What are some real-world examples of priority inversion?

What are some real-world examples of priority inversion?

Priority inversion occurs when a lower-priority task holds a resource needed by a higher-priority task. A classic example is in real-time systems, like a high-priority task waiting for a lock held by a low-priority task.

Can you give me a specific example from operating systems?

Sure! In the early versions of the Mars Pathfinder, a low-priority task was holding a mutex that a high-priority task needed, causing delays in critical operations.

How can priority inversion be mitigated?

It can be mitigated using priority inheritance, where the lower-priority task temporarily inherits the higher priority of the waiting task.

Are there any other strategies to handle this issue?

Yes, other strategies include using priority ceiling protocols or avoiding shared resources altogether in critical sections.