Software-Hardware Collaborative Compilation for SDN Flexibility and Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Software Defined Networks (SDNs) face limitations in implementing flexible programming for functions like calculation, storage, forwarding, and security, and struggle with high-speed processing of complex network modes, as current compilation mechanisms either prioritize flexibility and programmability over performance or vice versa.

Innovation Solution

A software and hardware collaborative compilation processing method and system that acquires and processes source code files, fills and complements codes for heterogeneous target systems, encapsulates custom VLAN headers, and uses front-end, middle-end, and back-end compilers to generate runnable files, enabling flexible programming and efficient processing of custom network modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If software compilation processing mechanism is used, then flexibility and programmability are improved, but data processing performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility and programmabilityVSAvoiddata processing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The compilation system is segmented into multiple independent compilation mechanisms (software compilation mechanism and hardware compilation mechanism) that can operate independently or collaboratively. Each mechanism handles specific compilation tasks based on the requirements of the network mode, allowing flexible programming for some functions while using hardware acceleration for performance-critical functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compilation system is designed with multi-functionality to support both software compilation and hardware compilation. The system can selectively invoke appropriate compilation mechanisms based on the specific needs of custom network modes, enabling it to provide both flexibility and high performance across different application scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If hardware compilation processing mechanism is used, then data processing performance is improved, but programmability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing performanceVSAvoidprogrammability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary compilation management layer that mediates between the user's programming requirements and the hardware compilation mechanism. This intermediary layer provides abstraction and interface standardization, allowing users to program in a flexible manner while the system handles the complexity of hardware compilation and optimization internally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The compilation system dynamically selects and switches between software compilation and hardware compilation mechanisms based on the specific requirements of different network modes. For functions requiring high performance, hardware compilation is dynamically invoked, while for functions requiring flexibility, software compilation is used, achieving adaptive optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If SDN network uses unified network infrastructure, then deployment efficiency is improved, but ability to meet diverse function requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidability to meet diverse function requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by allowing different parts of the network infrastructure to have different compilation characteristics. Some network functions are compiled with software mechanisms for flexibility, while others use hardware mechanisms for performance, creating a heterogeneous compilation landscape within the unified infrastructure that meets diverse functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The compilation system uses a composite approach by combining software compilation and hardware compilation mechanisms into a unified system. This composite compilation system leverages the strengths of both approaches, enabling the unified network infrastructure to efficiently deploy both flexible software-defined functions and high-performance hardware-accelerated functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11977865B2Software and hardware collaborative compilation processing system and method

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 ZHEJIANG LAB

AI summary

A software and hardware collaborative compilation processing method and system. The system comprises an environment configurator, a command parser, a code filler, a scheduler and a heterogeneous target system, wherein the code filler is configured for obtaining the source program path of a user, reading source codes and identifying the heterogeneous target system according to a macro definition, complementing the codes related to the heterogeneous target system, carrying out primary filling and secondary filling on the source codes; the scheduler is configured for realizing compilation scheduling and execution scheduling functions respectively; the heterogeneous target system is configured for compiling and processing user modal data, and comprises at least two heterogeneous target subsystems; each target subsystem comprises a target-related middle-end compiler, a back-end compiler and a target-related running environment.