Data processing apparatus and method

A data processing method comprising:

• obtaining to-be-processed data and a control signal, the control signal being used to determine whether to perform split processing or merge processing on the to-be-processed data, and the control signal including a merge control signal and a split control signal;
• converting the to-be-processed data into a plurality of compressed slices for caching;
• and
• performing a data fetch operation on cached data on a per-cycle basis based on the control signal, and outputting a result of the data fetch operation;
• wherein:
• in response to the merge control signal being in an enabled state, the data fetch operation is performed once per cycle, and data is fetched from cached data of the plurality of compressed slices each time the data fetch operation is performed;
• or
• in response to the split control signal being in an enabled state, the data fetch operation is performed multiple times in parallel per cycle, and data is fetched from cached data of a corresponding portion of compressed slices of the plurality of compressed slices each time the data fetch operation is performed.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

• generate a control signal, the control signal being used to determine whether to perform a split processing or a merge processing on to-be-processed data;
• receive the to-be-processed data and the control signal;
• convert the to-be-processed data into a plurality of compressed slices for caching;
• perform a data fetch operation on cached data on a per-cycle basis according to the control signal;
• and
• output a result of the data fetch operation.