instant, in process Q, value of T = 0. Therefore, in process Q, control will be stuck in while loop till the time process P prints 00 and increments the value of T by calling the function V(T).
While the control is in process Q, semaphore S = 0 and process P would be stuck in while loop and would not execute till the time process Q prints 11 and makes the value of S = 1 by calling the function V(S).
This whole process will repeat to give the output 00 11 00 11 … .
Thus, B is the correct choice.
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