METHOD FOR CONSENSUS DECISIONMAKING IN A DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for consensus decision making in a distributed system. Upon the detection of a system parameter change, the method specifies the communication of decision premises from one node to another node in the system. Consensus decision premises are determined by evaluating the various node premises. Each node then executes a choice function, allowing the system as a whole to respond to the system parameter change in either a centralized, decentralized, or independently coordinated fashion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system which could benefit through the use of one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for consensus decision making according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a signed message routine according to one embodiment.

Claims

1. A method for consensus decision making in a distributed system, the method comprising: communicating a premise pa from a node a to a node b;communicating a premise pb from the node b to the node a;determining a consensus premise based on the premises pa and pb; andexecuting a choice function by nodes a and b using the consensus premise.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the premise pa is representative of a system parameter change of the node a.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising: responding to the system parameter change by at least one of either creating a record, executing a function, calling an external system, modifying an operation parameter of node a, performing a procedure, and effecting a user-specified procedure.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the communicating premises pa and pb is executed via a collection routine.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the collection routine is synchronized.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the communicating premises pa and pb is executed via a routine based on the Byzantine Generals Problem.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the communicating premises pa and pb is executed via a signed message routine.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the nodes a and b operate in at least one of a centralized mode, a decentralized mode, or an independently coordinated mode.

9. A system for consensus decision making in a distributed environment, the system comprising: a plurality of nodes including node a and node b;a network between nodes a and b, the network comprising interconnects; andthe nodes a and b each comprising a module for communicating a plurality of premises to the plurality of nodes;a module for determining a consensus premise; anda module initiating a system parameter change in response to the consensus premise.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the nodes communicate premises responsive to a system parameter change.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the nodes communicate premises via a collection routine.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the collection routine is synchronized.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the collection routine is based on the Byzantine Generals Problem.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the communicating premises is done via a signed message routine.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the system operates in at least one of a centralized mode, a decentralized mode, and an independently coordinated mode.

16. A system for consensus decision making in a distributed system, the system comprising: a plurality of nodes;means for communicating premises between at least two nodes;means for determining consensus premises; andmeans for executing a choice function responsive to the consensus premises.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 further comprising: means for responding to a system parameter change.

18. The system as recited in claim 16 further comprising: means for engaging in a collection round.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 further comprising: at least one of a means for synchronizing a collection round and a means for exchanging signed messages.

20. A computer implemented method for use by at least one cluster connected to a plurality of other clusters, the computer implemented method being stored as a computer program on a storage medium of the one cluster and comprising instructions for: receiving an indication that at least one of the other clusters has a health issue;creating a health table indicating a health condition for the other clusters;receiving health tables from the other clusters; anddetermining a cluster master from the created and received health tables for dealing with the health issue.