Patent ID: 6574744
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method of determining a uniform global view (GS) of the system status of a distributed computer network (VRNW) comprising at least three computers (R1, R2, R3), the method comprising:exchanging messages by the computers over communication links (KV12, KV13, KV32) in successive transmission rounds, with each of the computers receiving a message from each of the other computers in each transmission round in the absence of an error, wherein in each transmission round, each of the computers includes: evaluating messages received from the other computers and, based on the result of the evaluation, assigning one of at least three differently defined computer states to each of the other computers, determining a local view (LSi,j) of the system status therefrom, exchanging the local views of the system status determined, and determining a uniform global view of the system status from the local views exchanged, wherein the messages contain at least the following information: (a) a message category (NK); (b) the number (I) of the transmission round in which the message is sent; (c) a local view (LSi,j) of the system status, determined by the sending computer.