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US4392199A
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Fault-tolerant system employing multi-microcomputers using two-out-of-three majority decision
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1980-09-29
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Granted: 1983-07-05
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Expires: 2000-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A Fault-tolerant computer architecture employs a plurality of microcomputers connected in a partially meshed ring. Three device controllers are connected to any of the microcomputers by means of a passive switch, and a fault in data transmission relative to one microcomputer is resolved by a two-out-of-three decision. A failure of one microcomputer is manifested by an adjacent microcomputer, so that the down microcomputer is omitted from furthwr task assignments.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernst Schmitter
- 👤 Paul Birzele
- 👤 Klaus Buchmann
- 👤 Gerhard Geitz
- 👤 Bernhard Will
- 👤 Wolfgang Beifuss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/18; G06F11/183; G06F11/184
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A fault-tolerant system incorporating a plurality of microcomputers which can mutually substitute for each other and in which the principle of two-out-of-three decision is employed for control of the task distribution for the microcomputers, comprising: a partially meshed ring interconnecting said microcomputers; a plurality of data exchange paths, including data exchange paths between each two adjacent microcomputers in said ring and/or between any microcomputer in said ring and its next-but-one microcomputer; three device controllers being connected between said ring and a plurality of periphery lines, whereby data transmission errors may be resolved by a two-out-of-three majority decision, each of said device controllers being connected to each of said periphery lines; a passive periphery switch for connecting all of said device controllers to all of said microcomputers; a second set of three device controllers being connected between a plurality of user lines and said ring, each of the controllers of said second set being connectable to all of said user lines; and a second passive periphery switch for interconnecting all of the device controllers of said second set to all of said microcomputers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A fault-tolerant system incorporating a plurality of microcomputers which can mutually substitute for each other and in which the principle of two-out-of-three decision is employed for control of the task distribution for the microcomputers, comprising: a partially meshed ring interconnecting said microcomputers; a plurality of data exchange paths, including data exchange paths between each two adjacent microcomputers in said ring and/or between any microcomputer in said ring and its next-but-one microcomputer; three device controllers being connected between said ring and a plurality of periphery lines, whereby data transmission errors may be resolved by a two-out-of-three majority decision, each of said device controllers being connected to each of said periphery lines; a passive periphery switch for connecting all of said device controllers to all of said microcomputers; a second set of three device controllers being connected between a plurality of user lines and said ring, each of the controllers of said second set being connectable to all of said user lines; and a second passive periphery switch for interconnecting all of the device controllers of said second set to all of said microcomputers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1, including means for distributing a plurality of tasks to said microcomputers in accordance with the requirements of such tasks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1, including means effective on failure of a microcomputer, for registering said failure in an adjacent microcomputer, whereby the down microcomputer may be by-passed in further task distribution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said device controllers are processor controlled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a multi-processing system, the method of assuring fault-tolerant operation, comprising connecting a plurality of microcomputers in a partially meshed ring, with each of said microcomputers connected to two adjacent microcomputers and to at least one next-but-one microcomputer in said ring by means of data transfer paths, assigning three of said microcomputers to perform a data processing function, comparing the results of said performances, and transferring to an output the results in which at least two of said performances are in agreement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a multi-processing system, the method of assuring fault-tolerant operation, comprising connecting a plurality of microcomputers in a partially meshed ring, with each of said microcomputers connected to two adjacent microcomputers and to at least one next-but-one microcomputer in said ring by means of data transfer paths, assigning three of said microcomputers to perform a data processing function, comparing the results of said performances, and transferring to an output the results in which at least two of said performances are in agreement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 5, including the step of assigning three of said microcomputers to perform a communication function with a peripheral device, comparing the results of said communication performances, and undertaking a data transfer in which at least two of said performances are in agreement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3735356A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |