Large Scale Neural Network Application Programming Interface

This document describes a programming interface to be used for simulating an artificial neural network or a network of simulated brain cells. This API is distinguished by the scale of simulations it hopes to accomodate, which is on the order of 100,000,000,000 neurons. The neural network model is simulated by means of an iterative process executed over a number of separate processing nodes. Each node may be part of a tailored beowulf cluser or one of a large number of computers distributed over the internet. This API is expected to become part of the standard library for a new programming language currently under closed development
(development will be opened when it reaches a suitable state of maturity).

The assumptions underlying the model are described in the associated document: Assumptions

The details of the simulation cycle are described in the associated document: Processing Loop

Through the initial version of the API is static future versions will provide for the model to be dynamically optimised to run on the available processing nodes. This is termed a 'mobile model'.

Network Topologies will be transferred through means of a standard interchange format described in the associated documents:

NetData.html - incomplete
NetSpec.html - not yet available
MapFormat.html - incomplete

Note: This part of the document is in very early stages. A reference implementation is being developed in tandem (in C/C++) and is at a more advanced level of construction.

Objects

The API defines minimum programmatical properties for the following objects

Neuron - an arbitary software analog of a biological neuron
Connection - properties of connections between a pair of neurons
Network - includes recursive definition in terms of other networks
NeuronAddress - a means of addressing a neuron in a very large network
Region - specifies a sub area of the network
ProcesssingNode - describes and handles the processing a part of a network, usually that to be handled by a single computer.
DistributionObject - specifies how the implementation of the network is to be distributed over the available processing nodes
CoordinatorNode - used to gather global information from processing ndoes
Pixel - used to generate a visual representation of part of a network
NeuronDataFile - OS independent API for accessing the underlying filesystem efficiently in the context of the Large Scale Neural Network API

Legalese

This is an open standard which may be used, modified or reproduced freely for any purpose whatsoever provided that its original and contributing authors are duely acredited somewhere in any accompanying documentation. It is provided as is comes with no warrantly either express or implied. The complete API consists of this document and those that it links to which have the title "Large Scale Neural Network API". Any queries relating to this license should be directed to the documents author. As an additional courtesy it is requested but not required that the authors are kept informed of the uses to which the API is put.
(C) Copyright Bruce S. O. Adams 2000 - All rights reserved.

Contributions

This is an open and evolving standard created for the purpose of scientific research. Contributions are actively encouraged. At present their is normal formal support or renumeration for any work undertaken. Criticisms, suggested improvements and all other queries should be directed to the email address given below:

This document is under version control using CVS
The Current Version is $Revision: 1.2 $
It was last updated $Date: 2007/02/07 23:32:03 $
Please direct queries to: LSNNAPI at cybernetics demon co uk

EOF