Abstract: A communication node (NODE) for connecting a fault-tolerant computer (FTC) to a real-time network (NET), wherein the node receives critical application data (HCAD1, HCAD2) from computation hosts (HOST) of the fault-tolerant computer, and the node is configured to forward the critical application data as node critical application data (NCAD) to the NET. The node includes at least a first end system (ES1), a second end system (ES2) and a switch (SW), and the switch includes at least a commander part (COM), a monitor part (MON) and a comperator part (COMP). The MON and the COMP may be integrated into an integrated part (MONC). The ES1 connects to the computation hosts or a subset thereof, and the ES2 connects to the computation hosts or a subset thereof. The ES1 connects to the COM, and the ES2 connects to the MON.

Abstract: Methods and computer systems for establishing an interactive consistency property between receivers of messages. Messages are transmitted to receivers by a sender over a communication network including disjoint communication paths for connecting receivers and sender. Switches include local clocks. Local clocks of non-faulty switches are synchronized to each other with a maximum error (precision), and receivers detect switch failures. Redundant copies of a message are forwarded by sender to each receiver across different disjoint communication paths. A switch of each disjoint path is configured such that redundant copies are forwarded to each receiver with a temporal distance between disjoint paths. That distance is selected such that all non-faulty receivers receive redundant copies in the same receive order, when the switches and communication links of the disjoint paths exhibit no failure.

Abstract: A communication node (NODE) for connecting a fault-tolerant computer (FTC) to a real-time network (NET), wherein the node receives critical application data (HCAD1, HCAD2) from computation hosts (HOST) of the fault-tolerant computer, and the node is configured to forward the critical application data as node critical application data (NCAD) to the NET. The node includes at least a first end system (ES1), a second end system (ES2) and a switch (SW), and the switch includes at least a commander part (COM), a monitor part (MON) and a comperator part (COMP). The MON and the COMP may be integrated into an integrated part (MONC). The ES1 connects to the computation hosts or a subset thereof, and the ES2 connects to the computation hosts or a subset thereof. The ES1 connects to the COM, and the ES2 connects to the MON.

Abstract: Methods and computer systems for establishing an interactive consistency property between receivers of messages. Messages are transmitted to receivers by a sender over a communication network including disjoint communication paths for connecting receivers and sender. Switches include local clocks. Local clocks of non-faulty switches are synchronized to each other with a maximum error (precision), and receivers detect switch failures. Redundant copies of a message are forwarded by sender to each receiver across different disjoint communication paths. A switch of each disjoint path is configured such that redundant copies are forwarded to each receiver with a temporal distance between disjoint paths. That distance is selected such that all non-faulty receivers receive redundant copies in the same receive order, when the switches and communication links of the disjoint paths exhibit no failure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for transmitting messages in a computer network, wherein the computer network comprises a first set of computing nodes (101-105), which computing nodes (101-105) are connected to each other by means of at least one star coupler (201, 202) and/or at least one multi-hop network (1000), wherein each of the computing nodes of the first set of computing nodes (101-105) is connected by means of at least one communication line (110) to the at least one star coupler (201, 201) or the at least one multi-hop network (1000), and wherein the computing nodes (101-105) exchange Ethernet messages with each other and the exchange of at least some of the Ethernet messages of the computing nodes (101-105) occurs in time controlled manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for transmitting messages in a computer network, wherein the computer network comprises a first set of computing nodes (101-105), which computing nodes (101-105) are connected to each other by means of at least one star coupler (201, 202) and/or at least one multi-hop network (1000), wherein each of the computing nodes of the first set of computing nodes (101-105) is connected by means of at least one communication line (110) to the at least one star coupler (201, 201) or the at least one multi-hop network (1000), and wherein the computing nodes (101-105) exchange Ethernet messages with each other and the exchange of at least some of the Ethernet messages of the computing nodes (101-105) occurs in time controlled manner.