System and method for rearranging bits of a data word in accordance with a mask using sorting

For producing an electrical output signal representing an array-output data word in response to electrical input signals representing an array-input data word and an array-input mask word, where each of the data words comprises N data units in respective data-unit positions Dn and the mask word comprises N mask bits in respective mask-bit positions Bn, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, by rearranging the data units of the array input data word in accordance with the bits of the array-input mask word, a centrifuge circuit comprising an array of interconnected swap modules wherein:

• A) the swap modules are organized in a series of M swap stages Sm, where m=0, 1, 2, . . . , M−1;
• B) each of the swap stages is associated with a respective stage-input data word and a respective stage-output data word, each of which comprises N data units in respective data-unit positions Dn, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1, and with a stage-input mask word that comprises mask bits in respective mask-bit positions Bn, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1;
• C) the stage-input data and mask words associated with stage S0 are the array-input data and mask words,
• D) at least each of the swap stages Sm such that m<M−1 is associated with a respective stage-output mask word that comprises mask bits in respective mask-bit positions Bn, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , N−1;
• E) the stage-output data and mask words associated with each swap stage Sm such that m<M−1 are the stage-input data and mask words, respectively, associated with the respective swap stage Sm+1;
• F) the stage-output data word associated with swap stage SM−1 is the array output data word;
• G) each swap stage is associated with a respective plurality of non-overlapping pairs of integers n and n+1, with each of which a different one of the swap modules in that stage is associated, and each of those swap modules receives the mask bits in mask-bit positions Mn and Mn+1 of the stage-input data word associated with that swap stage, where n and n+1 are the pair of integers associated with that swap module;
• H) in at least each swap stage but the last, each swap module forwards the mask bits thus received as the mask bits at those mask-bit positions of the stage-output mask word associated with that swap stage:
• i) in reverse order if those mask bits received by that swap module from positions Mn and Mn+1 are set and clear, respectively, and
• ii) in forward order otherwise;
• I) for the integers n and n+1 associated therewith, each swap module in a given swap stage receives the data units in data-unit positions Dn and Dn+1 of the stage-input data word associated with that swap stage and forwards them as the data units in data-unit positions Dn and Dn+1 of the stage-input data word associated with that swap stage:
• i) in reverse order if the received mask bit received by that swap module from positions Mn and Mn+1 are set and clear, respectively;
• and
• ii) in forward order otherwise;
• and
• J) the swap modules are so staggered that, for each m<M−1 such the integers n in the integer pairs n and n+1 associated with the swap modules in swap stage Sm are even, the integers n in the integer pairs n and n+1 associated with the swap modules in swap stage Sm+1 are odd.