public Epoch createEpoch(int timestamp,ServerViewController recManager){
  epochsLock.lock();
  Epoch epoch=new Epoch(recManager,this,timestamp);
  epochs.put(timestamp,epoch);
  epochsLock.unlock();
  return epoch;
}

public Epoch createEpoch ( int timestamp , ServerViewController recManager ) { epochsLock . lock ( ) ; Epoch epoch = new Epoch ( recManager , this , timestamp ) ; epochs . put ( timestamp , epoch ) ; epochsLock . unlock ( ) ; return epoch ; }
creates an epoch associated with this consensus , with the specified timestamp
