We present two algorithms for the Group Mutual Exclusion (GME) Problem that satisfy the properties of Mutual Exclusion , Starvation Freedom, Bounded Exit, Concurrent Entry and First Come First Served . Both our algorithms use only simple read and write instructions, have O ( N ) Shared Space complexity and O ( N ) Remote Memory Reference (RMR) complexity in the Cache Coherency (CC) model. Our first algorithm is developed by generalizing the well-known Lamport's Bakery Algorithm for the classical mutual exclusion problem, while preserving its simplicity and elegance. However, it uses unbounded shared registers. Our second algorithm uses only bounded registers and is developed by generalizing Taubenfeld's Black and White Bakery Algorithm to solve the classical mutual exclusion problem using only bounded shared registers. We show that contrary to common perception our algorithms are the first to achieve these properties with this combination of complexities.

The paper proposes a simple topological characterization of a large class of adversarial distributed-computing models via affine tasks: sub-complexes of the second iteration of the standard chromatic subdivision. We show that the task computability of a model in the class is precisely captured by iterations of the corresponding affine task. While an adversary is in general defined as a non-compact set of infinite runs, its affine task is just a finite subset of runs of the 2-round iterated immediate snapshot (IIS) model. Our results generalize and improve all previously derived topological characterizations of distributed-computing models.

The wait-free read-write memory model has been characterized as an iterated Immediate Snapshot (IS) task. The IS task is affine — it can be defined as a (sub)set of simplices of the standard chromatic subdivision. In this paper, we highlight the phenomenon of a "natural" model that can be captured by an iterated affine task and, thus, by a subset of runs of the iterated immediate snapshot model. We show that the read-write memory model in which, additionally, k-set-consensus objects can be used is "natural" by presenting the corresponding simple affine task captured by a subset of 2-round IS runs. As an "unnatural" example, the model using the abstraction of Weak Symmetry Breaking (WSB) cannot be captured by a set of IS runs and, thus, cannot be represented as an affine task. Our results imply the first combinatorial characterization of models equipped with abstractions other than read-write memory that applies to generic tasks.