code: private List<JPAObject> checkUpdates(List<JPAObject> updates) throws EDBException {
          List<JPAObject> failedObjects = new ArrayList<JPAObject>();
          for (JPAObject update : updates) {
              try {
                  Integer modelVersion = investigateVersionAndCheckForConflict(update);
                  modelVersion++;
                  update.removeEntry(EDBConstants.MODEL_VERSION);
                  update.addEntry(new JPAEntry(EDBConstants.MODEL_VERSION, modelVersion + "", 
                      Integer.class.getName(), update));
              } catch (EDBException e) {
                  failedObjects.add(update);
              }
          }
          return failedObjects;
      }
docs: Checks every update for a potential conflict. Returns a list of objects where a conflict has been found.