A New Direction for Solving the Consensus Problem in Networked Systems. (IEEE INFOCOM WKSHPS’15)

Abstract

The consensus problem is an important topic in modern networked systems. The goal of the consensus protocol is to make each non-faulty processor agree on a common value without influence from faulty processors. However, if the initial-value proposed by the processor is shared by only a small number of other processors, this initial-value will not become the consensus value. In order to increase the chances that all processors agree on a consensus value they prefer and accept, we design a new consensus protocol that allows change of the initial-value within certain limitations during message exchange. This way, even if the final consensus value is not a value they have originally expected, it is still a value they prefer and accept.