Patent ID: 8160091

Claim:
A data processing system comprising a group of at least a first and a second module, wherein each module has a data processing facility, a mutually independent clock for timing data transmissions from a module to another module, and a time-slot counter for counting a number of time slots which are available for transmission of data, the modules having a first operational state wherein the counted number of time slots is less than or equal to a predetermined number, in which operational state data transmission is enabled, and a second operational state wherein the number is in excess of the predetermined number, in which second operational state data transmission is disabled, each module having a notifying facility for notifying when said module is in the second operational state, the data processing system having a detecting facility for detecting whether all other modules have notified that said all other modules are in the second operational state, the modules having an initialization facility for resetting the time-slot counter when the module is in the second operational state and each of the other modules has notified that said each of the other modules is in the second operational state.