US Patent 8645429 Resolving conflicting graph mutations

Resolving conflicting graph mutations in a distributed computing system. Graph data for at least a partition of a graph is stored in a worker system of a distributed computing system. The graph represents relationships among a set of tangible items that model a real-world condition having an associated problem. A plurality of conflicting mutation requests are received to mutate the graph. A conflict between the mutation requests is resolved with a conflict resolution function that lacks direct access to the graph data. The graph data is updated responsive to a result generated by resolving the conflict using the conflict resolution function.