One embodiment of the invention provides a system comprising at least one data-to-spike converter unit for converting input numeric data received by the system to spike event data. Each data-to-spike converter unit is configured to support one or more spike codes.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A system, comprising: at least one data-to-spike converter unit for converting input numeric data received by the system to spike event data, wherein each converter unit is configured to support one or more spike codes. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each converter unit is further configured to support different time encodings for spike events. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each data-to-spike converter unit is further configured to convert input numeric data to spike event data in a parallel manner. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein each data-to-spike converter unit is further configured to convert input numeric data to spike event data in a serial manner. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more supported spike codes include at least one of the following: a binary spike code, a time domain spike code, a space domain spike code, and a hybrid of a time domain spike code and a space domain spike code. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein time domain spike codes include one or more of the following: deterministic or stochastic rate, burst, time-to-spike, time slot, time interval. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein space domain spike codes include one or more of the following: deterministic or stochastic population, thermometer, labeled line, position, axon interval. 8. The system of claim 5, wherein each spike code is deterministic or stochastic. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the input numeric data is pre-processed before the input numeric data is converted to spike event data. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the input numeric data is pre-processed in accordance with one or more of the following pre-processing functions: automatic gain control pre-processing, delta code conversion pre-processing, toggle code conversion pre-processing, signed data pre-processing, and variance code conversion pre-processing. 11. A system, comprising: a plurality of neurosynaptic core circuits; and at least one data-to-spike converter unit for converting input numeric data received by the system to spike event data, wherein each converter unit is configured to support one or more spike codes; wherein each neurosynaptic core circuit comprises one or more electronic neurons, one or more electronic axons, and a plurality of synapse devices for interconnecting the neurons with the axons. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each converter unit is further configured to support different time encodings for spike events. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein each data-to-spike converter unit is further configured to convert input numeric data to spike event data in a parallel manner. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein each data-to-spike converter unit is further configured to convert input numeric data to spike event data in a serial manner. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein: the one or more supported spike codes include at least one of the following: a binary spike code, a time domain spike code, a space domain spike code, and a hybrid of a time domain spike code and a space domain spike code; and each spike code is deterministic or stochastic. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein: the input numeric data is pre-processed before the input numeric data is converted to spike event data; and the input numeric data is pre-processed in accordance with one or more of the following pre-processing functions: automatic gain control pre-processing, delta code conversion pre-processing, toggle code conversion pre-processing, signed data pre-processing, and variance code conversion pre-processing. 17. A method, comprising: receiving input numeric data; and converting the input numeric data to spike event data using at least one data-to-spike converter unit; wherein each converter unit is configured to support one or more spike codes. 18. The method of claim 17, comprising: converting the input numeric data to spike event data in a parallel manner using the at least one converter unit. 19. The method of claim 17, comprising: converting the input numeric data to spike event data in a serial manner using the at least one converter unit. 20. The method of claim 17, comprising: pre-processing the input numeric data before the input numeric data is converted to spike event data.