Optical Tap Data Duplication for Low-Latency Server Failover

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Solution Overview

Problem

In financial trading systems, switching between primary and backup trading servers must occur with minimal latency to prevent downtime and maintain system integrity, but existing technologies struggle to achieve this efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing precision time protocol synchronization and optical taps to duplicate and redirect data streams between servers, ensuring seamless switching and minimizing latency through precise time synchronization and optical tapping technology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional switching mechanisms are used between primary and backup trading servers, then system redundancy is maintained, but switching latency increases and system continuity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem continuityVSAvoidswitching latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by maintaining duplicate data streams in advance on both primary and backup servers. The optical tap continuously duplicates data streams and sends them to both servers simultaneously, so that when a failover is needed, the backup server is already synchronized and ready to take over immediately, eliminating switching latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical tapping to create real-time copies of data streams. The optical tap divides the incoming data stream into multiple identical copies that are simultaneously transmitted to the primary server and backup server, ensuring both have identical data without requiring complex data synchronization protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If data streams are duplicated and synchronized between servers, then switching reliability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching reliabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an optical tap as an intermediary device that simplifies the system architecture. Instead of implementing complex software-based data synchronization between servers, the optical tap passively duplicates data streams at the physical layer, eliminating the need for complex synchronization protocols and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical/electronic data synchronization mechanisms with optical splitting technology. The optical tap uses passive optical splitting to duplicate data streams, which is simpler and more reliable than active electronic copying and synchronization protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid and reliable switching between servers, reducing latency and downtime in financial trading systems by ensuring identical data streams are maintained between primary and backup servers, thus ensuring continuous trading operations.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one first optical tap being configured to: i) receive a first data stream from at least one third server, ii) split the first data stream into a first copy data stream and a second copy data stream, iii) transmit the first copy data stream to the at least one first server, and iv) transmit the second copy data stream to the at least one second server

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical splitting:

Implementation Method 2

the precision time protocol master clock being configured to perform a time synchronization of the at least one first server and the at least one second server in accordance with the precision time protocol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime synchronization:

Data Source

PatentUS10158929B1Specialized optical switches utilized to reduce latency in switching between hardware devices in computer systems and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2018.12.18 CAPITAL COM IP LTD

AI summary

A system includes a switch and first and second servers. The switch receives first data and provides the first data to the first and second servers. The first server determines second data based on the first data and transmits the second data to the switch. The second server determines third data based on the first data in response to a faulty indication that the first server has failed to transmit the second data to the switch and transmits the third data to the switch. The switch transmits fourth data to the second server and a third server. The fourth data is either the second data or the third data. The second data is identical to the third data so as to confirm that one of the second data or the third data is transmitted to the third server when the first server has failed to transmit the second data.