Methods, systems, and devices for split and duplicate ripple circuits are described. A ripple circuit may be divided into stages, which may operate in parallel. For example, a first stage may have a finite number of possibilities for an output that is relevant for a second stage, and the second stages may be replicated according to the finite number of possibilities. The replicated second stages thus may operate concurrently with each other and the first stage, with each of the replicated second stages assuming a different possible output from the first stage. Once operation of the first stage is complete, the true output of the first stage may be used to select one of the second stages as corresponding to the correct assumed output, and the output of the selected second stage may be or may be included in a set of output signals for the circuit.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide devices and methods for performing a top-k function. The device can include: a memory comprising a plurality of register files for storing the data elements, the plurality of register files comprising a parent register file and a first child register file associated with the parent register file, wherein the parent register file is associated with: first interface circuitry configured for reading a first parent data element from the parent register file and receiving a first child data element and a second child data element from the first child register file; and first comparison circuitry configured for updating the parent register file and the first child register file based on the first parent data element, the first child data element, and the second child data element according to a given principle.

A system and methods for designing single-stage hardware sorting blocks, and further using the single-stage hardware sorting blocks to reduce the number of stages in multistage sorting processes, or to define multiway merge sorting networks.

A method of and system for recommending one or more products to a consumer from a plurality of products, the system comprising: a user interface; and a processor configured to: provide a list of questions for the consumer at the user interface, each question having a defined set of answers; calculate a consumer score for each question using the answer chosen by the consumer at the user interface; calculate a recommendation score for each question, using the consumer score; and select the one or more products for recommendation to the consumer based on the recommendation score.

Methods, systems, and devices for split and duplicate ripple circuits are described. A ripple circuit may be divided into stages, which may operate in parallel. For example, a first stage may have a finite number of possibilities for an output that is relevant for a second stage, and the second stages may be replicated according to the finite number of possibilities. The replicated second stages thus may operate concurrently with each other and the first stage, with each of the replicated second stages assuming a different possible output from the first stage. Once operation of the first stage is complete, the true output of the first stage may be used to select one of the second stages as corresponding to the correct assumed output, and the output of the selected second stage may be or may be included in a set of output signals for the circuit.

Data processing apparatuses, methods and computer programs are disclosed. A range definition register is arranged to store a range specifier and filtering operations are performed with respect to a specified transaction by reference to the range definition register. The range definition register stores the range specifier in a format comprising a significand and an exponent, wherein a range of data identifiers is at least partially defined by the range specifier. When the specified transaction is with respect to a data identifier within the range of data identifiers, the filtering operations performed are dependent on attribute data associated with the range of data identifiers.

Median values for a stream of received data values in a data processing system (e.g. an image processing system) are determined. A first median value of the received data values within a first subset of data values of the received stream is determined, and intermediate data used for determining the first median value is stored. The stored intermediate data is used to determine a median value of the received data values within a second subset of data values of the received stream, wherein the second subset at least partially overlaps with the first subset. The determined median values are outputted for use in the data processing system, e.g. for further processing.

Top-k is a process by which the largest elements among a set of elements is found. In various implementations, a top-k computation can be executed by a neural network accelerator, where the top-k computation is performed using a process that makes use of the accelerators memory array. A set of numerical values on which to perform top-k can be stored in the memory array. The accelerator can locate the maximum value from among the set of numerical values, and can store the maximum value back into the memory array. The accelerator can next remove the maximum value from the set of numerical values, so that a next largest value can be found. To remove the maximum value, the accelerator can write a value representing negative infinity to the memory array at each location of the maximum value.

Described herein are embodiments for assisting in creating a listing for a For Sale Object (FSO). An item name suggestion module receives seller input and provides suggested entries for the listing to help the seller describe the FSO more accurately and consistently. A hierarchical database provides a structure for ordering suggested entries, with the structure ordered based on scores. The scores are based on rules that relate item characteristics and take into account rankings of those item characteristics with respect to one another. Metadata tags that are used by the online merchandise platforms can be identified and included in the listing, even if a seller is not familiar with the metadata tags. The hierarchical database also connects or associates item characteristics in groups that describe specific FSO. The connections can help to optimize search results as the listing is completed by the seller.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus to generate a statistical object, the deterministic statistical representation of an original object, using a Deterministic Random Bit Generator (DRBG) (10). Multiple DRBG Statistical Object Generators (10) may be chained together to increase security by using independent security configurations (22) for each DRBG Statistical Object Generator (10).