Abstract: In a distributed computer control system in which remote stations are interconnected by a communications link, the remote stations take turns having supervisory control over the communications link. Each remote is numbered in sequence in a predetermined succession order and takes its turn having control of the communications link in accordance with this succession order. When a remote station has completed its turn of having supervisory control, it transmits a first control message over the communications link. The next remote station in the succession order then takes control over the communications link by transmitting a second control message over the communications link. Each remote station has two variable timers which are set in response to the first control message and the second control message, respectively, and have time out intervals depending upon the offset of the receiving remote station from the remote station which transmitted the control message.