Method and apparatus for allowing distributed control of shared resources

A distributed database-management system is disclosed in which multiple clients on a network share control over and responsibility for the coherency of a shared database with multiple records. The clients arbitrate between each other for exclusive editing access to each of the fields within each record. The database-management system includes lock fields associated with each field in the multiple records. Each client executes a resident coherency process which is responsive to a request to edit a field. The process grants the request if there is not a field lock on the field. When the request is granted the coherency process asserts exclusive ownership of the field by placing a lock on the field. The coherency process is also responsive to a request to exit editing the field and in response thereto de-asserts exclusive ownership of the field.