Semaphore分为单值和多值两种,前者只能被一个线程获得,后者可以被若干个线程获得。
以一个停车场是运作为例。为了简单起见,假设停车场只有三个车位,一开始三个车位都是空的。这时如果同时来了五辆车,看门人允许其中三辆不受阻碍的进入,然后放下车拦,剩下的车则必须在入口等待,此后来的车也都不得不在入口处等待。这时,有一辆车离开停车场,看门人得知后,打开车拦,放入一辆,如果又离开两辆,则又可以放入两辆,如此往复。
更进一步,信号量的特性如下:信号量是一个非负整数(车位数),所有通过它的线程(车辆)都会将该整数减一(通过它当然是为了使用资源),当该整数值为零时,所有试图通过它的线程都将处于等待状态。在信号量上我们定义两种操作: Wait(等待) 和 Release(释放)。 当一个线程调用Wait(等待)操作时,它要么通过然后将信号量减一,要么一直等下去,直到信号量大于一或超时。Release(释放)实际上是在信号量上执行加操作,对应于车辆离开停车场,该操作之所以叫做“释放”是因为加操作实际上是释放了由信号量守护的资源。
class Program { // A semaphore that simulates a limited resource pool. // private static Semaphore _pool; // A padding interval to make the output more orderly. private static int _padding; public static void Main() { // Create a semaphore that can satisfy up to three // concurrent requests. Use an initial count of zero, // so that the entire semaphore count is initially // owned by the main program thread. // _pool = new Semaphore(0, 3); // Create and start five numbered threads. // for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) { Thread t = new Thread(new ParameterizedThreadStart(Worker)); // Start the thread, passing the number. // t.Start(i); } // Wait for a second, to allow all the // threads to start and to block on the semaphore. // Thread.Sleep(1000); // The main thread starts out holding the entire // semaphore count. Calling Release(3) brings the // semaphore count back to its maximum value, and // allows the waiting threads to enter the semaphore, // up to three at a time. // Console.WriteLine("Main thread calls Release(3)."); _pool.Release(3); Console.WriteLine("Main thread exits."); Console.Read(); } private static void Worker(object num) { // Each worker thread begins by requesting the // semaphore. Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} begins and waits for the semaphore.", num); _pool.WaitOne(); // A padding interval to make the output more orderly. int padding = Interlocked.Add(ref _padding, 500); Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} enters the semaphore.", num); // The thread's "work" consists of sleeping for // about a second. Each thread "works" a little // longer, just to make the output more orderly. // Thread.Sleep(1000 + padding); Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} releases the semaphore.", num); Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} previous semaphore count: {1}",num, _pool.Release()); } }
互斥体,又名同步基元Mutex类用于进程间同步。
http://msdn.microsoft.com/zh-cn/library/system.threading.mutex(v=vs.100).aspx