Neural network devices and methods of operating the same

Abstract

A neural network device may generate an input feature list based on an input feature map, where the input feature list includes an input feature index and an input feature value, generating an output feature index based on the input feature index corresponding to an input feature included in the input feature list and a weight index corresponding to a weight included in a weight list, and generating an output feature value corresponding to the output feature index based on the input feature value corresponding to the input feature and a weight value corresponding to the weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A neural network device comprising:
 a first memory storing a program of instructions; and   a processor configured to execute the program of instructions to
 perform an index operation based on an input feature index, the input feature index indicating a location of an input feature on an input feature map, 
 generate an output feature index based on an index operation result of the index operation, 
 perform a data operation based on an input feature value of the input feature, and 
 generate an output feature value corresponding to the output feature index based on a data operation result of the data operation. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 generating, using a list maker of a processor, an input feature list based on an input feature map, the input feature list including an input feature index and an input feature value, the input feature index and the input feature value corresponding to an input feature; and   causing an index remapper of the processor to perform a first operation to generate an output feature index, the first operation including
 adding the input feature index and a weight index of a weight list, 
 dividing an added-up value resulting from the adding by an integer, and 
 selecting a quotient of the dividing as the output feature index based on a determination that no remainder is present upon completion of the dividing.