Abstract: An optimization apparatus includes a compression unit, a storage unit, a decoding unit, and an annealing unit. The compression unit outputs compressed coefficient data in which a coefficient matrix including coupling coefficients, each of which indicates a coupling strength between bits of an Ising model obtained by converting a calculation target problem, is compressed on the basis of a symmetry property or a pattern property of the coefficient matrix. The storage unit holds the compressed coefficient data outputted by the compression unit. The decoding unit decodes the compressed coefficient data stored in the storage unit to obtain the coupling coefficients. The annealing unit performs a simulated annealing operation by using the coupling coefficients obtained by the decoding unit.

Abstract: A calculation circuit calculates, among a plurality of neurons whose states are represented by variables each having m values (m is a positive integer of 3 or greater), two energy changes caused by a state change of a second neuron by 2n (n is an integer of 0 or greater) in positive and negative directions, based on a state change direction of a first neuron whose state has been updated and a weighting coefficient indicating magnitude of an interaction between the first and second neurons. A state transition determination circuit determines, based on magnitude relationships among a thermal excitation energy and the two energy changes, whether to allow updates of the state of the second neuron that cause the two energy change, outputs the determination results, and limits updates by which the state of the second neuron exceeds an upper limit value or falls below a lower limit value.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: a plurality of search parts; and a controller that controls the plurality of search parts, wherein, each of the plurality of search parts includes a state holding part configured to hold each of values of a plurality of state variables included in an evaluation function representing an energy value, an energy calculation part configured to calculate a change value of the energy value generated in a case where any one of the values of the plurality of state variables is changed, and a transition controller configured to stochastically determine whether or not to accept a state transition by a relative relation between the change value of the energy value and thermal excitation energy, based on a set temperature value, the change value, and a random number value.

Abstract: A problem is inputted into an operation unit. A computation unit searches for a ground state of an Ising model. A management unit converts the problem inputted from the operation unit to the Ising model, inputs the Ising model produced by conversion and initial operating conditions into the computation unit, and has the computation unit search for the ground state using overall operating conditions produced by changing the initial operating conditions based on a result of the computation unit searching for the ground state using the initial operating conditions.

Abstract: An optimization apparatus includes a processor. The processor configured to execute search for a ground state of energy in an Ising model by using a plurality of temperature values, select a first solution and a second solution from a plurality of solutions, sequentially perform processing of calculating a change of the energy in the Ising model caused when one value of a plurality of bits of a bit sequence of the first solution different from bits of a bit sequence of the second solution is changed on each of the plurality of bits, computing, when an increase of the energy continuously occurs a plurality of number of times, a total value of the energies increased in the plurality of number of times, decide a maximum value of the plurality of temperature values based on the total value, and setting the decided maximum value.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a node and another node. The node searches for the solution to a problem that is represented by an energy function including a plurality of state variables by changing a value of each of state variables belong to state variable group assigned corresponding to a subproblem generated by dividing the problem. The nodes holds a first weighting coefficient for a pair of state variables assigned to the node, and a second weighting coefficient for a pair of a state variable assigned to the node and a state variable assigned to the another node or a penalty value, calculates, for a value of each of the state variables, a change amount of a value of the energy function, based on a first weighting coefficient and a second weighting coefficient or a penalty value, and determines the state variable based on the calculated change amount.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: search circuits, each configured to: hold values of state variables included in an evaluation function representing an energy value; calculate a change value of the energy value for each of state transitions which occurs in response to a change in one of the state variables; and determine stochastically whether to accept one of the state transitions according to a relative relationship between the change value of the energy value and thermal excitation energy, based on a set temperature value, the change value, and a random number value; and a controller configured to: acquire statistical information regarding a transition of a temperature value in each search circuit; determine a temperature value to be set in each search circuit based on the statistical information; set the temperature value for each search circuit; and exchange the temperature value or the values of the state variables between the search circuits.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: a processor; and search circuits configured to determine energy values for combinations of two state variables of a state variables, based on weight values each indicating strength of connection between the two state variables, and values of the two state variables, determine values of the state variables, based on results of comparison between evaluation values obtained by adding a noise value corresponding to a temperature to each energy value, and a threshold value, and be set to be equal to each other in connection states between the state variables based on the weight values, the processor is configured to: determine an exchange count, based on a difference between a temperature set for a search circuit corresponding to the lowest energy value, and a minimum temperature; set a temperature for each search circuit; and exchange the set temperatures between the search circuits for the exchange count.

Abstract: A method includes: acquiring, from a search node configured to perform a search for a ground state represented by plural state variables included in an energy function by using plural temperature values and hold a value of the energy function for the plural state variables, a value of the energy function obtained for the plural state variables at a first temperature value among the plural temperature values; determining whether the value acquired is smaller than a smallest value of the energy function obtained for the plural state variables before reaching the first temperature value; recording update information indicating that the smallest value has been updated at the first temperature value in a case where the value is smaller than the smallest value; and outputting a second temperature value based on the first temperature value at which the update information has been recorded among the plural temperature values.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor configured to search for a ground state of energy values represented by a plurality of state variables by using temperature values different from each other, and exchange values of the plurality of state variables or the temperature values, based on an exchange probability corresponding to a pair of the energy values obtained.

Abstract: A video image encoding apparatus includes an in-picture motion vector calculation unit and a vector encoding unit. The in-picture motion vector calculation unit calculates an in-picture motion vector indicating a spatial movement amount between a block to be encoded and a reference block in an encoded region in the picture to be encoded. The vector encoding unit obtains a prediction vector for predicting the in-picture motion vector of the block to be encoded based on at least one of a first in-picture motion vector calculated in a first reference available region including a block encoded before the block to be encoded is encoded and a second in-picture motion vector calculated in a second reference available region including a block in a position corresponding to the block to be encoded in an already encoded reference picture, and performs prediction encoding on the in-picture motion vector based on the prediction vector.

Abstract: An optimization apparatus includes a processor. The processor configured to execute search for a ground state of energy in an Ising model by using a plurality of temperature values, select a first solution and a second solution from a plurality of solutions, sequentially perform processing of calculating a change of the energy in the Ising model caused when one value of a plurality of bits of a bit sequence of the first solution different from bits of a bit sequence of the second solution is changed on each of the plurality of bits, computing, when an increase of the energy continuously occurs a plurality of number of times, a total value of the energies increased in the plurality of number of times, decide a maximum value of the plurality of temperature values based on the total value, and setting the decided maximum value.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: a plurality of search parts; and a controller that controls the plurality of search parts, wherein, each of the plurality of search parts includes a state holding part configured to hold each of values of a plurality of state variables included in an evaluation function representing an energy value, an energy calculation part configured to calculate a change value of the energy value generated in a case where any one of the values of the plurality of state variables is changed, and a transition controller configured to stochastically determine whether or not to accept a state transition by a relative relation between the change value of the energy value and thermal excitation energy, based on a set temperature value, the change value, and a random number value.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: a processor; and search circuits configured to determine energy values for combinations of two state variables of a state variables, based on weight values each indicating strength of connection between the two state variables, and values of the two state variables, determine values of the state variables, based on results of comparison between evaluation values obtained by adding a noise value corresponding to a temperature to each energy value, and a threshold value, and be set to be equal to each other in connection states between the state variables based on the weight values, the processor is configured to: determine an exchange count, based on a difference between a temperature set for a search circuit corresponding to the lowest energy value, and a minimum temperature; set a temperature for each search circuit; and exchange the set temperatures between the search circuits for the exchange count.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: search circuits, each configured to: hold values of state variables included in an evaluation function representing an energy value; calculate a change value of the energy value for each of state transitions which occurs in response to a change in one of the state variables; and determine stochastically whether to accept one of the state transitions according to a relative relationship between the change value of the energy value and thermal excitation energy, based on a set temperature value, the change value, and a random number value; and a controller configured to: acquire statistical information regarding a transition of a temperature value in each search circuit; determine a temperature value to be set in each search circuit based on the statistical information; set the temperature value for each search circuit; and exchange the temperature value or the values of the state variables between the search circuits.

Abstract: A calculation circuit calculates, among a plurality of neurons whose states are represented by variables each having m values (m is a positive integer of 3 or greater), two energy changes caused by a state change of a second neuron by 2n (n is an integer of 0 or greater) in positive and negative directions, based on a state change direction of a first neuron whose state has been updated and a weighting coefficient indicating magnitude of an interaction between the first and second neurons. A state transition determination circuit determines, based on magnitude relationships among a thermal excitation energy and the two energy changes, whether to allow updates of the state of the second neuron that cause the two energy change, outputs the determination results, and limits updates by which the state of the second neuron exceeds an upper limit value or falls below a lower limit value.

Abstract: An optimization apparatus includes a compression unit, a storage unit, a decoding unit, and an annealing unit. The compression unit outputs compressed coefficient data in which a coefficient matrix including coupling coefficients, each of which indicates a coupling strength between bits of an Ising model obtained by converting a calculation target problem, is compressed on the basis of a symmetry property or a pattern property of the coefficient matrix. The storage unit holds the compressed coefficient data outputted by the compression unit. The decoding unit decodes the compressed coefficient data stored in the storage unit to obtain the coupling coefficients. The annealing unit performs a simulated annealing operation by using the coupling coefficients obtained by the decoding unit.

Abstract: A problem is inputted into an operation unit. A computation unit searches for a ground state of an Ising model. A management unit converts the problem inputted from the operation unit to the Ising model, inputs the Ising model produced by conversion and initial operating conditions into the computation unit, and has the computation unit search for the ground state using overall operating conditions produced by changing the initial operating conditions based on a result of the computation unit searching for the ground state using the initial operating conditions.

Abstract: A video image encoding apparatus includes an in-picture motion vector calculation unit and a vector encoding unit. The in-picture motion vector calculation unit calculates an in-picture motion vector indicating a spatial movement amount between a block to be encoded and a reference block in an encoded region in the picture to be encoded. The vector encoding unit obtains a prediction vector for predicting the in-picture motion vector of the block to be encoded based on at least one of a first in-picture motion vector calculated in a first reference available region including a block encoded before the block to be encoded is encoded and a second in-picture motion vector calculated in a second reference available region including a block in a position corresponding to the block to be encoded in an already encoded reference picture, and performs prediction encoding on the in-picture motion vector based on the prediction vector.