Apparatuses and methods for converting a mask to an index

1. A system, comprising:

a memory device comprising an array of memory cells; and

a processing resource, external to the memory device, and configured to execute a program that uses column indices indicating those columns of the memory array having a particular attribute; and

wherein the memory device is configured to:

load a mask from compute components to periphery sense amplifiers; and

convert set digits of the mask to the column indices, wherein the column indices indicate the columns of the memory array having the particular attribute by performing logical operations using the mask and the compute components and wherein the particular attribute is a data value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory device is further configured to provide the column indices from the memory device to the processing resource.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processing resource is further configured to request the column indices from the memory device in association with executing the program using the column indices.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processing resource is configured to continue execution of the program using the column indices.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the memory device comprises a controller configured to receive the request for column indices.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to decode signals provided by a control bus from the processing resource.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is a state machine.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a server.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing resource is a host processor.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing resource is a controller.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a Von Neumann architecture.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing resource and the memory device are a same integrated circuit (IC).

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing resource is coupled to a mother board.

14. A method, comprising:

providing, by a host, a first mask to a memory device to store in an array of memory cells, wherein set digits of the first mask indicate columns of the array having a particular attribute;

providing, by a host, a request for the column indices identified by the first mask; and

responsive to receiving the request for the column indices at the memory device, loading the first mask from the array using a first quantity of sense amplifiers and compute components into periphery logic coupled to the array and comprising a second quantity of sense amplifiers and logic configured to convert the set digits of the first mask to the column indices, wherein the column indices indicate columns of the array having the particular attribute by performing logical operations using the mask and the compute components and wherein the particular attribute is a data value.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein converting the first mask to column indices comprises:

performing a number of iterations of operations, each iteration comprising:

determining a second mask from the first mask, all constituent digits of the second mask being reset other than for one constituent digit of the second mask that is a set digit which corresponds to one particular set digit in the first mask;

encoding a digit position of the set digit of the second mask as an index; and

resetting the one particular set digit in the first mask corresponding to the one constituent digit of the second mask that is the set digit.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein resetting the one particular set digit in the first mask includes performing an XOR logical operation between the first mask and the second mask.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the second mask from the first mask includes:

making a copy of the first mask;

resetting all digits of the copy of the first mask that are less significant than a most significant digit (MSD) that is set in the copy of the first mask; and

storing the copy of the first mask having only the MSD set as the second mask.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the second mask from the first mask includes:

making a copy of the first mask;

resetting all digits of the copy of the first mask that are more significant than a least significant digit (LSD) that is set in the copy of the first mask; and

storing the copy of the first mask with only the LSD set as the second mask.

19. A system comprising:

a memory device comprising an array of memory cells; and

a processing resource, external to the memory device, and configured to execute a program that uses column indices indicating those columns of the memory array having a particular attribute; and

wherein the memory device is configured to:

generate the column indices indicating those columns of the memory array having a particular attribute by converting a bit mask stored in sensing circuitry of the array to the column indices without transferring the bit mask to the processing resource and wherein the particular attribute is a data value; and

subsequent to converting the bit mask, provide the generated column indices to the processing resource in association with execution of the program.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the memory device comprises a controller configured to generate the column indices; and wherein the sensing circuitry comprises a plurality of sense amplifiers and corresponding compute components.