a network of n parallel processors are each one cross - connected to each other . each cross connection includes a nodal weight delay circuit which carries status information as to whether a processor is &# 34 ; on &# 34 ; or &# 34 ; off &# 34 ; and whether its weighted influence is excitatory or inhibitory as between the two processors i and j on that cross connection . additionally , the cross connection influence between a processor i and a processor j is time delayed with a selectively fixed set of machine cycles between any two processor i and j . a monitoring processor - controller senses when the majority of processors have achieved a stable non - changing state which will represent an optimum solution for a combinatorial problem .