EP0081238A2 — Multi-computer system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 113 words

A multi-computer system comprising: two sets of system buses (A, B); a first dualized unit (D1) including two sets of computers (CA1, CB1) connected respectively to said system buses (A, B) and having a first bus (E1); and a second dualized unit (D2) including two sets of computers (CA2, CB2) connected respectively to said system buses (A, B) and being started upon receiving a signal from said dualized unit (D1), in which timings of receiving external signals and timings of transmitting signals to said system buses (A, B) are synchronized through the signal transmission using said first bus (E1) for two sets of said computers (CA1, CA2) in said first dualized unit (D1).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 113 words

A multi-computer system comprising: two sets of system buses (A, B); a first dualized unit (D1) including two sets of computers (CA1, CB1) connected respectively to said system buses (A, B) and having a first bus (E1); and a second dualized unit (D2) including two sets of computers (CA2, CB2) connected respectively to said system buses (A, B) and being started upon receiving a signal from said dualized unit (D1), in which timings of receiving external signals and timings of transmitting signals to said system buses (A, B) are synchronized through the signal transmission using said first bus (E1) for two sets of said computers (CA1, CA2) in said first dualized unit (D1).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 84 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 1, wherein one computer (CA1) in said first dualized unit is started periodically by an external timer to transmit command signals (C1, C2) to said first bus (E1) the other computer (CB1) is started upon receiving the command signals (C1) and then transmits response signals (R1, R2) to said first bus, and the respective computers transmit signals to said system buses (A, B) or receive external signals based on transmitting and receiving of the response signals (R1, R2).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 2, wherein when the command signals (C1, C2) are not received twice in a predetermined period of time, the other computer in said first dualized unit is started periodically to receive external signals and to transmit signals to said system buses.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 1, wherein said second dualized unit (D2) also includes a first bus (E2), and timings of transmitting signals from said unit to the exterior are synchronized through the signal transmission using said first bus (E2).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 278 words

A multi-computer system comprising: two sets of system buses (A, B); a first dualized unit (D1) which is composed of a first computer (CA1) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and started periodically by a timer, and a second computer (CA2) connected to the other system bus, started upon receiving a command signal (C1, C2) from said first computer through a bus (E2) provided between said first and second computers in the normal state or started by a self-timer with the command signal being lost, and transmitting a response signal (R1, R2) to said first computer after being started, input processings and output processings to said system buses (A, B) by two sets of said computers being synchronized through transmitting/receiving of the command signal (C1, C2) and the response signal (R1, R2); and a second dualized unit (D2) which is composed of a third (CA2) computer connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and a fourth computer (CB2) connected to the other system bus, and which is started upon receiving a signal from said first dualized unit (D1) through said system buses, in which the command signal (C1, C2) and the response signal (R1, R2) for said first dualized unit (D1) additionally include a pointer (KA,KB) indicating the address which is used for each said computer to memorize external signals, the pointer in the restored computer is made coincident with the pointer in the normal computer to effect signal input when said dualized unit is turned to from a single mode to a dual mode, and a decision on the dual state is made based on a round of values in said pointer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 278 words

A multi-computer system comprising: two sets of system buses (A, B); a first dualized unit (D1) which is composed of a first computer (CA1) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and started periodically by a timer, and a second computer (CA2) connected to the other system bus, started upon receiving a command signal (C1, C2) from said first computer through a bus (E2) provided between said first and second computers in the normal state or started by a self-timer with the command signal being lost, and transmitting a response signal (R1, R2) to said first computer after being started, input processings and output processings to said system buses (A, B) by two sets of said computers being synchronized through transmitting/receiving of the command signal (C1, C2) and the response signal (R1, R2); and a second dualized unit (D2) which is composed of a third (CA2) computer connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and a fourth computer (CB2) connected to the other system bus, and which is started upon receiving a signal from said first dualized unit (D1) through said system buses, in which the command signal (C1, C2) and the response signal (R1, R2) for said first dualized unit (D1) additionally include a pointer (KA,KB) indicating the address which is used for each said computer to memorize external signals, the pointer in the restored computer is made coincident with the pointer in the normal computer to effect signal input when said dualized unit is turned to from a single mode to a dual mode, and a decision on the dual state is made based on a round of values in said pointer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 285 words

A multi-computer system comprising: two sets of system buses (A, B); a first dualized unit (D1) which is composed of a first computer (CA1) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and started periodically by a timer, and a second computer (CA2) connected to the other system bus, started upon receiving a command signal (C1, C2) from said first computer (CA1) through a bus (E1) provided between said first (CA1) and second (CA2) computers in the normal state or started by a self-timer with the command signal being lost (C1, C2), and transmitting a response signal (R1, R2) to said first computer (CA1) after being started, input processings and output processings to said system buses by two sets of said computers being synchronized through transmitting/receiving of the command signal (C1, C2) and the response signal (R1, R2); a second dualized unit (D2) which is composed of a third computer (CA2) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and a fourth computer (CB2) connected to the other system bus, and which is started upon receiving a signal from said first dualized unit through said system buses; and a third dualized (D3) unit which is composed of a fifth computer (CA3) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and a sixth computer (CB3) connected to the other system bus, and which is started upon receiving a signal from said first dualized unit (D1), in which first buses (E2, E3) are respectively provided between said third and fourth computers and between said fifth and sixth computers, and processings for outputs to the external objectives to be controlled are synchronized through transmitting/receiving of the command..signal and the response signal using said first buses.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 285 words

A multi-computer system comprising: two sets of system buses (A, B); a first dualized unit (D1) which is composed of a first computer (CA1) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and started periodically by a timer, and a second computer (CA2) connected to the other system bus, started upon receiving a command signal (C1, C2) from said first computer (CA1) through a bus (E1) provided between said first (CA1) and second (CA2) computers in the normal state or started by a self-timer with the command signal being lost (C1, C2), and transmitting a response signal (R1, R2) to said first computer (CA1) after being started, input processings and output processings to said system buses by two sets of said computers being synchronized through transmitting/receiving of the command signal (C1, C2) and the response signal (R1, R2); a second dualized unit (D2) which is composed of a third computer (CA2) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and a fourth computer (CB2) connected to the other system bus, and which is started upon receiving a signal from said first dualized unit through said system buses; and a third dualized (D3) unit which is composed of a fifth computer (CA3) connected to one of said system buses (A, B) and a sixth computer (CB3) connected to the other system bus, and which is started upon receiving a signal from said first dualized unit (D1), in which first buses (E2, E3) are respectively provided between said third and fourth computers and between said fifth and sixth computers, and processings for outputs to the external objectives to be controlled are synchronized through transmitting/receiving of the command..signal and the response signal using said first buses.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 54 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 6, wherein the respective computers (CA2, CB2, CA3, CB3) in said second and third dualized units (D2, D3) are switched to receive signals from said system bus on the other system side, when it becomes incapable of receiving signals from said system bus on its own system side.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 7, wherein transmitting of signals to said system bus on its own system side is stopped, when it becomes incapable of receiving signals from said system bus on its own system side.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 6, wherein when each said dualized unit (D1, D2, D3) is under a dual mode, the respective computers add this information in signals transmitted to said system buses (A, B), and the respective computers receive signals from said system bus (A, B) on their own system side with other dualized units being under a dual mode, and receive signals from the original system bus with other dualized units not being under a dual mode.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 101 words

A multi-computer system according to claim 6, wherein when restoring from a single mode to a dual mode, the computer on the restored side transmits the command (C1, C2) or response (R1, R2) signal to said first bus (E) and the computer on the normal side notices restoration of said computer on the other side upon receiving such signal, synchronization is effected through transmitting/ receiving of the command and response signals using said first bus (E), and thereafter said computer on the normal side transfers the internal data in itself to said computer on the restored side through said first bus.

Multi-computer system

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