Graph Neural Network for Molecular Structure Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current generative neural network systems struggle to efficiently model and generate arbitrary graph structures representing physical entities, such as drug molecules or computer chip designs, as they often require complex calculations and high computational power, especially when dealing with electrostatic charges and interactions between atoms.

Innovation Solution

A neural network system comprising node creation, edge addition, and node selection neural networks that sample probability distributions to generate new graphs with specified properties, allowing for iterative node and edge generation, and information propagation between nodes to ensure structural validity, reducing the need for explicit calculations of atomic interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex calculations of electrostatic charges and interactions between atoms are performed, then accuracy of molecular structure generation is improved, but computational power and time requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of molecular structure generationVSAvoidcomputational time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the graph generation process into distinct neural network components: a node creation network that determines atom types and positions, and an edge addition network that determines bond connections. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific aspects of molecular structure generation, improving overall accuracy while enabling parallel processing to reduce computational time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-training the neural networks on large datasets of known molecular structures before generating new molecules. The node creation and edge addition networks are trained in advance to learn patterns of atomic interactions and bonding, so that during actual molecule generation, the system can quickly predict structures without performing complex real-time calculations of electrostatic charges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If complex calculations of electrostatic charges and interactions between atoms are performed, then accuracy of molecular structure generation is improved, but computational power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of molecular structure generationVSAvoidcomputational power
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/physical system of calculating electrostatic charges and atomic interactions with a neural network-based system. Instead of performing explicit physics calculations, the node creation and edge addition networks learn to predict molecular structures directly from training data, substituting complex physical computations with pattern recognition that requires significantly less computational power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by training the neural networks on extensive datasets of known molecular structures. The networks learn to copy successful patterns of atomic arrangements and bonding from the training data, allowing them to generate accurate molecular structures without recalculating physical principles from scratch for each new molecule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If iterative node and edge generation with information propagation is performed, then structural validity of generated graphs is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural validity of generated graphsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback through information propagation between nodes during the graph generation process. As nodes are created and edges are added, the neural networks continuously propagate information about the current graph state to inform subsequent decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures that structural constraints are maintained and that generated molecules are chemically valid, even though it adds complexity to the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent manages system complexity through segmentation by separating the node creation and edge addition processes into distinct neural network components. Each component handles specific aspects of graph construction with dedicated logic, making the overall complex process more manageable and easier to implement compared to a monolithic approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3698288B1Graph neural network systems for generating structured representations of objects
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 DEEPMIND TECH LTD
  • EP3698288B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3698288B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3698288B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is described a neural network system for generating a graph, the graph comprising a set of nodes and edges. The system comprises one or more neural networks configured to represent a probability distribution over sequences of node generating decisions and/or edge generating decisions, and one or more computers configured to sample the probability distribution represented by the one or more neural networks to generate a graph.