Patent ID: 7191224

Claim:
A computer-implemented system for communicating among a plurality of computer-based machines interconnected through a network, comprising: a first group of computer modules operating on a first machine; a second group of computer modules operating on a second machine; and a data network ring connected to the first group and the second group, said modules of the first and second groups exchanging messages over the data network ring, wherein any one of the modules in the first group may operate as a proxy that is responsible for messages sent to or from the first machine over the data network ring, wherein any one of the modules in the second group may operate as a proxy that is responsible for messages sent to or from the second machine over the data network ring; wherein the module operating as a proxy on the first machine is responsible for messages involving another module operating on the first machine; wherein the module operating as a proxy on the second machine is responsible for messages involving another module operating on the second machine.