Microsoft Corporation
Multi-phase distributed task coordination

Abstract:

The disclosed distributed task coordination ensures task execution while minimizing both the risk of duplicate execution and resources consumed for coordination. Execution is guaranteed, while only best efforts are used to avoid duplication. Example solutions include requesting, by a node, a first lease from a first set of nodes; based at least on obtaining at least one first lease, requesting, by the node, a second lease from a second set of nodes; based at least on the node obtaining at least one second lease, determining a majority holder of second leases; and based at least on obtaining the majority of second leases, executing, by the node, a task associated with the at least one second lease. In some examples, the nodes comprise online processing units (NPUs). In some examples, if a first node begins executing the task and fails, another node automatically takes over to ensure completion.