Sparse Matrix Padding

A method for padding a compressed storage file of a sparse matrix, comprising:

• selectively adding one or more zero elements to a row of non-zero elements comprised within the sparse matrix so that a number of elements in respective rows are a multiple of a predetermined even number, the predetermined even number equal to or greater than an even number that is used for an n-fold unrolling loop configured to operate on a padded CSR file format;
• forming a value vector comprising the zero elements and the non-zero elements of the sparse matrix, the zero elements located at positions not occupied by the non-zero elements of the sparse matrix;
• inserting a number of column index vector elements into a column index vector which respectively indicate column numbers of the zero elements inserted into the value vector, the number of inserted column index vector elements equal to a number of zero elements inserted into the value vector;
• and
• updating a row index vector to enable respective row index vector elements to point to a new starting or ending address of respective rows in the value vector and the column index vector.