Decentralized Federated Learning for Privacy and Scalability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current AI systems face challenges in privacy protection and data communication load, and they are not adaptable to rapid environmental changes, leading to outdated AI models, especially in critical applications like medicine.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized federated learning system that allows agents to collect and train local machine learning models, with aggregators forming clusters to create semi-global models, reducing data transfer and enabling continuous adaptation and personalization while maintaining privacy through differential privacy techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If data is transferred to a centralized computation facility for AI model training, then model accuracy is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates and communication load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel accuracyVSAvoidprivacy protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the training data from the centralized computation facility and keeps it locally at edge devices and client devices. Only model parameters and gradients are transmitted to the server, not the raw training data. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by maintaining model accuracy through centralized aggregation while protecting privacy by removing sensitive data from the communication channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where a central server aggregates model parameters and gradients from multiple clients without directly accessing their training data. The server acts as a mediator that coordinates the federated learning process, enabling centralized model improvement while preserving client-side data privacy through differential privacy techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If data is transferred to a centralized computation facility, then model training quality is improved, but communication load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel training qualityVSAvoidcommunication load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential model parameters and gradient information from each client for transmission to the central server, rather than transferring entire datasets. This selective extraction significantly reduces communication load while maintaining model training quality through efficient parameter aggregation at the server.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If a centralized AI system is used, then initial model performance is improved, but adaptability to rapid environmental changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial model performanceVSAvoidadaptability to environmental changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic federated learning system where models are continuously updated at edge devices using local data streams. The system transitions from static centralized training to dynamic distributed learning, enabling rapid adaptation to environmental changes while maintaining strong initial performance through centralized model initialization and aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes continuous learning cycles where models are constantly trained and updated at edge devices using real-time data, with periodic synchronization to the central server. This continuous useful action ensures the system adapts rapidly to environmental changes while maintaining high performance through ongoing model improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If federated learning with multiple clients is implemented, then privacy protection is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal federated learning framework that handles multiple clients, devices, and data types through a standardized architecture. The central server and client devices follow common protocols for model exchange and aggregation, enabling privacy protection across diverse systems while managing complexity through unified multi-functional design patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20210406782A1System and method for decentralized federated learning
Publication Date: 2021.12.30 TIESET INC
  • US20210406782A1 patent drawing
  • US20210406782A1 patent drawing
  • US20210406782A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for decentralized federated learning is provided. The system comprises agents and aggregators coupled to a communication network. Each agent comprises a data collector collecting raw data; a memory storing the collected raw data and a local machine learning model; and a processor training the local machine learning model. Each aggregator comprises a model collector collecting the local machine learning models; a memory storing the collected local machine learning models; and a processor creating a cluster machine learning model from the local machine learning models. The aggregators communicate with each other and exchange the cluster machine learning models to create a semi-global machine learning model. Each of the aggregators sends the semi-global machine learning model to the associated agents. Each of the agents updates the local machine learning model with the semi-global machine learning model.