Neural Network Data Stream Compression for Transfer Bottlenecks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Neural network performance is hindered by the time-consuming data transfer between on-chip and off-chip storage due to limited bandwidth, where the transfer time exceeds calculation time.

Innovation Solution

A method that reads and splices data sub-blocks into continuous streams, compresses them, and determines if there's a compression gain by calculating the number of beats required for transfer before and after compression, outputting the compressed data sub-blocks if a gain is achieved, thereby improving data transfer efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is transferred between on-chip and off-chip storage without compression, then data transfer bandwidth is limited, but transfer time exceeds calculation time resulting in poor neural network performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneural network performanceVSAvoiddata transfer time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential data elements by compressing data sub-blocks before transfer. By identifying and removing redundant information in the data stream, the system reduces the volume of data that needs to be transferred between on-chip and off-chip storage, directly addressing the bandwidth limitation and reducing transfer time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of data representation by applying compression algorithms to transform the data from its original form to a compressed form. This parameter change reduces the data size while preserving the essential information needed for neural network calculations, thereby improving transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If compression is applied to all data sub-blocks, then data transfer efficiency may improve, but unnecessary compression overhead is introduced when compression gain is minimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcompression overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial compression by selectively compressing only those data sub-blocks that demonstrate sufficient compression gain. Rather than compressing all data uniformly, the system evaluates each sub-block and applies compression only where beneficial, avoiding unnecessary overhead while still improving overall transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism that evaluates the compression gain of each data sub-block before deciding whether to compress it. By calculating the compression ratio and comparing it against a threshold, the system dynamically adjusts its compression strategy based on the actual characteristics of the data being transferred.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3846021B1Data output method, data acquisition method, device, and electronic apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCI & TECH CO LTD
  • EP3846021B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3846021B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3846021B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A data output method, a data acquisition method, a device, and an electronic apparatus are provided, which relate to a field of neural network technology, and a specific technical solution is: reading a first data sub-block, and splicing the first data sub-block into a continuous data stream, wherein the first data sub-block is a data sub-block in transferred data in a neural network; compressing the continuous data stream to acquire a second data sub-block; determining, according to a length of the first data sub-block and a length of the second data sub-block, whether there is a gain in compression of the continuous data stream; outputting the second data sub-block if there is the gain in the compression of the continuous data stream. This application achieves a technical effect of improving performance of a neural network.