Much attention has been focused on the problem of deadlock detection in distributed databases, resulting in the publication of numerous algorithms to accomplish this function. The algorithms published to date differ greatly in many respects: timing, location, information collection, and basic approach. The emphasis of this research has been on theory and proof of correctness, rather than on practical application.

Relatively few attempts have been made to implement the algorithms.

The impact of the characteristics of the underlying database management system, transaction model, and communications network upon the effectiveness and performance of the proposed deadlock detection algorithms has largely been ignored. It is the intent of this study to examine more closely the interaction between a deadlock detection algorithm and one aspect of the environment in which it is implemented: namely, the communications network.