Communication error with the LOCAL_EXEC Function BAPI_PTMGREXTATTABS_CHECK

Question

Hello,
We use timesheet (CATS) in a separate SAP system from the SAP system in which HR resides.
I found out how the loosely coupled scenario with CATS works with a SAP HR system. We transfer the workschedule and absence data with report RPTIMEOVERVIEW_REPLICATE to the SAP system in which CATS is used. This data is then available in the PTIMEOV1 table to perform time checks in CATS. The distribution model for ALE takes care of the fact that the data is posted into table PTIMEOV1. With BD97 I set up that the BAPI: PTMGREXTATTABS.CHECK has RFCdestination for synchronous calls  = LOCAL_EXEC.
When I want to record on an attendance code without clock times then the above works fine. The SAP system in which CATS resides looks into table PTIMEOV1. So far so good.
However, when I want to record hours WITH clock times then I cannot save the data. The error message HRTIM00CATS667 shows up:
"Communication error with the LOCAL_EXEC Function BAPI_PTMGREXTATTABS_CHECK is no t available  system"
Diagnosis
An error has occured during communication with the HR System. The HR data in the time sheet cannot be validated.
From the error message description it seems that it wants to check the SAP HR system instead of looking for the check in the SAP system in which CATS resides.....
When I change the value from LOCAL_EXEC to the system in which HR resides then the error disappears, but then it really checks into the SAP HR system (synchronous check with that SAP HR system) and that is not what the customer wants. The check should be local on the PTIMEOV1 table (in case the SAP HR system is down).
I did not find any OSS notes on the topic....or other info on SDN.
Can anyone help me out concerning this starnge error message, at least for me?
Thanks very much in advance,
Kind regards,
Mirko

Answer 1

"A point to add"
I just noticed that following message is being continously receiving in the database alert_log:
Sat Oct 9 16:04:52 2010
WARNING: inbound connection timed out (ORA-3136)
Sat Oct 9 16:05:32 2010
WARNING: inbound connection timed out (ORA-3136)
Sat Oct 9 16:06:30 2010
WARNING: inbound connection timed out (ORA-3136)
Sat Oct 9 16:07:10 2010
WARNING: inbound connection timed out (ORA-3136)
Sat Oct 9 16:09:35 2010
Incremental checkpoint up to RBA [0x1d.1f9928.0], current log tail at RBA [0x1d.1f9a79.0]
Sat Oct 9 16:11:52 2010
WARNING: inbound connection timed out (ORA-3136)
Sat Oct 9 16:29:40 2010
Incremental checkpoint up to RBA [0x1d.1f9b87.0], current log tail at RBA [0x1d.1f9bf4.0]
~
Please help.