Multiple-execution method of multiple-version programs and computer system therefor

A program execution method in a distributed processing system having a plurality of processors connected through a network, comprising the steps of:

• executing multiple-version programs in at least two first processors;
• transmitting messages from said first processors to said network, each of said messages including data representing execution results output from said multiple-version programs and attribute information indicating functions to be performed by said multiple-version programs;
• receiving in a second processor the messages transmitted from said first processors;
• selecting, within said second processor, one of the received messages based on the attribute information and data contained in the received messages;
• and
• executing a program, other than one of said multiple-version programs, in said second processor by using the data contained in the selected message.

A computer system comprising:

• a transmission line for transmitting messages;
• a plurality of first processors, connected to said transmission line, for executing multiple-version programs each performing a same function, each of said first processor including:
• program execution means for executing a respective one of said programs,
• message preparation means for preparing a message containing data derived from the execution of said respective one of said programs and attribute information indicating which of said programs generated said data, and
• first interface means for sending the message prepared by said message preparation means to said transmission line;
• and
• a second processor connected to said transmission line and including:
• second interface means for receiving messages prepared and sent from said first processor along said transmission line,
• message decoding means for extracting the data and attribute information contained in each of the messages received by said interface,
• selection means for selecting data contained in one of said messages based on the data and attribute information contained in each of said messages, and
• program execution means for executing a program, other than one of said multiple-version programs, by using the data selected by said selection means.

A program execution method in a distributed processing system having a plurality of processors connected through a network, comprising the steps of:

• executing, in at least two first processors, different precision programs, each of which performs a same function;
• transmitting messages from said first processors to said network, each of said messages containing data representing results obtained from execution of each of said different programs and attribute information indicating a precision for each of said programs;
• receiving in a second processor the messages transmitted from each of said first processors;
• displaying the messages, as received, on a display means;
• and
• replacing the displayed messages on said display means when said second processor receives messages executed by a program having a precision higher than the precisions of programs corresponding to other ones of said messages, said displayed messages being replaced with the message which corresponds to the higher precision program.