Ultra-Low Latency Communication Device Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultra-low latency communication systems, such as those used in electronic trading, face latency challenges due to the use of prefabricated transceivers which introduce significant latency in the round-trip communication process, particularly in financial exchange data centers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communication device that replaces prefabricated transceivers with low-latency serializer/de-serializer modules, which apply lower serialization/de-serialization ratios than the minimum achievable by prefabricated transceivers, and includes a clock recovery module that recovers the clock signal in parallel with de-serialization, reducing latency by bypassing unnecessary modules and optimizing clock frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prefabricated transceivers are used for signal conversion, then device reliability is improved, but round-trip latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transceiver functionality into separate modules: clock recovery module, de-serializer module, FPGA fabric, and serializer module. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function with optimized latency, eliminating the bottleneck of integrated prefabricated transceivers while maintaining overall system reliability through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the clock recovery function as a separate module that operates in parallel with the de-serializer module. This extraction eliminates the sequential dependency where clock recovery must complete before de-serialization can begin, thereby reducing round-trip latency while preserving the reliability of clock signal recovery.
2Productivity
If higher serialization ratios are applied to increase data throughput, then productivity is improved, but latency increases due to additional processing stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic parallel processing where the de-serializer module processes multiple data bits simultaneously at lower serialization ratios. This dynamic approach maintains high data throughput by utilizing parallel processing paths in the FPGA fabric, while reducing latency by avoiding the sequential overhead of higher serialization ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by having the clock recovery module operate in parallel with the de-serializer module, both processing data simultaneously without sequential delays. This continuous parallel processing maintains high throughput while minimizing the time lost to sequential processing stages.
3Measurement precision
If clock recovery is performed sequentially before de-serialization, then measurement precision is improved, but latency increases due to sequential processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into independent parallel modules: clock recovery module and de-serializer module. This segmentation allows both modules to process their respective functions simultaneously without sequential dependency, maintaining clock signal accuracy while eliminating the time penalty of sequential processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the clock recovery function as a separate parallel module that operates independently from the de-serializer module. This extraction enables both modules to work simultaneously, preserving the precision of clock signal recovery while reducing overall processing latency by eliminating sequential execution.
Data Source
AI summary
An ultra-low latency communication device includes a clock recovery module, a de-serializer module, an FPGA fabric and a serializer module. The clock recovery module receives an incoming electrical physical layer serial signal and recovers a recovered clock signal therefrom. The de-serializer module converts the incoming electrical physical layer serial signal to an incoming electrical physical layer parallel signal according to driving signals generated based on the recovered clock signal. The FPGA fabric processes the incoming electrical physical layer parallel signal to output an incoming data-link layer parallel signal, receives an outgoing data-link layer parallel signal generated based on electronic information contained in the incoming data-link layer parallel signal, and processes the outgoing data-link layer parallel signal to output an outgoing electrical physical layer parallel signal. The serializer module converts the outgoing electrical physical layer parallel signal to an outgoing electrical physical layer serial signal.