Scalable NoC-based architecture of neural coding for new efficient associative memories

Abstract

We present the first NoC-based hardware implementation of Neural Coding (NC), which is a new approach that opens outstanding perspectives for the design of associative memories and learning machines. We first propose optimized architectures of memories and processing elements that allow for an efficient distributed implementation. Then we introduce different NoC architectures to interconnect all elements, it provides the required scalability and takes advantage of parallel transfer opportunities. Performance, cost and energy consumption tradeoffs of various NoC solutions are compared and discussed. Based on previous implementation results, we run SystemC-TLM that validate the behavior of the algorithm and of the efficiency of the dedicated architecture. This work demonstrates that this architecture can meet expected requirements in terms of scalability and hierarchy, and consequently that NC-based architectures are compliant with efficient hardware implementations of a new and promising model of associative memories.