Reliability of systems with Markov transfer of control, II

A software/hardware system is considered that can be decomposed into a finite number of modules. It is assumed that control of the system is transferred among the modules according to a Markov process. Each module has an associated reliability that gives the probability that the module will operate correctly when called and will transfer control successfully when finished. The measure of reliability considered is the mean number of transitions until failure, starting in a designated initial state. This measure of system reliability is studied in terms of the module reliability and the transition probabilities. Methods of predicting system reliability are obtained and special branching and sequential systems are studied