System and method for modifying integer and fractional portion sizes of a parameter of a neural network

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes reducing a size of at least one initial parameter of each layer of an initial multilayer neural network to obtain for each layer a set of new parameters defining a new neural network, wherein each new parameter of the set of new parameters has its data represented in two portions comprising an integer portion and a fractional portion; implementing the new neural network using a test input data set applied only once to each layer; determining a distribution function or a density function resulting from the set of new parameters for each layer; and based on the determined distribution function or density function, adjusting a size of a memory area allocated to the fractional portion and a size of the memory area allocated to the integer portion of each new parameter associated with each layer.