Priority-assignment interface to enhance approximate computing

Abstract

A system and method are provided for enhancing approximate computing by a computer system. In one example, an interface is provided comprising a variable-identifier module and a bit-priority module. The variable-identifier module is configured to identify one or more variables of data that are to be processed by the computer system with approximate precision. Approximate precision is a precision level at which a hardware device does not guarantee full data-correctness for the one or more variables. The bit-priority module is configured to assign bit-priorities to the one or more variables. The bit-priorities include relative levels of importance among bits of each of the one or more variables. The relative levels of importance include at least high-priority bits and low-priority bits.