Method and apparatus for efficient loop processing in a graphics hardware front end

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a graphics processor to process graphics commands responsive to execution of an application, the graphics processor including a graphics command parser to:
• load graphics commands from a command buffer;
• parse a first graphics command to determine whether the first graphic command includes a loop count command and store a loop count value responsive to the determination that the loop count command is included, wherein the loop count value indicates a number of times a command sequence within the loaded graphics commands is to be executed;
• parse a second graphics command to derive a loop wrap address corresponding to the first command of the command sequence;
• store the loop wrap address;
• execute the command sequence;
• parse a third graphics command, the third graphics command identifying an end of the command sequence;
• set a new loop count value;
• and
• iteratively execute the command sequence using the loop wrap address based on the new loop count value by incrementing or decrementing one or more values identified by operands of the at least one of the graphics commands based on the new loop count value.

A system, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a graphics command parser to
• load graphics commands responsive to execution of an application;
• identify a command sequence within the loaded graphics commands, and identify at least one nested loop in the command sequence;
• determine a loop wrap address for the command sequence and determine a nested loop wrap address based on a next graphics command in the command sequence associated with the at least one nested loop, wherein the nested loop wrap address is an address of the next graphics command, the address of which immediately follows that of a loop begin command being identified;
• determine an initial loop count value and to set a subsequent loop count value on each loop iteration, wherein the initial loop count value indicates a number of times the command sequence within the loaded graphics commands is to be executed, and wherein the initial loop count value is determined based on parsing a first graphics command, wherein the first graphics command is parsed to determine whether the first graphic command includes a loop count command store the initial loop count value responsive to the determination that the loop count command is included;
• and
• iteratively execute the command sequence using the loop wrap address based on the initial loop count value and subsequent loop count value by incrementing or decrementing one or more values identified by operands of the at least one of the graphics commands based on a new loop count value.