Set timeout value and task executor per async request

Methods returning DeferredResult can now specify a timeout value
through constructor arg while methods returning a Callable can wrap it
in an AsyncTask that also accepts a timeout and a specific task
executor.

Issue: SPR-9399

spring-orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/hibernate3/support/OpenSessionInViewFilter.java

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.web.context.WebApplicationContext;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.AsyncThreadInitializer;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.WebAsyncThreadInitializer;
 import org.springframework.web.context.support.WebApplicationContextUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.filter.OncePerRequestFilter;
 
@@ -195,13 +195,13 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewFilter extends OncePerRequestFilter {
 				participate = true;
 			}
 			else {
-				if (!isAsyncDispatch(request) || !asyncManager.applyAsyncThreadInitializer(key)) {
+				if (!isAsyncDispatch(request) || !asyncManager.initializeAsyncThread(key)) {
 					logger.debug("Opening single Hibernate Session in OpenSessionInViewFilter");
 					Session session = getSession(sessionFactory);
 					SessionHolder sessionHolder = new SessionHolder(session);
 					TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
 
-					AsyncThreadInitializer initializer = createAsyncThreadInitializer(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
+					WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer = createAsyncThreadInitializer(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
 					asyncManager.registerAsyncThreadInitializer(key, initializer);
 				}
 			}
@@ -240,10 +240,10 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewFilter extends OncePerRequestFilter {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private AsyncThreadInitializer createAsyncThreadInitializer(final SessionFactory sessionFactory,
+	private WebAsyncThreadInitializer createAsyncThreadInitializer(final SessionFactory sessionFactory,
 			final SessionHolder sessionHolder) {
 
-		return new AsyncThreadInitializer() {
+		return new WebAsyncThreadInitializer() {
 			public void initialize() {
 				TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
 			}

spring-orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/hibernate3/support/OpenSessionInViewInterceptor.java

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import org.springframework.web.context.request.WebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebRequestInterceptor;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.AsyncThreadInitializer;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.WebAsyncThreadInitializer;
 
 /**
  * Spring web request interceptor that binds a Hibernate <code>Session</code> to the
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewInterceptor extends HibernateAccessor implements A
 		String participateAttributeName = getParticipateAttributeName();
 
 		if (asyncManager.hasConcurrentResult()) {
-			if (asyncManager.applyAsyncThreadInitializer(participateAttributeName)) {
+			if (asyncManager.initializeAsyncThread(participateAttributeName)) {
 				return;
 			}
 		}
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewInterceptor extends HibernateAccessor implements A
 				SessionHolder sessionHolder = new SessionHolder(session);
 				TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(getSessionFactory(), sessionHolder);
 
-				AsyncThreadInitializer asyncThreadInitializer = createThreadInitializer(sessionHolder);
+				WebAsyncThreadInitializer asyncThreadInitializer = createThreadInitializer(sessionHolder);
 				asyncManager.registerAsyncThreadInitializer(participateAttributeName, asyncThreadInitializer);
 			}
 			else {
@@ -261,8 +261,8 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewInterceptor extends HibernateAccessor implements A
 		return getSessionFactory().toString() + PARTICIPATE_SUFFIX;
 	}
 
-	private AsyncThreadInitializer createThreadInitializer(final SessionHolder sessionHolder) {
-		return new AsyncThreadInitializer() {
+	private WebAsyncThreadInitializer createThreadInitializer(final SessionHolder sessionHolder) {
+		return new WebAsyncThreadInitializer() {
 			public void initialize() {
 				TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(getSessionFactory(), sessionHolder);
 			}

spring-orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/hibernate4/support/OpenSessionInViewFilter.java

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionSynchronizationManager
 import org.springframework.web.context.WebApplicationContext;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.AsyncThreadInitializer;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.WebAsyncThreadInitializer;
 import org.springframework.web.context.support.WebApplicationContextUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.filter.OncePerRequestFilter;
 
@@ -126,13 +126,13 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewFilter extends OncePerRequestFilter {
 			participate = true;
 		}
 		else {
-			if (!isAsyncDispatch(request) || !asyncManager.applyAsyncThreadInitializer(key)) {
+			if (!isAsyncDispatch(request) || !asyncManager.initializeAsyncThread(key)) {
 				logger.debug("Opening Hibernate Session in OpenSessionInViewFilter");
 				Session session = openSession(sessionFactory);
 				SessionHolder sessionHolder = new SessionHolder(session);
 				TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
 
-				AsyncThreadInitializer initializer = createAsyncThreadInitializer(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
+				WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer = createAsyncThreadInitializer(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
 				asyncManager.registerAsyncThreadInitializer(key, initializer);
 			}
 		}
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewFilter extends OncePerRequestFilter {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private AsyncThreadInitializer createAsyncThreadInitializer(final SessionFactory sessionFactory,
+	private WebAsyncThreadInitializer createAsyncThreadInitializer(final SessionFactory sessionFactory,
 			final SessionHolder sessionHolder) {
 
-		return new AsyncThreadInitializer() {
+		return new WebAsyncThreadInitializer() {
 			public void initialize() {
 				TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(sessionFactory, sessionHolder);
 			}

spring-orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/hibernate4/support/OpenSessionInViewInterceptor.java

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import org.springframework.web.context.request.WebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebRequestInterceptor;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.AsyncThreadInitializer;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.WebAsyncThreadInitializer;
 
 /**
  * Spring web request interceptor that binds a Hibernate <code>Session</code> to the
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewInterceptor implements AsyncWebRequestInterceptor
 		String participateAttributeName = getParticipateAttributeName();
 
 		if (asyncManager.hasConcurrentResult()) {
-			if (asyncManager.applyAsyncThreadInitializer(participateAttributeName)) {
+			if (asyncManager.initializeAsyncThread(participateAttributeName)) {
 				return;
 			}
 		}
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewInterceptor implements AsyncWebRequestInterceptor
 			SessionHolder sessionHolder = new SessionHolder(session);
 			TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(getSessionFactory(), sessionHolder);
 
-			AsyncThreadInitializer asyncThreadInitializer = createThreadInitializer(sessionHolder);
+			WebAsyncThreadInitializer asyncThreadInitializer = createThreadInitializer(sessionHolder);
 			asyncManager.registerAsyncThreadInitializer(participateAttributeName, asyncThreadInitializer);
 		}
 	}
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ public class OpenSessionInViewInterceptor implements AsyncWebRequestInterceptor
 		return getSessionFactory().toString() + PARTICIPATE_SUFFIX;
 	}
 
-	private AsyncThreadInitializer createThreadInitializer(final SessionHolder sessionHolder) {
-		return new AsyncThreadInitializer() {
+	private WebAsyncThreadInitializer createThreadInitializer(final SessionHolder sessionHolder) {
+		return new WebAsyncThreadInitializer() {
 			public void initialize() {
 				TransactionSynchronizationManager.bindResource(getSessionFactory(), sessionHolder);
 			}

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/AsyncTask.java

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.springframework.web.context.request.async;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
+
+import org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanFactory;
+import org.springframework.core.task.AsyncTaskExecutor;
+import org.springframework.util.Assert;
+
+/**
+ * Holder for a {@link Callable}, a timeout value, and a task executor.
+ *
+ * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
+ * @since 3.2
+ */
+public class AsyncTask {
+
+	private final Callable<?> callable;
+
+	private final Long timeout;
+
+	private final String executorName;
+
+	private final AsyncTaskExecutor executor;
+
+	private BeanFactory beanFactory;
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Create an AsyncTask with a timeout value and a Callable.
+	 * @param timeout timeout value in milliseconds
+	 * @param callable the callable for concurrent handling
+	 */
+	public AsyncTask(long timeout, Callable<?> callable) {
+		this(timeout, null, null, callable);
+		Assert.notNull(timeout, "Timeout must not be null");
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Create an AsyncTask with a timeout value, an executor name, and a Callable.
+	 * @param timeout timeout value in milliseconds; ignored if {@code null}
+	 * @param callable the callable for concurrent handling
+	 */
+	public AsyncTask(Long timeout, String executorName, Callable<?> callable) {
+		this(timeout, null, executorName, callable);
+		Assert.notNull(executor, "Executor name must not be null");
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Create an AsyncTask with a timeout value, an executor instance, and a Callable.
+	 * @param timeout timeout value in milliseconds; ignored if {@code null}
+	 * @param callable the callable for concurrent handling
+	 */
+	public AsyncTask(Long timeout, AsyncTaskExecutor executor, Callable<?> callable) {
+		this(timeout, executor, null, callable);
+		Assert.notNull(executor, "Executor must not be null");
+	}
+
+	private AsyncTask(Long timeout, AsyncTaskExecutor executor, String executorName, Callable<?> callable) {
+		Assert.notNull(callable, "Callable must not be null");
+		this.callable = callable;
+		this.timeout = timeout;
+		this.executor = executor;
+		this.executorName = executorName;
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Return the {@link Callable} to use for concurrent handling, never {@code null}.
+	 */
+	public Callable<?> getCallable() {
+		return this.callable;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return the timeout value in milliseconds or {@code null} if not value is set.
+	 */
+	public Long getTimeout() {
+		return this.timeout;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Return the AsyncTaskExecutor to use for concurrent handling, or {@code null}.
+	 */
+	public AsyncTaskExecutor getExecutor() {
+		if (this.executor != null) {
+			return this.executor;
+		}
+		else if (this.executorName != null) {
+			Assert.state(this.beanFactory != null, "A BeanFactory is required to look up an task executor bean");
+			return this.beanFactory.getBean(this.executorName, AsyncTaskExecutor.class);
+		}
+		else {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * A {@link BeanFactory} to use to resolve an executor name. Applications are
+	 * not expected to have to set this property when AsyncTask is used in a
+	 * Spring MVC controller.
+	 */
+	public void setBeanFactory(BeanFactory beanFactory) {
+		this.beanFactory = beanFactory;
+	}
+
+}

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/AsyncWebRequest.java

@@ -29,20 +29,18 @@ public interface AsyncWebRequest extends NativeWebRequest {
 
 	/**
 	 * Set the time required for concurrent handling to complete.
-	 * @param timeout amount of time in milliseconds
+	 * This property should not be set when concurrent handling is in progress,
+	 * i.e. when {@link #isAsyncStarted()} is {@code true}.
+	 * @param timeout amount of time in milliseconds; {@code null} means no
+	 * 	timeout, i.e. rely on the default timeout of the container.
 	 */
 	void setTimeout(Long timeout);
 
 	/**
-	 * Provide a Runnable to invoke on timeout.
+	 * Set a handler to be invoked if concurrent processing times out.
 	 */
 	void setTimeoutHandler(Runnable runnable);
 
-	/**
-	 * Provide a Runnable to invoke at the end of asynchronous request processing.
-	 */
-	void addCompletionHandler(Runnable runnable);
-
 	/**
 	 * Mark the start of asynchronous request processing so that when the main
 	 * processing thread exits, the response remains open for further processing
@@ -70,6 +68,11 @@ public interface AsyncWebRequest extends NativeWebRequest {
 	 */
 	boolean isDispatched();
 
+	/**
+	 * Add a Runnable to be invoked when request processing completes.
+	 */
+	void addCompletionHandler(Runnable runnable);
+
 	/**
 	 * Whether asynchronous processing has completed.
 	 */

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/AsyncWebUtils.java

@@ -15,8 +15,14 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.web.context.request.async;
 
+import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
+
 import javax.servlet.ServletRequest;
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
 
+import org.springframework.beans.BeanUtils;
+import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.RequestAttributes;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.WebRequest;
 
@@ -57,4 +63,30 @@ public abstract class AsyncWebUtils {
 		return asyncManager;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Create an AsyncWebRequest instance.
+	 * <p>By default an instance of {@link StandardServletAsyncWebRequest} is created
+	 * if running in Servlet 3.0 (or higher) environment or as a fallback option an
+	 * instance of {@link NoSupportAsyncWebRequest} is returned.
+	 * @param request the current request
+	 * @param response the current response
+	 * @return an AsyncWebRequest instance, never {@code null}
+	 */
+	public static AsyncWebRequest createAsyncWebRequest(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) {
+		return ClassUtils.hasMethod(ServletRequest.class, "startAsync") ?
+				createStandardServletAsyncWebRequest(request, response) : new NoSupportAsyncWebRequest(request, response);
+	}
+
+	private static AsyncWebRequest createStandardServletAsyncWebRequest(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) {
+		try {
+			String className = "org.springframework.web.context.request.async.StandardServletAsyncWebRequest";
+			Class<?> clazz = ClassUtils.forName(className, AsyncWebUtils.class.getClassLoader());
+			Constructor<?> constructor = clazz.getConstructor(HttpServletRequest.class, HttpServletResponse.class);
+			return (AsyncWebRequest) BeanUtils.instantiateClass(constructor, request, response);
+		}
+		catch (Throwable t) {
+			throw new IllegalStateException("Failed to instantiate StandardServletAsyncWebRequest", t);
+		}
+	}
+
 }

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/DeferredResult.java

@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
 import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 
 /**
- * {@code DeferredResult} provides an alternative to returning a {@link Callable}
- * for asynchronous request processing. While with a Callable, a thread is used
- * to execute it on behalf of the application, with a DeferredResult the application
- * sets the result whenever it needs to from a thread of its choice.
+ * {@code DeferredResult} provides an alternative to using a {@link Callable}
+ * for asynchronous request processing. While a Callable is executed concurrently
+ * on behalf of the application, with a DeferredResult the application can produce
+ * the result from a thread of its choice.
  *
  * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
  * @since 3.2
@@ -38,32 +38,53 @@ public final class DeferredResult<T> {
 
 	private static final Object RESULT_NONE = new Object();
 
-	private Object result = RESULT_NONE;
 
 	private final Object timeoutResult;
 
-	private final AtomicBoolean expired = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+	private final Long timeout;
 
 	private DeferredResultHandler resultHandler;
 
+	private Object result = RESULT_NONE;
+
+	private final AtomicBoolean expired = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+
 	private final Object lock = new Object();
 
 	private final CountDownLatch latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
 
 
 	/**
-	 * Create a DeferredResult instance.
+	 * Create a DeferredResult.
 	 */
 	public DeferredResult() {
-		this(RESULT_NONE);
+		this(null, RESULT_NONE);
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Create a DeferredResult with a default result to use in case of a timeout.
-	 * @param timeoutResult the result to use
+	 * Create a DeferredResult with a timeout.
+	 * @param timeout timeout value in milliseconds
 	 */
-	public DeferredResult(Object timeoutResult) {
+	public DeferredResult(long timeout) {
+		this(timeout, RESULT_NONE);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Create a DeferredResult with a timeout and a default result to use on timeout.
+	 * @param timeout timeout value in milliseconds; ignored if {@code null}
+	 * @param timeoutResult the result to use, possibly {@code null}
+	 */
+	public DeferredResult(Long timeout, Object timeoutResult) {
 		this.timeoutResult = timeoutResult;
+		this.timeout = timeout;
+	}
+
+
+	/**
+	 * Return the configured timeout value in milliseconds.
+	 */
+	public Long getTimeoutMilliseconds() {
+		return this.timeout;
 	}
 
 	/**

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/StandardServletAsyncWebRequest.java

@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ public class StandardServletAsyncWebRequest extends ServletWebRequest implements
 	 * <p>The timeout period begins when the main processing thread has exited.
 	 */
 	public void setTimeout(Long timeout) {
+		Assert.state(!isAsyncStarted(), "Cannot change the timeout with concurrent handling in progress");
 		this.timeout = timeout;
 	}
 
@@ -145,6 +146,9 @@ public class StandardServletAsyncWebRequest extends ServletWebRequest implements
 	}
 
 
+	/**
+	 * Sends a SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE (503).
+	 */
 	private class DefaultTimeoutHandler implements Runnable {
 
 		public void run() {

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/WebAsyncManager.java

@@ -38,25 +38,16 @@ import org.springframework.web.util.UrlPathHelper;
  * as an SPI and not typically used directly by application classes.
  *
  * <p>An async scenario starts with request processing as usual in a thread (T1).
- * When a handler decides to handle the request concurrently, it calls
+ * Concurrent request handling can be innitiated by calling
  * {@linkplain #startCallableProcessing(Callable, Object...) startCallableProcessing} or
  * {@linkplain #startDeferredResultProcessing(DeferredResult, Object...) startDeferredResultProcessing}
- * both of which will process in a separate thread (T2).
- * After the start of concurrent handling {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()}
- * returns "true" and this can be used by classes involved in processing on the
- * main thread (T1) quickly and with very minimal processing.
+ * both of which produce a result in a separate thread (T2). The result is saved
+ * and the request dispatched to the container, to resume processing with the saved
+ * result in a third thread (T3). Within the dispatched thread (T3), the saved
+ * result can be accessed via {@link #getConcurrentResult()} or its presence
+ * detected via {@link #hasConcurrentResult()}.
  *
- * <p>When the concurrent handling completes in a separate thread (T2), both
- * {@code startCallableProcessing} and {@code startDeferredResultProcessing}
- * save the results and dispatched to the container, essentially to the
- * same request URI as the one that started concurrent handling. This allows for
- * further processing of the concurrent results. Classes in the dispatched
- * thread (T3), can access the results via {@link #getConcurrentResult()} or
- * detect their presence via {@link #hasConcurrentResult()}. Also in the
- * dispatched thread {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()} will return "false"
- * unless concurrent handling is started once again.
- *
- * TODO .. mention Servlet 3 configuration
+ * <p>TODO .. Servlet 3 config
  *
  * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
  * @since 3.2
@@ -73,42 +64,38 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 
 	private static final Log logger = LogFactory.getLog(WebAsyncManager.class);
 
+
 	private AsyncWebRequest asyncWebRequest;
 
 	private AsyncTaskExecutor taskExecutor = new SimpleAsyncTaskExecutor(this.getClass().getSimpleName());
 
-	private final Map<Object, AsyncThreadInitializer> threadInitializers = new LinkedHashMap<Object, AsyncThreadInitializer>();
-
 	private Object concurrentResult = RESULT_NONE;
 
 	private Object[] concurrentResultContext;
 
+	private final Map<Object, WebAsyncThreadInitializer> threadInitializers = new LinkedHashMap<Object, WebAsyncThreadInitializer>();
+
 	private static final UrlPathHelper urlPathHelper = new UrlPathHelper();
 
-	/**
-	 * Package private constructor
-	 * @see AsyncWebUtils
-	 */
-	WebAsyncManager() {
-	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Configure an AsyncTaskExecutor for use with {@link #startCallableProcessing(Callable)}.
-	 * <p>By default a {@link SimpleAsyncTaskExecutor} instance is used. Applications
-	 * are advised to provide a TaskExecutor configured for production use.
-	 * @see org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation.RequestMappingHandlerAdapter#setAsyncTaskExecutor
+	 * Package private constructor.
+	 * @see AsyncWebUtils#getAsyncManager(javax.servlet.ServletRequest)
+	 * @see AsyncWebUtils#getAsyncManager(org.springframework.web.context.request.WebRequest)
 	 */
-	public void setTaskExecutor(AsyncTaskExecutor taskExecutor) {
-		this.taskExecutor = taskExecutor;
+	WebAsyncManager() {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Provide an {@link AsyncWebRequest} to use to start and to dispatch request.
-	 * This property must be set before the start of concurrent handling.
-	 * @param asyncWebRequest the request to use
+	 * Configure the {@link AsyncWebRequest} to use. This property may be
+	 * set more than once during a single request to accurately reflect the
+	 * current state of the request (e.g. following a forward, request/response
+	 * wrapping, etc). However, it should not be set while concurrent handling is
+	 * in progress, i.e. while {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()} is {@code true}.
+	 * @param asyncWebRequest the web request to use
 	 */
 	public void setAsyncWebRequest(final AsyncWebRequest asyncWebRequest) {
-		Assert.notNull(asyncWebRequest, "Expected AsyncWebRequest");
+		Assert.notNull(asyncWebRequest, "AsyncWebRequest must not be null");
 		Assert.state(!isConcurrentHandlingStarted(), "Can't set AsyncWebRequest with concurrent handling in progress");
 		this.asyncWebRequest = asyncWebRequest;
 		this.asyncWebRequest.addCompletionHandler(new Runnable() {
@@ -119,18 +106,27 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Whether the handler for the current request is executed concurrently.
-	 * Once concurrent handling is done, the result is saved, and the request
-	 * dispatched again to resume processing where the result of concurrent
-	 * handling is available via {@link #getConcurrentResult()}.
+	 * Configure an AsyncTaskExecutor for use with concurrent processing via
+	 * {@link #startCallableProcessing(Callable, Object...)}.
+	 * <p>By default a {@link SimpleAsyncTaskExecutor} instance is used.
+	 */
+	public void setTaskExecutor(AsyncTaskExecutor taskExecutor) {
+		this.taskExecutor = taskExecutor;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Whether the target handler chose to handle the request asynchronously.
+	 * A return value of "true" indicates concurrent handling is under way and the
+	 * response will remain open. A return value of "false" will be returned again after concurrent
+	 * handling produces a result and the request is dispatched to resume processing.
 	 */
 	public boolean isConcurrentHandlingStarted() {
 		return ((this.asyncWebRequest != null) && (this.asyncWebRequest.isAsyncStarted()));
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Whether the current thread was dispatched to continue processing the result
-	 * of concurrent handler execution.
+	 * Whether the request was dispatched to resume processing the result of
+	 * concurrent handling.
 	 */
 	public boolean hasConcurrentResult() {
 
@@ -142,84 +138,58 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Return the result of concurrent handler execution. This may be an Object
-	 * value on successful return or an {@code Exception} or {@code Throwable}.
+	 * Provides access to the result from concurrent handling.
+	 * @return an Object, possibly an {@code Exception} or {@code Throwable} if
+	 * 	concurrent handling raised one.
 	 */
 	public Object getConcurrentResult() {
 		return this.concurrentResult;
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Return the processing context saved at the start of concurrent handling.
+	 * Provides access to additional processing context saved at the start of
+	 * concurrent handling.
 	 */
 	public Object[] getConcurrentResultContext() {
 		return this.concurrentResultContext;
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Reset the {@linkplain #getConcurrentResult() concurrentResult} and the
+	 * Clear {@linkplain #getConcurrentResult() concurrentResult} and
 	 * {@linkplain #getConcurrentResultContext() concurrentResultContext}.
 	 */
-	public void resetConcurrentResult() {
+	public void clearConcurrentResult() {
 		this.concurrentResult = RESULT_NONE;
 		this.concurrentResultContext = null;
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Register an {@link AsyncThreadInitializer} with the WebAsyncManager instance
-	 * for the current request. It may later be accessed and applied via
-	 * {@link #applyAsyncThreadInitializer(String)} and will also be used to
-	 * initialize and reset threads for concurrent handler execution.
-	 * @param key a unique the key under which to keep the initializer
-	 * @param initializer the initializer  instance
-	 */
-	public void registerAsyncThreadInitializer(Object key, AsyncThreadInitializer initializer) {
-		Assert.notNull(initializer, "An AsyncThreadInitializer instance is required");
-		this.threadInitializers.put(key, initializer);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Invoke the {@linkplain AsyncThreadInitializer#initialize() initialize()}
-	 * method of the named {@link AsyncThreadInitializer}.
-	 * @param key the key under which the initializer was registered
-	 * @return whether an initializer was found and applied
-	 */
-	public boolean applyAsyncThreadInitializer(Object key) {
-		AsyncThreadInitializer initializer = this.threadInitializers.get(key);
-		if (initializer != null) {
-			initializer.initialize();
-			return true;
-		}
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Submit a request handling task for concurrent execution. Returns immediately
-	 * and subsequent calls to {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()} return "true".
-	 * <p>When concurrent handling is done, the resulting value, which may be an
-	 * Object or a raised {@code Exception} or {@code Throwable}, is saved and the
-	 * request is dispatched for further processing of that result. In the dispatched
-	 * thread, the result can be accessed via {@link #getConcurrentResult()} while
-	 * {@link #hasConcurrentResult()} returns "true" and
-	 * {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()} is back to returning "false".
+	 * Start concurrent request processing and execute the given task with an
+	 * {@link #setTaskExecutor(AsyncTaskExecutor) AsyncTaskExecutor}. The result
+	 * from the task execution is saved and the request dispatched in order to
+	 * resume processing of that result. If the task raises an Exception then
+	 * the saved result will be the raised Exception.
 	 *
 	 * @param callable a unit of work to be executed asynchronously
-	 * @param processingContext additional context to save for later access via
-	 * 	{@link #getConcurrentResultContext()}
+	 * @param processingContext additional context to save that can be accessed
+	 * 	via {@link #getConcurrentResultContext()}
+	 *
+	 * @see #getConcurrentResult()
+	 * @see #getConcurrentResultContext()
 	 */
 	public void startCallableProcessing(final Callable<?> callable, Object... processingContext) {
-		Assert.notNull(callable, "Callable is required");
+		Assert.notNull(callable, "Callable must not be null");
 
 		startAsyncProcessing(processingContext);
 
 		this.taskExecutor.submit(new Runnable() {
 
 			public void run() {
-				List<AsyncThreadInitializer> initializers =
-						new ArrayList<AsyncThreadInitializer>(threadInitializers.values());
+				List<WebAsyncThreadInitializer> initializers =
+						new ArrayList<WebAsyncThreadInitializer>(threadInitializers.values());
 
 				try {
-					for (AsyncThreadInitializer initializer : initializers) {
+					for (WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer : initializers) {
 						initializer.initialize();
 					}
 					concurrentResult = callable.call();
@@ -229,7 +199,7 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 				}
 				finally {
 					Collections.reverse(initializers);
-					for (AsyncThreadInitializer initializer : initializers) {
+					for (WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer : initializers) {
 						initializer.reset();
 					}
 				}
@@ -250,24 +220,51 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Initialize the given given {@link DeferredResult} so that whenever the
-	 * DeferredResult is set, the resulting value, which may be an Object or a
-	 * raised {@code Exception} or {@code Throwable}, is saved and the request
-	 * is dispatched for further processing of the result. In the dispatch
-	 * thread, the result value can be accessed via {@link #getConcurrentResult()}.
-	 * <p>The method returns immediately and it's up to the caller to set the
-	 * DeferredResult. Subsequent calls to {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()}
-	 * return "true" until after the dispatch when {@link #hasConcurrentResult()}
-	 * returns "true" and {@link #isConcurrentHandlingStarted()} is back to "false".
+	 * Use the given {@link AsyncTask} to configure the task executor as well as
+	 * the timeout value of the {@code AsyncWebRequest} before delegating to
+	 * {@link #startCallableProcessing(Callable, Object...)}.
+	 * @param asyncTask an asyncTask containing the target {@code Callable}
+	 * @param processingContext additional context to save that can be accessed
+	 * 	via {@link #getConcurrentResultContext()}
+	 */
+	public void startCallableProcessing(AsyncTask asyncTask, Object... processingContext) {
+		Assert.notNull(asyncTask, "AsyncTask must not be null");
+
+		Long timeout = asyncTask.getTimeout();
+		if (timeout != null) {
+			this.asyncWebRequest.setTimeout(timeout);
+		}
+
+		AsyncTaskExecutor executor = asyncTask.getExecutor();
+		if (executor != null) {
+			this.taskExecutor = executor;
+		}
+
+		startCallableProcessing(asyncTask.getCallable(), processingContext);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Start concurrent request processing and initialize the given {@link DeferredResult}
+	 * with a {@link DeferredResultHandler} that saves the result and dispatches
+	 * the request to resume processing of that result.
+	 * The {@code AsyncWebRequest} is also updated with a completion handler that
+	 * expires the {@code DeferredResult} and a timeout handler assuming the
+	 * {@code DeferredResult} has a default timeout result.
 	 *
 	 * @param deferredResult the DeferredResult instance to initialize
-	 * @param processingContext additional context to save for later access via
-	 * 	{@link #getConcurrentResultContext()}
+	 * @param processingContext additional context to save that can be accessed
+	 * 	via {@link #getConcurrentResultContext()}
+	 *
+	 * @see #getConcurrentResult()
+	 * @see #getConcurrentResultContext()
 	 */
 	public void startDeferredResultProcessing(final DeferredResult<?> deferredResult, Object... processingContext) {
-		Assert.notNull(deferredResult, "DeferredResult is required");
+		Assert.notNull(deferredResult, "DeferredResult must not be null");
 
-		startAsyncProcessing(processingContext);
+		Long timeout = deferredResult.getTimeoutMilliseconds();
+		if (timeout != null) {
+			this.asyncWebRequest.setTimeout(timeout);
+		}
 
 		this.asyncWebRequest.addCompletionHandler(new Runnable() {
 			public void run() {
@@ -283,6 +280,8 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 			});
 		}
 
+		startAsyncProcessing(processingContext);
+
 		deferredResult.setResultHandler(new DeferredResultHandler() {
 
 			public void handleResult(Object result) {
@@ -300,13 +299,13 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 		});
 	}
 
-	private void startAsyncProcessing(Object... context) {
+	private void startAsyncProcessing(Object[] processingContext) {
 
-		Assert.state(this.asyncWebRequest != null, "AsyncWebRequest was not set");
+		Assert.state(this.asyncWebRequest != null, "AsyncWebRequest must not be null");
 		this.asyncWebRequest.startAsync();
 
 		this.concurrentResult = null;
-		this.concurrentResultContext = context;
+		this.concurrentResultContext = processingContext;
 
 		if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
 			HttpServletRequest request = asyncWebRequest.getNativeRequest(HttpServletRequest.class);
@@ -315,11 +314,38 @@ public final class WebAsyncManager {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Register an {@link WebAsyncThreadInitializer} for the current request. It may
+	 * later be accessed and applied via {@link #initializeAsyncThread(String)}
+	 * and will also be used to initialize and reset threads for concurrent handler execution.
+	 * @param key a unique the key under which to keep the initializer
+	 * @param initializer the initializer  instance
+	 */
+	public void registerAsyncThreadInitializer(Object key, WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer) {
+		Assert.notNull(initializer, "WebAsyncThreadInitializer must not be null");
+		this.threadInitializers.put(key, initializer);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Invoke the {@linkplain WebAsyncThreadInitializer#initialize() initialize()}
+	 * method of the named {@link WebAsyncThreadInitializer}.
+	 * @param key the key under which the initializer was registered
+	 * @return whether an initializer was found and applied
+	 */
+	public boolean initializeAsyncThread(Object key) {
+		WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer = this.threadInitializers.get(key);
+		if (initializer != null) {
+			initializer.initialize();
+			return true;
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
 
 	/**
-	 * A contract for initializing and resetting a thread.
+	 * Initialize and reset thread-bound variables.
 	 */
-	public interface AsyncThreadInitializer {
+	public interface WebAsyncThreadInitializer {
 
 		void initialize();
 

spring-web/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/package-info.java

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+/**
+ *
+ * Support for asynchronous request processing.
+ *
+ * @since 3.2
+ *
+ */
+package org.springframework.web.context.request.async;
+

spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/DeferredResultTests.java

@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public class DeferredResultTests {
 	@Test
 	public void hasTimeout() {
 		assertFalse(new DeferredResult<String>().hasTimeoutResult());
-		assertTrue(new DeferredResult<String>("timed out").hasTimeoutResult());
+		assertTrue(new DeferredResult<String>(null, "timed out").hasTimeoutResult());
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public class DeferredResultTests {
 		handler.handleResult("timed out");
 		replay(handler);
 
-		DeferredResult<String> result = new DeferredResult<String>("timed out");
+		DeferredResult<String> result = new DeferredResult<String>(null, "timed out");
 		result.setResultHandler(handler);
 
 		assertTrue(result.applyTimeoutResult());

spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/StandardServletAsyncWebRequestTests.java

@@ -135,4 +135,10 @@ public class StandardServletAsyncWebRequestTests {
 		verify(timeoutHandler);
 	}
 
+	@Test(expected=IllegalStateException.class)
+	public void setTimeoutDuringConcurrentHandling() {
+		this.asyncRequest.startAsync();
+		this.asyncRequest.setTimeout(25L);
+	}
+
 }

spring-web/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/context/request/async/WebAsyncManagerTests.java

@@ -16,26 +16,26 @@
 
 package org.springframework.web.context.request.async;
 
-import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.containsString;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.createMock;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.createStrictMock;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.expect;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.notNull;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.replay;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.reset;
+import static org.easymock.EasyMock.verify;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertSame;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
 
-import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
-import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
-
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.springframework.core.task.AsyncTaskExecutor;
 import org.springframework.core.task.SimpleAsyncTaskExecutor;
 import org.springframework.mock.web.MockHttpServletRequest;
-import org.springframework.mock.web.MockHttpServletResponse;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.ServletWebRequest;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.WebAsyncThreadInitializer;
 
 
 /**
@@ -47,169 +47,141 @@ public class WebAsyncManagerTests {
 
 	private WebAsyncManager asyncManager;
 
-	private MockHttpServletRequest request;
-
-	private StubAsyncWebRequest stubAsyncWebRequest;
+	private AsyncWebRequest asyncWebRequest;
 
 	@Before
 	public void setUp() {
-		this.request = new MockHttpServletRequest();
-		this.stubAsyncWebRequest = new StubAsyncWebRequest(this.request, new MockHttpServletResponse());
-
-		this.asyncManager = AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(this.request);
+		this.asyncManager = AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(new MockHttpServletRequest());
 		this.asyncManager.setTaskExecutor(new SyncTaskExecutor());
-		this.asyncManager.setAsyncWebRequest(this.stubAsyncWebRequest);
-	}
 
-	@Test
-	public void getForCurrentRequest() throws Exception {
-		assertNotNull(this.asyncManager);
-		assertSame(this.asyncManager, AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(this.request));
-		assertSame(this.asyncManager, this.request.getAttribute(AsyncWebUtils.WEB_ASYNC_MANAGER_ATTRIBUTE));
+		this.asyncWebRequest = createStrictMock(AsyncWebRequest.class);
+		this.asyncWebRequest.addCompletionHandler((Runnable) notNull());
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
+		this.asyncManager.setAsyncWebRequest(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
+		verify(this.asyncWebRequest);
+		reset(this.asyncWebRequest);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void isConcurrentHandlingStarted() {
+
+		expect(this.asyncWebRequest.isAsyncStarted()).andReturn(false);
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
 		assertFalse(this.asyncManager.isConcurrentHandlingStarted());
 
-		this.stubAsyncWebRequest.startAsync();
+		verify(this.asyncWebRequest);
+		reset(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
+		expect(this.asyncWebRequest.isAsyncStarted()).andReturn(true);
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
 		assertTrue(this.asyncManager.isConcurrentHandlingStarted());
+
+		verify(this.asyncWebRequest);
 	}
 
 	@Test(expected=IllegalArgumentException.class)
 	public void setAsyncWebRequestAfterAsyncStarted() {
-		this.stubAsyncWebRequest.startAsync();
+		this.asyncWebRequest.startAsync();
 		this.asyncManager.setAsyncWebRequest(null);
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void startCallableChainProcessing() throws Exception {
+	public void startCallableProcessing() throws Exception {
+
+		WebAsyncThreadInitializer initializer = createStrictMock(WebAsyncThreadInitializer.class);
+		initializer.initialize();
+		initializer.reset();
+		replay(initializer);
+
+		this.asyncWebRequest.startAsync();
+		expect(this.asyncWebRequest.isAsyncComplete()).andReturn(false);
+		this.asyncWebRequest.dispatch();
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
+		this.asyncManager.registerAsyncThreadInitializer("testInitializer", initializer);
 		this.asyncManager.startCallableProcessing(new Callable<Object>() {
 			public Object call() throws Exception {
 				return 1;
 			}
 		});
 
-		assertTrue(this.asyncManager.isConcurrentHandlingStarted());
-		assertTrue(this.stubAsyncWebRequest.isDispatched());
+		verify(initializer, this.asyncWebRequest);
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void startCallableChainProcessingStaleRequest() {
-		this.stubAsyncWebRequest.setAsyncComplete(true);
-		this.asyncManager.startCallableProcessing(new Callable<Object>() {
-			public Object call() throws Exception {
-				return 1;
-			}
-		});
+	public void startCallableProcessingAsyncTask() {
+
+		AsyncTaskExecutor executor = createMock(AsyncTaskExecutor.class);
+		expect(executor.submit((Runnable) notNull())).andReturn(null);
+		replay(executor);
+
+		this.asyncWebRequest.setTimeout(1000L);
+		this.asyncWebRequest.startAsync();
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
+
+		AsyncTask asyncTask = new AsyncTask(1000L, executor, createMock(Callable.class));
+		this.asyncManager.startCallableProcessing(asyncTask);
 
-		assertFalse(this.stubAsyncWebRequest.isDispatched());
+		verify(executor, this.asyncWebRequest);
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void startCallableChainProcessingCallableRequired() {
+	public void startCallableProcessingNullCallable() {
 		try {
-			this.asyncManager.startCallableProcessing(null);
+			this.asyncManager.startCallableProcessing((Callable<?>) null);
 			fail("Expected exception");
 		}
 		catch (IllegalArgumentException ex) {
-			assertEquals(ex.getMessage(), "Callable is required");
+			assertEquals(ex.getMessage(), "Callable must not be null");
 		}
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void startCallableChainProcessingAsyncWebRequestRequired() {
-		this.request.removeAttribute(AsyncWebUtils.WEB_ASYNC_MANAGER_ATTRIBUTE);
-		this.asyncManager = AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(this.request);
+	public void startCallableProcessingNullRequest() {
+		WebAsyncManager manager = AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(new MockHttpServletRequest());
 		try {
-			this.asyncManager.startCallableProcessing(new Callable<Object>() {
+			manager.startCallableProcessing(new Callable<Object>() {
 				public Object call() throws Exception {
-					return null;
+					return 1;
 				}
 			});
 			fail("Expected exception");
 		}
 		catch (IllegalStateException ex) {
-			assertEquals(ex.getMessage(), "AsyncWebRequest was not set");
+			assertEquals(ex.getMessage(), "AsyncWebRequest must not be null");
 		}
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void startDeferredResultProcessing() throws Exception {
-		DeferredResult<Integer> deferredResult = new DeferredResult<Integer>();
-		this.asyncManager.startDeferredResultProcessing(deferredResult);
-
-		assertTrue(this.asyncManager.isConcurrentHandlingStarted());
 
-		deferredResult.setResult(25);
-		assertEquals(25, this.asyncManager.getConcurrentResult());
-	}
+		this.asyncWebRequest.setTimeout(1000L);
+		this.asyncWebRequest.addCompletionHandler((Runnable) notNull());
+		this.asyncWebRequest.setTimeoutHandler((Runnable) notNull());
+		this.asyncWebRequest.startAsync();
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
 
-	@Test
-	public void startDeferredResultProcessingStaleRequest() throws Exception {
-		DeferredResult<Integer> deferredResult = new DeferredResult<Integer>();
+		DeferredResult<Integer> deferredResult = new DeferredResult<Integer>(1000L, 10);
 		this.asyncManager.startDeferredResultProcessing(deferredResult);
 
-		this.stubAsyncWebRequest.setAsyncComplete(true);
-		assertFalse(deferredResult.setResult(1));
-	}
+		verify(this.asyncWebRequest);
+		reset(this.asyncWebRequest);
 
-	@Test
-	public void startDeferredResultProcessingDeferredResultRequired() {
-		try {
-			this.asyncManager.startDeferredResultProcessing(null);
-			fail("Expected exception");
-		}
-		catch (IllegalArgumentException ex) {
-			assertThat(ex.getMessage(), containsString("DeferredResult is required"));
-		}
-	}
-
-
-	private static class StubAsyncWebRequest extends ServletWebRequest implements AsyncWebRequest {
-
-		private boolean asyncStarted;
-
-		private boolean dispatched;
-
-		private boolean asyncComplete;
-
-		public StubAsyncWebRequest(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) {
-			super(request, response);
-		}
-
-		public void setTimeout(Long timeout) { }
-
-		public void setTimeoutHandler(Runnable runnable) { }
+		expect(this.asyncWebRequest.isAsyncComplete()).andReturn(false);
+		this.asyncWebRequest.dispatch();
+		replay(this.asyncWebRequest);
 
-		public void startAsync() {
-			this.asyncStarted = true;
-		}
-
-		public boolean isAsyncStarted() {
-			return this.asyncStarted;
-		}
-
-		public void dispatch() {
-			this.dispatched = true;
-		}
-
-		public boolean isDispatched() {
-			return dispatched;
-		}
-
-		public void setAsyncComplete(boolean asyncComplete) {
-			this.asyncComplete = asyncComplete;
-		}
-
-		public boolean isAsyncComplete() {
-			return this.asyncComplete;
-		}
+		deferredResult.setResult(25);
 
-		public void addCompletionHandler(Runnable runnable) {
-		}
+		assertEquals(25, this.asyncManager.getConcurrentResult());
+		verify(this.asyncWebRequest);
 	}
 
+
 	@SuppressWarnings("serial")
 	private static class SyncTaskExecutor extends SimpleAsyncTaskExecutor {
 

spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/FrameworkServlet.java

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ import org.springframework.web.context.request.RequestContextHolder;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.ServletRequestAttributes;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.AsyncThreadInitializer;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager.WebAsyncThreadInitializer;
 import org.springframework.web.context.support.ServletRequestHandledEvent;
 import org.springframework.web.context.support.WebApplicationContextUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.context.support.XmlWebApplicationContext;
@@ -991,9 +991,9 @@ public abstract class FrameworkServlet extends HttpServletBean {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private AsyncThreadInitializer createAsyncThreadInitializer(final HttpServletRequest request) {
+	private WebAsyncThreadInitializer createAsyncThreadInitializer(final HttpServletRequest request) {
 
-		return new AsyncThreadInitializer() {
+		return new WebAsyncThreadInitializer() {
 			public void initialize() {
 				initContextHolders(request, buildLocaleContext(request), new ServletRequestAttributes(request));
 			}

spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/AsyncMethodReturnValueHandler.java

@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation;
-
-import java.lang.reflect.Method;
-import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
-
-import javax.servlet.ServletRequest;
-
-import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
-import org.springframework.util.Assert;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.NativeWebRequest;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.DeferredResult;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
-import org.springframework.web.method.support.HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler;
-import org.springframework.web.method.support.ModelAndViewContainer;
-
-/**
- * Handles return values of type {@link Callable} and {@link DeferredResult}.
- *
- * <p>This handler does not have a defined behavior for {@code null} return
- * values and will raise an {@link IllegalArgumentException}.
- *
- * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
- * @since 3.2
- */
-public class AsyncMethodReturnValueHandler implements HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler {
-
-	public boolean supportsReturnType(MethodParameter returnType) {
-		Class<?> paramType = returnType.getParameterType();
-		return Callable.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType) || DeferredResult.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType);
-	}
-
-	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	public void handleReturnValue(Object returnValue,
-			MethodParameter returnType, ModelAndViewContainer mavContainer,
-			NativeWebRequest webRequest) throws Exception {
-
-		Assert.notNull(returnValue, "A Callable or a DeferredValue is required");
-
-		Class<?> paramType = returnType.getParameterType();
-		ServletRequest servletRequest = webRequest.getNativeRequest(ServletRequest.class);
-		WebAsyncManager asyncManager = AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(servletRequest);
-
-		if (Callable.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType)) {
-			asyncManager.startCallableProcessing((Callable<Object>) returnValue, mavContainer);
-		}
-		else if (DeferredResult.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType)) {
-			asyncManager.startDeferredResultProcessing((DeferredResult<?>) returnValue, mavContainer);
-		}
-		else {
-			// should never happen..
-			Method method = returnType.getMethod();
-			throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Unknown return value: " + paramType + " in method: " + method);
-		}
-	}
-
-}

spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/AsyncTaskMethodReturnValueHandler.java

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation;
+
+import org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanFactory;
+import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.NativeWebRequest;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncTask;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
+import org.springframework.web.method.support.HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler;
+import org.springframework.web.method.support.ModelAndViewContainer;
+
+/**
+ * Handles return values of type {@link AsyncTask}.
+ *
+ * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
+ * @since 3.2
+ */
+public class AsyncTaskMethodReturnValueHandler implements HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler {
+
+	private final BeanFactory beanFactory;
+
+
+	public AsyncTaskMethodReturnValueHandler(BeanFactory beanFactory) {
+		this.beanFactory = beanFactory;
+	}
+
+	public boolean supportsReturnType(MethodParameter returnType) {
+		Class<?> paramType = returnType.getParameterType();
+		return AsyncTask.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType);
+	}
+
+	public void handleReturnValue(Object returnValue,
+			MethodParameter returnType, ModelAndViewContainer mavContainer,
+			NativeWebRequest webRequest) throws Exception {
+
+		if (returnValue == null) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		AsyncTask asyncTask = (AsyncTask) returnValue;
+		asyncTask.setBeanFactory(this.beanFactory);
+		AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(webRequest).startCallableProcessing(asyncTask.getCallable(), mavContainer);
+	}
+
+}

spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/CallableMethodReturnValueHandler.java

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
+
+import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.NativeWebRequest;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
+import org.springframework.web.method.support.HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler;
+import org.springframework.web.method.support.ModelAndViewContainer;
+
+/**
+ * Handles return values of type {@link Callable}.
+ *
+ * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
+ * @since 3.2
+ */
+public class CallableMethodReturnValueHandler implements HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler {
+
+	public boolean supportsReturnType(MethodParameter returnType) {
+		Class<?> paramType = returnType.getParameterType();
+		return Callable.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType);
+	}
+
+	public void handleReturnValue(Object returnValue,
+			MethodParameter returnType, ModelAndViewContainer mavContainer,
+			NativeWebRequest webRequest) throws Exception {
+
+		if (returnValue == null) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		Callable<?> callable = (Callable<?>) returnValue;
+		AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(webRequest).startCallableProcessing(callable, mavContainer);
+	}
+
+}

spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/DeferredResultMethodReturnValueHandler.java

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation;
+
+import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.NativeWebRequest;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
+import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.DeferredResult;
+import org.springframework.web.method.support.HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler;
+import org.springframework.web.method.support.ModelAndViewContainer;
+
+/**
+ * Handles return values of type {@link DeferredResult}.
+ *
+ * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
+ * @since 3.2
+ */
+public class DeferredResultMethodReturnValueHandler implements HandlerMethodReturnValueHandler {
+
+	public boolean supportsReturnType(MethodParameter returnType) {
+		Class<?> paramType = returnType.getParameterType();
+		return DeferredResult.class.isAssignableFrom(paramType);
+	}
+
+	public void handleReturnValue(Object returnValue,
+			MethodParameter returnType, ModelAndViewContainer mavContainer,
+			NativeWebRequest webRequest) throws Exception {
+
+		if (returnValue == null) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		DeferredResult<?> deferredResult = (DeferredResult<?>) returnValue;
+		AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(webRequest).startDeferredResultProcessing(deferredResult, mavContainer);
+	}
+
+}

spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestMappingHandlerAdapter.java

@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation;
 
-import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
 import java.lang.reflect.Method;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
@@ -27,13 +26,11 @@ import java.util.Map.Entry;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 
-import javax.servlet.ServletRequest;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpSession;
 import javax.xml.transform.Source;
 
-import org.springframework.beans.BeanUtils;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanFactory;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanFactoryAware;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.InitializingBean;
@@ -50,7 +47,6 @@ import org.springframework.http.converter.StringHttpMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.http.converter.xml.SourceHttpMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.http.converter.xml.XmlAwareFormHttpMessageConverter;
 import org.springframework.ui.ModelMap;
-import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.CollectionUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.ReflectionUtils.MethodFilter;
 import org.springframework.web.accept.ContentNegotiationManager;
@@ -68,7 +64,6 @@ import org.springframework.web.context.request.ServletWebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.WebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.AsyncWebUtils;
-import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.NoSupportAsyncWebRequest;
 import org.springframework.web.context.request.async.WebAsyncManager;
 import org.springframework.web.method.HandlerMethod;
 import org.springframework.web.method.HandlerMethodSelector;
@@ -552,7 +547,9 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerAdapter extends AbstractHandlerMethodAdapter i
 		handlers.add(new ModelMethodProcessor());
 		handlers.add(new ViewMethodReturnValueHandler());
 		handlers.add(new HttpEntityMethodProcessor(getMessageConverters(), this.contentNegotiationManager));
-		handlers.add(new AsyncMethodReturnValueHandler());
+		handlers.add(new CallableMethodReturnValueHandler());
+		handlers.add(new DeferredResultMethodReturnValueHandler());
+		handlers.add(new AsyncTaskMethodReturnValueHandler(this.beanFactory));
 
 		// Annotation-based return value types
 		handlers.add(new ModelAttributeMethodProcessor(false));
@@ -690,7 +687,7 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerAdapter extends AbstractHandlerMethodAdapter i
 		modelFactory.initModel(webRequest, mavContainer, requestMappingMethod);
 		mavContainer.setIgnoreDefaultModelOnRedirect(this.ignoreDefaultModelOnRedirect);
 
-		AsyncWebRequest asyncWebRequest = createAsyncWebRequest(request, response);
+		AsyncWebRequest asyncWebRequest = AsyncWebUtils.createAsyncWebRequest(request, response);
 		asyncWebRequest.setTimeout(this.asyncRequestTimeout);
 
 		final WebAsyncManager asyncManager = AsyncWebUtils.getAsyncManager(request);
@@ -700,7 +697,7 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerAdapter extends AbstractHandlerMethodAdapter i
 		if (asyncManager.hasConcurrentResult()) {
 			Object result = asyncManager.getConcurrentResult();
 			mavContainer = (ModelAndViewContainer) asyncManager.getConcurrentResultContext()[0];
-			asyncManager.resetConcurrentResult();
+			asyncManager.clearConcurrentResult();
 
 			if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
 				logger.debug("Found concurrent result value [" + result + "]");
@@ -802,23 +799,6 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerAdapter extends AbstractHandlerMethodAdapter i
 		return new ServletRequestDataBinderFactory(binderMethods, getWebBindingInitializer());
 	}
 
-	private AsyncWebRequest createAsyncWebRequest(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) {
-		return ClassUtils.hasMethod(ServletRequest.class, "startAsync") ?
-				createStandardServletAsyncWebRequest(request, response) : new NoSupportAsyncWebRequest(request, response);
-	}
-
-	private AsyncWebRequest createStandardServletAsyncWebRequest(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) {
-		try {
-			String className = "org.springframework.web.context.request.async.StandardServletAsyncWebRequest";
-			Class<?> clazz = ClassUtils.forName(className, this.getClass().getClassLoader());
-			Constructor<?> constructor = clazz.getConstructor(HttpServletRequest.class, HttpServletResponse.class);
-			return (AsyncWebRequest) BeanUtils.instantiateClass(constructor, request, response);
-		}
-		catch (Throwable t) {
-			throw new IllegalStateException("Failed to instantiate StandardServletAsyncWebRequest", t);
-		}
-	}
-
 	private ModelAndView getModelAndView(ModelAndViewContainer mavContainer,
 			ModelFactory modelFactory, NativeWebRequest webRequest) throws Exception {