Patent ID: 6363496
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a fault-tolerant, distributed computer system, apparatus to minimize duration of waiting prior to timeout, which comprises:a plurality of nodes; each of said nodes being capable of sending at least one message; a collector effective for processing at least two of said messages received from said plurality of nodes to determine if any of said plurality of nodes is faulty; wherein said at least two messages carry information that results are ready; said collector is effective to report that a node is faulty when said node does not send a â€œresult readyâ€  message within a chosen time interval; and said chosen time interval is determined, after said at least two â€œresult readyâ€  messages have arrived at said collector, from a time difference between a first to arrive â€œresult readyâ€  message and a last to arrive â€œresult readyâ€  message.