1. A system for managing semantic locks and semantic lock requests for a resource: a resource; a resource lock information indicating existing locks on said resource; a first lock compatibility table stored in a memory including information on a plurality of lock types, said information relating to the compatibility among the plurality of lock types; and a software module configured to: receive a first lock request; access said first lock compatibility table and said resource lock information to determine whether said first lock request is compatible with existing locks on said resource; and transmit a response indicating that said first lock request could be granted if said first lock request is compatible with the existing locks on said resource.