FPGA for Information Retrieval
Overview
The goal of this project was to develop an information retrieval prototype using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Mitrion-C in order to speed up the filtering task in a way that it can be carried out in (or at least close to) real time. The delivered prototype demonstrates a potential application to patent searchers for interactive online filtering of a collection, based on the current information needs of the patent searcher.
By implementing a document filtering application using FPGAs, speed gains by a factor of 20 and more when filtering a collection of documents were demonstrated. These results show that the usage of FPGAs as "greener hardware" can deliver tremendous benefits by reducing the power consumed, while at the same time increasing the speed of execution.