Enhancing the interoperability between deep learning frameworks by model conversion

Abstract

Deep learning (DL) has become one of the most successful machine learning techniques. To achieve the optimal development result, there are emerging requirements on the interoperability between DL frameworks that the trained model files and training/serving programs can be re-utilized. Faithful model conversion is a promising technology to enhance the framework interoperability in which a source model is transformed into the semantic equivalent in another target framework format. However, several major challenges need to be addressed. First, there are apparent discrepancies between DL frameworks. Second, understanding the semantics of a source model could be difficult due to the framework scheme and optimization. Lastly, there exist a large number of DL frameworks, bringing potential significant engineering efforts.