Rebirth: Starting from Lighting Up the Tech Tree

Chapter 066 Solution Formulation

On the afternoon of the third day, Zuo Cheng arrived at Huaxia University of Technology with a complete technical solution.

The document was a thick stack, over eighty pages long. The cover was simple and clear, titled "Technical Framework for the Third Phase of Sky Dome," with the joint signatures of 402 Technology and Professor Li Weimin's team below.

In Professor Li's office, Zuo Cheng and Yu Ying sat side by side, awaiting their teacher's review. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Professor Li flipped through the document quickly, but carefully examined each page. He would stop every now and then to circle a passage or write a few words in the margin. His expression remained calm, revealing neither satisfaction nor dissatisfaction.

The atmosphere in the office was tense. Yu Ying's hands rested on her knees, her fingers slightly curled. Zuo Cheng, on the other hand, appeared calm, but his heart was pounding. They had barely slept for the past two days, scrutinizing every detail of the plan repeatedly, but facing an authority like Professor Li, they still felt uncertain.

This solution is the result of their team's continuous work over two days and two nights. They've exhausted their technical analysis resources; the rest relies entirely on their own abilities and Yu Ying's academic support.

If Professor Li does not approve, not only will the cooperation fall through, but the bidding for the Sky Dome project will also be affected.

Half an hour later, Professor Li finally put down the document.

"The overall approach is correct," he said, his voice not loud, but Zuo Cheng and Yu Ying both breathed a sigh of relief. These words meant that their efforts had not been in vain, and the general direction of the plan was correct.

"The concept of space-ground integration is very advanced, and the distributed architecture is more adaptable to future needs than Huaxin's centralized approach," Professor Li continued, his tone tinged with approval. "I think your solution is at least a generation ahead of Huaxin's. However, there are a few issues that, if not resolved, will be used against you during the bidding process."

"You said." Zuo Cheng sat up straight.

"First, where will the training data for the latency prediction model come from? You said you'd use the data from the first two phases of Sky Dome, but whether Blue Bay Communications is willing to provide it is a question. Data is a core asset, and they may not be willing to share it."

"I've already contacted Zhou Henian," Zuo Cheng said. "He said he could provide an anonymized dataset for algorithm training. All sensitive information has been removed, retaining only the data showing regular changes in latency."

Professor Li nodded: "Secondly, how do you guarantee the convergence of dynamic load balancing? Your consistent hashing scheme is theoretically feasible, but will it experience oscillations during actual operation?"

Zuo Cheng was prepared: "We added a damping factor to the solution, so that each transfer only moves a portion of the load, not the entire load. This avoids oscillations and improves system stability."

Professor Li flipped through the document and found that section. He looked at it for a while and nodded.

"Third," he looked up at Zuo Cheng, "and most importantly, while your proposal is indeed more advanced than Huaxin's, Huaxin has twenty years of industry experience, and many of their old friends are on the evaluation committee. Advanced technology doesn't guarantee a winning bid."

Zuo Cheng fell silent.

He had certainly thought about this question. Having worked at CEFC for twelve years in his previous life, he was all too familiar with the intricate network of connections within the company.

"So," Professor Li paused, "you need to find a technological highlight in the proposal that Huaxin can't refute. Not that it's better, but that they don't have it."

Zuo Cheng's eyes lit up.

He remembered something. In his previous life in 2022, CEFC lost an international standard-setting competition for low-Earth orbit satellite communications because they lacked a key technology patent: adaptive coding and modulation technology for satellite-to-ground links.

The patent was held by Blue Bay Communications at the time, and Huaxin had been trying to acquire it, but had never succeeded.

"Professor Li, do you know if Blue Bay Communications has any patents related to adaptive coding modulation?"

Professor Li paused for a moment, then smiled approvingly.

"You're quick-witted, aren't you? That's right, Blue Bay Communications has patents in this area, and they're core patents. Huaxin has always wanted to use them, but Blue Bay hasn't given them to them."

"What if we incorporate this technology into our solution?"

"Then Huaxin can't do anything about it," Professor Li said. "Their solution doesn't include this technology, but yours does, and you have a cooperative relationship with Lanwan, so it makes technical sense."

Zuo Cheng stood up and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your guidance, Professor Li."

"No need to thank me," Professor Li waved his hand. "You came up with this yourselves. I just gave you a heads-up."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Professor Li stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to them. The leaves of the sycamore trees outside the window were beginning to turn yellow, and autumn was deepening.

"I've been teaching for thirty years and have taught many students," Professor Li suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with emotion. "Yu Ying is one of the most talented students I've ever seen, but her life has been too smooth. Zuo Cheng, I think it's a good thing you've given her this opportunity."

Zuo Cheng listened quietly.

"But I must remind you," Professor Li turned around, his gaze turning serious, "that academia and industry are two different worlds. What you are doing now is a combination of both; it requires both academic rigor and industrial pragmatism."

"We understand."

"I hope so." Professor Li nodded. "Yu Ying."

"exist."

"You've found a great team," Professor Li said. "They have solid technical skills, quick minds, and most importantly, an indomitable spirit."

Yu Ying smiled: "Thank you, teacher."

"The collaboration can officially begin now." Professor Li turned around. "My team will fully cooperate with you, but there's one condition."

"You said."

"Regardless of the outcome of this bidding process, you must complete your doctoral studies." Professor Li looked at Yu Ying. "This is my requirement for you, and also for your team. Academic pursuits cannot be neglected, understand?"

"clear."

Zuo Cheng and Yu Ying spoke in unison.

As they left Huaxia University of Technology, the sun was already beginning to set. Zuo Cheng and Yu Ying walked side by side along the tree-lined path on campus, the leaves of the plane trees rustling in the evening breeze.

"Adaptive coding modulation technology," Yu Ying said. "How did you come up with this idea?"

"I had read some related papers before," Zuo Cheng said vaguely. "I felt that this technology was very suitable for the Sky Dome project, so I kept it in mind."

Yu Ying glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

"What do we do next?"

"Go back and revise the plan," Zuo Cheng said. "Adding adaptive coding modulation was the final straw that broke Huaxin's back."

Are you confident?

Zuo Cheng stopped and looked at the setting sun in the distance. The orange-red light shone on his face, making his features particularly clear.

"Yes," he said. "We're sure to win this time."

Yu Ying looked at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"I trust you."

The two continued walking forward, their shadows stretching long on the ground and gradually merging together.