Interactive visualizations for a recurrent neural network

Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) can be visualized. For example, a processor can receive vectors indicating values of nodes in a gate of a RNN. The values can result from processing data at the gate during a sequence of time steps. The processor can group the nodes into clusters by applying a clustering method to the values of the nodes. The processor can generate a first graphical element visually indicating how the respective values of the nodes in a cluster changed during the sequence of time steps. The processor can also determine a reference value based on multiple values for multiple nodes in the cluster, and generate a second graphical element visually representing how the respective values of the nodes in the cluster each relate to the reference value. The processor can cause a display to output a graphical user interface having the first graphical element and the second graphical element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to graphical user interfaces. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to graphical user interfaces for visualizing recurrent neural networks.

BACKGROUND

A neural network can be represented as two or more layers of interconnected “neurons” (or “nodes”) that can exchange data between one another. The connections between the neurons can have numeric weights that can be tuned based on experience. Such tuning can make neural networks adaptive and capable of “learning.”

A deep neural network is a neural network that has one or more hidden layers of neurons between an input layer and an output layer of the neural network. Such layers between the input layer and the output layer may be referred to as “hidden” because they may not be directly observable in the normal functioning of the neural network. A deep neural network can include any number of hidden layers, and each hidden layer can include any number of neurons.

One type of deep neural network is a recurrent neural network (RNN), such as the RNN1500shown inFIG. 15. As shown, the RNN1500includes an input layer1502, a hidden layer1504, and an output layer1506. The hidden layer1504has one or more feedback loops. These feedback loops can provide RNNs with a type of “memory,” in which past outputs from the hidden layer1504can inform future outputs from the hidden layer1504. Specifically, each feedback loop can provide an output from the hidden layer1504at a previous time-step (e.g., t−1) back to the hidden layer1504as input for the current time-step (e.g., to) to inform the output at the current time-step. This can enable RNNs to recurrently process sequence data (e.g., data that exists in an ordered sequence, like a sentence having a sequence of words or a video having a sequence of images) over a sequence of time steps.

One type of RNN is a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network, such as the LSTM neural network1600shown inFIG. 16. As shown, the LSTM neural network1600includes input nodes (e.g., X0-X3), a fully connected RNN, and output nodes (e.g., H0-H3). The LSTM neural network1600can include one or more memory cells, such as memory cell1602. The memory cell1602can enable the LSTM neural network1600to have a longer memory than other types of RNNs. The memory cell1602can include one or more gates. Each gate can include a sigmoid neural-network layer (e.g., depicted in memory cell1602with a “σ” symbol) and/or a pointwise multiplication. Typically, the memory cell1602includes a self-recurrent connection, an input gate, a forget gate, an output gate, or any combination of these. Examples of these gates include input gate1606, forget gate1604, and output gate1608shown inFIG. 16. The input gate1606can selectively control the input to the memory cell1602. The output gate1608can selectively control the output of the memory cell1602. The forget gate1604can control whether the memory cell1602remembers information from previous time-steps when processing sequence data. For example, the forget gate1604can control whether the memory cell1602should save the previous state of the memory cell1602for a period of time or forget the previous state of the memory cell1602.

SUMMARY

One example of the present disclosure includes a system having a processing device and a memory including instructions that are executable by the processing device. The instructions can cause the processing device to receive a plurality of vectors indicating values of a plurality of nodes in a gate of a recurrent neural network resulting from processing data at the gate during a sequence of time steps. Each vector among the plurality of vectors can include a respective value for each respective node among the plurality of nodes at a respective time step within the sequence of time steps. The instructions can cause the processing device to group the plurality of nodes into a plurality of clusters by applying a clustering method to the values of the plurality of nodes. The clustering method can involve comparing how the respective value for each respective node changed during the sequence of time steps and assigning nodes with like changes during the sequence of time steps to a common cluster among the plurality of clusters. The instructions can cause the processing device to generate a first graphical element visually indicating how the respective values of the nodes in a cluster among the plurality of clusters changed during the sequence of time steps. The instructions can cause the processing device to determine a reference value based on multiple values for multiple nodes in the cluster. The instructions can cause the processing device to generate a second graphical element visually representing how the respective values of the nodes in the cluster each relate to the reference value. The instructions can cause the processing device to transmit a display communication to a display device for causing the display device to output a graphical user interface having the first graphical element and the second graphical element.

Another example of the present disclosure includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code that is executable by a processing device. The program code can cause the processing device to receive a plurality of vectors indicating values of a plurality of nodes in a gate of a recurrent neural network resulting from processing data at the gate during a sequence of time steps. Each vector among the plurality of vectors can include a respective value for each respective node among the plurality of nodes at a respective time step within the sequence of time steps. The program code can cause the processing device to group the plurality of nodes into a plurality of clusters by applying a clustering method to the values of the plurality of nodes. The clustering method can involve comparing how the respective value for each respective node changed during the sequence of time steps and assigning nodes with like changes during the sequence of time steps to a common cluster among the plurality of clusters. The program code can cause the processing device to generate a first graphical element visually indicating how the respective values of the nodes in a cluster among the plurality of clusters changed during the sequence of time steps. The program code can cause the processing device to determine a reference value based on multiple values for multiple nodes in the cluster. The program code can cause the processing device to generate a second graphical element visually representing how the respective values of the nodes in the cluster each relate to the reference value. The program code can cause the processing device to transmit a display communication to a display device for causing the display device to output a graphical user interface having the first graphical element and the second graphical element.

Yet another example of the present disclosure includes a method involving receiving a plurality of vectors indicating values of a plurality of nodes in a gate of a recurrent neural network resulting from processing data at the gate during a sequence of time steps. Each vector among the plurality of vectors can include a respective value for each respective node among the plurality of nodes at a respective time step within the sequence of time steps. The method can involve grouping the plurality of nodes into a plurality of clusters by applying a clustering method to the values of the plurality of nodes. The clustering method can involve comparing how the respective value for each respective node changed during the sequence of time steps and assigning nodes with like changes during the sequence of time steps to a common cluster among the plurality of clusters. The method can involve generating a first graphical element visually indicating how the respective values of the nodes in a cluster among the plurality of clusters changed during the sequence of time steps. The method can involve determining a reference value based on multiple values for multiple nodes in the cluster. The method can involve generating a second graphical element visually representing how the respective values of the nodes in the cluster each relate to the reference value. The method can involve transmitting a display communication to a display device for causing the display device to output a graphical user interface having the first graphical element and the second graphical element. Some or all of the method steps can be implemented by a processing device.

The foregoing, together with other features and examples, will become more apparent upon referring to the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to a graphical user interface (GUI) system that is specifically tailored for visualizing aspects of a recurrent neural network (RNN). The GUI system can enable a user to select a particular gate of the RNN to visualize and responsively provide detailed information about that gate in a GUI. For example, the GUI system can present a graph that visually depicts how the values of nodes forming that gate changed over time. The GUI system can also visually present a cluster map. A cluster map can include a visual matrix (e.g., rows and columns) of cells, where each cell corresponds to one of the nodes in the gate and is color coded to represent a difference between the node's value and a reference-value (e.g., an average of several node-values). In some examples, the GUI system provides various interactive elements that enable a user to more deeply explore the gate of the RNN. For example, the GUI system can detect an interaction with a point on the graph corresponding to one of the nodes in the gate and responsively display a visual window that has additional information about the node.

The abovementioned features can enable a user to discover and explore characteristics of a RNN that are currently not well understood. Presently, RNNs are often considered a “black box.” For example, although the procedure to train and use RNNs may be known, a deeper understanding of the inner workings of RNNs is often lacking. And, as RNNs grow in size, more parameters accumulate and it can become more difficult to understand what the RNN is doing to produce its final results. But some examples of the present disclosure provide an intuitive, easy-to-use GUI that can enable users to obtain a better understanding of how a RNN is operating (particularly at the gate level), why the RNN is making certain decisions, and how the RNN produces final results. This may lead to a better understanding of how to train and build RNNs that are more efficient, robust, and accurate. For example, information displayed in the GUI may enable a designer to determine: (i) how a RNN returns a certain output; (ii) how input values move through nodes and links in the RNN to generate the output; and (iii) how changing the values of the input affect movement through the RNN and the output value returned. As some particular examples, a designer of a RNN can review the node values in a forget gate for certain patterns that may indicate problems with how the RNN was trained or how the forget gate is operating (e.g., that information that should be saved is being forgotten, or that information that should be forgotten is being saved). The designer may be able to address these problems by re-training the RNN or tuning the forget gate's characteristics, respectively. But without the visualizations provided in some examples, the designer may be unable to even identify the problem.

Additionally, typical RNNs are large and require excessive amounts of memory and processing power to execute. But the GUI of the present disclosure can provide information that enables a designer to optimize a RNN to reduce (i) the number of processing cycles executed by the RNN, (ii) the amount of memory consumed by the RNN, (iii) the amount of memory accesses performed by the RNN, (iv) or any combination of these. As a particular example, a designer of a RNN can use the GUI to determine that certain nodes of a gate produce repetitive results or are otherwise extraneous. So, the designer can remove these nodes to reduce the disk size of the RNN, the amount of unnecessary processing performed by executing the RNN, and the amount of memory (e.g., RAM) consumed by executing the RNN.

FIGS. 1-10depict examples of systems and methods usable for visualizing recurrent neural networks according to some aspects. For example,FIG. 1is a block diagram of an example of the hardware components of a computing system according to some aspects. Data transmission network100is a specialized computer system that may be used for processing large amounts of data where a large number of computer processing cycles are required.

Data transmission network100may also include computing environment114. Computing environment114may be a specialized computer or other machine that processes the data received within the data transmission network100. The computing environment114may include one or more other systems. For example, computing environment114may include a database system118or a communications grid120. The computing environment114can include one or more processing devices (e.g., distributed over one or more networks or otherwise in communication with one another) that, in some examples, can collectively be referred to as a processor or a processing device.

Data transmission network100also includes one or more network devices102. Network devices102may include client devices that can communicate with computing environment114. For example, network devices102may send data to the computing environment114to be processed, may send communications to the computing environment114to control different aspects of the computing environment or the data it is processing, among other reasons. Network devices102may interact with the computing environment114through a number of ways, such as, for example, over one or more networks108.

In some examples, network devices102may provide a large amount of data, either all at once or streaming over a period of time (e.g., using event stream processing (ESP)), to the computing environment114via networks108. For example, the network devices102can transmit electronic messages for use in visualizing recurrent neural networks, all at once or streaming over a period of time, to the computing environment114via networks108.

The network devices102may include network computers, sensors, databases, or other devices that may transmit or otherwise provide data to computing environment114. For example, network devices102may include local area network devices, such as routers, hubs, switches, or other computer networking devices. These devices may provide a variety of stored or generated data, such as network data or data specific to the network devices102themselves. Network devices102may also include sensors that monitor their environment or other devices to collect data regarding that environment or those devices, and such network devices102may provide data they collect over time. Network devices102may also include devices within the internet of things, such as devices within a home automation network. Some of these devices may be referred to as edge devices, and may involve edge-computing circuitry. Data may be transmitted by network devices102directly to computing environment114or to network-attached data stores, such as network-attached data stores110for storage so that the data may be retrieved later by the computing environment114or other portions of data transmission network100. For example, the network devices102can transmit data usable for visualizing recurrent neural networks to a network-attached data store110for storage. The computing environment114may later retrieve the data from the network-attached data store110and use the data to visualizing recurrent neural networks.

Network-attached data stores110can store data to be processed by the computing environment114as well as any intermediate or final data generated by the computing system in non-volatile memory. But in certain examples, the configuration of the computing environment114allows its operations to be performed such that intermediate and final data results can be stored solely in volatile memory (e.g., RAM), without a requirement that intermediate or final data results be stored to non-volatile types of memory (e.g., disk). This can be useful in certain situations, such as when the computing environment114receives ad hoc queries from a user and when responses, which are generated by processing large amounts of data, need to be generated dynamically (e.g., on the fly). In this situation, the computing environment114may be configured to retain the processed information within memory so that responses can be generated for the user at different levels of detail as well as allow a user to interactively query against this information.

Network-attached data stores110may store a variety of different types of data organized in a variety of different ways and from a variety of different sources. For example, network-attached data stores may include storage other than primary storage located within computing environment114that is directly accessible by processors located therein. Network-attached data stores may include secondary, tertiary or auxiliary storage, such as large hard drives, servers, virtual memory, among other types. Storage devices may include portable or non-portable storage devices, optical storage devices, and various other mediums capable of storing, containing data. A machine-readable storage medium or computer-readable storage medium may include a non-transitory medium in which data can be stored and that does not include carrier waves or transitory electronic communications. Examples of a non-transitory medium may include, for example, a magnetic disk or tape, optical storage media such as compact disk or digital versatile disk, flash memory, memory or memory devices. A computer-program product may include code or machine-executable instructions that may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, among others. Furthermore, the data stores may hold a variety of different types of data. For example, network-attached data stores110may hold unstructured (e.g., raw) data.

The unstructured data may be presented to the computing environment114in different forms such as a flat file or a conglomerate of data records, and may have data values and accompanying time stamps. The computing environment114may be used to analyze the unstructured data in a variety of ways to determine the best way to structure (e.g., hierarchically) that data, such that the structured data is tailored to a type of further analysis that a user wishes to perform on the data. For example, after being processed, the unstructured time-stamped data may be aggregated by time (e.g., into daily time period units) to generate time series data or structured hierarchically according to one or more dimensions (e.g., parameters, attributes, or variables). For example, data may be stored in a hierarchical data structure, such as a relational online analytical processing (ROLAP) or multidimensional online analytical processing (MOLAP) database, or may be stored in another tabular form, such as in a flat-hierarchy form.

Data transmission network100may also include one or more server farms106. Computing environment114may route select communications or data to the sever farms106or one or more servers within the server farms106. Server farms106can be configured to provide information in a predetermined manner. For example, server farms106may access data to transmit in response to a communication. Server farms106may be separately housed from each other device within data transmission network100, such as computing environment114, or may be part of a device or system.

Server farms106may host a variety of different types of data processing as part of data transmission network100. Server farms106may receive a variety of different data from network devices, from computing environment114, from cloud network116, or from other sources. The data may have been obtained or collected from one or more websites, sensors, as inputs from a control database, or may have been received as inputs from an external system or device. Server farms106may assist in processing the data by turning raw data into processed data based on one or more rules implemented by the server farms. For example, sensor data may be analyzed to determine changes in an environment over time or in real-time.

Data transmission network100may also include one or more cloud networks116. Cloud network116may include a cloud infrastructure system that provides cloud services. In certain examples, services provided by the cloud network116may include a host of services that are made available to users of the cloud infrastructure system on demand. Cloud network116is shown inFIG. 1as being connected to computing environment114(and therefore having computing environment114as its client or user), but cloud network116may be connected to or utilized by any of the devices inFIG. 1. Services provided by the cloud network116can dynamically scale to meet the needs of its users. The cloud network116may include one or more computers, servers, or systems. In some examples, the computers, servers, or systems that make up the cloud network116are different from the user's own on-premises computers, servers, or systems. For example, the cloud network116may host an application, and a user may, via a communication network such as the Internet, order and use the application on demand. In some examples, the cloud network116may host an application for visualizing recurrent neural networks.

While each device, server, and system inFIG. 1is shown as a single device, multiple devices may instead be used. For example, a set of network devices can be used to transmit various communications from a single user, or remote server140may include a server stack. As another example, data may be processed as part of computing environment114.

Each communication within data transmission network100(e.g., between client devices, between a device and connection management system150, between server farms106and computing environment114, or between a server and a device) may occur over one or more networks108. Networks108may include one or more of a variety of different types of networks, including a wireless network, a wired network, or a combination of a wired and wireless network. Examples of suitable networks include the Internet, a personal area network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a wireless local area network (WLAN). A wireless network may include a wireless interface or combination of wireless interfaces. As an example, a network in the one or more networks108may include a short-range communication channel, such as a Bluetooth or a Bluetooth Low Energy channel. A wired network may include a wired interface. The wired or wireless networks may be implemented using routers, access points, bridges, gateways, or the like, to connect devices in the network108. The networks108can be incorporated entirely within or can include an intranet, an extranet, or a combination thereof. In one example, communications between two or more systems or devices can be achieved by a secure communications protocol, such as secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS). In addition, data or transactional details may be encrypted.

Some aspects may utilize the Internet of Things (IoT), where things (e.g., machines, devices, phones, sensors) can be connected to networks and the data from these things can be collected and processed within the things or external to the things. For example, the IoT can include sensors in many different devices, and high value analytics can be applied to identify hidden relationships and drive increased efficiencies. This can apply to both big data analytics and real-time (e.g., ESP) analytics.

As noted, computing environment114may include a communications grid120and a transmission network database system118. Communications grid120may be a grid-based computing system for processing large amounts of data. The transmission network database system118may be for managing, storing, and retrieving large amounts of data that are distributed to and stored in the one or more network-attached data stores110or other data stores that reside at different locations within the transmission network database system118. The computing nodes in the communications grid120and the transmission network database system118may share the same processor hardware, such as processors that are located within computing environment114.

In some examples, the computing environment114, a network device102, or both can implement one or more processes for visualizing recurrent neural networks. For example, the computing environment114, a network device102, or both can implement one or more versions of the processes discussed with respect to any of the figures.

FIG. 2is an example of devices that can communicate with each other over an exchange system and via a network according to some aspects. As noted, each communication within data transmission network100may occur over one or more networks. System200includes a network device204configured to communicate with a variety of types of client devices, for example client devices230, over a variety of types of communication channels.

As shown inFIG. 2, network device204can transmit a communication over a network (e.g., a cellular network via a base station210). In some examples, the communication can include times series data. The communication can be routed to another network device, such as network devices205-209, via base station210. The communication can also be routed to computing environment214via base station210. In some examples, the network device204may collect data either from its surrounding environment or from other network devices (such as network devices205-209) and transmit that data to computing environment214.

Although network devices204-209are shown inFIG. 2as a mobile phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, temperature sensor, motion sensor, and audio sensor respectively, the network devices may be or include sensors that are sensitive to detecting aspects of their environment. For example, the network devices may include sensors such as water sensors, power sensors, electrical current sensors, chemical sensors, optical sensors, pressure sensors, geographic or position sensors (e.g., GPS), velocity sensors, acceleration sensors, flow rate sensors, among others. Examples of characteristics that may be sensed include force, torque, load, strain, position, temperature, air pressure, fluid flow, chemical properties, resistance, electromagnetic fields, radiation, irradiance, proximity, acoustics, moisture, distance, speed, vibrations, acceleration, electrical potential, and electrical current, among others. The sensors may be mounted to various components used as part of a variety of different types of systems. The network devices may detect and record data related to the environment that it monitors, and transmit that data to computing environment214.

The network devices204-209may also perform processing on data it collects before transmitting the data to the computing environment214, or before deciding whether to transmit data to the computing environment214. For example, network devices204-209may determine whether data collected meets certain rules, for example by comparing data or values calculated from the data and comparing that data to one or more thresholds. The network devices204-209may use this data or comparisons to determine if the data is to be transmitted to the computing environment214for further use or processing. In some examples, the network devices204-209can pre-process the data prior to transmitting the data to the computing environment214. For example, the network devices204-209can reformat the data before transmitting the data to the computing environment214for further processing (e.g., analyzing the data to visualize a recurrent neural network).

Computing environment214may include machines220,240. Although computing environment214is shown inFIG. 2as having two machines220,240, computing environment214may have only one machine or may have more than two machines. The machines220,240that make up computing environment214may include specialized computers, servers, or other machines that are configured to individually or collectively process large amounts of data. The computing environment214may also include storage devices that include one or more databases of structured data, such as data organized in one or more hierarchies, or unstructured data. The databases may communicate with the processing devices within computing environment214to distribute data to them. Since network devices may transmit data to computing environment214, that data may be received by the computing environment214and subsequently stored within those storage devices. Data used by computing environment214may also be stored in data stores235, which may also be a part of or connected to computing environment214.

Computing environment214can communicate with various devices via one or more routers225or other inter-network or intra-network connection components. For example, computing environment214may communicate with client devices230via one or more routers225. Computing environment214may collect, analyze or store data from or pertaining to communications, client device operations, client rules, or user-associated actions stored at one or more data stores235. Such data may influence communication routing to the devices within computing environment214, how data is stored or processed within computing environment214, among other actions.

Notably, various other devices can further be used to influence communication routing or processing between devices within computing environment214and with devices outside of computing environment214. For example, as shown inFIG. 2, computing environment214may include a machine240that is a web server. Computing environment214can retrieve data of interest, such as client information (e.g., product information, client rules, etc.), technical product details, news, blog posts, e-mails, forum posts, electronic documents, social media posts (e.g., Twitter™ posts or Facebook™ posts), time series data, and so on.

In addition to computing environment214collecting data (e.g., as received from network devices, such as sensors, and client devices or other sources) to be processed as part of a big data analytics project, it may also receive data in real time as part of a streaming analytics environment. As noted, data may be collected using a variety of sources as communicated via different kinds of networks or locally. Such data may be received on a real-time streaming basis. For example, network devices204-209may receive data periodically and in real time from a web server or other source. Devices within computing environment214may also perform pre-analysis on data it receives to determine if the data received should be processed as part of an ongoing project. For example, as part of a project for visualizing recurrent neural networks using data, the computing environment214can perform a pre-analysis of the data. The pre-analysis can include determining whether the data is in a correct format for visualizing recurrent neural networks using the data and, if not, reformatting the data into the correct format.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of a model of an example of a communications protocol system according to some aspects. More specifically,FIG. 3identifies operation of a computing environment in an Open Systems Interaction model that corresponds to various connection components. The model300shows, for example, how a computing environment, such as computing environment (or computing environment214inFIG. 2) may communicate with other devices in its network, and control how communications between the computing environment and other devices are executed and under what conditions.

The model300can include layers302-314. The layers302-314are arranged in a stack. Each layer in the stack serves the layer one level higher than it (except for the application layer, which is the highest layer), and is served by the layer one level below it (except for the physical layer302, which is the lowest layer). The physical layer302is the lowest layer because it receives and transmits raw bites of data, and is the farthest layer from the user in a communications system. On the other hand, the application layer is the highest layer because it interacts directly with a software application.

As noted, the model300includes a physical layer302. Physical layer302represents physical communication, and can define parameters of that physical communication. For example, such physical communication may come in the form of electrical, optical, or electromagnetic communications. Physical layer302also defines protocols that may control communications within a data transmission network.

Link layer304defines links and mechanisms used to transmit (e.g., move) data across a network. The link layer manages node-to-node communications, such as within a grid-computing environment. Link layer304can detect and correct errors (e.g., transmission errors in the physical layer302). Link layer304can also include a media access control (MAC) layer and logical link control (LLC) layer.

Network layer306can define the protocol for routing within a network. In other words, the network layer coordinates transferring data across nodes in a same network (e.g., such as a grid-computing environment). Network layer306can also define the processes used to structure local addressing within the network.

Transport layer308can manage the transmission of data and the quality of the transmission or receipt of that data. Transport layer308can provide a protocol for transferring data, such as, for example, a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Transport layer308can assemble and disassemble data frames for transmission. The transport layer can also detect transmission errors occurring in the layers below it.

Session layer310can establish, maintain, and manage communication connections between devices on a network. In other words, the session layer controls the dialogues or nature of communications between network devices on the network. The session layer may also establish checkpointing, adjournment, termination, and restart procedures.

Presentation layer312can provide translation for communications between the application and network layers. In other words, this layer may encrypt, decrypt or format data based on data types known to be accepted by an application or network layer.

Application layer314interacts directly with software applications and end users, and manages communications between them. Application layer314can identify destinations, local resource states or availability or communication content or formatting using the applications.

For example, a communication link can be established between two devices on a network. One device can transmit an analog or digital representation of an electronic message that includes a data set to the other device. The other device can receive the analog or digital representation at the physical layer302. The other device can transmit the data associated with the electronic message through the remaining layers304-314. The application layer314can receive data associated with the electronic message. The application layer314can identify one or more applications, such as an application for visualizing recurrent neural networks, to which to transmit data associated with the electronic message. The application layer314can transmit the data to the identified application.

Intra-network connection components322,324can operate in lower levels, such as physical layer302and link layer304, respectively. For example, a hub can operate in the physical layer, a switch can operate in the physical layer, and a router can operate in the network layer. Inter-network connection components326,328are shown to operate on higher levels, such as layers306-314. For example, routers can operate in the network layer and network devices can operate in the transport, session, presentation, and application layers.

A computing environment330can interact with or operate on, in various examples, one, more, all or any of the various layers. For example, computing environment330can interact with a hub (e.g., via the link layer) to adjust which devices the hub communicates with. The physical layer302may be served by the link layer304, so it may implement such data from the link layer304. For example, the computing environment330may control which devices from which it can receive data. For example, if the computing environment330knows that a certain network device has turned off, broken, or otherwise become unavailable or unreliable, the computing environment330may instruct the hub to prevent any data from being transmitted to the computing environment330from that network device. Such a process may be beneficial to avoid receiving data that is inaccurate or that has been influenced by an uncontrolled environment. As another example, computing environment330can communicate with a bridge, switch, router or gateway and influence which device within the system (e.g., system200) the component selects as a destination. In some examples, computing environment330can interact with various layers by exchanging communications with equipment operating on a particular layer by routing or modifying existing communications. In another example, such as in a grid-computing environment, a node may determine how data within the environment should be routed (e.g., which node should receive certain data) based on certain parameters or information provided by other layers within the model.

The computing environment330may be a part of a communications grid environment, the communications of which may be implemented as shown in the protocol ofFIG. 3. For example, referring back toFIG. 2, one or more of machines220and240may be part of a communications grid-computing environment. A gridded computing environment may be employed in a distributed system with non-interactive workloads where data resides in memory on the machines, or compute nodes. In such an environment, analytic code, instead of a database management system, can control the processing performed by the nodes. Data is co-located by pre-distributing it to the grid nodes, and the analytic code on each node loads the local data into memory. Each node may be assigned a particular task, such as a portion of a processing project, or to organize or control other nodes within the grid. For example, each node may be assigned a portion of a processing task for visualizing recurrent neural networks.

FIG. 4is a hierarchical diagram of an example of a communications grid computing system400including a variety of control and worker nodes according to some aspects. Communications grid computing system400includes three control nodes and one or more worker nodes. Communications grid computing system400includes control nodes402,404, and406. The control nodes are communicatively connected via communication paths451,453, and455. The control nodes402-406may transmit information (e.g., related to the communications grid or notifications) to and receive information from each other. Although communications grid computing system400is shown inFIG. 4as including three control nodes, the communications grid may include more or less than three control nodes.

Communications grid computing system400(which can be referred to as a “communications grid”) also includes one or more worker nodes. Shown inFIG. 4are six worker nodes410-420. AlthoughFIG. 4shows six worker nodes, a communications grid can include more or less than six worker nodes. The number of worker nodes included in a communications grid may be dependent upon how large the project or data set is being processed by the communications grid, the capacity of each worker node, the time designated for the communications grid to complete the project, among others. Each worker node within the communications grid computing system400may be connected (wired or wirelessly, and directly or indirectly) to control nodes402-406. Each worker node may receive information from the control nodes (e.g., an instruction to perform work on a project) and may transmit information to the control nodes (e.g., a result from work performed on a project). Furthermore, worker nodes may communicate with each other directly or indirectly. For example, worker nodes may transmit data between each other related to a job being performed or an individual task within a job being performed by that worker node. In some examples, worker nodes may not be connected (communicatively or otherwise) to certain other worker nodes. For example, a worker node410may only be able to communicate with a particular control node402. The worker node410may be unable to communicate with other worker nodes412-420in the communications grid, even if the other worker nodes412-420are controlled by the same control node402.

A control node402-406may connect with an external device with which the control node402-406may communicate (e.g., a communications grid user, such as a server or computer, may connect to a controller of the grid). For example, a server or computer may connect to control nodes402-406and may transmit a project or job to the node, such as a project or job related to visualizing recurrent neural networks. The project may include the data set. The data set may be of any size and can include a time series. Once the control node402-406receives such a project including a large data set, the control node may distribute the data set or projects related to the data set to be performed by worker nodes. Alternatively, for a project including a large data set, the data set may be receive or stored by a machine other than a control node402-406(e.g., a Hadoop data node).

Control nodes402-406can maintain knowledge of the status of the nodes in the grid (e.g., grid status information), accept work requests from clients, subdivide the work across worker nodes, and coordinate the worker nodes, among other responsibilities. Worker nodes412-420may accept work requests from a control node402-406and provide the control node with results of the work performed by the worker node. A grid may be started from a single node (e.g., a machine, computer, server, etc.). This first node may be assigned or may start as the primary control node402that will control any additional nodes that enter the grid.

When a project is submitted for execution (e.g., by a client or a controller of the grid) it may be assigned to a set of nodes. After the nodes are assigned to a project, a data structure (e.g., a communicator) may be created. The communicator may be used by the project for information to be shared between the project code running on each node. A communication handle may be created on each node. A handle, for example, is a reference to the communicator that is valid within a single process on a single node, and the handle may be used when requesting communications between nodes.

A control node, such as control node402, may be designated as the primary control node. A server, computer or other external device may connect to the primary control node. Once the control node402receives a project, the primary control node may distribute portions of the project to its worker nodes for execution. For example, a project for visualizing recurrent neural networks can be initiated on communications grid computing system400. A primary control node can control the work to be performed for the project in order to complete the project as requested or instructed. The primary control node may distribute work to the worker nodes412-420based on various factors, such as which subsets or portions of projects may be completed most efficiently and in the correct amount of time. For example, a worker node412may generate a visualization of a recurrent neural network using at least a portion of data that is already local (e.g., stored on) the worker node. The primary control node also coordinates and processes the results of the work performed by each worker node412-420after each worker node412-420executes and completes its job. For example, the primary control node may receive a result from one or more worker nodes412-420, and the primary control node may organize (e.g., collect and assemble) the results received and compile them to produce a complete result for the project received from the end user.

Any remaining control nodes, such as control nodes404,406, may be assigned as backup control nodes for the project. In an example, backup control nodes may not control any portion of the project. Instead, backup control nodes may serve as a backup for the primary control node and take over as primary control node if the primary control node were to fail. If a communications grid were to include only a single control node402, and the control node402were to fail (e.g., the control node is shut off or breaks) then the communications grid as a whole may fail and any project or job being run on the communications grid may fail and may not complete. While the project may be run again, such a failure may cause a delay (severe delay in some cases, such as overnight delay) in completion of the project. Therefore, a grid with multiple control nodes402-406, including a backup control node, may be beneficial.

In some examples, the primary control node may open a pair of listening sockets to add another node or machine to the grid. A socket may be used to accept work requests from clients, and the second socket may be used to accept connections from other grid nodes. The primary control node may be provided with a list of other nodes (e.g., other machines, computers, servers, etc.) that can participate in the grid, and the role that each node can fill in the grid. Upon startup of the primary control node (e.g., the first node on the grid), the primary control node may use a network protocol to start the server process on every other node in the grid. Command line parameters, for example, may inform each node of one or more pieces of information, such as: the role that the node will have in the grid, the host name of the primary control node, the port number on which the primary control node is accepting connections from peer nodes, among others. The information may also be provided in a configuration file, transmitted over a secure shell tunnel, recovered from a configuration server, among others. While the other machines in the grid may not initially know about the configuration of the grid, that information may also be sent to each other node by the primary control node. Updates of the grid information may also be subsequently sent to those nodes.

For any control node other than the primary control node added to the grid, the control node may open three sockets. The first socket may accept work requests from clients, the second socket may accept connections from other grid members, and the third socket may connect (e.g., permanently) to the primary control node. When a control node (e.g., primary control node) receives a connection from another control node, it first checks to see if the peer node is in the list of configured nodes in the grid. If it is not on the list, the control node may clear the connection. If it is on the list, it may then attempt to authenticate the connection. If authentication is successful, the authenticating node may transmit information to its peer, such as the port number on which a node is listening for connections, the host name of the node, information about how to authenticate the node, among other information. When a node, such as the new control node, receives information about another active node, it can check to see if it already has a connection to that other node. If it does not have a connection to that node, it may then establish a connection to that control node.

Any worker node added to the grid may establish a connection to the primary control node and any other control nodes on the grid. After establishing the connection, it may authenticate itself to the grid (e.g., any control nodes, including both primary and backup, or a server or user controlling the grid). After successful authentication, the worker node may accept configuration information from the control node.

When a node joins a communications grid (e.g., when the node is powered on or connected to an existing node on the grid or both), the node is assigned (e.g., by an operating system of the grid) a universally unique identifier (UUID). This unique identifier may help other nodes and external entities (devices, users, etc.) to identify the node and distinguish it from other nodes. When a node is connected to the grid, the node may share its unique identifier with the other nodes in the grid. Since each node may share its unique identifier, each node may know the unique identifier of every other node on the grid. Unique identifiers may also designate a hierarchy of each of the nodes (e.g., backup control nodes) within the grid. For example, the unique identifiers of each of the backup control nodes may be stored in a list of backup control nodes to indicate an order in which the backup control nodes will take over for a failed primary control node to become a new primary control node. But, a hierarchy of nodes may also be determined using methods other than using the unique identifiers of the nodes. For example, the hierarchy may be predetermined, or may be assigned based on other predetermined factors.

The grid may add new machines at any time (e.g., initiated from any control node). Upon adding a new node to the grid, the control node may first add the new node to its table of grid nodes. The control node may also then notify every other control node about the new node. The nodes receiving the notification may acknowledge that they have updated their configuration information.

Primary control node402may, for example, transmit one or more communications to backup control nodes404,406(and, for example, to other control or worker nodes412-420within the communications grid). Such communications may be sent periodically, at fixed time intervals, between known fixed stages of the project's execution, among other protocols. The communications transmitted by primary control node402may be of varied types and may include a variety of types of information. For example, primary control node402may transmit snapshots (e.g., status information) of the communications grid so that backup control node404always has a recent snapshot of the communications grid. The snapshot or grid status may include, for example, the structure of the grid (including, for example, the worker nodes410-420in the communications grid, unique identifiers of the worker nodes410-420, or their relationships with the primary control node402) and the status of a project (including, for example, the status of each worker node's portion of the project). The snapshot may also include analysis or results received from worker nodes410-420in the communications grid. The backup control nodes404,406may receive and store the backup data received from the primary control node402. The backup control nodes404,406may transmit a request for such a snapshot (or other information) from the primary control node402, or the primary control node402may send such information periodically to the backup control nodes404,406.

As noted, the backup data may allow a backup control node404,406to take over as primary control node if the primary control node402fails without requiring the communications grid to start the project over from scratch. If the primary control node402fails, the backup control node404,406that will take over as primary control node may retrieve the most recent version of the snapshot received from the primary control node402and use the snapshot to continue the project from the stage of the project indicated by the backup data. This may prevent failure of the project as a whole.

A backup control node404,406may use various methods to determine that the primary control node402has failed. In one example of such a method, the primary control node402may transmit (e.g., periodically) a communication to the backup control node404,406that indicates that the primary control node402is working and has not failed, such as a heartbeat communication. The backup control node404,406may determine that the primary control node402has failed if the backup control node has not received a heartbeat communication for a certain predetermined period of time. Alternatively, a backup control node404,406may also receive a communication from the primary control node402itself (before it failed) or from a worker node410-420that the primary control node402has failed, for example because the primary control node402has failed to communicate with the worker node410-420.

Different methods may be performed to determine which backup control node of a set of backup control nodes (e.g., backup control nodes404,406) can take over for failed primary control node402and become the new primary control node. For example, the new primary control node may be chosen based on a ranking or “hierarchy” of backup control nodes based on their unique identifiers. In an alternative example, a backup control node may be assigned to be the new primary control node by another device in the communications grid or from an external device (e.g., a system infrastructure or an end user, such as a server or computer, controlling the communications grid). In another alternative example, the backup control node that takes over as the new primary control node may be designated based on bandwidth or other statistics about the communications grid.

A worker node within the communications grid may also fail. If a worker node fails, work being performed by the failed worker node may be redistributed amongst the operational worker nodes. In an alternative example, the primary control node may transmit a communication to each of the operable worker nodes still on the communications grid that each of the worker nodes should purposefully fail also. After each of the worker nodes fail, they may each retrieve their most recent saved checkpoint of their status and re-start the project from that checkpoint to minimize lost progress on the project being executed. In some examples, a communications grid computing system400can be used to generate a visualization of a recurrent neural network.

FIG. 5is a flow chart of an example of a process for adjusting a communications grid or a work project in a communications grid after a failure of a node according to some aspects. The process may include, for example, receiving grid status information including a project status of a portion of a project being executed by a node in the communications grid, as described in operation502. For example, a control node (e.g., a backup control node connected to a primary control node and a worker node on a communications grid) may receive grid status information, where the grid status information includes a project status of the primary control node or a project status of the worker node. The project status of the primary control node and the project status of the worker node may include a status of one or more portions of a project being executed by the primary and worker nodes in the communications grid. The process may also include storing the grid status information, as described in operation504. For example, a control node (e.g., a backup control node) may store the received grid status information locally within the control node. Alternatively, the grid status information may be sent to another device for storage where the control node may have access to the information.

The process may also include receiving a failure communication corresponding to a node in the communications grid in operation506. For example, a node may receive a failure communication including an indication that the primary control node has failed, prompting a backup control node to take over for the primary control node. In an alternative embodiment, a node may receive a failure that a worker node has failed, prompting a control node to reassign the work being performed by the worker node. The process may also include reassigning a node or a portion of the project being executed by the failed node, as described in operation508. For example, a control node may designate the backup control node as a new primary control node based on the failure communication upon receiving the failure communication. If the failed node is a worker node, a control node may identify a project status of the failed worker node using the snapshot of the communications grid, where the project status of the failed worker node includes a status of a portion of the project being executed by the failed worker node at the failure time.

The process may also include receiving updated grid status information based on the reassignment, as described in operation510, and transmitting a set of instructions based on the updated grid status information to one or more nodes in the communications grid, as described in operation512. The updated grid status information may include an updated project status of the primary control node or an updated project status of the worker node. The updated information may be transmitted to the other nodes in the grid to update their stale stored information.

FIG. 6is a block diagram of a portion of a communications grid computing system600including a control node and a worker node according to some aspects. Communications grid600computing system includes one control node (control node602) and one worker node (worker node610) for purposes of illustration, but may include more worker and/or control nodes. The control node602is communicatively connected to worker node610via communication path650. Therefore, control node602may transmit information (e.g., related to the communications grid or notifications), to and receive information from worker node610via communication path650.

Similar to inFIG. 4, communications grid computing system (or just “communications grid”)600includes data processing nodes (control node602and worker node610). Nodes602and610comprise multi-core data processors. Each node602and610includes a grid-enabled software component (GESC)620that executes on the data processor associated with that node and interfaces with buffer memory622also associated with that node. Each node602and610includes database management software (DBMS)628that executes on a database server (not shown) at control node602and on a database server (not shown) at worker node610.

Each node also includes a data store624. Data stores624, similar to network-attached data stores110inFIG. 1and data stores235inFIG. 2, are used to store data to be processed by the nodes in the computing environment. Data stores624may also store any intermediate or final data generated by the computing system after being processed, for example in non-volatile memory. However in certain examples, the configuration of the grid computing environment allows its operations to be performed such that intermediate and final data results can be stored solely in volatile memory (e.g., RAM), without a requirement that intermediate or final data results be stored to non-volatile types of memory. Storing such data in volatile memory may be useful in certain situations, such as when the grid receives queries (e.g., ad hoc) from a client and when responses, which are generated by processing large amounts of data, need to be generated quickly or on-the-fly. In such a situation, the grid may be configured to retain the data within memory so that responses can be generated at different levels of detail and so that a client may interactively query against this information.

Each node also includes a user-defined function (UDF)626. The UDF provides a mechanism for the DMBS628to transfer data to or receive data from the database stored in the data stores624that are managed by the DBMS. For example, UDF626can be invoked by the DBMS to provide data to the GESC for processing. The UDF626may establish a socket connection (not shown) with the GESC to transfer the data. Alternatively, the UDF626can transfer data to the GESC by writing data to shared memory accessible by both the UDF and the GESC.

The GESC620at the nodes602and610may be connected via a network, such as network108shown inFIG. 1. Therefore, nodes602and610can communicate with each other via the network using a predetermined communication protocol such as, for example, the Message Passing Interface (MPI). Each GESC620can engage in point-to-point communication with the GESC at another node or in collective communication with multiple GESCs via the network. The GESC620at each node may contain identical (or nearly identical) software instructions. Each node may be capable of operating as either a control node or a worker node. The GESC at the control node602can communicate, over a communication path652, with a client device630. More specifically, control node602may communicate with client application632hosted by the client device630to receive queries and to respond to those queries after processing large amounts of data.

DMBS628may control the creation, maintenance, and use of database or data structure (not shown) within nodes602or610. The database may organize data stored in data stores624. The DMBS628at control node602may accept requests for data and transfer the appropriate data for the request. With such a process, collections of data may be distributed across multiple physical locations. In this example, each node602and610stores a portion of the total data managed by the management system in its associated data store624.

Furthermore, the DBMS may be responsible for protecting against data loss using replication techniques. Replication includes providing a backup copy of data stored on one node on one or more other nodes. Therefore, if one node fails, the data from the failed node can be recovered from a replicated copy residing at another node. However, as described herein with respect toFIG. 4, data or status information for each node in the communications grid may also be shared with each node on the grid.

FIG. 7is a flow chart of an example of a process for executing a data analysis or a processing project according to some aspects. As described with respect toFIG. 6, the GESC at the control node may transmit data with a client device (e.g., client device630) to receive queries for executing a project and to respond to those queries after large amounts of data have been processed. The query may be transmitted to the control node, where the query may include a request for executing a project, as described in operation702. The query can contain instructions on the type of data analysis to be performed in the project and whether the project should be executed using the grid-based computing environment, as shown in operation704.

To initiate the project, the control node may determine if the query requests use of the grid-based computing environment to execute the project. If the determination is no, then the control node initiates execution of the project in a solo environment (e.g., at the control node), as described in operation710. If the determination is yes, the control node may initiate execution of the project in the grid-based computing environment, as described in operation706. In such a situation, the request may include a requested configuration of the grid. For example, the request may include a number of control nodes and a number of worker nodes to be used in the grid when executing the project. After the project has been completed, the control node may transmit results of the analysis yielded by the grid, as described in operation708. Whether the project is executed in a solo or grid-based environment, the control node provides the results of the project.

As noted with respect toFIG. 2, the computing environments described herein may collect data (e.g., as received from network devices, such as sensors, such as network devices204-209inFIG. 2, and client devices or other sources) to be processed as part of a data analytics project, and data may be received in real time as part of a streaming analytics environment (e.g., ESP). Data may be collected using a variety of sources as communicated via different kinds of networks or locally, such as on a real-time streaming basis. For example, network devices may receive data periodically from network device sensors as the sensors continuously sense, monitor and track changes in their environments. More specifically, an increasing number of distributed applications develop or produce continuously flowing data from distributed sources by applying queries to the data before distributing the data to geographically distributed recipients. An event stream processing engine (ESPE) may continuously apply the queries to the data as it is received and determines which entities should receive the data. Client or other devices may also subscribe to the ESPE or other devices processing ESP data so that they can receive data after processing, based on for example the entities determined by the processing engine. For example, client devices230inFIG. 2may subscribe to the ESPE in computing environment214. In another example, event subscription devices1024a-c, described further with respect toFIG. 10, may also subscribe to the ESPE. The ESPE may determine or define how input data or event streams from network devices or other publishers (e.g., network devices204-209inFIG. 2) are transformed into meaningful output data to be consumed by subscribers, such as for example client devices230inFIG. 2.

FIG. 8is a block diagram including components of an Event Stream Processing Engine (ESPE) according to some aspects. ESPE800may include one or more projects802. A project may be described as a second-level container in an engine model managed by ESPE800where a thread pool size for the project may be defined by a user. Each project of the one or more projects802may include one or more continuous queries804that contain data flows, which are data transformations of incoming event streams. The one or more continuous queries804may include one or more source windows806and one or more derived windows808.

The ESPE may receive streaming data over a period of time related to certain events, such as events or other data sensed by one or more network devices. The ESPE may perform operations associated with processing data created by the one or more devices. For example, the ESPE may receive data from the one or more network devices204-209shown inFIG. 2. As noted, the network devices may include sensors that sense different aspects of their environments, and may collect data over time based on those sensed observations. For example, the ESPE may be implemented within one or more of machines220and240shown inFIG. 2. The ESPE may be implemented within such a machine by an ESP application. An ESP application may embed an ESPE with its own dedicated thread pool or pools into its application space where the main application thread can do application-specific work and the ESPE processes event streams at least by creating an instance of a model into processing objects.

The engine container is the top-level container in a model that manages the resources of the one or more projects802. In an illustrative example, there may be only one ESPE800for each instance of the ESP application, and ESPE800may have a unique engine name. Additionally, the one or more projects802may each have unique project names, and each query may have a unique continuous query name and begin with a uniquely named source window of the one or more source windows806. ESPE800may or may not be persistent.

Continuous query modeling involves defining directed graphs of windows for event stream manipulation and transformation. A window in the context of event stream manipulation and transformation is a processing node in an event stream processing model. A window in a continuous query can perform aggregations, computations, pattern-matching, and other operations on data flowing through the window. A continuous query may be described as a directed graph of source, relational, pattern matching, and procedural windows. The one or more source windows806and the one or more derived windows808represent continuously executing queries that generate updates to a query result set as new event blocks stream through ESPE800. A directed graph, for example, is a set of nodes connected by edges, where the edges have a direction associated with them.

An event object may be described as a packet of data accessible as a collection of fields, with at least one of the fields defined as a key or unique identifier (ID). The event object may be created using a variety of formats including binary, alphanumeric, XML, etc. Each event object may include one or more fields designated as a primary identifier (ID) for the event so ESPE800can support operation codes (opcodes) for events including insert, update, upsert, and delete. Upsert opcodes update the event if the key field already exists; otherwise, the event is inserted. For illustration, an event object may be a packed binary representation of a set of field values and include both metadata and field data associated with an event. The metadata may include an opcode indicating if the event represents an insert, update, delete, or upsert, a set of flags indicating if the event is a normal, partial-update, or a retention generated event from retention policy management, and a set of microsecond timestamps that can be used for latency measurements.

An event block object may be described as a grouping or package of event objects. An event stream may be described as a flow of event block objects. A continuous query of the one or more continuous queries804transforms a source event stream made up of streaming event block objects published into ESPE800into one or more output event streams using the one or more source windows806and the one or more derived windows808. A continuous query can also be thought of as data flow modeling.

The one or more source windows806are at the top of the directed graph and have no windows feeding into them. Event streams are published into the one or more source windows806, and from there, the event streams may be directed to the next set of connected windows as defined by the directed graph. The one or more derived windows808are all instantiated windows that are not source windows and that have other windows streaming events into them. The one or more derived windows808may perform computations or transformations on the incoming event streams. The one or more derived windows808transform event streams based on the window type (that is operators such as join, filter, compute, aggregate, copy, pattern match, procedural, union, etc.) and window settings. As event streams are published into ESPE800, they are continuously queried, and the resulting sets of derived windows in these queries are continuously updated.

FIG. 9is a flow chart of an example of a process including operations performed by an event stream processing engine according to some aspects. As noted, the ESPE800(or an associated ESP application) defines how input event streams are transformed into meaningful output event streams. More specifically, the ESP application may define how input event streams from publishers (e.g., network devices providing sensed data) are transformed into meaningful output event streams consumed by subscribers (e.g., a data analytics project being executed by a machine or set of machines).

Within the application, a user may interact with one or more user interface windows presented to the user in a display under control of the ESPE independently or through a browser application in an order selectable by the user. For example, a user may execute an ESP application, which causes presentation of a first user interface window, which may include a plurality of menus and selectors such as drop down menus, buttons, text boxes, hyperlinks, etc. associated with the ESP application as understood by a person of skill in the art. Various operations may be performed in parallel, for example, using a plurality of threads.

At operation900, an ESP application may define and start an ESPE, thereby instantiating an ESPE at a device, such as machine220and/or240. In an operation902, the engine container is created. For illustration, ESPE800may be instantiated using a function call that specifies the engine container as a manager for the model.

In an operation904, the one or more continuous queries804are instantiated by ESPE800as a model. The one or more continuous queries804may be instantiated with a dedicated thread pool or pools that generate updates as new events stream through ESPE800. For illustration, the one or more continuous queries804may be created to model business processing logic within ESPE800, to predict events within ESPE800, to model a physical system within ESPE800, to predict the physical system state within ESPE800, etc. For example, as noted, ESPE800may be used to support sensor data monitoring and management (e.g., sensing may include force, torque, load, strain, position, temperature, air pressure, fluid flow, chemical properties, resistance, electromagnetic fields, radiation, irradiance, proximity, acoustics, moisture, distance, speed, vibrations, acceleration, electrical potential, or electrical current, etc.).

ESPE800may analyze and process events in motion or “event streams.” Instead of storing data and running queries against the stored data, ESPE800may store queries and stream data through them to allow continuous analysis of data as it is received. The one or more source windows806and the one or more derived windows808may be created based on the relational, pattern matching, and procedural algorithms that transform the input event streams into the output event streams to model, simulate, score, test, predict, etc. based on the continuous query model defined and application to the streamed data.

In an operation906, a publish/subscribe (pub/sub) capability is initialized for ESPE800. In an illustrative embodiment, a pub/sub capability is initialized for each project of the one or more projects802. To initialize and enable pub/sub capability for ESPE800, a port number may be provided. Pub/sub clients can use a host name of an ESP device running the ESPE and the port number to establish pub/sub connections to ESPE800.

FIG. 10is a block diagram of an ESP system1000interfacing between publishing device1022and event subscription devices1024a-caccording to some aspects. ESP system1000may include ESP subsystem1001, publishing device1022, an event subscription device A1024a, an event subscription device B1024b, and an event subscription device C1024c. Input event streams are output to ESP subsystem1001by publishing device1022. In alternative embodiments, the input event streams may be created by a plurality of publishing devices. The plurality of publishing devices further may publish event streams to other ESP devices. The one or more continuous queries instantiated by ESPE800may analyze and process the input event streams to form output event streams output to event subscription device A1024a, event subscription device B1024b, and event subscription device C1024c. ESP system1000may include a greater or a fewer number of event subscription devices of event subscription devices.

Publish-subscribe is a message-oriented interaction paradigm based on indirect addressing. Processed data recipients specify their interest in receiving information from ESPE800by subscribing to specific classes of events, while information sources publish events to ESPE800without directly addressing the receiving parties. ESPE800coordinates the interactions and processes the data. In some cases, the data source receives confirmation that the published information has been received by a data recipient.

A publish/subscribe API may be described as a library that enables an event publisher, such as publishing device1022, to publish event streams into ESPE800or an event subscriber, such as event subscription device A1024a, event subscription device B1024b, and event subscription device C1024c, to subscribe to event streams from ESPE800. For illustration, one or more publish/subscribe APIs may be defined. Using the publish/subscribe API, an event publishing application may publish event streams into a running event stream processor project source window of ESPE800, and the event subscription application may subscribe to an event stream processor project source window of ESPE800.

The publish/subscribe API provides cross-platform connectivity and endianness compatibility between ESP application and other networked applications, such as event publishing applications instantiated at publishing device1022, and event subscription applications instantiated at one or more of event subscription device A1024a, event subscription device B1024b, and event subscription device C1024c.

Referring back toFIG. 9, operation906initializes the publish/subscribe capability of ESPE800. In an operation908, the one or more projects802are started. The one or more started projects may run in the background on an ESP device. In an operation910, an event block object is received from one or more computing device of the publishing device1022.

ESP subsystem1001may include a publishing client1002, ESPE800, a subscribing client A1004, a subscribing client B1006, and a subscribing client C1008. Publishing client1002may be started by an event publishing application executing at publishing device1022using the publish/subscribe API. Subscribing client A1004may be started by an event subscription application A, executing at event subscription device A1024ausing the publish/subscribe API. Subscribing client B1006may be started by an event subscription application B executing at event subscription device B1024busing the publish/subscribe API. Subscribing client C1008may be started by an event subscription application C executing at event subscription device C1024cusing the publish/subscribe API.

An event block object containing one or more event objects is injected into a source window of the one or more source windows806from an instance of an event publishing application on publishing device1022. The event block object may be generated, for example, by the event publishing application and may be received by publishing client1002. A unique ID may be maintained as the event block object is passed between the one or more source windows806and/or the one or more derived windows808of ESPE800, and to subscribing client A1004, subscribing client B1006, and subscribing client C1008and to event subscription device A1024a, event subscription device B1024b, and event subscription device C1024c. Publishing client1002may further generate and include a unique embedded transaction ID in the event block object as the event block object is processed by a continuous query, as well as the unique ID that publishing device1022assigned to the event block object.

In an operation912, the event block object is processed through the one or more continuous queries804. In an operation914, the processed event block object is output to one or more computing devices of the event subscription devices1024a-c. For example, subscribing client A1004, subscribing client B1006, and subscribing client C1008may send the received event block object to event subscription device A1024a, event subscription device B1024b, and event subscription device C1024c, respectively.

ESPE800maintains the event block containership aspect of the received event blocks from when the event block is published into a source window and works its way through the directed graph defined by the one or more continuous queries804with the various event translations before being output to subscribers. Subscribers can correlate a group of subscribed events back to a group of published events by comparing the unique ID of the event block object that a publisher, such as publishing device1022, attached to the event block object with the event block ID received by the subscriber.

In an operation916, a determination is made concerning whether or not processing is stopped. If processing is not stopped, processing continues in operation910to continue receiving the one or more event streams containing event block objects from the, for example, one or more network devices. If processing is stopped, processing continues in an operation918. In operation918, the started projects are stopped. In operation920, the ESPE is shutdown.

As noted, in some examples, big data is processed for an analytics project after the data is received and stored. In other examples, distributed applications process continuously flowing data in real-time from distributed sources by applying queries to the data before distributing the data to geographically distributed recipients. As noted, an event stream processing engine (ESPE) may continuously apply the queries to the data as it is received and determines which entities receive the processed data. This allows for large amounts of data being received and/or collected in a variety of environments to be processed and distributed in real time. For example, as shown with respect toFIG. 2, data may be collected from network devices that may include devices within the internet of things, such as devices within a home automation network. However, such data may be collected from a variety of different resources in a variety of different environments. In any such situation, embodiments of the present technology allow for real-time processing of such data.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide technical solutions to technical problems, such as computing problems that arise when an ESP device fails which results in a complete service interruption and potentially significant data loss. The data loss can be catastrophic when the streamed data is supporting mission critical operations, such as those in support of an ongoing manufacturing or drilling operation. An example of an ESP system achieves a rapid and seamless failover of ESPE running at the plurality of ESP devices without service interruption or data loss, thus significantly improving the reliability of an operational system that relies on the live or real-time processing of the data streams. The event publishing systems, the event subscribing systems, and each ESPE not executing at a failed ESP device are not aware of or effected by the failed ESP device. The ESP system may include thousands of event publishing systems and event subscribing systems. The ESP system keeps the failover logic and awareness within the boundaries of out-messaging network connector and out-messaging network device.

In one example embodiment, a system is provided to support a failover when event stream processing (ESP) event blocks. The system includes, but is not limited to, an out-messaging network device and a computing device. The computing device includes, but is not limited to, one or more processors and one or more computer-readable mediums operably coupled to the one or more processor. The processor is configured to execute an ESP engine (ESPE). The computer-readable medium has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to support the failover. An event block object is received from the ESPE that includes a unique identifier. A first status of the computing device as active or standby is determined. When the first status is active, a second status of the computing device as newly active or not newly active is determined. Newly active is determined when the computing device is switched from a standby status to an active status. When the second status is newly active, a last published event block object identifier that uniquely identifies a last published event block object is determined. A next event block object is selected from a non-transitory computer-readable medium accessible by the computing device. The next event block object has an event block object identifier that is greater than the determined last published event block object identifier. The selected next event block object is published to an out-messaging network device. When the second status of the computing device is not newly active, the received event block object is published to the out-messaging network device. When the first status of the computing device is standby, the received event block object is stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium.

FIG. 11is an example of a graphical user interface (GUI)1100for visualizing a recurrent neural network according to some aspects. In this example, the recurrent neural network can receive an input word and produce one or more sentences (e.g., tweets) as output. But other examples can involve other types of recurrent neural networks. The GUI1100is produced by an underlying GUI system with one or more processing devices.

The GUI1100can include various input components for receiving user inputs. For example, the GUI1110can include an input component1102to enable a user to select the input word, which in this example is “lol.” The GUI1100can include another input component1108to enable the user to select the output length, which in this example is a maximum of 50 words. The GUI1100can also include other input components that enable the user to specify features of the recurrent neural network to visualize. One such example is input component1104, which can enable a user to select a gate to visualize in the GUI1100. InFIG. 11, the input component1104has the input “f,” indicating that a forget gate of a long short-term memory (LSTM) network is to be visualized. But the user could alternatively input, for example, the value “u” or “o” to select an input gate or an output gate, respectively, of the LSTM network. In some examples, the GUI system can analyze the recurrent neural network to dynamically populate a dropdown menu (or other list) of gates in the recurrent neural network, from which the user can select a particular gate to visualize via input component1104. After selecting a gate to visualize, the user can use input component1106to select a layer number within that gate to visualize. InFIG. 11, the input component1106has the input “0,” which indicates that layer 0 of the gate (e.g., gate “f”) is to be visualized. But the user could alternatively input, for example, the value “1” or “2” to select layer 1 or layer 2, respectively, of the forget gate. In some examples, the GUI system can analyze the selected gate to dynamically populate a dropdown menu (or other list) of layers in the gate, from which the user can select a particular layer to visualize via input component1106. The GUI1100can further include additional input components1110,1112, and1114for specifying how clustering is to be performed to generate the cluster maps1130a-dof the GUI1100, as discussed in greater detail below.

Once the appropriate inputs have been provided to the GUI1100, a user can interact with (e.g., press a button in) the GUI1100to cause the recurrent neural network to be executed in accordance with the user inputs. For example, the GUI system can detect the button press and responsively execute the recurrent neural network in accordance with the user inputs. This may involve, for example, the GUI system providing the input word specified via input component1102as input to the recurrent neural network and executing the recurrent neural network until the output length specified via input component1108is reached.

The recurrent neural network can include memory cells with one or more gates. In the example shown inFIG. 11, the recurrent neural network has a memory cell that has a forget gate, an update gate, an output gate, and a hidden state, which are designated inFIG. 11as “forget 0,” “update 0”,” “output 0”, and “hidden state 0,” respectively. The recurrent neural network also has another memory cell that has a forget gate, an update gate, an output gate, and a hidden state, which are designated inFIG. 11as “forget 1,” “update 1”,” “output 1”, and “hidden state 1,” respectively. Each of the gates is formed from one or more nodes of the recurrent neural network. For example, the “forget 0” gate can include 120 nodes in a hidden layer of the recurrent neural network. As the recurrent neural network executes over a sequence of time steps, it will generate a value for each node in each gate at each time step. For example, the 120 nodes in the “forget 0” gate may have 120 values at time t−1, another 120 values at time t, and yet another 120 values at time t+1. The GUI system can store each of these sets of values in a separate vector. For example, the GUI system can store the 120 values at time t−1 in one vector, the 120 values at time t in another vector, and the 120 values at time t+1 in yet another vector, thereby grouping all of the node values for a particular gate at a particular time-step in a particular vector. The GUI system can iterate this process to produce vectors that have some or all of the node values for some or all of the gates at some or all of the time steps.

After generating the above-mentioned vectors, the GUI system can output graphical elements in the GUI1100visually depicting information derived from the vectors. For example, the GUI1100includes a menu1116from which the user can select which gate of the recurrent neural network to visualize. InFIG. 11, the user has selected gate “forget 0” for visualization. So, the GUI system can detect this selection and responsively output one or more graphical elements depicting information related to the “forget 0” gate, whereby at least some of this information is derived from the vectors.

For example, the GUI system can apply a clustering method to the vectors in order to group all of the nodes in the selected gate (e.g., the “forget 0” gate) into clusters having similar node-value patterns over the sequence of time steps. How the clustering method is applied to the vectors can be customized by a user. For example, the user can turn on or off a probabilistic setting via input component1110. In the example shown inFIG. 11, the input component1110can accept a Boolean value to turn on or off the probabilistic setting, where a value of “1” turns on the probabilistic setting and a value of “0” turns off the probabilistic setting (e.g., such that a default, deterministic setting is turned on). The user can also specify a total number of clusters via input component1112. The user can further specify a clustering method via input component1114. Examples of the clustering method can include a K-modes or a K-means clustering method. The GUI system can receive these user inputs and group the nodes in the selected gate into the clusters in accordance with the user inputs. Next, the GUI system can determine a reference value (e.g., an average or centroid) for a cluster by combining multiple node-values in the cluster. For example, the GUI system can average the node values in a cluster to determine a reference value for that cluster. The GUI system may iterate this process to determine a respective reference-value for each of the clusters. Finally, the GUI system can produce some or all of the cluster maps1130a-d. Each of the cluster maps1130a-dcan represent a single cluster and include a group of cells. Each cell can represent a single node in the cluster and may be color coded to indicate a difference between the node's value and the reference value for the cluster. For example, a cell can have darker color if there is a smaller difference between the node's value and the reference value, or a lighter color if there is a larger difference between the node's value and the reference value. Or vice-versa. Any color coding scheme can be used.

The GUI system can additionally or alternatively generate some or all of the graphs1118a-din the GUI1100. Each of the graphs1118a-dcan correspond to one of the cluster maps1130a-d. For example, graph1118acan correspond to cluster map1130a, graph1118bcan correspond to cluster map1130b, graph1118ccan correspond to cluster map1130c, and graph1118dcan correspond to cluster map1130d. The graphs1118a-dcan indicate the sequence of time steps along one axis (e.g., the X-axis) and node values along another axis (e.g., the Y-axis). For example, graph1118acan correspond to cluster map1130a, which in turn corresponds to a particular cluster. The graph1118acan include lines depicting how the value of each node in the particular cluster changed over the sequence of time steps. Some or all of the graphs1118a-dcan also include an average line1120indicating the average node-value at each time step, a standard-deviation line1122indicating a standard deviation among the node values at each time step, or both of these. In some such examples, the GUI1100can include a legend1124describing the average line1120and the standard-deviation line1122.

The cluster maps1130a-dand the graphs118a-dcan provide valuable insights about the selected gate and the recurrent neural network as a whole. For example, graph1118bis quite similar to graph1118d. This may indicate that one of the clusters of nodes corresponding to graphs1118b,1118dis redundant. So, a designer may eliminate these nodes from the recurrent neural network to improve processing speed and reduce memory consumption of the recurrent neural network. As another example, graphs1118a-bindicate that the corresponding clusters of nodes are impacted by end-of-sentence (“EOS”) token inversely to one another. For example, graph1118ashows a dip at point1132corresponding to an EOS token, such as a period. Conversely, graph1118bshows a spike at point1132corresponding to the same EOS token. And the rest of the graphs1118a-balso indicate a similar inverse correlation at the rest of the time steps. Understanding that these clusters of nodes have an inverse correlation can be very valuable to a designer of the recurrent neural network.

In some examples, the GUI system can further generate a candidate-token list1134. The GUI system can output the candidate-token list1134above and adjacent to the graphs1118a-din the GUI1100. An enlarged version of a portion of the candidate-token list1134is shown inFIG. 12(only a portion of the candidate-token list1134is shown inFIG. 12for simplicity and clarity). As shown, the candidate-token list can include a list of candidate tokens that the recurrent neural network considered at each time step as potentially being the correct token to output. A token can be a word or character. For example, at each time step, the recurrent neural network can sort through various candidate tokens to determine which of the candidate tokens should be the next token in its output. Specifically, the recurrent neural network can assign each candidate token a likelihood of being the correct token to output at the time step, and choose the candidate token with the highest likelihood as the next token in its output. This process is repeated at each time step to build the final output token-by-token. The GUI system can log the candidate tokens and the finally selected token at each time step. The GUI system can then output this information as the candidate-token list in the GUI. In the example shown inFIGS. 11-12, the candidate-token list is ordered from the finally selected token at the top1136to the lowest-likelihood token at the bottom. The finally selected token may also be bolded or shown in another color than the rest of the candidate tokens to visually distinguish the finally selected token from the rest of the candidate tokens. But other orderings and stylization schemes are possible.

Referring back toFIG. 11, in some examples, the GUI1100can be interactive. For example, the GUI system can receive user input selecting one or more cells in a cluster map1130aand responsively highlight the lines corresponding to the cells on a corresponding graph1118a. The GUI system may also dim or hide the remaining lines on the graph1118ato make the highlighted lines more visually prominent. This can enable a user to more readily identify lines of interest in the graph1118a. As another example, the GUI system can detect a user selection of a particular time step1126and responsively highlight portions of some or all of the graphs118a-drelated to that time step. This may make it easier for a user to navigate through the time steps or visually distinguish time steps from one another. The GUI system may additionally or alternatively output a popup window1128with additional information related to the particular time step1126. One example of the additional information can include a list of candidate tokens at the particular time step along with likelihoods of the candidate tokens being correct. For example, inFIG. 11, the popup window1128includes the candidate tokens “eos”, “eos”, “unk” (which can stand for “unknown”), “.”, “˜”, and “!”, along with their corresponding likelihoods 0.258, 0.258, 0.111, 0.080, 0.073, and 0.040, respectively. The popup window1128can make it easy for the user to obtain additional information of interest related to the particular time step1126. The GUI1100can include other interactive features, too. For example, the GUI system can detect a user selection of (or a user hovering over) a line in a graph1118a. In response, the GUI system can visually highlight the line on the graph1118a. The GUI system may also dim or hide the remaining lines on the graph1118ato make the highlighted line more visually prominent.

While the example shown inFIG. 11includes cluster maps1130a-dand graphs1118a-d, other examples can involve other types of graphical elements that provide similar information (or different information). For instance, other examples can involve bar charts or other types of charts that depict similar information to the graphs1118a-d. Also, while the graphical elements ofFIG. 11are shown in a particular spatial configuration with respect to one another, other examples can involve other configurations of some or all of the graphical elements. Any combination, configuration, and type(s) of graphical elements can be used to depict some or all of the information represented in the GUI1100.

FIG. 13is a flow chart of an example of a process for generating a visualization according to some aspects. Some examples can include more steps than, fewer steps than, different steps than, or a different order of the steps shown inFIG. 13. Some examples can be implemented using any of the systems and processes described with respect toFIGS. 1-10.

In block1302, a processing device receives vectors indicating values of nodes in a gate of a recurrent neural network. The values can be the result of data being processed at the gate over the sequence of time steps. Each vector can include values for some or all of the nodes in the gate at a particular time step in the sequence.

In some examples, the processing device can obtain the vectors by executing the recurrent neural network. Alternatively, the processing device can cause the recurrent neural network to be executed on a remote computing device, from which the recessing device can receive the vectors. The recurrent neural network can be executed in accordance with one or more user inputs provided via input components1102-1108ofFIG. 11.

In block1304, the processing device groups the nodes into clusters by applying a clustering method (e.g., K-means clustering) to the values of the nodes. In some examples, the clustering method involves comparing how the value of each respective node in the gate changed during the sequence of time steps and assigning nodes with like changings to a common cluster. For example, a node's value may have changed in a particular pattern during the sequence of time steps. The processing device can apply the clustering method to determine if another node's value changed in a similar way during the sequence of time steps. If the two nodes' values have a similar enough pattern, the processing device can assign both nodes to the same cluster. Whether two nodes' values have a similar enough pattern to be assigned to the same cluster can depend on the settings/tolerance of the clustering algorithm. The above process can be repeated to assign some or all of the nodes in the gate to clusters.

In block1306, the processing device selects a cluster from among the clusters. For example, the processing device can select a first cluster among the group of clusters.

In block1308, the processing device generates a first graphical element visually indicating how the respective values of the nodes in the selected cluster changed during the sequence of time steps. One example of the first graphical element can be the graph1118dofFIG. 14. The graph1118dcan include lines indicating how the respective values of the nodes in the selected cluster changed during the sequence of time steps. The Y-axis of the graph1118dcan represent the values of the nodes values and the X-axis can represent time. In some examples, the graph1118dcan also include a standard-deviation line1122, an average line1120, or both of these. While the first graphical element is a line graph1118dinFIG. 14, in other examples of the first graphical element can include other types of charts or data tables.

In block1310, the processing device determines a reference value based on multiple values for multiple nodes in the selected cluster. For example, the processing device can add, multiply, divide, or apply one or more other mathematical operations to multiple values for multiple nodes in the selected cluster to arrive at the reference value. As a particular example, the processing device can average at least the values of at least two nodes in the selected cluster to arrive at the reference value.

In block1312, the processing device generates a second graphical element visually representing how the respective values of the nodes in the selected cluster each relate to the reference value. One example of the second graphical element can be the cluster map1130dofFIG. 14. The cluster map1130dcan have a color coding that visually represents how the respective values of the nodes in the selected cluster each relate to the reference value, for example, such that the cluster map1130dis a type of heat map. Other examples of the second graphical element can include charts or data tables.

In block1314, the processing device determines if there are more clusters to be visualized. If so, the process can return to block1306, where another cluster can be selected and operations1308-1312can be repeated for that cluster. Otherwise, the process can continue to block1316.

In block1316, the processing device can cause a display device to output a graphical user interface (GUI) with the first graphical element and/or the second graphical element that was generated for each cluster. For example, if there are two clusters, the processing device can cause the display device to output the first graphical element1118dand the second graphical element1130dfor a first cluster. The processing device can also cause the display device to output the first graphical element1118band the second graphical element1130bfor a second cluster. The processing device can cause the display device to output graphical content by transmitting a display communication to the display device.

In some examples, the process may lack operations1304,1306, and1314, and may thus not produce clusters. So, the remaining operations (e.g., operations1308-1312) would be performed with respect to all (or a particular subset) of the nodes in the gate, as opposed to only the nodes in a specific cluster.

General

In the previous description, for the purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of examples of the technology. But various examples can be practiced without these specific details. The figures and description are not intended to be restrictive.

The previous description provides examples that are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the previous description of the examples provides those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an example. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology as set forth in the appended claims.

Specific details are given in the previous description to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. But the examples may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components can be shown as components in block diagram form to prevent obscuring the examples in unnecessary detail. In other examples, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the examples.

Also, individual examples may have been described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart can describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations can be re-arranged. And a process can have more or fewer operations than are depicted in a figure. A process can correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

Systems depicted in some of the figures can be provided in various configurations. In some examples, the systems can be configured as a distributed system where one or more components of the system are distributed across one or more networks in a cloud computing system.