Node Coordinate Allocation for Torus Network Topology Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In networks with multiple nodes, determining the coupling conditions between nodes is challenging when unique coordinates are not allocated, as nodes cannot designate the dimension direction for packet transfer without pre-allocated coordinates, leading to difficulties in packet transmission and grasping coupling relationships.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that allocates unique coordinate information to one node and common coordinate information to others, using test packets to identify neighboring nodes and update dimension information registers, allowing the apparatus to extract coupling relationships between nodes and construct a network with coordinate information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If unique coordinate information is allocated to all nodes in advance, then packet transmission can be performed efficiently with designated dimension directions, but the system complexity and difficulty of node identification increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the management node allocate unique coordinate information to each node in the network before packet transmission begins. This pre-allocation of coordinates (e.g., in a torus network topology) enables nodes to determine dimension directions for packet routing without requiring complex real-time calculations or negotiations, thus improving transmission efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through centralized initial setup
Solution Approach 2:
The management node serves as an intermediary that handles the complex task of coordinate allocation and distribution to all nodes. This mediator approach centralizes the complexity of coordinate management, allowing individual nodes to simply use their assigned coordinates for packet routing decisions without needing to understand or compute the overall network topology, thereby improving operational simplicity and transmission efficiency
2Ease of manufacture
If coordinates are not allocated in advance, then system setup is simpler, but nodes cannot determine dimension direction for packet transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing preliminary coordinate allocation through a management node that assigns unique coordinates to each node before the network becomes operational. This preliminary action maintains ease of setup (as coordinates are automatically assigned) while enabling full packet transmission capability (as nodes receive their coordinates in advance and can determine dimension directions accordingly)
3Measurement precision
If test packets are transmitted to all nodes to identify coupling relationships, then accurate topology information is obtained, but communication time and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the topology identification function from the regular packet transmission process by using dedicated test packets sent from a management node to all nodes. This extraction allows accurate coupling relationship identification to be performed separately and efficiently, with the management node collecting responses to build the topology map without interfering with normal data transmission, thus minimizing time loss and network traffic overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses test packets as simplified copies of actual data packets for the purpose of topology identification. These test packets contain only the necessary information (source node identifier, destination node identifier, and transmission path information) to determine coupling relationships, eliminating the need for complex actual data transmission while achieving accurate topology mapping with minimal time and traffic overhead
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus for controlling a plurality of nodes mutually coupled via a plurality of cables, the apparatus includes: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to cause a first node to execute first processing to extract coupling relationship between the plurality of nodes, the first node being one of the plurality of nodes, being sequentially allocated from each of the plurality of nodes, the first processing including executing allocation processing that allocates unique coordinate information to the first node and allocates common coordinate information to nodes excluding the first node; executing transmission processing that causes the first node to transmit first information to each of the cables coupled to the first node; and executing identification processing that identifies a node having received the first information as neighboring node coupled to one of the plurality of cables coupled to the first node.