Optical Switch Network Eliminates Electrical Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current datacenter switches face challenges in scaling to meet increasing data traffic demands due to limitations in power consumption, port radix, and reconfiguration times, with optical switches lacking buffering and processing capabilities, and existing solutions relying on electrical switches that introduce bottlenecks.

Innovation Solution

An optically-switched communication network is implemented, where optical NICs connect directly to optical switches without intervening electrical switches, managing queuing and buffering, and negotiating optical circuit connections to ensure packets are sent in correct time slots, utilizing optical switches with rotor and ToR switches in Clos topology for high port radix and fast reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical switches are used to manage data traffic, then buffering and processing capabilities are available, but power consumption increases and latency is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuffering and processing capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the electrical switching function from the data path by implementing an all-optical network where optical switches directly replace electrical switches. Optical circuit connections are established between optical NICs without intervening electrical switches, eliminating the need for electrical buffering and processing in the data path while maintaining connectivity functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes electrical/mechanical switching systems with optical switching systems. Optical switches use optical fields to control optical signals, replacing the electrical-to-optical conversion process. This substitution eliminates the latency and power consumption associated with electrical switches while maintaining the core switching functionality through optical circuit establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If electrical switches are used for network connectivity, then packet routing is enabled, but electrical switch latency increases transmission time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidelectrical switch latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes electrical switches from the data transmission path by establishing direct optical circuit connections between optical NICs through optical switches. This extraction eliminates the electrical-to-optical conversion latency that occurs in traditional networks, allowing packets to traverse the network entirely in the optical domain without temporal penalties from electrical switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If optical switches are used, then power consumption is reduced and bandwidth is maximized, but buffering and processing capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbuffering and processing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the buffering and processing functions from the optical data path and relocates them to the optical NICs at the network edges. Optical switches are designed purely for high-speed optical circuit switching without buffering, while optical NICs perform packet buffering, processing, and control plane functions, creating a separation of concerns that maximizes overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If traditional electrical switches are used, then network infrastructure is established, but capital costs and upgradeability are constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork infrastructureVSAvoidcapital costs and upgradeability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the entire electrical switch infrastructure with optical switching infrastructure. Optical switches operate purely in the optical domain and are transparent to signal bitrates, allowing network upgrades simply by increasing optical transmission rates without replacing physical switching hardware. This substitution reduces capital costs by eliminating electrical-to-optical conversion equipment and simplifies upgrades through bitrate-transparent optical switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11368768B2Optical network system

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD(IL)

AI summary

In one embodiment, an optical network system including a plurality of optical switches configured to switch beams of light which are modulated to carry information, a plurality of host computers comprising respective optical network interface controllers (NICs), optical fibers connecting the optical NICs and the optical switches forming an optically-switched communication network, over which optical circuit connections are established between pairs of the optical NICs over ones of the optical fibers via ones of the optical switches, the optically-switched communication network which including the optical NICs and the optical switches.