Frequently Asked Questions

What is DBOI technology?

Lightfleet’s Direct Broadcast Optical Interconnect (DBOI) is the first simultaneous, all-to-all, optical interconnect technology. It speeds the flow of data between “nodes” (such as multiple processors inside a server), thus eliminating any bottlenecks that today’s switches and other interconnects introduce due to their hierarchical structure. DBOI greatly reduces the number of required cables and external switches. The result is increased communication speed, better reliability, lower operational costs, lower capital costs, lower cooling costs, and lower electrical power costs.

Why is DBOI technology important?

DBOI creates a fundamental change in how computing can be done. Without DBOI, programmers have had to build in delays in their applications so the hardware can keep up.  DBOI also drastically reduces the power required for communications between devices such as processors, computers and storage devices.

DBOI allows direct communication to all connected devices without the wait for a “dial tone” typically imposed by today’s interconnect technologies. The DBOI breakthrough is that all nodes can see all data, all the time, while continuously and simultaneously broadcasting. Communication latency doesn’t increase as nodes are added. DBOI also eliminates cabling complexity, so it has significantly better reliability (Bit Error Rate or BER), even under maximum loads.

What makes DBOI technology so reliable?

Communication through broadcast light is fundamentally different than point-to-point technologies jostling for use of a shared cable. Multiple broadcast light communications spatially pass through each other without interference, much like flashlight beams crossing through each another. This is true non-blocking communication, something that cable-based communication has been unsuccessfully trying to emulate for decades.

Fiber optic communication has been around for decades. What makes DBOI light-based communication superior?

Fiber optic cables are light-based versions of point-to-point electrical connections. Neither technology gets around the fact that today’s point-to-point communication solutions limit system efficiency. Lightfleet’s DBOI uses free space, broadcast light to overcome those inherent limitations.  In addition, fiber optic cables attenuate light-based signals and require special care in installation, handling and micro-polishing of connections. These cables can be very expensive and cumbersome for larger installations. DBOI eliminates the need for performance-degrading cables and scales to a very large number of connections.

Is this innovation unique to Lightfleet?

Yes, Lightfleet cumulatively has 16 domestic and international patents either granted or pending, with several others in the filing process.

What will it take to reap the benefits of DBOI in my data center?

The first place you will see commercially available DBOI based products is in the data center. The first Lightfleet product incorporates DBOI into a server platform and supports standard IP networking protocols, sockets, UDAPL, and common cluster APIs such as MPI and RDMA. Existing application software does not have to be modified, just eliminate the cables and switches.

Is the Lightfleet DBOI technology scalable?

Absolutely. DBOI can scale to the micro level as a board level component or grow in size to handle many hundreds of connections. Lightfleet has patented multiple methods of modulating data with broadcast light and if all these techniques were used simultaneously, multiple bits of information could be sent per light photon. This is more headroom than is currently required by today’s compute loads, but Lightfleet is poised to scale as the market demands more performance.