Apparatus and method for supervising multiprocessor communications using messages transmitted between processors in a circular fashion

摘要

A multiprocessor system includes a plurality of processors each of which functions a data processing node. Each of the processors comprises an address management table in which prior node and next node addresses which are respectively assigned to its prior node and next node processors, a normal message transmitting section for transmitting to the next node processor designated by the next node address a normal operation message indicating that it is operating normally and a message supervising section for receiving and supervising a message transmitted from its prior node processor designated by the prior node address and detecting the occurrence of a failure in its prior node processor according to whether or not a normal operation message indicating that the prior node processor is operating normally is transmitted from the prior node processor within a preset monitoring time.