Heartbeat message

A heartbeat message in signal processing is a message sent from an originator to a destination that enables the destination to identify if and when the originator fails or is no longer available. Heartbeat messages are typically sent non-stop on a periodic or recurring basis from the originator's start-up until the originator's shutdown. When the destination identifies a lack of heartbeat messages during an anticipated arrival period, the destination may determine that the originator has failed, shutdown, or is generally no longer available. Heartbeat messages may be used for high-availability and fault tolerance purposes.