In-Network Learning: Distributed Training and Inference in Networks †

In this paper, we study distributed inference and learning over networks which can be modeled by a directed graph. A subset of the nodes observes different features, which are all relevant/required for the inference task that needs to be performed at some distant end (fusion) node. We develop a learning algorithm and an architecture that can combine the information from the observed distributed features, using the processing units available across the networks. In particular, we employ information-theoretic tools to analyze how inference propagates and fuses across a network. Based on the insights gained from this analysis, we derive a loss function that effectively balances the model’s performance with the amount of information transmitted across the network. We study the design criterion of our proposed architecture and its bandwidth requirements. Furthermore, we discuss implementation aspects using neural networks in typical wireless radio access and provide experiments that illustrate benefits over state-of-the-art techniques.