Multiprocessor computer system which includes n parallel-operating computer modules and an external apparatus, and computer module for use in such a system

Claim 1

A multiprocessor computer system which includes n parallel-operating computer modules, each of which is situated in its own fault isolation area, each computer module including: - a processor module for processing data words which consist of k\,t+1 data symbols; - a data channl which is connected to a data connection of the processor module; - a reducing encoder which is connected to the data channel in order to form a code symbol from a data word received so that the encoders of the respective computer modules form a code symbol of a code word from respective versions of a data word, said code word comprising n ≥ k+2t code symbols of a code having a correction capability of t ≥ 1 code symbols per code word; - a storage module which includes a data input which is connected to an output of the associated reducing encoder; - and a data word reconstruction module which is connected via a connection network, to data outputs of the storage modules of all computer modules in order to receive a respective code symbol of a code word from each computer module and to reconstruct a data word therefrom for presentation on the data channel; said computer system also including a connection for receiving an original version of an external message in each of said n≥ A ≥ 1 computer modules, characterized in that the computer system includes connection means for broadcasting an original version received in any computer module to all other computer modules during a broadcast step, there being provided a control system for performing a series of (t+1) successive broadcast steps for an external message received, each original version being broadcast during a first broadcast step to the (n-1) other computer modules as a secondary version, each secondary version being broadcast as a tertiary version to at least (n-2) other computer modules during a second broadcast step so that for the tertiary versions any feasible broadcast path to any of the computer modules having received neither the relevant original version nor the relevant secondary version has been followed once, each individual computer module including a decision element for taking, in the opposite sense with respect to the broadcast steps,decisions as regards the versions present in the relevant computer module, that is to say during a last step but one each time a majority decision on the basis of a secondary version and the tertiary versions originating from the same original version as the relevant secondary version or majority decision results corresponding to said tertiary versions, and for taking a selection decision during a last step as regards any majority determination result generated in the relevant individual computer module in respect of an original version received in another computer module and the original version received in the relevant individual computer module.