Brute-force search of fast convolution algorithms

Abstract

Recent research presents a technique to enumerate all valid assignments of “twiddle factors” for power-of-two fast Fourier transform (FFT) flow graphs. Brute-force search employing state-of-the-art Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solvers can then be used to find FFT algorithms within this large solution space which have desirable characteristics. Surprisingly, this approach has discovered FFT algorithms requiring fewer operations than the split-radix algorithm even when all twiddle factors are nth roots of unity. This paper reviews and then extends this prior research to examine fast discrete convolution algorithms when implemented via FFT and inverse FFT (IFFT) algorithms. In particular, we find that the combination of FFT and IFFT algorithms in fast convolution permits greater freedom when selecting valid twiddle factor assignments. We exploit this freedom and use SAT solvers to find new fast convolution algorithms with the lowest operation counts known.