Abstract: The computer node architecture provides a separate computer for the execution of the respective one of the application software and the middleware software, with an interface precisely defined in the time and value range provided between said two computers, and thus to decouple largely these two subsystems so that development is improved and the time needed for real-time applications better foreseeable.

Abstract: Method of dealing with faults in a fault-tolerant distributed computer system, as well as such a system, with a plurality of node computers (K1 . . . K4) which are connected by means of communication channels (c11 . . . c42) and access to the channels takes place according to a cyclic time slicing method. Messages leaving node computers (K1 . . . K4) are checked by independently formed guardians (GUA) which convert a message burdened with an SOS (“slightly off specification”) fault either into a correct message or into a message which can be recognised by all node computers as clearly incorrect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communication method for transmitting Ethernet messages in a distributed real-time system in which a plurality of network node computers, e.g. four network node computers (111, 112, 113, 114), each comprising at least one communication controller (121, 122, 123, 124), are linked via a communication system comprising one or more communication channels (109), one or more intelligent star couplers (101, 102) being disposed in each communication channel. According to the invention, a distinction is made between conventional Ethernet messages (ET messages) and time-triggered Ethernet messages (TT messages), the TT messages being transported with an a priori known constant delay time (?) between transmitter and receiver, and, when there is a time conflict between ET and TT messages, the transport of the ET message that is in conflict being delayed or aborted in order to be able to transport the TT message with the constant delay time (?).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to use a new communication method in a time-driven distributed real-time computer system to simplify the interface between the communication controller and a host computer in such a manner that the communication controller autonomously distinguishes between status data and event data and preprocesses the status data according to the status data semantics and the event data according to the event data semantics. Using this method, deterministic communication channels for the flexible transmission of event data can be constructed on a time-driven basic communication system. Different higher protocols, such as CAN or the OMG Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP), can then be implemented on these flexible event channels so that the known interfaces of these protocols can be made available to the host computer at the CNI (communication network interface).