Techniques described herein may be used to solve a stochastic problem by dividing the stochastic problem into multiple fragments. In some cases, each fragment may be related to a random variable that forms a part of the problem, such that each fragment may produce samples from a probability distribution for that variable. Each fragment of the stochastic problem may then be assigned to a configurable circuit to solve the stochastic fragment. Configurable circuits may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, including using stochastic circuitry. In some embodiments, stochastic circuitry may include a stochastic tile and/or a stochastic memory.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. An apparatus comprising: a configurable circuit comprising: a processing unit to produce samples from a probability distribution related to a stochastic problem; and a controller to configure the processing unit by providing information about the stochastic problem to the processing unit and to cause the processing unit to produce the samples. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one memory storing information regarding a plurality of stochastic problems, and where the controller exercises a control to reconfigure the processing unit by providing information about a first stochastic problem of the plurality of stochastic problems to the processing unit at a first time and to provide information about a second stochastic problem of the plurality of stochastic problems at a second time. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to: provide information regarding a first stochastic problem to the processing unit at a first time; make a selection of a next stochastic problem; and provide information regarding the next stochastic problem to the processing unit at a second time. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is adapted to make the selection according to a predetermined order or is adapted to make the selection randomly. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of stochastic problems is a stochastic fragment of a second stochastic problem. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a first stochastic fragment is conditionally dependent upon a second stochastic fragment, and wherein the controller is adapted to provide information regarding the first stochastic fragment to the processing unit by providing to the processing unit a sample produced from a probability distribution associated with the second stochastic fragment. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of stochastic problems is a stochastic fragment of a second stochastic problem, and wherein the controller is adapted to provide information about a first stochastic fragment to the processing unit, the information about the first stochastic fragment comprising at least one sample generated from at least one second stochastic fragment. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configurable circuit is a core of a multi-core system, wherein the controller configures the processing unit to solve the stochastic problem by assigning a processing unit of the core to execute a first thread and providing a first thread stack to the core, the first thread including instructions to produce samples from a first probability distribution, and wherein the controller reconfigures the processing unit to solve a next stochastic problem by assigning the processing unit of the core to execute a second thread and providing a second thread stack to the core, the second thread including instructions to produce samples from a second probability distribution. 9. A method of storing information regarding a stochastic problem, the method comprising: receiving a first instruction identifying new data to be used as a new observation regarding the stochastic problem and requesting that the new data be incorporated into information stored in at least one memory; updating the information stored in the at least one memory based on the new data such that the information reflects the new observation; and upon receiving a second instruction requesting that a sample be produced, operating at least one stochastic circuit to produce the sample from a probability distribution, wherein producing the sample comprises generating the probability distribution conditioned on the information stored in the at least one memory. 10. At least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement a method of storing information regarding a stochastic problem, the method comprising: receiving a first instruction identifying new data to be used as a new observation regarding the stochastic problem and requesting that the new data be incorporated into information stored in at least one memory; updating the information stored in the at least one memory based on the new data such that the information reflects the new observation; and upon receiving a second instruction requesting that a sample be produced, operating at least one stochastic circuit to produce the sample from a probability distribution, wherein producing the sample comprises generating the probability distribution conditioned on the information stored in the at least one memory.