Direct Network Routing Node Distribution for Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Direct networks face performance issues such as increased latency and limited bandwidth due to resources being connected to a single routing node or a set of contiguous nodes, which restricts path options and affects overall network efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Each resource is connected to a set of two or more distributed routing nodes within a coordinate space, satisfying inter-node separation criteria to increase path diversity and reduce latency, thereby enhancing network performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If each resource is connected to a single routing node, then the network topology is simple, but the latency increases and bandwidth is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork topology complexityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single routing node connection into multiple routing node connections. Each resource is connected to a set of two or more routing nodes instead of a single node, segmenting the communication path into multiple potential routes. This segmentation provides path diversity, allowing messages to be routed through different nodes to avoid congestion and reduce latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional single-node connection model to a multi-dimensional distributed connection model. By distributing routing nodes across the switching fabric coordinate space and connecting each resource to multiple nodes, the network gains additional routing dimensions and paths, enabling more flexible and efficient message transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If each resource is connected to a single routing node, then the network structure is simple, but the bandwidth is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection structureVSAvoidbandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bandwidth limitation is addressed by segmenting the single connection into multiple parallel connections. Each resource connects to multiple routing nodes, creating multiple simultaneous communication channels. This effectively segments the total bandwidth into multiple streams, increasing the aggregate bandwidth available to each resource while maintaining manageable connection structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple routing node connections for each resource into a unified distributed connection model. By combining connections to multiple routing nodes, the network achieves increased bandwidth through parallel paths while maintaining a structured and manageable connection architecture through the distributed routing node selection criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If routing nodes are distributed with inter-node separation, then path diversity increases and latency decreases, but the network configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each resource's routing node connections unique and optimized for its specific location in the coordinate space. Each resource connects to a distinct set of routing nodes selected based on inter-node separation criteria, creating locally optimized connection patterns that collectively improve overall network performance while maintaining manageable configuration complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the network configuration parameters by introducing distributed routing node selection based on coordinate space separation. Instead of uniform single-node connections, the system uses parameters such as inter-node separation distance and coordinate-based distribution to determine connections, transforming the network from a simple to an optimized configuration that improves message transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If resources are connected to contiguous routing nodes, then bandwidth increases, but path options are restricted and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by replacing the symmetric contiguous routing node arrangement with an asymmetric distributed arrangement. Instead of connecting to adjacent nodes in a predictable pattern, resources connect to routing nodes distributed across the coordinate space according to separation criteria. This asymmetric distribution increases both bandwidth through multiple paths and reduces latency by avoiding localized congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2932669B1Direct network having plural distributed connections to each resource
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2932669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2932669B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2932669B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A direct network is described in which each resource is connected to a switching fabric via a set of two or more routing nodes. The routing nodes are distributed so as to satisfy at least one inter-node separation criterion. In one case, the separation criterion specifies that, for each resource, a number of routing nodes that share a same coordinate value with another routing node in the set (in a same coordinate dimension) is to be minimized. In some network topologies, such as a torus network, this means a number of unique loops of the direct network to which each resource is connected is to be maximized. The routing provisions described herein offer various performance benefits, such as improved latency-related performance.