Random Linear Code Synchronization for Large Distributed Data Sets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data synchronization methods in distributed computing systems are resource-intensive and inefficient, particularly in terms of computational burden and energy consumption, especially when dealing with large data sets and error-prone communication channels, and they often require significant computational resources and energy on battery-operated devices like mobile phones.

Innovation Solution

The method employs random linear codes for data synchronization, using a divide-and-solve approach with set partitioning to reduce computational complexity and energy consumption, and incorporates error correction techniques to ensure robustness and fault tolerance, particularly by using a hierarchical tree structure for encoding and decoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional data synchronization methods are used, then data consistency is achieved, but computational burden and energy consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data-set into multiple blocks and processes them independently. Each block is handled separately through encoding and transmission, which reduces the overall computational burden compared to processing the entire data-set as a single unit. This segmentation allows for more efficient resource utilization and lower energy consumption during synchronization operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If frequent synchronization is performed to maintain data consistency, then data accuracy is improved, but communication and computation resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidcommunication and computation resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the essential information needed for synchronization - specifically, encoded representations of data blocks and their corresponding hash values. By transmitting only this extracted essential information rather than complete data-sets, the communication overhead is significantly reduced, allowing for more frequent synchronization without excessive resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If complete data transmission is used for synchronization, then data accuracy is ensured, but data exchange volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoiddata exchange volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hash values as compact representations or 'copies' of the actual data blocks. Instead of transmitting complete data blocks for verification, the system transmits only the hash values which serve as efficient proxies. This copying approach maintains data accuracy through hash verification while dramatically reducing the volume of data exchanged during synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If robust error correction is implemented for fault-tolerant synchronization, then reliability over error-prone channels is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies encoding to data blocks before transmission, preparing them in advance for potential errors. This preliminary encoding action embeds error-correcting capabilities into the data structure beforehand, allowing the receiving end to detect and correct errors without requiring complex real-time computation during the synchronization process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2434413B1Method and distributed computing system for synchronizing data-sets stored on different communication devices
Publication Date: 2014.03.26 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP2434413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2434413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2434413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and a distributed computing system (1) are provided to use a forward error correction code for both data synchronization as well as an error-resistant data transmission during the data synchronization process. In particular, a random linear code is used which is traditionally used as an error correction code. In order to synchronize large data-sets by using random linear codes a set partitioning is performed on the large data sets to divide each data-set into a plurality of data-subsets. Therefore, the distributed computing system (1) is made scalable by dividing the data synchronization issue into many smaller problems. This results in significantly lower computational complexity at the decoding communication device (20), allowing the data synchronization to complete much faster (lesser computation time of the system) and also save communication between the two synchronizing communication devices (10, 20).