PACK AND UNPACK NETWORK AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE BIT WIDTH DATA FORMATS

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for bit packing data having various bit widths in a computer system. The methods and apparatus utilize a fixed bit packing or unpacking network that is configured to pack or unpack data bits of a number of different bit widths from a first number of bit locations to a second number of bit locations in the computer system. The network is specifically configured to pack bits stored in a same bit slot position in respective bit locations of the first number of bit locations by routing the bits into bit slots of a same bit location in the second number of bit locations to form bit bundles in respective ones of the second number of bit locations. Use of a fixed packing network affords optimal matching of bit width to an application that minimizes cost, area,and power, as well as decreasing or minimizing latency. 公开了用于在计算机系统中对具有各种位宽度的数据进行位打包的方法和装置。方法和装置利用固定的位打包或解包网络，固定的位打包或解包网络被配置为在计算机系统中将若干不同位宽度的数据位从第一数目的位位置打包或解包到第二数目的位位置。网络被具体地配置为通过将存储在第一数目的位位置的相应的位位置中的相同的位槽位置中的位路由到第二数目的位位置中的相同