Hybrid Packet-Circuit Network Architecture for Ultra-Low-Latency Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data center applications face inefficiencies in data transmission due to increased device connectivity, leading to congestion, high latency, and high per-responder data costs in packet switched networks, while circuit switched systems incur costly circuit establishment delays and synchronization challenges.
Innovation Solution
A low-latency digital programmable controller orchestrates a hybrid network architecture combining packet and circuit switched networks, using a central orchestrating unit to dynamically reconfigure circuit switched connections and synchronize devices for ultra-low latency data transfer, including mesosynchronization of phase-locked loops and scrambler states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If packet switched networks are used to support all devices connected simultaneously, then device connectivity and flexibility are improved, but network congestion and latency increase as the number of devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into two distinct planes: a packet-switched control plane for signaling and a circuit-switched data plane for actual data transmission. This segmentation allows control messages to be routed flexibly while data flows through dedicated low-latency paths, resolving the contradiction between connectivity flexibility and transmission latency.
Solution Approach 2:
A central orchestrator acts as an intermediary that receives packet-switched control messages, translates them into circuit-switched connection requests, and manages the circuit-switched network fabric. This intermediary enables the system to benefit from both packet switching (for control flexibility) and circuit switching (for data efficiency).
2Speed
If circuit switched systems are used to reduce latency, then data transmission speed is improved, but circuit establishment time and synchronization overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining the circuit-switched network fabric in a pre-configured state with all possible connections available, and uses a packet-switched control plane to rapidly establish specific data paths when needed. This eliminates the need for time-consuming circuit establishment synchronization while still providing low-latency data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The network architecture dynamically switches between packet-switched control signaling and circuit-switched data transmission based on operational requirements. The central orchestrator dynamically configures circuit paths in response to control plane requests, enabling the system to adapt transmission mode to current needs without fixed overhead.
3Quantity of substance
If more devices and bandwidth are added to packet switched networks, then capacity and connectivity are improved, but power consumption and transistor usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the high-power packet switching function from the data plane and relocates it to the control plane, which handles only signaling traffic. The data plane uses low-power circuit switching that activates only for actual data transmission paths, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining the required bandwidth capacity through efficient resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Data requesting devices and data sending devices are provided. Each of the devices are configured with at least one request port and at least one response port. A packet switched network device is coupled to the respective request ports of the data requesting devices and the data sending devices. Moreover, a low-latency digital programmable controller configured as a central orchestrating unit is coupled to the packet switch network device. A circuit switched network device is coupled to the central orchestrating unit and coupled to at least the respective response ports of the plurality of data requesting devices and the plurality of data sending devices, wherein the circuit switched network device is configured to receive a data request from one of the plurality of data requesting devices for data from one of the plurality of data sending devices, and send the data request to the central orchestrating unit.