Optical Switching Network for AI Node Traffic Imbalance

Solution Overview

Problem

Current AI computing systems face low communication efficiency due to hash conflicts and traffic imbalance in electrical switching multi-level CLOS fat-tree networking architectures, leading to packet loss and increased communication time between computing nodes.

Innovation Solution

Implement an optical switching network with two layers of optical switch switching assemblies and a control device to configure communication links without using hash algorithms, utilizing fast optical switches for point-to-point non-blocking switching to avoid hash conflicts and traffic imbalance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical switching multi-level CLOS fat-tree networking architecture is used to implement communication between computing nodes, then communication can be established between computing nodes, but hash conflict and traffic imbalance occur leading to packet loss and increased communication time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical switching with optical switching technology. Optical switches use light signals instead of electrical signals to transmit data between computing nodes, eliminating the need for hash algorithms and store-and-forward mechanisms. This substitution resolves hash conflicts and traffic imbalance issues while reducing communication time and packet loss, directly addressing the technical contradiction between communication reliability and communication time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If hash algorithm is used to implement data forwarding in electrical switches, then data forwarding can be achieved, but hash conflict and traffic imbalance occur causing packet loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata forwarding capabilityVSAvoidpacket loss rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical switching with optical switching technology. Optical switches use light signals instead of electrical signals to transmit data between computing nodes, eliminating the need for hash algorithms and store-and-forward mechanisms. This substitution resolves hash conflicts and traffic imbalance issues while reducing communication time and packet loss, directly addressing the technical contradiction between communication reliability and communication time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If communication links are configured without hash algorithms using optical switching, then hash conflicts and traffic imbalance are eliminated, but system complexity increases due to optical switching network architecture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidswitching network complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical switching with optical switching technology. Optical switches use light signals instead of electrical signals to transmit data between computing nodes, eliminating the need for hash algorithms and store-and-forward mechanisms. This substitution resolves hash conflicts and traffic imbalance issues while reducing communication time and packet loss, directly addressing the technical contradiction between communication reliability and communication time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260006355A1Artificial intelligence computing system and method

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

In the field of optical communication technologies, an artificial intelligence computing system and method are provided to resolve a problem of low communication efficiency caused by a hash conflict and traffic imbalance. Disclosed embodiments provide a link communication between computing nodes in a process of implementing an AI data computing task is implemented through an optical switching network. Each computing node supports control of cross links between input ports and output ports of an optical switch switching assembly in the optical switching network. In a process in which a computing node performs a computing task, a control unit of the computing node performs link switching based on a requirement of the computing node.