A method and system for increasing the operational availability of a system of computer programs operating in a distributed system of computers

Claim 1

A method for increasing the operational availability of a system of computer programs operating in a distributed system of computers, comprising: dividing a computer program into a plurality of functional modules; loading a first copy of a functional module into a first processor's address space and locating a second copy of said functional module into a second processor's address space; said first processor executing said first functional module to send application dependent state data to said second processor where it is received by said second functional module executing on said second processor; said first processor executing said first module, maintaining a normal application processing state and said second processor executing said second module, maintaining a secondary state knowledge sufficient to enable it to become a primary functioning module; said first processor executing said first module maintaining open sessions with a plurality of servers connected therewith in a network and said second processor executing said second module maintaining a plurality of open sessions with all of said servers in said network; said second functional module, in response to a stimulus requiring it to assume the role of said first functional module, checking that its current state is consistent with the current state of said first functional module, followed by said second module then communicating with said servers in said network to establish synchronization with the state of said servers; all clients and servers connected in said network responding to said second module assuming the role of said first module, by directing all new or queued service requests to said second module instead of to said first module; whereby said second module assumes the role of said first module in performing primary address space operations.