The world of high-performance computing (HPC) is heating up, not just with processing power, but with a legal battle brewing between German HPC vendor ParTec and tech giant Microsoft. On June 10, 2024, ParTec filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging that Microsoft’s Azure AI platform infringes on its patents related to a critical technology: dynamic modular system architecture (dMSA).
ParTec’s dMSA technology is a game-changer in supercomputing architecture. It revolves around tightly coupled modules housing a large number of interconnected processors or accelerators. This innovative design enables efficient handling of mixed workflows, seamlessly integrating HPC, AI, and big data analytics. According to the lawsuit, Microsoft’s Azure AI platform, touted as “one of the most powerful AI supercomputers in the world,” leverages technology covered by ParTec’s patents, granted between 2018 and 2024.
ParTec is seeking a multi-pronged resolution. The company is requesting an injunction to halt Microsoft’s use of the allegedly infringing technology within the Azure AI platform. Additionally, they are pursuing compensation for damages incurred due to the infringement and licensing fees for the use of their patented technology. The lawsuit also indicates ParTec’s preference for a jury trial.
Microsoft Azure
Beyond the Lawsuit: Implications for the Tech Industry
This patent dispute transcends a single case. It underscores the growing significance of patent protection in the rapidly evolving landscape of supercomputing and AI development. Companies like ParTec are taking a proactive stance in enforcing their intellectual property rights, sending a clear message to tech giants like Microsoft. The onus lies on these larger players to ensure their products and services operate within the boundaries of existing patents.
This legal battle serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder to all industry participants. Staying ahead of the intellectual property curve is crucial. Companies must meticulously evaluate their technology against existing patents to avoid potential infringement lawsuits. Conversely, for those pioneering new advancements, securing robust patent protection is paramount to safeguarding their innovations and reaping the rewards of their research and development efforts.
The Takeaway: Protecting Innovation in a Competitive Landscape
The ongoing patent dispute between ParTec and Microsoft highlights the intricate world of intellectual property in the tech industry. As the boundaries of supercomputing and AI continue to be pushed, robust patent protection strategies will be instrumental for both established players and emerging innovators.
Intellect Partners Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive patent solutions, is proud to announce its recent recognition in the esteemed IAM Patent 1000 as a “Highly-recommended Firm” in transactions. This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the realm of intellectual property.
The inclusion in IAM Patent 1000, renowned for its rigorous evaluation process, reflects our dedication to delivering top-tier services in licensing, monetization, and contentious patent matters. Abhay Dangayach, Associate Director- IP R&D Solutions at Intellect Partners, expressed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to be recognized by IAM. This acknowledgment is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire team, validating our commitment to providing innovative and effective solutions.”
“The team provides comprehensive services across various technologies, including company/product research and patent portfolio analysis.”
A Technologically Savvy Team Delivering Exceptional Service
With a team of 40+ experienced patent experts and state-of-the-art laboratories, Intellect Partners offers a wide range of services, from reverse engineering and in-house testing to patent analysis and claim chart development. Our multidimensional approach ensures that clients receive tailored solutions to meet their patent objectives efficiently and effectively.
Experience the Advantage with Intellect Partners
At Intellect Partners, we distinguish ourselves through our comprehensive approach to patent services. With a collaborative team of 40+ patent agents & engineers, supported by cutting-edge laboratories, we offer unparalleled expertise to our clients. Our professionals not only possess legal acumen but also boast extensive technical backgrounds, enabling us to address the multifaceted challenges of the modern patent landscape effectively.
Our unique blend of expertise empowers us to:
Execute high-quality reverse engineering and internal testing of original products.
Conduct thorough research on each patent and its application, drawing insightful comparisons with similar samples.
Develop clear and logical claim charts.
Craft professional plans tailored to your organization’s unique needs, bringing exceptional ideas to fruition.
With Intellect Partners, you can trust in our commitment to delivering comprehensive patent solutions that drive your success.
Intellect Partners is at the forefront of innovation in patenting, offering unparalleled expertise in licensing, monetization, litigation, and patent portfolio management. Rooted in contemporary values and driven by a passion for excellence, we are dedicated to empowering our clients to achieve their patent objectives effectively.
IAM Patent 1000: Recognized Team Members
We are delighted to share the news that two of our esteemed colleagues, Rahul Thukral and Tanya Chauhan, have been honored as recommended individuals in the esteemed IAM 1000 2024 listing! This recognition is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our entire team in advancing success through strategic IP initiatives. Discover what IAM has to say about us by visiting: https://www.iam-media.com/rankings/patent-1000/profile/firm/intellect-partners
IAM Patent 1000: A Global Recognition of Excellence
As a participant in IAM Patent 1000, Intellect Partners joins the ranks of the world’s top patent professionals and agencies. This prestigious directory provides invaluable insights into the global patent market, helping businesses identify the best partners for prosecution, litigation, and licensing, and all patent matters.
Contact Intellect Partners today to experience the advantage first-hand and learn how our team can help you achieve your patent objectives. Visit our website at www.intellect-partners.com or email us at info@intellect-partners.com in case of any queries.
Kubernetes (K8s) is an open-source platform that facilitates the execution of containerized applications in a virtual environment via Application Program Interfaces (APIs). Containerized applications are programs that are executed in containers. Containers are the virtual entities that hold the primary code for the execution of an application, its dependencies of that application and the configuration files of that application. Containerized applications are widely adapted because they facilitate the execution of multiple applications in a single host by isolating them from the core Operating System. This makes Kubernetes a go-to for users/developers to test, assess, and deploy their applications.
Kubernetes Architecture
Kubernetes employs a Master-Slave architecture. Kubernetes Cluster is divided into two separate planes:
i. Control Plane: Also known as the Master Node, theControl plane can be interpreted as the brains of Kubernetes. It is the policy maker that applications executed in Kubernetes clusters have to follow. It consists of:
a.API server: The API server is the entity that authenticates and authorizes a developer and allows interaction between the developer and Kubernetes Cluster. The API server configures and manipulates entities in the data plane via Kubernetes Controller-Manager, Kubernetes Scheduler, and Key-Value Store (Etcd). b. Kubernetes Controller-Manager: It is the entity in the Control Plane that is responsible for keeping the system in a desired state, as per the instructions obtained from the API server. It constantly monitors the containers, Pods, and Nodes and tweaks them to bring them to the desired state. c. Kubernetes Scheduler: It is the entity in the Control plane responsible for deploying applications in Worker Nodes received through the API server. It schedules the applications as per their requirements of resources, like memory, identifies suitable Pods, and places them in suitable Worker Nodes in the Kubernetes Clusters. d. Key-Value Store (Etcd): It is a storage that can be placed within the control plane or independent of it. Key-value Store, as the name suggests, stores all the data of the Kubernetes Cluster, i.e., it provides a restore point to the whole of the Kubernetes Cluster.
ii. Data Plane: The Data Plane is a cluster of Kubernetes Worker Nodes that executes the policies made by the Control plane for the smooth operation of applications within the Kubernetes Cluster. Worker nodes are the machines that run containerized applications and provide the necessary resources for the applications to run smoothly. Each Worker Node consists of: a. Kubelet: Kubelet is the entity within the Worker Node that is responsible for connecting that node with the API server in the Control Plane and reporting the status of Pods and containers within the node. This facilitates the resources assigned to that node to become a part of the Kubernetes Cluster. It is also responsible for the execution of works received from the API server to keep the node in a desired state by making the necessary changes as per API server instructions. b. Kube-proxy: It is responsible for routing traffic from the users through the Internet to the correct applications within a node by creating/altering traffic routing policies for that node. c. Pods: Pods are the entities in the Worker Node that have containers within them. Although it is possible to host multiple application instances in a Pod, running one application instance in one Pod is recommended. Pods are capable of horizontal scaling, i.e., they are created according to the application instance needs. If assigned node resources are available, Pods can utilize more resources than assigned to them- if needed. Pods, along with containers, are capable of running on multiple machines. The resources of the Pods are shared among the containers it hosts.
i. The developer should have a Service account. This account is needed to authenticate and authorize a developer. Also, this service account is used for authentication against the API server when the application needs access to protected resources.
ii. Create a new Node or select an existing node according to the application requirement (memory, RAM, etc).
iii. The intended application should be packed in a Docker image or similar container format. A Docker image is a software package that has all the necessary programs, dependencies, runtimes, libraries, and configuration files for an application to run smoothly.
iv. The developer should define Kubernetes Manifest as a YAML or JASON file. The Kubernetes Manifest defines the desired state for the application to be deployed. It consists of: a.Configmaps: As the name suggests, Configmaps have configuration data of the application to be deployed. It has supporting configurations, like environment variables for the intended application. The total size of this data is less than 1MB. b. Secrets: Kubernetes secrets are similar to Configmaps, but hold secure information. They hold supporting files, like passwords, for the application that is to be deployed. c. Deployments: Deployments define the procedure of creating and updating application instances for the application to be deployed. d. Kubernetes Service: It is the entity that assigns an IP address or hostname to the application that is to be deployed. When the assigned name is matched to a user’s search string, the application is presented to the user through the internet via Kube Proxy.
v. The developer places the Docker image through the Kubernetes API server. The API server pulls the Docker image to create the containers in the Pods, to deploy the intended application.
vi. Once the intended application is deployed in the pods, the developer can monitor, update, change, and edit the application as per the requirement through Kubectl from the developers’ service account through the API server in the control panel.
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