Multi-computer synchronization system and method

• Main Authors: NITSCHKE; WERNER, DROBNY; WOLFGANG, WELLER; HUGO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.07.1990
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

To provide for continuous synchronized operation of a plurality of computer apparatus units (A, B, C) of a computer system, the respective units generate starting signals at predetermined stages in the programs. The starting signals are transmitted from any apparatus unit to any other apparatus unit, and in each apparatus unit, the time of reception of the starting signals is determined and the last-to-arrive starting signal is determined. Time marker signals are generated, and the time marker signals are transmitted from any apparatus to each other apparatus unit, to be compared in each other apparatus unit with locally generated time marker signals to thereby generate synchronizing signals. The synchronizing signals are transmitted from any apparatus unit to each other apparatus unit, compared in each apparatus unit with the time marker signals and, if a deviation between the synchronizing signals and the time marker signals which are locally generated is detected, the time instant of generation of the time marker signals of the respective apparatus is changed in a direction to null the deviation, preferably by increasing the rate of generation of the time marker signals if the synchronizing signals from other units arrive earlier than the locally generated time marker signals, so that all apparatus units will be synchronized to operate at the fastest speed of any one of the apparatus units.