A method for processing data in a computer system using two main concepts for addressing this situation, from which numerous other implementations is achieved using a first and second main concept. The first is a method of managing a common data path among a plethora of facilities with a decentralized distributed management scheme. The second concept is a method for managing a shared data buffer or group of buffers between multitudes of facilities. By employing the concepts discussed in this invention, one can contemplate a complex dataflow consisting of a multiplicity of resources and data paths, whereby virtually any combination of sharing is possible. A single data path can be shared among multiple sources or sinks. A single resource can be shared, but may have many separate data paths, or all elements of the present invention can be combined to comprise a dataflow with shared resources and shared data paths, both of which are actively managed by completely independent controllers on a separate chip or on the same chip, but with a segregated dataflow.