Network Distance Prediction via Low-Rank Sparse Factorization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network coordinate systems face inaccuracies in predicting network distances due to random network delay fluctuations, machine faults, and measurement errors, leading to large network distance errors during prediction.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a to-be-positioned node communicating with reference nodes to construct a local distance matrix, performing low-rank sparse factorization to remove error and outlier values, and using the resulting low-rank matrix to determine more accurate network distances and coordinates, thereby improving prediction accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If network distance measurement is performed using traditional methods, then measurement overhead is reduced, but prediction accuracy deteriorates due to error and outlier values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork distance prediction accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes error values and outlier values from the distance measurement data through low-rank sparse factorization. This separates the reliable distance information from the corrupted measurements, thereby improving prediction accuracy while maintaining measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces low-rank sparse factorization as an intermediary processing step between raw distance measurement and coordinate fitting. This intermediary mechanism filters out erroneous data while preserving valid measurements, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If coordinates are fitted using measured network distances, then prediction functionality is achieved, but accuracy deteriorates due to random network delay pollution and measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinate fitting accuracyVSAvoidnetwork delay pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of random network delay pollution into a benefit by using low-rank sparse factorization to identify and remove the pollution. The factorization process distinguishes between systematic patterns (beneficial) and random noise (harmful), thereby improving coordinate fitting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by transforming raw distance measurements into a low-rank matrix structure. This parameter transformation enables the separation of signal from noise, improving the accuracy of coordinate fitting despite the presence of network delay pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If all nodes perform end-to-end measurement, then measurement completeness is improved, but measurement complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement completenessVSAvoidmeasurement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the network coordinate system universally applicable by enabling accurate distance prediction between any pair of nodes through coordinate fitting. Once coordinates are determined, the system can predict distances for all node pairs without requiring actual measurements, achieving measurement completeness with minimal complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the network topology in the form of a coordinate system. Instead of performing physical measurements between all node pairs, the system uses the coordinate model to calculate distances, thereby achieving complete measurement information with O(M) complexity rather than O(M²).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3509366B1Method and device for predicting network distance
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3509366B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3509366B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3509366B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a network distance prediction method and apparatus. The method includes: communicating, by a to-be-positioned node, with at least two reference nodes, to determine values of at least some elements in a local distance matrix; constructing, by the to-be-positioned node, the local distance matrix based on the values of the at least some elements in the local distance matrix; performing, by the to-be-positioned node, low-rank sparse factorization on the local distance matrix, to obtain a low-rank matrix; obtaining, by the to-be-positioned node, values of elements in a first element set of the low-rank matrix, to use the values as target values of network distances between the to-be-positioned node and the at least two reference nodes; communicating, by the to-be-positioned node, with the reference nodes, to obtain coordinates of the reference nodes in a network coordinate system; and determining, by the to-be-positioned node, coordinates of the to-be-positioned node based on the target values of the network distances between the to-be-positioned node and the reference nodes and the coordinates of the reference nodes in the network coordinate system. The embodiments of the present invention can improve accuracy of network distance prediction.