SCGAN: Semi-Centralized Generative Adversarial Network for image generation in distributed scenes

Abstract

Distributed Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are pivotal for generative tasks in distributed data environments. Conventional architectures, whether centralized or decentralized, inadequately balance global and local data distribution integration. We propose the Semi-Centralized Distributed GAN (SCGAN), a hybrid framework combining the merits of both approaches. SCGAN employs dual generators—one decentralized, one centralized—and a feature extractor that optimizes their outputs by dynamically calculating feature distances, thereby achieving a balanced semi-centralized generator. Extensive experiments on five benchmark image datasets reveal that SCGAN surpasses existing models, delivering superior Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) scores and generating highly realistic images. Moreover, SCGAN’s robustness and versatility are demonstrated through its efficacy in downstream applications, including image augmentation and distributed privacy protection. Notably, SCGAN’s generated images were evaluated using a distributed classifier, a quality metric (IS), and human observation, consistently outperforming existing methods. This study highlights SCGAN’s significant advancements in distributed generative modeling and its nuanced approach to managing complex data distributions, particularly excelling in privacy-preserving scenarios.