Distributed Data Center via Collocated Broadband Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern data centers face significant challenges with cooling and power requirements, while fiber-based networks for consumer internet access are hindered by high construction costs and the reluctance of consumers to pay for faster point-to-point architectures.
Innovation Solution
A distributed data center architecture is implemented by collocating computing processors within broadband gateways at consumer premises, providing both network access and distributed workload processing services over fiber-based networks, thus justifying the network's expense through dual revenue streams and eliminating the need for centralized data centers with their associated burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If centralized data centers are used to aggregate computing servers, then communication speed and ease of monitoring are improved, but cooling and power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized data center into distributed computing nodes located at multiple customer premises. Each node operates independently, processing workload locally rather than requiring all computations to occur in a single centralized facility. This segmentation reduces the concentration of heat and power requirements at any single location while maintaining communication efficiency through fiber-optic network connections.
2Speed
If fiber-based networks are built using point-to-point architecture for high-speed access, then communication speed is improved, but construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the fiber-optic network infrastructure universal by enabling it to serve multiple functions: traditional consumer Internet access and distributed high-performance computing workload processing. The same physical network infrastructure and broadband gateways are used for both purposes, allowing the system to amortize construction costs across multiple revenue-generating services rather than requiring separate dedicated infrastructure for each function.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If computing processors are distributed across customer premises, then cooling and power burdens are reduced, but network infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the distributed computing node functionality with the existing broadband gateway infrastructure at customer premises. The computing processors are integrated into devices that already serve as network access points, combining multiple functions (Internet access, workload processing, storage) into a unified system. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity compared to deploying separate dedicated computing hardware at each location.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods use a fiber-based network to provide both network access services such as Internet, television, phone, and wide area networking services as well as distributed data processing services. Distributed computing nodes are provided in broadband gateways at homes and other premises in a fiber-based network to realize a distributed data center architecture. In a specific example, a provider deploys a number of broadband gateways in the homes of homeowners who agree to pay for network access (e.g., Internet, phone, television, etc.) that is received over a fiber-based (preferably point-to-point) network at the broadband gateways in the homes. Those broadband gateways also separately provide distributed workload processing. Providing both network access and distributed workload processing makes the deployment and use of the fiber-based network more economically and technically feasible.